Development Manager (Fundraising Role)

Development Manager (Fundraising Role)

Evanston Now

Evanston, Illinois

Remote (in Chicago area)

About Evanston Now

Evanston Now is an independent, locally-owned news organization covering government, schools, housing and business in Evanston, Illinois.

Founded by veteran reporter Bill Smith, Evanston Now recently marked its 20th anniversary. It has a full-time equivalent staff of three reporters and editors covering the community of 75,000 residents on Chicago’s North Shore that is the home of Northwestern University.

Evanston Now is a member of the Local Independent Online News Publishers (LION) association and is fiscally sponsored by Report Local.

Evanston is a diverse and highly engaged community with a strong tradition of civic participation, precisely the environment in which independent local journalism can thrive.

Two decades in, Evanston Now is a trusted civic institution, and this role offers the opportunity to help define what its next twenty years will look like.

The Opportunity

Evanston Now is seeking a Development Manager to lead and grow the organization's philanthropic and corporate sponsorship revenue, working in close partnership with its publisher, Bill Smith.

This is a full-time revenue role: the Development Manager, the first revenue team hire, will be responsible for mid-level and major gift fundraising, corporate sponsorship and underwriting, and donor and community events.

Over time, this person is positioned to take on a broader revenue leadership role within the organization and to help lay the groundwork for potential expansion into additional communities.

This role is well suited to a mid-career development professional with a proven track record in fundraising, who is equally motivated to extend that experience into corporate sponsorship and events.

What You'll Do

Mid-Level and Major Gift Fundraising

• Build and manage a portfolio of mid-level donors, identifying and cultivating those with the capacity and inclination to grow into major donors over time
• Refine the systems and processes needed to track, cultivate and steward donors, building out Evanston Now’s internal infrastructure
• Draft donor communications, proposals and stewardship materials
• Partner with the Publisher to develop and refine Evanston Now's donor strategy and pipeline
• Generate regular fundraising reports and donor-specific analyses to inform strategy and campaign planning
• Coordinate with the newsroom to source impact data and story examples that strengthen the case for support

Corporate Sponsorship and Underwriting

• Identify and cultivate business owners and companies invested in Evanston's civic and news ecosystem
• Develop and manage corporate sponsorship and underwriting opportunities

Events

• Lead the planning and execution of cultivation events, from intimate donor gatherings to larger community moments
• Bring creative strategy by exploring other engagement opportunities that deepen supporters' connection to Evanston Now

Who You Are

• 3-5+ years of non-profit revenue experience, ideally including a proven track record in individual giving
• Thrives in systems-oriented work, comfortable refining internal infrastructure, and finds satisfaction in building processes
• A strong relationship-builder with great interpersonal skills across donors, stakeholders, and colleagues
• Experience with event planning, from logistics through post-event stewardship, and enthusiasm for hosting community events
• Experience with CRMs, with a commitment to maintaining accurate data
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Self-directed and comfortable operating in a small, entrepreneurial newsroom environment

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $75,000–$85,000, commensurate with experience
• Location: Remote; candidates must be based in the Evanston/Chicago area, with a strong preference for Evanston
• Travel: No regular travel required; occasional travel for industry conferences may be part of the role
• Reports to: Bill Smith
• 12 days of Paid Time Off
• 10 observed holidays such as New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving etc.

Evanston Now is a small, independent newsroom, and we are continuing to build out our benefits offerings as we grow.

Hiring Timeline

• Active search: 30–90 days from job posting
• Target hire date: October 1, 2026

How to Apply

To apply for the Development Manager position, please complete the online application at https://evanstonnow.com/development-manager/. The application will ask you to provide information about your experience, qualifications, and interest in the role. We look forward to learning more about you.

12 days of Paid Time Off

10 observed holidays such as New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving etc.

English proficiency essential.