Director of Development

MISSION-DRIVEN, REPORTS TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STATEWIDE REGIONAL IMPACT

This isn't a typical development role at a typical nonprofit. Let It Be Us is redefining how Illinois recruits, matches, and places foster and adoptive families - using technology and relationship science to connect children with the foster and adoptive homes they deserve. We're looking for a relationship-driven, strategic individual to build the partnerships that make that mission possible.

16,000

Illinois children  in foster care FY25

$750K

DCFS contract awarded to Let It Be Us in 2025

Statewide

Reach - with regional and national growth ahead

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

Let It Be Us holds a DCFS contract to manage the Illinois Adoption Listing Service and the Heart Gallery of Illinois - putting us at the center of the state's child welfare ecosystem. As Director of Development, you'll work side by side with our Executive Director to build the funding foundation that allows us to grow, innovate, and serve more children and families across Illinois and the Midwest.

This is a rare chance to step into a high-impact, high-visibility role at an organization doing work that has never been done quite this way before. Your portfolio will focus on corporate sponsorships, family foundations, and major institutional grants.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Build and own a major gifts pipeline - Identify, cultivate, and secure funding from corporate sponsors, family foundations, and institutional grant makers aligned with our mission.
• Design the strategy, then execute it - Develop a comprehensive development strategy and bring it to life — with full support from the Executive Director and leadership team.
• Lead grant development end-to-end - Partner with our grant writer and Executive Director to develop, submit, and steward compelling grant proposals and manage funder reporting timelines.
• Create partnerships that last - Build deep, lasting relationships with corporations and family foundations across Illinois and the Midwest — designing tailored sponsorship opportunities tied to real program impact.
• Steward major donors alongside leadership - Cultivate and deepen relationships with high-level partners and donors, supporting recognition, communication, and ongoing engagement strategies.

WHY THIS ROLE IS DIFFERENT

Direct access to the founder - You'll work in close partnership with our Executive Director and Founder - not through layers of leadership. Your voice matters from day one.

Shape something new - Let It Be Us is building models that don't exist elsewhere. You'll help fund innovations in foster care matching and adoption that are setting the standard for the field.

Real, visible impact - Every dollar you raise connects directly to a child finding a permanent home. The mission is clear, the outcomes are measurable, and the work genuinely matters.

A culture worth coming to work for - We're a relationship-centered, high-performance team that believes in doing this work with both rigor and heart. No bureaucracy. Just purpose.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

Bachelor's degree required; experience in Illinois and Midwest philanthropic landscapes strongly preferred.

Demonstrated success building and sustaining meaningful donor and corporate partner relationships

Excellent written and verbal communicator - especially when developing proposals and making the case for mission.

Strategic thinker who can also roll up their sleeves and execute with discipline and drive.

Highly organized, self-directed, and comfortable managing multiple priorities without losing momentum.

Deep commitment to mission-driven work and genuine belief that every child deserves a permanent family.

OUR BELIEF

"Matching is relational and predictive - and every child deserves a stable, permanent family."

ABOUT LET IT BE US

We are an Illinois-licensed child welfare agency advancing technology-driven models in foster home recruitment, matching, and placement. We manage the Illinois Adoption Listing Service and the Heart Gallery of Illinois. We work at the intersection of data, relationships, and deep human purpose - and while we were founded in 2014, we're just getting started. Learn more at www.letitbeus.org. 

HOW TO APPLY

Please send your resume and cover letter to our Executive Director and Founder, Susan McConnell, at susanmcconnell@letitbeus.org.