The Organization
Since 1992, CAPE has engaged students, inspired teachers, transformed schools, and demonstrated impact by weaving the arts into academic classrooms across Chicago. CAPE is a fiscally sound organization that has a successful history of receiving support from private and public sources.
Position Overview
To further the reach and impact of CAPE’s work, we seek a trustworthy, dedicated, and experienced professional to support our individual giving efforts as a consultant or part-time staff member. A successful candidate will enjoy collaborative work and will be excited to learn about, train in, and undertake a significant role in CAPE’s approach to individual giving.
Working at CAPE, the Development Officer will have the opportunity to support and to build upon a growing network of individual donors by contributing to individual giving efforts, organizing special events, collaborating with CAPE’s Board of Directors and Associate Board, and supporting marketing and communications strategies. The Development Officer will report to the Executive Director and will coordinate her/his work with CAPE’s Communications & Marketing Manager and the Grant Writer.
- Compensation: Commensurate with experience
- Status: Part time employee or consultant, depending on candidate preference
- Hours: 20 hours per week; some evenings and weekends required for meetings and special events
- Benefits: Part-time employees are eligible for certain benefits, including access to health insurance and 401k.
- Location: Based at the CAPE Offices at 228 S. Wabash, partial work-from-home arrangements are possible.
- Reports to: Executive Director
- Starting Date: January 2019
Responsibilities
Donor Acquisition
- Lead semi-monthly information sessions on CAPE’s mission designed to educate and inspire prospective donors
- Engage potential donors to determine interest and set next steps for further engagement
- Support volunteers and board members in identifying and cultivating potential new donors
Donor Cultivation and Retention
- Schedule and attend meetings, phone calls and small group events with annual fund donors
- Meet with program staff and visit classrooms to collect information and stories to share with potential and current donors
Donor Solicitation
- Support the Executive Director in scheduling meetings and calls with the members of CAPE’s Creative Learning Society
- Develop and organize mission-driven small-scale special events for Creative Learning Society Members
- Develop, and when appropriate present, solicitation materials and proposals for leadership gifts
Administrative
- Work with Communications & Marketing Manager to create and distribute fundraising mailings (physical and digital), including calendar maintenance, printing, and mailing
- Meet quarterly with the Office Manager to reconcile accounting and fundraising records
- Contribute to foundation and corporate prospect research, and contribute to grant proposals if needed
- Maintain and update information in CAPE’s donor management database and create reports as needed by CAPE board and staff
- Serve as the staff liaison to the development team consisting of board members, volunteers and staff members
Special Events
- Lead the planning, execution, and follow up related to CAPE’s annual fundraiser, smaller donor events, discussion panels, and art exhibitions throughout the year
- Support the CAPE Associate Board in developing and executing 2 or 3 special events each year
Board Relations
- Participate in the CAPE Board of Directors Development and Marketing Committees
- Work with the Executive Director to schedule committee meetings and confirm attendance
- Attend and take minutes at board and committee meetings as needed
Staff Meetings
- Participate in weekly Advancement Team meetings and quarterly staff meetings
Qualifications
- Ability to articulate a passion for the arts and arts education and/or a personal connection to public education
- Demonstrated understanding of prospect identification, cultivation, and solicitation strategies
- Bachelor’s degree required in a related field
- Passion for engaging with potential and current donors, both one-on-one and in group settings
- Proficiency in Word, Excel, Google Apps, and at least one donor management database (Bloomerang a plus)
- Ability and eagerness to travel occasionally to schools located all across Chicago and to occasional conferences and workshops nationally
- Comfort with working independently and collaborating with colleagues and volunteers
- Excellent verbal and written communications skills that can be adapted for different audiences
- Understand and abide by generally accepted fundraising ethics and privacy standards and policies
- Experience with Benevon a plus
How To Apply
Please visit CAPEchicago.org/development-officer to review job posting and submit application materials through the form link available at the bottom of the page.