[German International School Chicago] Development & Communications Manager

GACC Midwest - German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

German International School Chicago (GISC) is seeking a hands-on Development & Communications Manager to strengthen fundraising, expand community engagement, and tell our school’s stories. The role blends strategic planning with hands-on execution and offers opportunities for ownership and growth.

The position focuses on building donor relationships, producing compelling content across channels, and collaborating with Marketing, Admissions, and leadership to advance fundraising, enrollment, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent level of degree or experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication in English and German (bilingual preferred).
• 2+ years in development, fundraising, communications, nonprofit management, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements annual fundraising plans (Annual Fund, grants, sponsorships, major gifts, events).
• Plans and executes fundraising programs (Annual Fund, Gala, donor cultivation, events).
• Cultivates relationships with donors, alumni, foundations, corporate partners, and community groups.
• Leads donor stewardship, including acknowledgement, recognition, reporting, and engagement.
• Creates communications content across print, digital, email, website, and donor channels to support fundraising and enrollment.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Communications

Bilingual English/German

Storytelling

Content creation

Plan & execute fundraisers

Donor stewardship

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Blackbaud CRM

Google Workspace

MS Office

Job description

Role Overview

GISC is seeking a hands-on Development & Communications Manager to strengthen fundraising initiatives, expand community engagement, and tell the stories that make our school unique. This position combines strategic thinking with day-to-day execution and offers meaningful opportunities for ownership, creativity, and professional growth.

Essential Job Functions

• Develops and implements annual fundraising plans, including Annual Fund, grants, sponsorships, major gifts, and special events.
• Plans and executes GISC’s fundraising program, including Annual Fund, Gala, sponsorships, donor cultivation activities, and special events.
• Cultivates and maintains relationships with donors, alumni, parents, foundations, corporate partners, community organizations, and DACH partners.
• Leads donor stewardship efforts, including acknowledgement, recognition, reporting, and personalized engagement.
• Develops and produces compelling communications content across print, digital, email, website, and donor communications channels to tell GISC's story and support fundraising, enrollment, and community engagement goals.
• Identifies and pursues grant opportunities and prepares compelling proposals and reports.
• Maintains accurate donor and prospect records and tracks fundraising performance using GISC’s database.
• Collaborates with Marketing, Communications, Admissions, Enrollment, Faculty & Staff, members of the Board of Trustees including its Development Committee, the GISC Parent Group (GPG), and volunteers to unify messaging, enhance community engagement and grow the school.
• Collaborates with the Director of Marketing & Communications to ensure consistent school-wide messaging, branding, and communications, while developing storytelling and content that highlights GISC’s programs, achievements, fundraising efforts, enrollment initiatives, and community engagement.
• Provides regular reports and strategic recommendations to the Head of Administration, Head of School, and Board of Trustees on development strategy and performance, including fundraising performance, donor engagement, alumni relations, and community partnerships.
• Supports and participates in school-wide events, community activities, and volunteer engagement efforts.
• Manages and monitors GISC’s development budget.
• Ensures compliance with legal, ethical, and organizational fundraising standards and practices.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Specific Qualifications/Skills

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent level of degree or experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and German (bilingual German-English preferred).
• Two or more years of experience in development, fundraising, communications, marketing, nonprofit management, or a related field. Experience in both fundraising and strategic communications preferred.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to develop compelling content for diverse audiences.
• Experience developing content strategies, managing digital communications, and creating communications plans across multiple channels, including web, email, social media, and print.
• Highly organized, self-driven team player who also works well independently.
• Excellent work ethic with proven ability to set priorities, meet deadlines, multi-task, and carefully proof their own work.
• Strong relationship-building and donor stewardship skills, with the ability to engage a wide range of constituents.
• Attention to detail and a strong appreciation for consistent messaging, design, and branding.
• Proficiency with donor databases/CRM systems (preferably Blackbaud), social media management, Google Workspace, and MS Office applications.

Compensation:

$60,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

About GISC

Our Mission

The German International School Chicago (GISC) is an IB World School that prepares students to become well-rounded, creative, and responsible global citizens. We provide students with a rigorous German-English bilingual education in a supportive and individualized learning environment. GISC graduates will be prepared academically and socially to succeed in an increasingly global world.

Core Values

At the German International School Chicago, our motto is 'Give Your Child the World,' and we believe our unique education will provide your child with the tools to thrive in any environment around the world. Our focus as a school is represented by four distinct values, each one contributing to the success of our students throughout their lives.

Bilingual Advantage

Students at GISC are both linguistically fluent and culturally fluent. As a bilingual, international school, we encourage our young learners to engage meaningfully with a wide variety of cultures across Europe and throughout the world.

International Education

GISC's unique education is rooted in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. We foster a strong sense of agency in our students and provide them with a deep understanding of the world around them. Our students have the skills to engage successfully with a wide variety of academic and social environments in the US, in German-speaking countries, and beyond.

Global Opportunity

At GISC, we believe that global citizenship extends beyond knowledge of other lands and peoples. Our faculty helps our student body to use their intercultural competence as the foundation for increased compassion. GISC students will leave our school with the skills to succeed and thrive anywhere in the world.

School Community

Both schoolwide and in each grade level, GISC fosters a strong sense of community. We believe that a supportive, nurturing community is the key to a learning environment in which each student knows they belong and matter.

Working at the German International School Chicago

Are you interested in working at a one-of-a-kind, dynamic bilingual IB World School in Chicago's beautiful Ravenswood neighborhood?

Our staff is just as international as our student body, and we pride ourselves on fostering a supportive and collaborative community.

Every employee at GISC is encouraged to grow through professional development and peer learning opportunities.