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Director of Development & Communications

Company:
Woodstock Institute
Location:
Chicago, IL, 60603
Pay:
85000USD - 105000USD per year
Posted:
May 01, 2025
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Description:

Job Description

Benefits:

403(b) matching

403(b)

Competitive salary

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Paid time off

Parental leave

Vision insurance

The Director of Development & Communications is responsible for planning and implementing a comprehensive fundraising strategy and advancing the organizations research and policy advocacy work with external audiences including the news media, consumer and advocacy organizations and community leaders, funders, and members of professional and business groups. The Director of Development & Communications will engage with potential funders and external audiencesfrom both obvious and unlikely cornersto support work that aims to make a more equitable economy.

Key Organizational Relationships

Reports to the President & CEO

Supervises the Communications Associate

Maintains close collaborative working relationships with Director of Applied Research, SVP of Policy & Advocacy, Office Manager, public relations consultants and accounting / finance consultants

Fosters and maintains good relationships with funders and their relevant staff, and with media, consumer and advocacy organizations, community leaders, and members of professional and business groupsDuties and Responsibilities

Fundraising

Construct and drive a fundraising strategy that advances Woodstocks mission and work

Update and ensure the quality of Woodstocks contact relationship management system

Identify and implement new fundraising opportunities; ensure and maintain diversity of funding streams

Conduct prospect research on, and track, relevant foundation, corporate, and individual prospects and funders

Draft, edit, and submit timely grant proposals, letters of interest and required reports

Track, synthesize, and report institutional metrics for fundraising and institutional development purposes

Plan, promote, and execute annual Economic Justice Awards event

Work with accounting / finance consultant(s) to monitor and track organizational income and relevant expenses, including monthly reconciliations

Assist with preparation of organizational budget

Provide development and communications reports for Board of Directors meetings; encourage and track board donations

Provide direction for Office Manager related to specific fundraising and database tasks

Initiate an individual giving program based on availability of resourcesCommunications

Manage and support Communications Associate to create content, conduct outreach, develop contacts, and create/maintain communications systems including website and social media

Coordinate and review/edit organizational communications in conjunction with directors, communications associate, and public relations consultant(s)

Strategize to determine type, timing, and focus of organizational communications

Act as liaison between communications associate and directors to discern priorities when demand for communications efforts is high

Assist with planning, promotion, and execution of research and policy events as needed

Work with community-based organizations and advocacy groups to gather and amplify stories to advance Woodstocks mission

Manage and coordinate relationships with and work of communication vendors, e.g., public relations, graphic designer, photographer, printer

Create and maintain an organization style guide, including appropriate nomenclatureQualifications

Required

Bachelors degree and/or relevant experience in the field, five years or more preferred

Ability to create and implement development and communications strategies that accommodate a growing organization and responds to community needs

Ability to work effectively and independently under the pressure of multiple tight deadlines and budgetary constraints

Willingness to implement new systems to improve fundraising and communication infrastructure

Experience raising funds from a variety of sources (foundations, corporations, individual donors)

Proficiency in writing and editing compelling proposals, reports, op eds, letters, articles, etc.

Experience in conducting prospect research

Exceptional relationship management skills

Collaborative mindset and creativity to leverage new opportunities to achieve progress

Basic understanding of content management systems, contact relationship management systems, and the ability to interpret and communicate key lessons from data

Excellent written and spoken English language communications skills, very detail-oriented

Strong commitment to economic justice issues, as evidenced by previous professional and/or personal work

Ambitious, self-motivated, and able to work independently and effectively in a fast-paced environment

Ability and willingness to travel occasionally to attend work-related events outside regular work hours in evenings and on weekends

Demonstrated expertise using Microsoft Office Suite and various development and communications softwarePreferred

Demonstrated expertise using Adobe Creative Suite, WordPress, Tableau, Twitter/Blue Sky, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Foreign language skills, Spanish ability preferred

Full-time

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