Vice President of Development

EASTERSEALS CENTRAL ILLINOIS • Peoria, IL

3h • $100,000 - $115,000

About The Position

Lead philanthropy that changes lives across Central Illinois.

Easterseals Central Illinois is seeking a strategic, relationship-driven Vice President of Development to lead and advance our philanthropic vision. This role reports directly to the President and CEO and plays a critical role in shaping our mission's future through transformational fundraising, donor engagement, and organizational leadership.

Founded in 1919, Easterseals Central Illinois has served our community for more than a century, building a strong legacy of impact, trust, and innovation. Today, we are a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children and families across Central Illinois through high-quality, mission-driven services. The Vice President of Development plays a critical role in advancing our legacy by leading strategic fundraising efforts that sustain and expand the programs and services that make meaningful, lasting impact for the individuals and families we serve.

At Easterseals Central Illinois, philanthropy directly fuels impact.

We invite you to watch the video below to see how donor support translates into meaningful outcomes for the individuals and families who rely on our services every day, and how strategic development leadership enables that impact.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a major in marketing, public relations, communications, non-profit management, organizational leadership, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• A minimum of five years of fundraising experience with a successful track record of comprehensive fund development, including but not limited to annual campaigns, capital campaigns, special events, and individual, major, and planned giving.
• Interpersonal skills and ability to lead and motivate people, build consensus, gain support, and align an organization around a shared vision.
• Demonstrated administrative, organizational, strategic planning, and project management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and public speaking skills.
• Working knowledge of personal computers and software (MS Office Suite).
• Working knowledge of or ability to learn donor database software.
• Ability and willingness to maintain a flexible work schedule.

Nice To Haves

• CFRE (Certified Fund-Raising Executive) designation preferred.
• Master’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides cohesive leadership and direction to the President & CEO and development team in the effective execution of a substantive, actionable, and measurable strategic development plan that spans across the Central Illinois community.
• Stewards a culture of philanthropy at all levels of the organization, including staff, leadership, and volunteers.
• Lead and manage the implementation of strategies designed to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts from prospective and current donors.
• Provides leadership and guidance for operational strategy, management, and processes, including timelines, objectives, and metrics.
• Conceptualizes, coordinates, and executes the annual campaign, including a year-round stewardship strategy for annual campaign donors and volunteers.
• Manages the planning and execution of special events, in coordination with the event planner, as a strategic opportunity to acquire, cultivate, and engage individual and institutional donors.
• Ensures clear collaboration between the Bloomington and Peoria development strategies to create a cohesive strategic plan.
• Maintains partnerships with development leaders to create, deliver, and refine research analysis, business processes, and products that support donor prospect research efforts.
• Assists with creating, implementing, and maintaining a strategy for donor segmentation.
• Works collaboratively with the Donor Services team to prepare and direct the preparation of donor research, gift acknowledgment, and other reports, ensuring that donor and financial records are maintained in accordance with general accounting and fundraising standards.
• Leads the development, implementation, and monitoring of the development department’s budget.
• Serves as staff liaison for the Development and Marketing Committees of the Board of Directors, preparing strategic materials for the meetings.
• Cultivates and maintains courteous and positive relationships with all internal and external stakeholders including, volunteers, vendors, committee members, including volunteers, vendors, committee members, and colleagues, embodying the organization's values in all interactions.
• Posts and interviews for department positions as they become available. Participates in additional interviews as requested.
• Provides comprehensive onboarding and training for new staff, utilizing the appropriate competencies for each position.
• Responsible for the performance management of department staff, including completion of performance evaluations, performance improvement plans, and employee disciplinary reports as needed.
• Provides support to special projects and committees as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO), including vacation time, sick time, personal time, paid holidays, and paid holiday breaks
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance with multiple plan options
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Medical and Dependent Care expenses
• Employer-Paid Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance 
• Voluntary Life and AD&D Coverage options
• Supplemental Coverage Options: Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Plans
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Employer Match
• Annual Professional Development & CEU Allowance
• Easterseals qualifies for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees