Director of Advancement and Engagement

North Chicago Community Partners NFP•North Chicago, IL

24d•$100,000 - $125,000•Onsite

About The Position

Strategic leadership role responsible for the planning, integration, and execution of the organization’s revenue generation and brand awareness efforts. Oversees three core pillars: fundraising (development), volunteer systems, and marketing/communications. Primary objective is to cultivate a sophisticated culture of philanthropy and community mobilization that ensures the long-term sustainability of the organization’s mission.

Requirements

Executive Leadership: 7+ years of progressive experience in nonprofit development, marketing, or strategic engagement, including at least 3 years in a high-level leadership or supervisory capacity.
Educational Foundation: Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, or a related field (Master’s degree or CFRE certification preferred).
Philanthropic Success: A documented track record of securing five- and six-figure major gifts and orchestrating high-yield, multi-channel fundraising campaigns.
Systems Expertise: Advanced proficiency in donor management/CRM systems and modern digital marketing stacks.
Strategic Project Management: Proven ability to oversee complex case management and large-scale projects from conception through to impact evaluation.
Technical & Administrative Command: Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) and the ability to design streamlined administrative workflows.
Stakeholder Diplomacy: Exceptional communication and "code-switching" abilities, with the sophistication to engage diverse stakeholders—from high-net-worth donors and school leadership to families and community partners.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Proficiency in leveraging data analytics and visualization tools to interpret program effectiveness and pivot strategies based on real-time performance metrics.
Adaptive Problem Solving: A high degree of critical thinking and agility, with a proven ability to lead teams through organizational transitions or shifting economic landscapes.
Operational Excellence: Superior organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail; able to manage competing high-stakes priorities without compromising quality.
Mission Alignment: High emotional intelligence (EQ), an entrepreneurial mindset, and an unwavering commitment to the organization’s core values and social impact goals.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or CFRE certification preferred

Responsibilities

Design and lead a multi-channel development plan to diversify and scale revenue streams to meet or exceed revenue goals.
Partner with leadership and the Board to identify, cultivate, and personally solicit a portfolio of individual and institutional donors.
Actively manage a robust grant calendar and support the grant writing process.
Drive the optimization of CRM systems to institutionalize data-driven decision-making, donor segmentation, and predictive analytics.
Build a scalable volunteer recruitment engine that aligns community talent with critical program and administrative needs.
Establish organizational standards for onboarding and training, ensuring every volunteer is equipped to serve as a high-impact brand ambassador.
Implement a lifecycle engagement strategy that transitions active volunteers into long-term financial contributors.
Implement rigorous tracking systems to quantify volunteer impact, measuring key metrics such as retention, economic value, and mission contribution.
Hone and protect the organizational voice, ensuring messaging is compelling, consistent, and mission-aligned.
Oversee growth-oriented strategies for digital platforms, social media, and email marketing to expand the donor funnel and increase volunteer engagement.
Spearhead media relations and select strategic community partnerships to elevate the organization’s visibility.
Lead the production of high-quality collateral, including annual reports, impact videos, and campaign materials.
Lead and mentor the Outreach and Engagement team, fostering a high-performance culture of accountability and professional growth.
Partner with the Board of Directors to activate their networks, providing them with the tools and training to solicit gifts effectively.
Serve as the primary liaison to the Board’s Outreach and Engagement Committee.
Provide executive oversight and general support for large-scale, mission-aligned volunteer events that require cross-departmental collaboration.