Vice President of Advancement & Engagement

Vice President of Advancement & Engagement

About the Organization

Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights is a non-partisan, non-profit group of civil rights

lawyers and advocates working to secure racial equity and economic opportunity for all. We

provide legal representation through partnerships with the private bar, and we collaborate with

grassroots organizations and other advocacy groups to implement community-based solutions

that advance civil rights. For more than 55 years, we've partnered with 30+ leading law firms to

provide high-impact legal representation in voting rights, fair housing, education equity, and

economic justice.

Our model generates millions in donated legal services annually: we recruit, train, and support

volunteer attorneys who work alongside our legal team on impact litigation, policy advocacy,

and community-based legal support. We operate across Illinois and Indiana as the only Lawyers'

Committee affiliate in the Midwest—a region of 61 million people.

After successfully replacing $400,000 in lost federal funding in 2025, we're positioned to

expand our regional footprint at a moment when state-level civil rights enforcement has never

been more critical.

About the Role

The VP of Advancement & Engagement will lead fundraising strategy and execution during a

critical growth phase, building revenue from $3.2M to $4-4.5M while laying groundwork for

regional expansion. This role requires someone who can both personally cultivate major gifts

and build scalable systems—a strategic fundraiser who leverages technology to multiply

impact.

This is a role for someone who takes initiative and thinks strategically. You'll anticipate

opportunities, navigate challenges proactively, and serve as a true partner to the Executive

Director and senior leadership team. In this moment—when state-level civil rights litigation is

more critical than ever—you'll help ensure we have the resources to keep cases moving and

communities protected.

You'll work directly with the Executive Director and board members to deepen law firm

partnerships, grow individual giving from an under-tapped prospect base, secure foundation

support across Illinois, Indiana, and nationally, and create infrastructure that allows a small

team to punch above its weight.

What You'll Get

You'll join a senior leadership team that's smart, mission-driven, and committed to your

success. The Executive Director is deeply invested in professional development and will be a

thought partner in your growth. You'll inherit strong relationships in Chicago's legal and

philanthropic communities—law firm managing partners who take your calls, foundation

officers who know and respect CLC's work, and 600+ pro bono attorneys who are potential

donors.

You'll work on something that matters. You're not raising money for overhead—you're funding

litigation that challenges voter suppression in real time, fair housing cases that are changing the

market, and the legal infrastructure that protects constitutional rights across 61 million people

in the Midwest. You'll see the direct line between your work and impact.

And you'll build something. This isn't a maintenance role—you're creating the development

infrastructure for regional civil rights work at a moment when it's desperately needed. You'll

have the opportunity to build an individual giving program from the ground up. CLC has strong

recent wins in individual giving, but the infrastructure—donor journeys, stewardship systems,

recurring giving programs—still needs to be built. You won't be inheriting someone else's

system; you'll create one that works. You'll have the autonomy to innovate, the support to take

smart risks, and the resources to build a program that lasts.

What Success Looks Like (Year One)

• Achieve $4-4.5M in total revenue across all streams
• Secure 2-3 new institutional funders above $50K, including at least one Indiana-based

funder and one national funder

• Grow individual giving by 50%+ (from ~$130K to $175K+) by building foundational

infrastructure and activating large prospect list

• Add 2-3 new law firm members and increase overall membership revenue to $440K+
• Execute a $600K Gala (net $400K) with high-profile keynote
• Develop compelling case for support for Midwest Voting Rights Program expansion
• Create and execute engagement strategies that build broader movement participation
• Build CRM infrastructure and donor analytics capacity

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Fundraising Leadership

• Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategy across foundations, individual

donors, law firms, events, and planned giving

• Personally cultivate and solicit major gifts ($10K+)
• Build relationships with managing partners and pro bono directors at member firms
• Identify and pursue new institutional funding opportunities across Chicago, Indiana, and

national landscape

• Lead Gala and Power of Connection symposium fundraising
• Leverage existing professional networks in Chicago philanthropic, legal, and civic

communities to open doors

• Represent CLC at community events, conferences, and networking opportunities
• Attend fundraising events in evenings and occasional weekends as needed

