Chief Development Officer

For over 50 years, Legal Aid Chicago has provided free civil legal assistance to people living in poverty in metropolitan Chicago. Each year our attorneys, volunteers, and staff help resolve civil legal problems, including domestic violence, consumer fraud, and unfair evictions. Legal Aid Chicago was founded on the philosophy that all individuals are entitled to quality civil legal representation, regardless of their income. We work to ensure that poverty is not an impediment to justice.

Legal Action Chicago collaborates closely with Legal Aid Chicago by executing on policy initiatives and engaging in complex litigation that furthers Legal Aid Chicago’s mission to bring justice to people living in poverty and our communities.

Legal Aid Chicago offers a hybrid work environment. Our office, located in downtown Chicago, is ADA accessible and has convenient access to public transportation and local expressways.

POSITION

Legal Aid Chicago seeks a Chief Development Officer.

OVERVIEW

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) leads Legal Aid Chicago fundraising and communication efforts, including law firm/corporate giving, fundraising and cultivation/stewardship events, individual and major gifts, donor relations, and foundation, corporate, and government grants. This position also oversees communications and marketing strategies, including public and media relations, online giving, social media and other digital communications, and key messaging and storytelling – ensuring that communications and fundraising activities complement and amplify each other. The CDO also collaborates with and assists Legal Action Chicago on their fundraising efforts.

Reporting to the CEO/Executive Director, the CDO oversees an External Relations team of eight including the Director of Government and Foundation Grants and three Grants Managers, the Associate Director of External Relations and three External Relations Officers. This team is responsible for raising over $19M annually.

The CDO serves as a member of the Executive Team and is a key player in the development and execution of organizational priorities, including strategic planning, staffing and budgeting. This position works with Executive Team members and Practice Group leadership to strengthen relationships between their team and the rest of the organization. The position serves as a liaison to Legal Aid Chicago’s Governing Board and is responsible for the Board’s Development and Marketing Committee and Governance Committee. The CDO attends all Board meetings and all Board committee meetings.

RESPONSIBILITIES WITHOUT LIMITATION

Leadership and Management

• Work in strong collaboration with the CEO/ED, the Deputy Director/General Counsel, and other Executive Team members to develop fundraising strategies to support agency activities
• Work with Executive Team members to create new programs and initiatives that are attractive to funders and consistent with our mission and organizational goals
• Develop and/or maintain systems and structures that provide support and accountability for the department and its activities
• Work with the CEO/ED and Deputy Director/General Counsel to engage board members as active participants in fundraising
• Ensure that External Relations Department functions as a team that is respectful, flexible, creative, mission driven, and successful
• Hire, supervise, set goals with and for, and review the performance of External Relations staff, and provide strong support and guidance to the team

Fundraising/Development

• Develop and oversee individual, major, and planned giving
• Monitor emerging fundraising trends and adapt as necessary
• Oversee and help manage two special events a year: a six-hundred-person Luncheon and a smaller event
• Implement relationship development plans for donors of all giving levels and grow the base of individual giving for the organization
• Implement and oversee moves management strategies for major donors
• Bring forward ideas for new fundraising strategies and evaluate current plans, campaigns, and events, adjusting or discontinuing as appropriate
• Work with Legal Aid Chicago’s governing Board and Ambassadors Board
• Oversee government and foundation grants

Communications

• Develop and oversee a comprehensive communications plan that keeps Legal Aid Chicago supporters and partners informed, engaged, and enthused
• Develop and oversee brand awareness and marketing strategies and work to elevate the Legal Aid Chicago brand with key audiences, both locally and regionally
• Support strategies to ensure the agency “speaks with one voice” in all communications, engaging program staff where appropriate
• Direct Legal Aid Chicago’s communications efforts to ensure that all production, coordination, and implementation of materials for events, program, public relations, and branding are carried out via print, electronic, and social media outlets
• Oversee and help manage the timely production of an annual report and two direct mail letters
• Work with Legal Action Chicago staff on communication and media strategies for policy initiatives

SALARY

The budgeted salary range for this position is $165,000-$185,000, depending upon experience.

Legal Aid Chicago offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, effective the first day of employment
• Time Off: 21 vacation days and 18 sick days accrued within the first year of employment
• 19 paid holidays, including four floating holidays
• Twelve weeks of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of the salary after six months of employment
• 401(a) retirement plan with an employer contribution after 3 months of employment
• $100,000 Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, at no cost
• Access to Employee Assistance Program resources, at no cost
• Monthly internet stipend
• Legal Aid Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is an eligible employer for the federal public service loan forgiveness program

Requirements

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will possess:

• A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in fundraising with increasing responsibility for managing others, preferably in the non-profit sector. Marketing experience is also preferred
• Demonstrated experience with multiple areas of giving such as annual fund, major gifts, campaigns, events, foundation and corporate support/sponsorship, government grants, planned gifts, marketing and communications
• Proven success in securing five to seven-figure gifts; and building and stewarding relationships with individuals, corporations, foundations and public sector funders
• Evident experience and success in building and/or managing a development staff and budgets to achieve strategic and annual goals
• Enthusiasm about talking to donors and soliciting them
• Experience managing and leading a range of special events of varying sizes and duties
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with experience in development and marketing related writing
• Knowledge of Chicago family foundations and experience in planned giving is a plus
• Sound judgement and strong discretion in handling sensitive and personal information
• Superior interpersonal skills and ability to project professional competence, leadership capability, and personal maturity
• Adept with technology, familiarity with Raiser’s Edge a plus
• Ability to present in a convincing and professional manner and to inspire and generate enthusiasm among donors, volunteers, staff and stakeholders
• Demonstrated capacity to work as a member of an ambitious and successful management team
• Appreciation of the importance of civil legal aid and the civil justice system, commitment to Legal Aid Chicago’s mission of equal justice for low-income people. Familiarity with the issues faced by people living in poverty

EDUCATION

A bachelor’s degree required; an advanced degree is preferred

TO APPLY: Submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and the contact information of two primary professional references and one alternative professional reference. At least one reference must be a former supervisor. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled.

Legal Aid Chicago is firmly committed to creating a diverse workplace and is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and therefore does not discriminate on the basis of creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital or parental status, alienage, disability, political affiliation or belief, military or military discharge status, ex-offender status, family responsibilities, reproductive health decisions or any other protected status.

If an accommodation is needed to complete this application, contact Human Resources at humanresources@legalaidchicago.org.

Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to respond to individual inquiries regarding application status. We will contact candidates who are selected for the next stage of the hiring process.