Director of Development

Overview:

Respiratory Health Association (RHA) has been a leader in public health since 1906. Its mission is to prevent lung disease, promote clean air, and help people live better through education, research, and policy change. Its award-winning programs have led to improvements in lung health and life quality for thousands of adults and children throughout Chicago and the country.

RHA is seeking a Director of Development to create and manage fundraising strategies, donor cultivation, and, to secure financial resources for the organization. The Director will be responsible for building and nurturing donor and stakeholder relationships, overseeing fundraising campaigns, coordinating grant proposals, and reporting financial progress to stakeholders and boards. This role requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, donor stewardship, and a deep commitment to the organization's mission.

The Director works closely with President & CEO to implement existing strategic plans to strengthen and expand support in areas of individual, corporate and foundation giving.

Key Responsibilities:

Fundraising Strategy:

Develop, implement, and manage comprehensive fundraising plans that may include major gifts, annual campaigns, corporate sponsorships, and planned giving. Plan, execute, and evaluate fundraising events and campaigns to generate revenue and increase donor engagement.

Leadership Gifts and Donor Portfolio Management:

Successfully manage a personal portfolio of 50–75 active donors and 100–125 total prospects, representing individuals, families, and small foundations. Develop and implement customized cultivation and solicitation strategies for each assigned prospect to secure new, renewed, and increased gifts to meet annual revenue goals. Maintain 10-15 personal donor visits per month across the Chicagoland area, with an overall goal of 25-30 meaningful donor contacts per month. Maintain accurate, timely contact reports and donor records in the CRM system. Utilize data and analytics to track donor engagement, forecast results, and guide strategy.

Board, Associates Board, and Volunteer Engagement:

Work with the Development Committee of the Board of Directors to for annual giving commitments, personal referrals for contacts, and other development strategy. Act as the staff lead for the Associates Board, developing and engaging the next generation of potential leaders for RHA. Represent RHA as the liaison to key leadership donors at all RHA events and activities, providing a level of personal care and service to reflect appreciation for their support.

Donor Relations:

Cultivate and maintain strong, long-term relationships with individual and corporate donors, prospects, and other key stakeholders. Annual report to donors showing details of how donations are applied to programs in support of the mission.

Grant Seeking:

Identify, research, and write compelling grant proposals to secure funding from foundations and other grant-making organizations.

Team Leadership:

Manage, mentor, and support a team of one development professional to achieve organizational fundraising goals.

Reporting & Communication:

Track fundraising progress, analyze data, and prepare reports for the board of directors and other stakeholders.

Team Collaboration:

Collaborate with internal teams for strategic alignment and support of each other’s success. Includes working with the events team to coordinate plans around corporate sponsorships involving leadership and major donors, marketing and communication team to develop materials that promote development initiatives and ensure effective donor stewardship, programs team for understanding impact of funding and emerging needs, and finance team for budget projections.

Budget Management:

Create and manage the fundraising budget, ensuring financial health and viability for the organization's mission. Manage the department operating budget, including forecasting and allocation of projects. Monitor monthly P&L, department KPI’s and ROI metrics.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years relevant work experience.
• Proven experience in designing and executing successful fundraising campaigns across various channels.
• Has a track record of success securing contributions from individuals, corporations, and grant-making institutions.
• Strong ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of people, including donors, board members and colleagues.
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to develop and implement innovative strategies that align with the organization’s overall mission and goals.
• Experience with a CRM database and technology to manage prospects/donors.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, especially advanced Word and Excel techniques.
• Proficient in Google Drive applications, especially Google Docs and Sheets.
• Ability to prioritize, perform, delegate and report upon multiple tasks.
• Ability to think flexibly and work well with others in a supportive team environment.
• Must thrive in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accuracy and quality.

Salary and Benefits:

• Salary - $95,000 annually.
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Account, Health Reimbursement Account, Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, 403(b) Retirement Plan, etc.
• Sick Days, Vacation Days, Personal Days, Holidays

Please note: The mission of Respiratory Health Association is to prevent lung disease, promote clean air and help people live better through education, research, and policy change. Respiratory Health Association is fully committed to equal opportunity in employment in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Association does not hire persons who smoke and forbids smoking in the workplace.

Salary and Benefits:

• Salary - $95,000 annually.
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Account, Health Reimbursement Account, Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, 403(b) Retirement Plan, etc.
• Sick Days, Vacation Days, Personal Days, Holidays
• Hybrid schedule (2 days in office - 3 days work from home)