External Relations Officer

Legal Aid Chicago encourages applicants with relevant volunteer and work experience, who have experiences with our client communities or individuals who identify as a person of color, LGBTQIA+, immigrant, or otherwise having backgrounds and experiences that are underrepresented in the legal profession to apply.

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 by dismantling the legal barriers that perpetuate inequality. Legal Aid Chicago staff live our mission through our core values of equity, excellence, inclusion, kindness, and respect.

Position: Legal Aid Chicago is seeking a full-time External Relations Officer. Under the direct supervision of the Associate Director of External Relations, who is overseen by the Chief External Relations Officer, the External Relations Officer is responsible for activities related to private foundation and corporate research and grant writing, grant submission, and post grant follow up. This position also includes, but is not limited to, management of the private grants calendar, organizing and submitting applications and reports to funders, and helping to further develop relationships with new and existing private funders. The External Relations Officer helps provide the skills, knowledge, and creativity to support effective and efficient operations of the department’s private grants department.

Responsibilities:

Grant Writer for Private Foundations and Corporations

• Conduct in-depth prospect research to identify potential corporate and foundation partners, assess philanthropic priorities, and tailor outreach and engagement strategies accordingly
• Interpret guidelines and analyze RFPs, draft narratives, and fulfill other required proposal components
• Collaborate with the Government Grants team when needed
• Work with Program and Financial staff to prepare data and narrative reports
• Draft and submit proposals to help obtain new and increased funding, often working in tandem with Practice Group Directors and their staff to obtain the latest data, initiatives, and client stories
• Prepare for and participate in funder site visits and other funder monitoring activities
• Ensure appropriate stewardship of corporate relationships, including acknowledgement, recognition, and reporting on the impact of corporate support, as needed
• Track progress toward organizational and programmatic outcomes and goals, and submit reports to funders
• Actively record and upload activities into Raiser’s Edge for all assigned foundations, corporations, and partners, and maintain data integrity through regular review
• Help establish and maintain personal contact and relationships with funders and program officers
• Collaborate with the Pro Bono & Community Partnerships Group to identify new potential funders
• Ensure prompt acknowledgement of foundation gifts
• Maintain grants calendar to ensure timely submission of letters of inquiry, proposal deadlines and reports
• Prioritize projects to keep multiple projects moving in a timely manner, meet deadlines and manage supplemental material required for proposals
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding donor information

Donor Communications

• Provide writing support for individual contribution letters and acknowledgements
• Assist with supporting and engaging long-term donors
• Craft compelling documents that persuasively translate and communicate Legal Aid Chicago’s vision, mission, and project/program initiatives, including for annual report, agency newsletter, and other fundraising communications

Other Duties

• Work with ER team to help renew law firms’ and companies’ sponsorship for Annual Luncheon and Justice Is Served
• In collaboration with the Chief of External Relations and Associate Director of External Relations, and rest of the External Relations team, assist in the planning and execution of special events, including the two biggest annual fundraisers (Annual Luncheon and Justice Is Served)
• Other duties as assigned

Salary and Benefits:

This position is part of the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW Local 2320. The Collective Bargaining Agreement sets employment terms and compensation is determined by the CBA salary scale, based on paid experience.

The External Relations Officer position begins at $63,248 and increases for every relevant year of experience.

Legal Aid Chicago offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Bilingual External Relations Officers are eligible for an additional stipend
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, effective the first day of employment
• Time Off: 15 vacation days and 13 sick days accrued within the first year of employment
• 14 paid holidays, including one floating holiday
• Six weeks of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of the salary after six months of employment
• 403(b) retirement plan with an employer contribution after one year of employment
• $50,000 Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, at no cost
• Access to Employee Assistance Program resources, at no cost
• Monthly internet reimbursement
• Legal Aid Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is an eligible employer for the federal public service loan forgiveness program

Qualifications:

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of 2-3 years of professional fundraising experience in a nonprofit environment
• Minimum 2 years of Raiser’s Edge experience preferred
• Experience with grant writing and/or creative writing
• Excellent writing, proofreading, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write compelling, evidence-based grant proposals
• Strong project management skills
• Quantitative skills required to work with spreadsheets and produce reports
• Superior time management skills and ability to handle multiple projects with attention to detail and meet deadlines
• Ability to research quickly and effectively
• Enthusiastic about reaching out to and contacting donors and partners
• Sensitive to the needs of Legal Aid Chicago’s clients and community
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Legal Aid Chicago offers a hybrid work environment. Our office, located in downtown Chicago at 120 S. LaSalle Street, is ADA accessible and has convenient access to public transportation and local expressways.