Director of Abundance

Company Description

Chicago South Side Birth Center is a non-profit, independent, Black midwife-led birth center located on the South Side of Chicago. The organization offers birth and reproductive health care, education, resources, community groups, and holistic therapeutic services to people within their own neighborhood and community.

Job Summary

Chicago South Side Birth Center seeks a Director of Abundance to manage the Development Department and lead the organization's fundraising and development activities with a focus on developing and fine-tuning an annual giving program after a successful capital campaign. This new role will include creating and implementing donor development and retention strategies, directing fundraising events, and ensuring the organization's financial goals are met. The DOD reports to the Founder and Lead Steward and works in collaboration with the administrative team. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with the organization’s goals and objectives. This includes identifying new funding opportunities, stewarding existing donor relationships, and expanding the donor base. 
• Donor Management: Cultivate and maintain relationships with individual donors, foundations, corporations, and other potential funding sources. Ensure effective communication and engagement strategies are in place to build donor loyalty. 
• Fundraising and Development Activities: Direct all fundraising activities, including major gifts, planned giving, grants, fundraising events and fundraising volunteer management. Monitor and report on the effectiveness of these activities. 
• Departmental Management and Development: Lead, mentor, and expand the development department. Foster an environment of collaboration and continuous improvement. 
• Financial Management and Reporting: Work closely with the Founder & Lead Steward to develop and monitor the fundraising budget. Ensure accurate and timely reporting of fundraising activities and results to the board and other stakeholders. 
• Donor Communications: Partner with the communications team to ensure the cultivation and stewardship of donors through the organization’s communications activities. 
• Community Engagement: Represent the organization in the community, locally, across the country, and at various events. Enhance the organization's visibility and reputation to support fundraising efforts. 
• Compliance and Best Practices: Ensure compliance with all relevant laws and ethical standards related to fundraising. Stay informed about trends in philanthropy and nonprofit fundraising. 

Required Skills & Abilities: 

• The ability to develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy in line with the organization’s goals and objectives. This includes identifying new funding opportunities, stewarding existing donor relationships, and expanding the donor base. 
• Comfort promoting, discussing, and otherwise sharing an organization’s work with a variety of audiences 
• Experience managing a portfolio of high net worth and stewarding individual donors and/or institutional partners, preferably including supporting team members in doing the same. 
• Demonstrated success in grant research, writing, and reporting. 
• Excellent writing, listening, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with Donorbox, GiveButter, Monday.com, and/or a track record of learning and using a similar system 
• The ability to help track the impact of educational/organizing programs, to listen for and clarify the needs of organizations, and to develop and maintain the systems necessary for short, medium, and long-term grants management 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), Mailchimp, & Google platforms. 

Required Qualities & Occupational Mindsets: 

Required: 

• Strong interpersonal skills. 
• Creative and strategic thinker, fearless fundraiser.  
• Good problem solver. 
• Understanding of progressive social change and community organizing. 
• Demonstrated commitment to racial, gender, reproductive, economic, environmental, and social justice. 
• Experience in the South Side community desired. 

Preferred Education, Experience, and Certifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; Master’s degree or CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) a plus. 
• At least 5 years of professional fundraising experience in a nonprofit organization, with a proven track record of success, particularly in major gifts 
• The ability and desire to work with people with a wide variety of personalities, backgrounds, and passions 
• A clear understanding of interconnected systems of oppression and social determinants of health and how to talk about and write the story of the work 
• 4 years working in a social justice context (paid or unpaid work) 
• Previous experience with progressive funders/funder networks 
• A plus: Speaking/writing abilities in language(s) other than English 

Salary 

$85,000- $100,000 based on experience 

Location 

Hybrid, Chicago-based 

Benefits and Workplace Culture 

• Health Benefits: health, dental, vision
• 401K 
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Training and conference opportunities
• Professional Development annual funding
• Memberships (AABC, NBMA, etc.)

To Apply

Please send cover and resumes to: hrinfo@chicagosouthsidebirthcenter.org with the subject line: Director of Abundance