Sr. Director, Strategic Partnerships & Development

Heartland Alliance International • Chicago, IL

118d

About The Position

Heartland Alliance International (HAI) implements programming on a broad range of human rights issues globally, as well as the Chicago-based Marjorie Kovler Center, which serves individuals from more than 60 countries. HAI has significant expertise in the fields of trauma-informed mental health care and access to justice for survivors of human rights abuses. It is also an industry leader in access to high quality and stigma-free health care. Across all its programs, HAI promotes progressive, innovative approaches to human rights protections and gender equality. The Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and Development will lead and execute a comprehensive fundraising and strategic partnership strategy that supports both our domestic and international programs. This role requires a seasoned fundraising professional with a proven track record of securing diverse funding opportunities via private and institutional donors including individuals, foundations, corporations, domestic and international government agencies, and multilateral organizations, among others. The ideal candidate will have strong ties to the philanthropic community, experience working in multicultural environments, and preferably, direct experience fundraising for programs in Chicago as well as countries in the LAC region, especially Colombia. This is a hands-on leadership role that combines strategic vision with tactical execution. The Senior Director will be expected to write compelling proposals, collaborate on budgets, develop donor communications, and open doors to new funding opportunities. In 2026, HAI’s goal is to raise $10M+ annually to support programming.

Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in fundraising, business development, or strategic partnerships, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Demonstrated success in securing six-figure gifts from private and institutional donors.
• Familiarity with philanthropic landscapes in the U.S. (particularly Chicago) and the LAC region (particularly Colombia).
• Commitment to human rights, social justice, and inclusive leadership.
• Existing network of philanthropic contacts relevant to HAI’s mission.
• Fluency in Spanish is a strong asset.
• Experience with CRM systems (e.g., Virtuous).

Nice To Haves

• Ability to work independently in a start-up environment.
• Ability to work across multicultural teams and international contexts.
• Strong writing and editing skills, with experience drafting proposals.
• Problem-solver, communicates strategies efficiently, and negotiates effectively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365.

Responsibilities

• Research funding sources and trends to position HAI ahead of major shifts in the foreign aid and philanthropic landscape.
• Develop and implement a strategic fundraising plan to grow unrestricted and program-specific revenue to support a $10M+ revenue target.
• Leverage existing relationships to secure high-level meetings and funding opportunities.
• Expand and diversify HAI’s current donor base and explore potential additional revenue streams, including major gifts and corporate giving.
• Within 6 months of hiring, secure or advance at least $1M USD in new or renewed funding opportunities (including at least $500k for international work) through a combination of grant submissions, donor engagement, and partnerships.
• Build a robust donor pipeline and calendar that projects at least $3M in realistic new funding opportunities over the first 12 months.
• Identify and cultivate relationships with new donors, with a focus on supporting both domestic and international human rights work.
• Manage and grow a diverse portfolio of private and institutional donors.
• Lead the development of grant proposals, concept notes, and donor reports in collaboration with program and finance teams.
• Establish an annual donor engagement cadence and campaign calendar to drive consistent and strategic fundraising efforts.
• Lead the end-to-end proposal development process, including writing, editing, and coordinating inputs from technical and finance teams with strict adherence to deadlines.
• Work closely with finance to develop accurate and compelling budgets for proposals.
• Ensure final proposals meet all compliance standards and solicitation requirements.
• Ensure proposals are aligned with donor priorities and HAI’s mission.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships across key revenue streams and peer organizations.
• Represent HAI in key philanthropic and policy networks, particularly those focused on Chicago, Latin America, and Colombia.
• Collaborate with internal teams to align fundraising efforts with programmatic priorities and organizational strategy.
• Evaluate and lead donor engagement strategies, including possible fundraising events.
• Manage and implement donor campaigns, including year-end giving and targeted appeals.
• Oversee donor communications and marketing materials in collaboration with communications staff.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree