Community Partnerships & Fundraising Officer – Chicago

Sudanese American Physicians Association•Chicago, IL

About The Position

The Community Partnerships & Fundraising Officer owns community fundraising and partnerships in the Chicago metro area as part of SAPA's Global Communications & Fundraising team. The role turns community fundraising into a structured program by building relationships with Muslim communities and other local organizations, organizing in-person fundraising events, and ensuring funds raised are recorded and followed up appropriately. The work takes place in person in mosques, community halls, homes, schools, and other community settings. The Officer develops partnerships with mosques, Islamic centres, schools, student associations, professional associations, Sudanese and East African organizations, cultural groups, and local businesses. They lead Ramadan fundraising activities, including a major annual iftar and mosque-based appeals and collections, and deliver three to five additional in-person events each year. They also build and equip a local network of speakers and influencers who can represent SAPA and its work. The Officer works with SAPA's communications, Donor Relations, and Finance teams. They brief communications staff on local visibility needs and community feedback, record donors and partners in Salesforce, refer higher-level donor prospects to the major gifts lead, and report monthly on activity and fundraising. The role is full-time and ongoing, with flexible hours and local travel covered. Evening and weekend work is expected, especially during Ramadan.

Requirements

Established standing in the Muslim community of the Chicago area, including the ability to identify local imams, board members, and organizers who would take the candidate's call.
At least two years of fundraising, community organizing, or event experience, with results that can be described in numbers.
Ability to run an event end to end, including budget, venue, volunteers, program, and follow-up.
Comfort asking for money in person and on stage.
Reliable record-keeping and willingness to learn and use SAPA's Salesforce system weekly.
Residence in the Chicago metro area.
Authorization to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Ability to speak Arabic, Urdu, Somali, or another language widely used in Chicago's Muslim communities.
Experience raising money for humanitarian or medical causes and ability to explain an unfamiliar crisis to an audience.
Experience with Ramadan fundraising.
Public speaking experience in mosques or community settings.

Responsibilities

Map mosques, Islamic centres, schools, student associations, professional associations, community organizations, cultural groups, and local businesses in the Chicago market.
Build relationships with imams, boards, and community leaders, and secure agreements to host SAPA appeals, collections, and events.
Develop partnerships beyond the mosque network and maintain partner engagement between events.
Host one major SAPA iftar in the market each Ramadan, including a SAPA speaker, field footage, and a live appeal.
Run Ramadan appeals and collections, including pledge nights, Taraweeh appeals, Laylat al-Qadr appeals, and Eid collections.
Book SAPA speakers into mosques during the last ten nights of Ramadan and coordinate on-site collections and follow-up.
Deliver three to five in-person events annually outside Ramadan, such as community dinners, fundraisers, walks, sports events, and student-led campaigns.
Manage event budgets, venues, volunteers, programs, and run-of-show.
Manage SAPA's in-person presence in the market, including banners, tables, collateral, speaker slides, and event presentation, in accordance with SAPA's branding and visibility guidelines.
Build and prepare a network of local speakers, imams, and community figures who can speak and fundraise for SAPA.
Place SAPA physicians, board members, and recently returned field staff in khutbahs, panels, and community gatherings, ensuring each appearance includes a way to donate and stay in touch.
Identify and nominate local influencers to visit SAPA projects; SAPA organizes the visits.
Record donors, pledges, and partners in Salesforce after events in coordination with Donor Relations.
Refer donors with higher giving capacity to SAPA's major gifts lead through a written introduction.
Report monthly to Finance on activity, funds raised, partners added, and upcoming plans.
Attend the weekly team call and work with communications staff and the agency.
Define local visibility-material needs, brief the communications team, and provide feedback on what resonates with local communities.
Advise the communications team on community practices, trends, and effective approaches, and help develop a playbook for future markets.
Request speakers, field footage, project updates, and briefing packs for events and community figures.