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Job Description
Director of Development | DuPage Senior Citizens Council DuPage Senior Citizens Council - 3.0 Lombard, IL Job Details Full-time $95,000 - $105,000 a year 1 hour ago Benefits Health insurance Dental insurance 401(k) Paid time off Vision insurance Life insurance Qualifications Corporate partnership Managerial strategic planning Program management Database systems Interpersonal skills Event coordination Team leadership Funder relationship management Coaching Collaboration with board members Team development Hiring Corporate giving fundraising Major gift prospect cultivation Business development within non-profit sector Special events Fundraising event program management Recruiting Prospecting CRM system proficiency Non-profit experience Fundraising prospect research Data-driven decision making General management Donor and alumni database management Board relations Senior leadership Staff development Full Job Description
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Director of Development is the most important hire DuPage Senior Citizens Council (DSCC) will make in the next chapter of its history. This is not simply a senior fundraiser - this person is the architect of DSCC's fundraising culture, the driver of its strategy, the coach of its team, and its most visible external champion outside of the Executive Director. This position will be responsible for raising funds to support a fundraising goal of $1.2M in unrestricted giving, increasing existing philanthropic relationships, managing special campaigns and bringing in new supporters. Every other investment in development capacity depends on this role being filled well. DSCC requires someone who is both a skilled, experienced fundraising professional and someone who genuinely loves people - energized by a crowded room, who thrives on relationship-building, and who will spend at least 30% of their time out of the office and in the community.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Drive all fundraising strategy across every revenue stream: individual giving, major gifts, corporate partnerships and sponsorships, special events, and foundation/government grants. Set the annual development plan - with specific, measurable goals - in partnership with the Executive Director; present it to the board and hold the team accountable to it. Lead, manage, and develop all development team staff members, including the Development Operations Coordinator and Communications Manager. Own the development department's operating rhythm, including weekly development team check ins, monthly pipeline reviews, board ready reporting, donor stewardship follow up, and coordination with finance on fundraising revenue projections. Lead the Communications Manager to ensure DSCC's donor communications, impact storytelling, social media, campaign materials, and anniversary messaging clearly explain the need, the impact, and the opportunity for supporters to invest. Serve as the primary relationship manager for a portfolio of major donors and key institutional funders, in partnership with the Executive Director. Personally lead or co-lead all major gift solicitations and stewardship conversations. Build and maintain relationships with local municipalities and townships to encourage financial support, sponsorships, and community giving aligned with DSCC's mission - working closely with the Executive Director to secure funding in excess of $300,000 annually. Lead the 50th Anniversary sustainability fund campaign execution, including the case for support, campaign committee engagement, giving vehicles, and campaign timeline. Oversee the events calendar and ensure all donor-centric events have clear ROI expectations, staff assignments, and post-event stewardship plans. Manage the relationship with the contracted grant writer, including the prospecting calendar, application pipeline, and funder stewardship for institutional grants. Provide monthly development reports to the Executive Director and quarterly reports to the board. Act as a partner to all board members in identifying and engaging prospective supporters from their networks.
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum 7 years of progressive nonprofit fundraising experience, including at least 3-5 years in a leadership or director-level role. Demonstrated experience managing a multi-channel development program in a small to mid-sized nonprofit organization - including individual giving, events, grants, and corporate partnerships. Experience partnering with an Executive Director and board members to identify prospects, prepare for donor meetings, make introductions, and move relationships through a defined pipeline. Experience building or improving development systems, including donor segmentation, stewardship calendars, gift acknowledgment processes, campaign tracking, and board reporting. Ability to operate effectively in a lean, mission driven nonprofit environment where the role requires both strategic leadership and hands on execution. Proven track record of personally closing major gifts. Exceptional interpersonal skills; a natural networker and connector. Experience recruiting, managing, and developing development staff. Strong written communication skills; ability to craft compelling donor communications and cases for support. Proficiency in donor database management (Kindful or comparable CRM) and comfort with data-informed decision-making. CFRE certification preferred but not required.
COMPENSATION & LOCATION
Salary Range:
$95,000 - $105,000 per year | commensurate with experience
Location:
DuPage County, IL (suburban Chicago area)
Employment Type:
Full-Time Pay:
$95,000.00 - $105,000.00 per year
Benefits:
401(k) Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Application Question(s): How many years of nonprofit fundraising experience do you have, and how many of those were in a director or leadership role? Briefly describe the size and scope of the development program you most recently managed (annual revenue, team size, revenue streams). What is the largest individual gift you have personally solicited and closed? Please share the general context. (you do not need to include donor names) Describe your experience with community engagement and external relationship-building. How much of your current or most recent role involves time outside the office? Have you managed development staff? If so, how many direct reports and at what levels? Are you familiar with Kindful? What donor database or CRM systems have you worked with? What draws you to DuPage Senior Citizens Council specifically, and why is this the right next role for you?
