Development Coordinator

After School Matters provides Chicago high school teens with high quality, after-school and summer opportunities to explore and develop their talents while gaining critical skills for work, college and beyond. Since 1991, more than 350,000 teens have participated in our hands-on, project-based after-school and summer programs in the arts, communications and leadership, sports and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Programs take place at locations throughout the city including Chicago public high schools, Chicago Park District and Chicago Public Library locations, community organizations, downtown at the Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, in Belmont Cragin at our Michael and Karyn Lutz Center for After School Matters, and in the Pullman community at the new Gately Center for After School Matters. For more information, visit www.afterschoolmatters.org.

Summary of Position:

Are you a person with strong relationship and writing skills who wants to help nonprofits fund meaningful programs in under-resourced communities? If so, this entry-level role is for you. After School Matters believes that historically excluded groups belong in the fundraising field and we are creating pathways to join and grow in the field. In this role, we’ll offer on-the-job training and find avenues for formal training, too. We’ll build on the relationship skills you’ve gained in other settings, like sales, marketing, or customer service, to launch your career in cultivating relationships with prospective donors and soliciting funds for programs.

The Development Coordinator is responsible for collaborating with the Director of Major Gifts and key advancement team members to cultivate, solicit and steward individual donors and prospects. This individual plays a critical role by supporting and leading projects that help reach individual giving fundraising goals.

This is a full-time position. After School Matters alumni, interns, volunteers, instructors, and other community partners are encouraged to apply.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead fundraising initiatives to help expand the individual donor base.
• Manage and develop peer-to-peer fundraising initiatives, including Team ASM and Facebook Fundraising.
• Collaborate with Director of Major Gifts on new prospect strategies for engaging ASM alumni in addition to implementing individual volunteer program.
• Manage the Annual Fund strategy, including targeted multi-channel appeals (direct mail, email, web, etc.).
• Create compelling and persuasive appeals through a storytelling writing style and work collaboratively to produce the final product.
• Coordinate and execute appeals by collaborating with the marketing and communications team. 
• Ensure ASM’s brand and overall marketing and communications strategy is used consistently and effectively through all assigned fundraising appeals.
• Manage the stewardship matrix, including donor activities to steward donors at a variety of financial giving levels. Perform administrative tasks, such as:
• Saving tax acknowledgment letters in Box and Raisers Edge.
• Managing shared email inboxes.
• Managing and updating marketing content for donor folders.
• Support ASM leadership, especially those who maintain a portfolio of individual donors, with donor cultivation, solicitation and stewardship activities. 
• Conduct thorough research on current and prospective individual donors to prepare CEO, Chief Advancement Officer, and ASM leadership as needed for donor visits.
• Create and personalize weekly tax acknowledgement letters. Process In-kind donations.
• Assist in preparing donor proposals and reports.
• Help with Advisory Board communications, track member engagement, and create forms.
• Track and update Board and VIP donor information (such as birthdays and assistant names) with Executive Assistant to CEO on a quarterly basis.
• Benchmark “best practices” to create standardized individual giving processes.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None

Physical Demands:

The physical demands here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to sit and work at a computer for long periods of time.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is not exposed to weather conditions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Commitment to a mission-driven organization, ability to maintain donor confidentiality, and desire to advance the mission and vision of ASM
• An incredible eye for detail
• Curiosity to ask questions while learning new processes and getting to know donors
• Exceptional customer service approach, skill in building relationships, and team-oriented approach for internal and external constituencies
• Exceptional abilities in writing and speaking
• Self-motivation, ability to work independently, reliability, and proven ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to analyze data.
• Proficient in social media and Microsoft Office required; proficiency in fundraising software (such as Raiser's Edge) preferred.
• Experience with direct mail appeals, fundraising events, a donor CRM database, and an understanding of the fundraising cycle preferred but not required.

Qualifications:

• Either (1) a GED and 4-6 years of relevant experience, or (2) a Bachelor's degree and 2 years of relevant experience. Relevant experience means work or volunteer experience in fundraising, administrative work, customer service, sales, marketing, writing and/or relationship-building.
• Experience with After School Matters (e.g., as an alumni or current or former college intern, volunteer, instructor, or community partner) preferred

How to Apply:

• Apply by submitting a resume, cover letter, and application here: https://afterschoolmatters.applytojob.com/apply/

EEO:

After School Matters is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, military discharge status, age, marital status, parental status, or source of income.