Regional & National Fundraising Strategy

• Identify and cultivate Indiana-based funders aligned with CLC's work
• Pursue national foundation support for regional civil rights infrastructure
• Build fundraising case for Midwest Voting Rights Program expansion across six states
• Position CLC as the leading civil rights legal organization in the Midwest

Donor Relationship Management

• Manage portfolio of 30-50 major donor prospects
• Steward existing donors with meaningful engagement
• Activate large prospect list through strategic segmentation and cultivation
• Leverage pro bono volunteer network (600+ attorneys) for donor cultivation
• Partner with Executive Director on high-level donor strategy

Individual Giving Program Development

• Build foundational infrastructure for sustainable individual giving program
• Develop donor pipeline from prospect identification through major gift cultivation
• Create segmented communication strategies for different donor audiences
• Establish recurring giving program and planned giving framework
• Convert pro bono volunteers and event attendees into ongoing supporters
• Implement systems for donor acknowledgment, stewardship, and engagement

Movement Building & Engagement

• Design strategies to deepen engagement with pro bono volunteers, converting them to

donors

• Create pathways for supporters to move from event attendees to committed advocates
• Build NextGen Leadership Council as pipeline for future major donors
• Partner with communications team on storytelling that drives action and giving
• Cultivate a culture of philanthropy that extends beyond transactional giving

Team Leadership & Infrastructure

• Manage Development Manager and additional development staff (2-3 direct reports)
• Implement CRM systems (currently Little Green Light) for data-driven decision-making
• Leverage AI tools and automation to increase team productivity
• Create processes, dashboards, and reporting systems
• Train board members and senior staff in effective fundraising

Technology & Innovation

• Use CRM analytics to identify cultivation opportunities and predict giving patterns
• Experiment with LLMs and AI tools for grant writing, donor research, and

communications

• Implement digital fundraising tools (text-to-give, segmented email campaigns, etc.)
• Build data infrastructure that informs strategy

Collaboration & Culture

• Work closely with Executive Director, Legal Director, and program staff
• Partner with Director of Communications on storytelling and impact reporting
• Support board development and engagement
• Model equity and inclusion in all external relationships

What This Role Really Requires

We need someone who brings initiative, strategic thinking, and the ability to work

independently while collaborating closely with leadership. Specifically:

Initiative & Ownership

• Identify funding opportunities and pursue them independently
• Bring solutions and strategic thinking to leadership discussions
• Own your work—if revenue is falling short, you're already developing the plan to

address it

• See around corners: anticipate challenges and opportunities before they're obvious

Strategic Partnership

• Serve as thought partner to Executive Director and senior leadership team
• Contribute to organizational strategy beyond just fundraising
• Understand programmatic work well enough to translate it compellingly for funders
• Navigate complex stakeholder relationships with political awareness

Relationship Building & Networks

• Leverage existing professional networks while building new relationships
• Build trust with funders navigating difficult political environments
• Cultivate long-term partnerships, not transactional asks
• Represent CLC authentically in diverse settings

Results Orientation

• Balance strategic vision with tactical execution
• Maintain momentum through inevitable setbacks
• Celebrate wins while staying focused on the work ahead
• Understand that persistence and resilience are part of the job

Required Qualifications

• 7-10 years of professional fundraising experience, with at least 3-5 years in a leadership

role

• Proven track record of personally soliciting and closing five- and six-figure gifts
• Experience managing and growing multiple revenue streams simultaneously
• Demonstrated ability to build donor relationships and ask for money comfortably
• Experience building individual giving programs, not just maintaining existing ones
• Track record of converting prospects into donors and donors into major donors
• Based in Chicago with established networks in local philanthropic, legal, or civic

communities

• Strong existing relationships that can be leveraged for CLC's mission
• Strong understanding of CRM systems and data-driven fundraising
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently while collaborating across a small team
• Comfort with evening and weekend event attendance (approximately 6-10 events per

year)

