Senior Director of Philanthropy

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION

Renaissance Social Services, Inc. (Renaissance) is a leader in Chicago’s response to homelessness. Renaissance prevents and ends homelessness for vulnerable Chicagoans, providing a range of proven solutions including prevention, outreach, rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing, behavioral health care, and clinical case management. Renaissance is proud to have earned the Four-Star Charity rating from Charity Navigator and the Platinum Transparency rating from Candid.

JOB SUMMARY

The Senior Director of Philanthropy provides strategic vision and direction for all fundraising, marketing, communications, and community engagement initiatives that advance Renaissance’s mission. This position is charged with leading the Philanthropy Department to achieve ambitious goals for revenue generation, brand visibility, and public engagement. The Senior Director will cultivate and steward high-value donor relationships, strengthen community and public partnerships, and ensure the organization’s philanthropic strategies are innovative, sustainable, and impactful. This role works closely with senior leadership and multiple departments to strategically manage and grow corporate and foundation partnerships using data, collaboration, and shared design, prioritizing long‑term relationships and sustainable organizational growth.

Reporting directly to the CEO, the Senior Director will oversee the Director of Philanthropy and manage contracted professionals to deliver exceptional results.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Resource Development
• Lead the creation and timely submission of high-quality letters of intent, grant proposals, concept papers, presentations, and reports to corporate, foundation, individual, and government funders.
• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for Renaissance’s portfolio of public and private grants, managing the full lifecycle of funding opportunities, including prospecting, application development, renewals, reporting, and compliance. Ensure all submissions are timely, accurate, and aligned with funder priorities, while positioning the agency for sustained growth, strong relationships with funding partners, and enhanced competitiveness in securing new resources.
• Expand and strengthen the organization’s individual donor base; oversee annual giving and capital campaigns; and cultivate, solicit, and secure major and planned gifts. Tailor proposals and donor communications to reflect each donor’s interests, values, and relationship with the organization.
• Secure pro bono professional services to advance the organization’s mission.
• Provide timely narrative and data-driven reports to the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and Philanthropy Committee on fundraising performance and progress toward established goals.
• Design and implement major gift initiatives and special fundraising campaigns to meet or exceed annual operating revenue targets.
• Support all public relations events including participating in event planning and coordination; recruiting, training, and evaluating volunteers; and evaluating outcomes.
• Partner with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to advance fundraising, board development, and marketing objectives outlined in the organization’s Strategic Plan.
• Collaborate with program staff and organizational leadership to gather compelling data, testimonials, and multimedia assets that strengthen the case for support of the organization’s mission and programs.

Communications

• Develop, implement, and assess the organization’s strategic communications plan to enhance visibility, engagement, and brand recognition.
• Direct the creation of marketing and communications materials, including brochures, annual reports, newsletters, and public information resources such as press releases, media advisories, broadcast scripts, visual presentations, and multimedia content.
• Oversee content creation and management across all communication channels, print, digital, social media, and multimedia, to ensure consistent brand identity and audience engagement.
• Maintain and enhance the organization’s website, creating new content and graphics as needed.
• Lead the planning, coordination, and evaluation of public relations events, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and brand standards.
• Build and manage relationships with media contacts; respond to inquiries; distribute content and press releases; and proactively pitch stories to secure coverage.
• Recruit, manage, and direct independent contractors, including graphic designers, web developers, photographers, and videographers, to deliver high-quality communications products.
• Support the Executive Director in producing events and meetings that cultivate relationships, engage stakeholders, and strengthen the organization’s public profile.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS 

• Coordinates effectively across departments 
• Develops talent, clarifies goals, and fosters a strong, mission‑aligned team culture.
• Holds teams accountable to KPIs while prioritizing impact and ongoing improvement.

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of five (5) to ten (10) years of progressively responsible nonprofit leadership experience, including senior-level fundraising and communications, with a demonstrated record of measurable success.
• Expertise in fundraising strategies, donor cultivation, and fundraising operations, with strong knowledge of local, regional, and national funding sources.
• Ability to establish, nurture, and leverage relationships with business executives, philanthropists, government leaders, and community representatives.
• Proven track record in securing significant philanthropic investments from nonprofit, corporate, foundation, and public sector partners.
• Familiarity with donor networks and philanthropic communities within Illinois.
• Demonstrated success in managing relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively across departments and with executive leadership. 

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree preferred; bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• Fundraising credential such as Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) preferred.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to inspire and influence diverse audiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to foster trust and collaboration.
• Competence in reading and interpreting financial statements.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and donor management systems (especially DonorPerfect) required; experience with Adobe Creative Suite (Acrobat, InDesign, Photoshop) preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, fluid environment while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strategic thinker who can balance big-picture vision with meticulous execution.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Creative problem-solving skills and a results-driven mindset.

Salary : $90,000 - $110,000