Vice President, Development

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs
$200,000 - $225,000 - There are many benefits to working at the Council, including a flexible remote/in-office work environment (in-office 3 days per week), employer-subsidized medical/dental/vision insurance, generous paid time off, retirement match, hal
United States, Illinois, Chicago
130 E Randolph St (Show on map)
Oct 27, 2025
ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is where your world and the world meet. The Council is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that empowers more people to help shape our global future. Through content and engagement experiences that offer diverse, fact-based perspectives and in-depth analysis, we foster dialogue on the world's most critical issues. We are committed to building an inclusive community of globally conscious people who want to actively participate in global affairs and gain the knowledge that can help them make a tangible impact - big or small - in the world. THE ROLE The Vice President, Development is a key member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and plays an essential role in developing philanthropic strategies (identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship) and in ensuring the philanthropic goals are successfully met. The VP will be an experienced, entrepreneurial, fundraising professional, who will work with the Council's ELT to build a dynamic, innovative, and sustainable financial base for the Council. The Vice President will build, lead, and manage a team focused on: 1) individual fundraising (Board, major gifts, and annual fund); 2) institutional donors (corporations, foundations, and government entities); and 3) fundraising/private events such as the annual Global Leadership Awards Dinner. This position works closely with the Executive Leadership Team to cultivate and sustain a culture of philanthropy, collaborating across all Council departments to develop, innovate, and maximize fundraising initiatives. This is a highly engaged, both internal- and external-facing role, with a strong emphasis on in-person relationship building and team collaboration. The Vice President is expected to be in the office at least three days per week, attend occasional evening events, and proactively initiate meetings with current and prospective donors. Initially overseeing a team of two full-time staff members, the Vice President will strategically guide the department's growth to achieve and sustain annual philanthropic support of $12 million. The successful candidate will be a strategic, highly organized, and results-driven professional with an entrepreneurial mindset and a passion for exceeding goals. They will demonstrate initiative and skill in cultivating and sustaining meaningful relationships with donors and prospects - including philanthropic leaders, emerging next-generation supporters, and corporate executives. As an authentic and inclusive leader, the candidate will inspire collaboration across departments, cultures, identities, and perspectives, and will excel at building, motivating, and managing a high-performing development team. MAJOR OBJECTIVES Within the first 9 to 12 months, the Vice President will work to achieve the following major objectives: Develop and execute a strategic plan for philanthropy that aligns with the mission and programs of the Chicago Council and leads to increased contributed revenue year-over-year. Establish a MOVES management-type system and structured processes around all contributed revenue streams (individual, institutional, and government) with a focus on rebuilding and growing a robust major gift program. Successfully meet revenue goal of $1.5 million for the 2026 Global Leadership Awards Dinner. Successfully meet Board Annual Fund revenue goal. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Oversees all aspects of the professional fundraising program, including major gifts, corporate donors and partnerships, foundations/grants, restricted fundraising, special events, and the Board annual fund Leads and directs the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospects and donors. Partners closely with the CEO, COO, and Board Members to create cultivation and stewardship strategies that will move prospects successfully to solicitation. In addition, works closely with the development team to form and implement donor/prospect strategies and ensure best practice standards are met Coaches and manages a high performing team of professional fundraisers to execute effectively on goals. Establishes and maintains metrics and dashboards to monitor performance towards achieving goals. Fosters a culture of continuous improvement by using data to make decisions and course corrections Manages a personal portfolio of 50 to 75 leadership-level donors and prospects, developing customized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies and building a pipeline of six and seven-figure plus prospects Attends Board Meetings and Development Committee meetings, and, in partnership with the Leadership Team, develops agendas, prepares Board Committee Chairs and PowerPoints for meetings, etc. Represents the Council at events and in meetings with current or prospective donors and partners Works with the CEO to establish robust and realistic annual philanthropy revenue goals and metrics for ensuring accountability. Prepares development team expense budget, and manages and monitors both expenditures and revenue to ensure goals are being met Ensures high-level functioning of development operations systems and processes, including the establishment of best practices for gift processing and donor acknowledgement systems Works closely with the Brand Content & Strategy Team/Communications on strategies to attract new partners and donors and enhance the Chicago Council's philanthropic visibility QUALFICATIONS AND SKILLS The ideal candidate will bring most of the following qualifications: A genuine passion for the mission and programs of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and a drive to ensure a diverse, welcoming, and inclusive environment Bachelor's degree required. Master's degree preferred. A minimum of 12 years of fundraising experience, preferably with individual giving at a leadership level and with a track record of successfully securing six and seven-figure contributions Results-oriented, flexible, ethical, and collaborative with strong interpersonal skills that promote trust with prospects, donors, and staff Proven experience significantly growing an institution's fundraising revenue, and a record of accomplishment of developing and implementing donor strategies that have expanded and diversified the funding base Experience hiring, motivating, and managing a fundraising team, and the ability to serve as a coach and mentor to staff Experience effectively managing a multi-functional department, including budget administration, developing, writing, executing development plans, planning, and overseeing major projects, and leading strategic planning for a team Excellent verbal, written, listening, and public presentation skills Ability to work collaboratively with teams across several departments and levels Ability to work evening and early morning events; Regional travel and limited international trips may be required Strong computer and software skills, including Salesforce, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams