Development Manager

POSITION: Development Manager    

LOCATION: Chicago  

REPORTS TO: Executive Director  

SUPERVISES: N/A  

FLSA STATUS: Exempt   

ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION  

LIFT is a national nonprofit on a mission to invest in families to break the cycle of poverty. We believe that racial and gender wealth gaps stem from structural inequities that keep them trapped in a cycle where poverty, like wealth, is passed from generation to generation. At LIFT, we interrupt the generational transmission of poverty by partnering with parents of young children to build well-being, financial strength, and social connections – or as we like to put it, Hope, Money, and Love. LIFT’s one-on-one coaching program empowers parents to set and achieve goals that put families on the path toward economic mobility – such as going back to school, improving credit, eliminating debt, or securing a living wage. In addition to coaching, LIFT parents also receive direct cash infusions to reinvest in their families and goals. 

LIFT is at an exciting moment in its organizational trajectory. We aim to scale our impact by 1) making continuous improvements to our direct service model, 2) partnering with health care, postsecondary education, early child development, and government organizations to deliver LIFT’s model and influence change in those systems, and 3) influencing policy through the amplification of the voices of parents living in poverty on issues impacting their lives and communities. We are looking for team players who thrive in a growth environment of continuous improvement; are committed to LIFT’s work to combat intergenerational poverty and expand opportunity for families; and uphold LIFT’s values of diversity, equity, excellence, hope, and relationships.     

*LIFT operates sites in Chicago, Los Angeles, DC, and New York. Currently, LIFT is operating as a hybrid work environment. Accordingly, this role will be expected to work in the office at least two days a week in our Bronzeville location.  

POSITION OVERVIEW   

AS A DEVELOPMENT MANAGER YOU WILL:  

• Collaborate with the Executive Director to ensure year-round engagement and stewardship of all donors 
• Serve as the regional office’s key liaison with LIFT's national development team to ensure fundraising alignment and monitoring of progress to goal and create a pipeline management system 
• Support the Executive Director to build and implement annual campaigns (Family Supporter Network) 

• Partner with local program team on events to secure sponsorships, in-kind donations and donor engagement/stewardship opportunities (i.e. volunteer roles, hosting basic needs drives, etc.) 

Prospecting and Grant Support 

• Engage in prospect research and pipeline management to support leadership in soliciting gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations  
• Support grant writer in proposal narrative and reporting requirements; research new opportunities.  

Board Engagement and Events  

• Thought partner with the Executive Director around board engagement and meetings; Implement monthly correspondence and quarterly check-ins with the board 
• Partner with ED to coordinate special events with board members and/or external supporters (e.g LIFT n Learns) 
• Support Executive Director and Board Chair in prep and implement of quarterly Advisory board meetings  

Fundraising Operations  

• Reconcile donations with the Finance department and align with National Development to ensure local gifts are coded and tracked properly 

• Handle all administrative details associated with development meetings, events and board meetings (i.e. prepare and distribute notices, agendas, minutes, follow up notes, etc.). 
• Draft emails for Executive Director, as needed  

Communication  

• Continue to build and implement local donor email/communication plan 
• Collaborate with the LIFT National Development, Communications team and staff to draft content for quarterly national newsletter and other org-wide communications 

• Write and/or coordinate local blog post, member stories and draft social media posts  
• Initiation/preparation of donor acknowledgements (thank you notes and emails), pledge reminders, tax receipts and other donor correspondence. 

OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE  

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience  

• Excellent writer and verbal communicator that takes pride in creating compelling stories and content 
• Detail-oriented and proactive approach to managing time-sensitive and competing workloads 
• Experience with Individual giving/campaigns   
• Experience using Salesforce (preferred) or a donor management system  
• Experience using MailChimp (preferred) 
• Demonstrated track record of being customer service oriented 
• High-performing teammate that excels at working collaboratively 
• 3-4 years non-profit experience with a focus in development, communications and/or stakeholder engagement
• Ability to work occasional nights and weekends for fundraising and member events
• You are committed to LIFT’s mission and demonstrate LIFT’s values of equity, diversity, relationships, hope, and excellence.  

Don’t think you have everything for this role but are still interested? Please don’t hesitate to apply. We’d love to hear from you! LIFT believes that diversity in all dimensions of the organization supports and bolsters the innovative thinking essential to its success and is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants. LIFT’s goal is for our people to reflect the communities in which we live and serve and to ensure representation of people of color, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities in our organization.    

WHAT WE OFFER  

• Salary Range: $60,000.00 - $70,000.00/year. LIFT’s compensation philosophy is to pay competitively for our non-profit sector and ensure equity across the organization. Compensation for the role will depend on several factors including qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience.   
• Benefits:   

• Employer-paid health care coverage (100% for employees, 75% for dependents)  

• 403(b) retirement savings plan including an employer match contribution of up to 5% 
• Generous paid-time-off policy starting with 4 weeks in the first year (5 weeks in years 2-4, 6 weeks at 5+ years), Federal holidays, the day after Thanksgiving, Cesar Chavez day, and wellness days including a one-week organization-wide paid closure over the winter holidays (the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays), and a one-week organization-wide paid closure over the summer fiscal year transition (the week in which Independence Day is celebrated) 
• 12 weeks paid parental leave 
• Partial cell phone coverage  
• Pre-tax accounts for transit, health, and childcare benefits  

• Please see here for a more in-depth overview of LIFT’s Benefits and Culture.  

TO APPLY   
Please visit www.whywelift.org/careers to apply and submit a resume.