Advancement Director Mutual Ground, Inc. - 3.0 Aurora, IL Job Details Full-time $80,000 - $85,000 a year 20 hours ago Benefits 403(b) matching Health insurance Dental insurance Paid time off Dependent health insurance coverage Vision insurance Professional development assistance Loan forgiveness Life insurance Retirement plan Qualifications Teamwork Volunteer management Collaboration Funder relationship management Program development Corporate giving fundraising Major gift prospect cultivation Bachelor's degree Annual giving Newsletters (communication methods) Networking through strategic partnership building Business Administration Non-profit experience Foundation giving Donor and alumni database management Full Job Description Advancement Director Exempt, Full Time, Reports to CEO Job Summary In collaboration with the CEO, the Advancement Director provides strategic leadership for Mutual Ground's fundraising, marketing, communications, and community engagement efforts. This position is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive advancement strategies that strengthen philanthropic partnerships and increase private support through major gifts, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, grants, planned giving, sponsorships, special events, and in-kind giving. The Advancement Director leads the agency's advancement team, oversees marketing and communications, cultivates and stewards key donor relationships, and works collaboratively with the Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, and community partners to advance Mutual Ground's mission, increase community awareness, and ensure long term organizational sustainability. Job Duties Leadership & Strategic Planning Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, performance management, and professional development to Advancement staff, fostering a collaborative, high-performing team Develop and lead a comprehensive advancement strategy to grow unrestricted and restricted revenue through major gifts, annual giving, corporate partnerships, foundation support, government funding, grants, planned giving, special events, and other philanthropic initiatives Establish fundraising, marketing, and communications priorities, revenue goals, and departmental objectives in collaboration with the Chief Executive Officer Develop and monitor the advancement budget, revenue forecasts, fundraising performance metrics, and key performance indicators to support organizational decision-making Fundraising & Donor Relations Manage a portfolio of major donors and high-capacity prospects through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and long-term relationship management Lead major gift, annual giving, planned giving, capital campaigns, and comprehensive fundraising initiatives Collaborate with the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Directors, and volunteer leaders to cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors, sponsors, and strategic partners Identify and engage corporate, foundation, government, and community leaders to expand philanthropic investment in Mutual Ground's mission Develop and implement strategies to increase corporate sponsorships, in-kind donations, and philanthropic partnerships that support agency operations, client services, shelter needs, and special initiatives Monitor fundraising performance, donor trends, and portfolio activity to evaluate strategy effectiveness and identify opportunities for growth Grants & Institutional Giving Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the agency's grants program, including identifying funding opportunities, establishing funding priorities, and supervising grant development, submission, and stewardship Collaborate with the Grants Manager, program leadership, and finance staff to develop competitive grant strategies, compelling narratives, accurate program outcomes, and strong funder relationships Monitor grant performance, reporting requirements, compliance, and funding outcomes to maximize institutional support, ensure accountability, and strengthen long-term funding sustainability Events & Community Engagement Provide strategic leadership for the agency's fundraising, donor engagement, and community events to increase philanthropic support, strengthen community relationships, and advance organizational visibility Provide leadership and direction to the Events & Engagement Coordinator in the planning, execution, evaluation, and continuous improvement of fundraising and community engagement events Collaborate with staff, volunteers, Board members, sponsors, and community partners to increase participation, philanthropic support, volunteer engagement, and community awareness Evaluate event performance using financial, participation, sponsorship, and engagement metrics, and implement strategies for continuous improvement Marketing & Communications Lead the agency's marketing and communications strategy to increase community awareness, strengthen the Mutual Ground brand, and support fundraising, volunteer recruitment, and program visibility Oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of integrated marketing and communications plans that support organizational priorities and advancement goals Direct the creation and distribution of digital and print communications, including social media, eblasts, newsletters, annual reports, fundraising appeals, brochures, website content, promotional materials, and other agency publications Serve as the steward of the Mutual Ground brand by ensuring consistent messaging, visual identity, tone, and communication standards across all agency communications Lead the development of compelling storytelling, cases for support, donor communications, impact reports, annual reports, and marketing content that effectively communicates the agency's mission, client impact, and community need Monitor marketing and communication analytics to evaluate audience engagement and inform future strategies Cultivate media relationships and identify public relations opportunities that increase visibility and awareness of Mutual Ground's mission and services External Relations & Board Engagement Represent Mutual Ground through public speaking, media opportunities, community engagement, and strategic partnerships Build and maintain relationships with businesses, foundations, government agencies, elected officials, civic organizations, and other community stakeholders Support and engage the Board of Directors, board committees, fundraising volunteers, and community ambassadors in advancement initiatives Governance & Compliance Ensure compliance with ethical fundraising standards, donor confidentiality, grant requirements, and agency policies Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief Executive Officer Qualifications Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, marketing, business administration, public administration, or a related field required Master's degree and/or CFRE certification preferred Completion of 60-hour Domestic and Sexual Violence Training required DCFS mandated reporter training and certification required Minimum of five years of progressive nonprofit fundraising experience with demonstrated success in major gifts, grants, corporate partnerships, and annual giving Experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding relationships with individual donors, corporations, foundations, government partners, and community stakeholders Proven leadership experience, including supervising, coaching, and developing staff while fostering a collaborative, high-performing team Strong strategic planning, organizational, and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective relationships with donors, volunteers, Board members, community leaders, and staff Demonstrated professionalism, sound judgment, integrity, and commitment to ethical fundraising practices Proficiency with donor relationship management (CRM) software, Microsoft Office applications, and fundraising reporting tools Working Conditions Standard office environment. Some night and weekend hours expected. It is the policy of Mutual Ground, Inc. to afford equal opportunity in all aspects of employment to all persons without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, physical disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, marital status, age, national origin, ethnicity, political affiliation, medical condition, pregnancy, immigration status or on the basis of genetic information. This policy applies to all employees, applicants for employment, board and committee members, and volunteers and extends to all phases of hiring, selection, promotion, transfer, pay, benefits, tenure, discharge and discipline. Employment at our agency may qualify you for federal student loan forgiveness programs. We do not pay or forgive student loans, however, our status as a non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) makes us an eligible employer. There may be other determining factors for one to qualify. It is the employee's responsibility to apply for the loan forgiveness program that fits their situation.

Pay:

$80,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

403(b) matching Dental insurance Dependent health insurance coverage Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Professional development assistance Retirement plan Vision insurance

Work Location:

Hybrid remote in Aurora, IL 60506