The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is where your world and the world meet. The Council is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that empowers more people to help shape our global future. Through content and engagement experiences that offer diverse, fact-based perspectives and in-depth analysis, we foster dialogue on the world’s most critical issues. We are committed to building an inclusive community of globally conscious people who want to actively participate in global affairs and gain the knowledge that can help them make a tangible impact – big or small – in the world.

The Role

The Vice President, Development & Membership is a key role on the Leadership Team and plays an essential role in developing philanthropic strategies (identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship) and in ensuring the philanthropic goals are successfully met. The VP will be an experienced, entrepreneurial fundraising professional, who will build, lead, and manage a team focused on: 1) individual fundraising (Board, major gift, annual fund, and membership, 2) institutional donors (corporations, foundations, and government entities); and 3) fundraising/private events such as the Global Leadership Awards Dinner.

This position works closely with the Executive Leadership Team to build a comprehensive culture of giving and will work collaboratively across Council departments to maximize fundraising activities. The position is both internal and external facing and is a hybrid role that requires attendance at our downtown Chicago location, based on work activities, events, and meetings. Initially the Vice President will manage a team of four full time employees and will manage incremental growth of the team going forward to successfully reach sustained philanthropy of $10 to $12.0 million annually.

Candidates will be strategic, highly organized, and results oriented and will excel at building relationships with donors and prospects, as well as building and managing an ambitious development team. They will be entrepreneurial and driven to achieve and exceed financial goals. They will have the initiative and ability to build relationships with philanthropic leaders, next generation donors, and corporate CEOS. The candidate will be an authentic and inclusive leader that effectively engages people across departments, cultures, identities, and perspectives.

Major Objectives

Within the first nine to 12 months, the Vice President will work with the Chief Revenue Officer/SVP Business and Program Development to achieve the following major objectives.

• Develop a strategic plan for philanthropy that aligns with the mission and programs of the Chicago Council and leads to increased contributed revenue year-over-year.

• Establish a MOVES management type system and structured processes around all contributed revenue streams (individual, institutional, membership, and government) with a focus on rebuilding and growing a robust major gift program.

• Successfully meet revenue goal of $1.5 million for the 2024 Global Leadership Awards Dinner held on December 3, 2024.

• Successfully meet Board Annual Fund revenue goal by December 31, 2024, (more than 50% has been raised to date.)

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of the professional fundraising program, including major gifts, corporate donors and partnerships, restricted fundraising, special events, the Board annual fund, and all membership initiatives

• Leads and directs the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospects and donors. Partners closely with the Chief Revenue Officer/SVP Business and Program Development, CEO, and Board Members to build cultivation and stewardship strategies that will move prospects successfully to solicitation. In addition, works closely with the development team to create and implement donor/prospect strategies and ensure best practice standards are met

• Coaches and manages a high performing team of professional fundraisers to execute effectively on goals. Establishes and maintains metrics and dashboards to monitor performance towards achieving goals. Builds a culture of continuous improvement by using data to make decisions and course corrections

• Manages a personal portfolio of 50 to 75 leadership-level donors and prospects, developing customized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies and building a pipeline of six and seven-figure plus prospects

• Develops and executes a comprehensive, strategic membership plan to increase membership and member engagement. In partnership with the marketing and communications team, create a marketing and communications plan to promote membership benefits and services and provide strategic input and support for the development and implementation of member-only events.

• Attends Board Meetings and Development Committee meetings, and, in partnership with the Chief Revenue Officer and SVP, Business & Program Development, develops agendas, prepares Board Committee Chairs and PowerPoints for meetings, etc. In addition, represents the Council at events and in meetings with current or prospective donors and partners

• Works with the Chief Revenue Officer to establish robust and realistic annual philanthropy revenue goals and metrics for ensuring accountability. In addition, prepare development team expense budget and manage and monitor both expenditures and revenue to ensure goals are being met

• Ensures high-level functioning of development operations systems and processes, including the establishment of best practices for gift processing and donor acknowledgement systems

• Works closely with the Brand Content & Strategy Team/Communications on strategies to attract new partners and donors and enhance the Chicago Council’s philanthropic visibility

Qualifications & Skills

The ideal candidate will bring most of the following qualifications:

• A genuine passion for the mission and programs of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and a drive to ensure a diverse, welcoming, and inclusive environment

• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferred. A minimum of 12 years of fundraising experience, preferably with individual giving at a leadership level and with a track record of successfully securing six and seven-figure contributions

• Results-oriented, flexible, ethical, and collaborative with strong interpersonal skills that promote trust with prospects, donors, and staff

• Proven experience significantly growing an institution’s fundraising revenue, and a record of accomplishment of developing and implementing donor strategies that have expanded and diversified the funding base

• Experience hiring, motivating, and managing a fundraising team, and the ability to serve as a coach and mentor to staff

• Experience effectively managing a multi-functional department, including budget administration, developing, writing, executing development plans, planning, and overseeing major projects, and leading strategic planning for a team

• Excellent verbal, written, listening, and public presentation skills

• Ability to work collaboratively with teams across several departments and levels

• Ability to work evening and early morning events; Regional travel and limited international trips may be required

• Strong computer and software skills, including Salesforce, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, handicap or disability, marital status, military service or veteran status, genetic information, or for any other reason prohibited by applicable law.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We are committed to weaving diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the fabric of the Council, and we believe people — their identities, experiences, beliefs, knowledge, and ideas — are critical to our success and to global affairs. We will elevate diverse voices and identities and a full range of perspectives, advance equitable and inclusive access to exploring and shaping ideas, and ensure our organization reflects the diversity of Chicago, our nation, and the world.

To learn more, visit: https://www.thechicagocouncil.org/about-us/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-council

Vaccination Statement

For the safety and well-being of our staff, the Council requires that all prospective employees submit proof of an up-to-date COVID vaccination and booster record or seek a reasonable accommodation for a religious or medical reason prior to their first day of employment.