Description

Mission Statement and Brief History of the Organization

For over 60 years, the Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources (FHSR) has been committed to improving the quality of life for children affected by hearing disorders in Illinois and around the Midwest. A small, grassroots nonprofit, its mission is to support innovative educational, clinical, and social services that enable children and young adults with hearing loss to participate fully in society. Its vision is a world where children with hearing loss have the opportunity to develop to their full potential and to enjoy the same social, educational, and economic opportunities as their peers.To achieve this, FHSR strives to remove barriers to children affected by hearing loss achieving their full potential. It accomplishes this through a partnership model, offering several innovative educational, clinical, and social programs in collaboration with partners such as the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Merit School of Music. Learn more at: www.fhsr.org

Job Description Summary

The Development Manager works with the FHSR team to support strategic fundraising goals by supervising the Development and Database Intern and overseeing the donor database, stewarding and cultivating a portfolio of donors, assisting with grants management, and ensuring all development processes are executed effectively, including donor gift acknowledgements, donor communications, and donor reports. This position reports to the Executive Director. 

While the Foundation is located in Chicago, IL, there is no centralized, physical office. This role will be hybrid, with up to half-time remote.  The Foundation looks to find a candidate located in the Chicagoland area.

Development Process and Database Management 

• Oversee and manage the Donor Database (DonorPerfect), to ensure that all systems and processes are effectively supporting fundraising efforts.   

• Support refinements to development systems where necessary.

• Build upon the established reporting and reconciliation process with the Development and Database Intern.

• Maintain Development records, trackers, and other process documents.

• Support administrative, database, and annual fund development functions. 

Donor Stewardship 

• Manage all aspects of individual donor development for mid-level and annual fund donors, including donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, acknowledgement, and stewardship.

• Work with the Executive Director to inspire donors to move up the gift pipeline.   

• Collaborate with team members to identify opportunities for the development pipeline and implement the appropriate stewardship activities. 

• Engage effectively with donors and stakeholders via email, phone calls, virtual calls, or in-person travel. 

• Support FHSR’s direct mail and digital fundraising campaigns, with a focus on increasing support and securing recurring/multi-year gifts. 

• Support all aspects of fundraising events and other stewardship events. 

• Attend events as needed to elevate FHSR’s brand awareness. 

Grants Management

• Support the Executive Director with the submission, monitoring and reporting of grant requests.

Management 

• Participate in hiring, training, and supervise the Development and Database Intern (contracted annually for May 1 - May 1)

• Create and present reports as requested. 

• Attend and report at board meetings as requested. 

• Other responsibilities as necessary to support organizational goals. 

Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required. 

• At least three (3) to five (5) years of experience working in nonprofit development. 

• Proficiency working in CRMs, preferably donor databases, to document gift data, create reports, and support development strategy. 

• Experience with donor stewardship, even if the involvement was indirect.

• Ability to manage various development processes to meet annual fundraising targets. 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to prioritize demands and meet deadlines 

• Team player, with willingness to collaborate and learn new information 

• PREFERRED: Previous experience working in a public health nonprofit, medical research, or hospital. Familiarity with medical terms or public health, databases desired.