Company Description Project H.O.O.D. is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2012 with a mission to empower individuals to become peacemakers, problem solvers, leaders, and entrepreneurs in their communities. Inspired by "Rooftop Pastor" Corey Brooks' 94-day vigil to draw attention to gun violence on Chicago's South Side, the organization focuses on ending violence and building stronger neighborhoods. Its programs equip youth, adults, and families with resources, skills, tools, and experiences that foster health, success, and upward mobility. Project H.O.O.D. emphasizes empowerment over enablement and seeks to lead innovation and transformation in the Englewood and Woodlawn communities. Team members join a purpose-driven environment dedicated to community impact and sustainable change. Role Description The Senior Director of Development is a full-time, on-site role based in Chicago, IL, responsible for leading all fundraising and development activities to support Project H.O.O.D.'s mission and growth. This role oversees the creation and execution of a comprehensive development strategy, including major gifts, corporate and foundation relations, annual giving, special campaigns, and fundraising events. Day-to-day responsibilities include identifying and cultivating prospective donors, maintaining and deepening relationships with current donors, preparing proposals and reports, and ensuring timely stewardship communications. The Senior Director of Development collaborates closely with the Executive Director, board members, and program staff to align fundraising priorities with organizational objectives and to communicate impact effectively. The role also manages development operations, including donor database oversight, reporting, budgeting, and compliance with fundraising best practices and ethical standards. Qualifications Minimum of 10 years of progressive fundraising, development, or advancement experience, preferably within a nonprofit or community-focused organization, with demonstrated expertise in fundraising strategy, major gift cultivation, solicitation, and donor stewardship. Proven track record of personally cultivating, soliciting, and securing major gifts from individual donors, foundations, corporations, and other funding partners. Demonstrated experience building, growing, or strengthening a development operation, including establishing fundraising strategies, processes, systems, pipelines, and accountability measures that support sustainable revenue growth. Strong donor relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to cultivate long-term relationships with major donors, community members, corporate and philanthropic partners, and board leadership. Ability to build and implement effective fundraising systems while actively raising funds, balancing development infrastructure and operational responsibilities with direct donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Proficiency in development operations, including CRM/donor database management, prospect and pipeline management, reporting, gift tracking, and monitoring fundraising metrics and performance. Exceptional strategic thinking, organizational skills, and consistent follow-through, with the ability to manage multiple fundraising priorities, move prospects through the donor pipeline, and drive initiatives from strategy through execution. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including grant writing, proposal and case-for-support development, donor communications, and presentations to diverse audiences. Experience leading or contributing to major fundraising campaigns, annual giving programs, special campaigns, and fundraising events, with responsibility for achieving established revenue goals. Demonstrated leadership experience supervising, developing, and holding accountable staff and/or volunteers within a development or advancement function. Demonstrated commitment to equity, community empowerment, and serving historically under-resourced neighborhoods. Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as Nonprofit Management, Business, Communications, Public Administration, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience; advanced degree is a plus.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

From $110,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Vision insurance People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply Application Question(s): Have you personally cultivated, solicited, and closed major gifts from individual donors? Have you been directly responsible for managing a portfolio of major-gift prospects and donors, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship? Do you have experience using a CRM or donor management system to manage donor pipelines, moves management, gift tracking, reporting, and fundraising performance? Have you been responsible for developing and executing an organization-wide fundraising strategy with measurable revenue goals?

Education:

Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

progressive fundraising, development or advancement: 10 years (Preferred) Ability to

Relocate:

Chicago, IL:

Relocate before starting work (Preferred)

Work Location:

In person