• Commitment to racial justice and civil rights mission

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience fundraising for litigation or legal services organizations
• Familiarity with law firm pro bono culture and corporate partnerships
• Track record using technology (AI, automation, analytics) to increase fundraising

effectiveness

• Experience with Salesforce, Little Green Light, or similar CRM platforms
• Knowledge of planned giving strategies
• Experience working with boards on fundraising
• Understanding of Midwest philanthropic landscape
• Existing relationships with Chicago-area foundations, major donors, law firms, or

corporate partners

• Experience with Indiana or national foundation fundraising

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary Range: $115,000 - $125,000 (commensurate with experience)
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
• 403(b) retirement plan with 3% employer match
• Generous PTO (15-20 days) plus sick leave and holidays
• Professional development support
• Flexible hybrid work arrangement (Chicago-based, in office 3-4 days/week)
• Schedule includes some evening and weekend events

Why This Role Matters—And Why You'll Want It

The Mission: You'll fund work that matters. The litigation we support challenges voter

suppression, fights housing discrimination, and defends constitutional rights across the

Midwest. You'll make the case for investing in regional civil rights infrastructure during a critical

moment in American democracy.

The Team: You'll work with people who are smart, mission-driven, and deeply committed to

both the work and to each other. The Executive Director is invested in your professional

development and will be a thought partner in your growth. The senior leadership team moves

fast, thinks strategically, and will rely on your expertise while supporting your success.

The Foundation: You're not starting from scratch. CLC has 55+ years of credibility, strong

relationships with law firms and foundations, a large prospect list ready for activation, and a

proven model that generates $5-10M in pro bono services for every dollar invested. You'll

inherit assets and build from strength.

The Opportunity: This is a role where you can innovate. You'll have autonomy to try new

approaches, permission to experiment with technology, and the flexibility to build systems that

work. If you've been frustrated by bureaucracy or lack of investment in development

infrastructure, this is a place where leadership understands that development requires tools,

staff, and strategic support.

The Impact: You'll see the direct line between your work and outcomes. The grant you secure

funds the attorney who files the case that protects voting rights. The donor you cultivate makes

Election Protection possible. The case you help make for regional expansion opens access to

justice across six states. This isn't abstract—it's tangible and visible.

The Challenge: Yes, it's ambitious. You'll be growing revenue significantly, building for

expansion, and working during a complex political moment. But you'll have what you need: a

committed Executive Director, strong existing relationships, a clear mission, and a team that

will support you.

To Apply

Please send resume and cover letter to Elesha Jackson at ejackson@clccrul.org with the subject

line “VP of Advancement & Engagement.” Review of applications will begin Wednesday, March

11, 2026. We will continue to accept applications until a candidate is selected.

In your cover letter, tell us:

1. About a time you personally cultivated and closed a major gift—what was your

approach?

1. How you've used technology or data to make fundraising more effective?
2. Tell us about a time you saw an opportunity or challenge before others did—what did

you notice, and what did you do?

1. Why does civil rights legal work in the Midwest matter to you right now?
2. What networks or relationships do you bring that could benefit CLC's mission?

Don't meet every single requirement? At Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, we are

dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about

this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in this description,

we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights values a diverse workforce and a culture of

inclusivity and belonging. We are an equal opportunity employer, and encourage applications

from all individuals without regard to an individual's race, color, sex, gender identity, gender

expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical

condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation,

genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state

or local laws. Those from groups historically underrepresented in the legal community are

strongly encouraged to apply.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary Range: $115,000 - $125,000 (commensurate with experience)
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
• 403(b) retirement plan with 3% employer match
• Generous PTO (15-20 days) plus sick leave and holidays
• Professional development support
• Flexible hybrid work arrangement (Chicago-based, in office 3-4 days/week)
• Schedule includes some evening and weekend events

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