Donor Relations & Events Coordinator

Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago•Chicago, IL

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Donor Relations & Events Coordinator plays a critical role on the Resource Development team by managing donor engagement, coordinating fundraising and stewardship events, and overseeing donor database systems. This position maintains a portfolio of foundation and corporate donors, supports grant writing and tracking, and ensures accurate and timely gift entry and reporting through NHS’s CRM system. The coordinator is also the key liaison to NHS's Metro Board, supporting their fundraising and community engagement activities.

Requirements

Minimum of a high school diploma required
1–3 years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, event planning, or related activities.
Experience in a nonprofit, mission-driven, or relationship-management environment strongly preferred.
Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
Strong attention to detail, time management, and organizational skills.
A valid driver’s license and access to a reliable, insured personal vehicle are required.
This position requires regular travel throughout the City of Chicago - including to NHS’ target neighborhoods, branch offices, event venues, and donor sites—often on short notice and outside standard business hours.
Reliable, independent transportation is an essential function of the role; public transit alone will not satisfy this requirement.
Given the regular travel demands of this role across NHS locations, donor sites, and event venues, the incumbent must maintain a valid driver’s license and reliable, insured personal transportation as a condition of employment.
Proficiency in MS Office
Database management required.
Tech-savvy and quick to learn new systems.
Ability to write and edit Donor communications and grants.
Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively.
Collaborative mindset with the ability to work across departments and with volunteers.
Ability to interpret and report on financial and donor data.

Nice To Haves

An Associate or Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, marketing, or a related field is preferred.
Familiarity with the nonprofit sector and/or community development is a plus.
Experience with CRM systems, especially Blackbaud/Raiser's Edge NXT, is highly desired.

Responsibilities

Maintain and enhance relationships with individual, foundation, and corporate donors through regular communication, acknowledgments, and stewardship activities.
Assist in preparing donor-facing materials including letters, impact reports, and campaign updates.
Support the execution of donor recognition efforts and personalized outreach.
Track donor engagement activities in NHS’s CRM system.
Plan and execute in-person and virtual fundraising and stewardship events, including logistics, vendor coordination, communications, and sponsor/donor cultivation.
Solicit and track event sponsorships, donations, and in-kind contributions.
Manage event registrations, guest lists, follow-up communications, and post-event evaluations.
Provide administrative and planning support for Metro Board-led fundraising events.
Support full range of grant activities, including writing, submitting, and reporting for foundation and corporate sources.
Research and identify new grant opportunities aligned with organizational priorities.
Partner with the finance team to gather data and complete budget components and financial reports for funders.
Track grant deadlines and deliverables using the CRM system.
Maintain accurate donor and gift records in NHS’s CRM system, including data entry, donor segmentation, and gift acknowledgment.
Generate regular fundraising and performance reports, donor lists, and campaign summaries.
Manage gift processing, matching gifts, recurring donations, and donor acknowledgment letters.
Coordinate logistics for donor meetings, committee meetings, and internal events (e.g., room bookings, meals, AV, materials).
Attend and document key meetings, including development committee and Metro Board meetings.
Support the Resource Development team on special projects and organizational priorities as needed.