Since 1975, Shelter Youth and Family Services has been a leader in Chicagoland for providing the emotional and physical care, programs, and services that children need to build safer, healthier, and brighter futures. We are the only agency in the state of Illinois to provide fully comprehensive and community-based services for children and families at risk and in need. Our programs include emergency housing, transitional living, foster care, home visiting, and clinical support services. We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Shelter Youth and Family Services is committed to providing safe, inclusive, and supportive resources for youth and families from all backgrounds and identities. We actively strive to create an environment that supports all employees, placing value in contributions from people from diverse backgrounds, and honoring all experiences, perspectives, and unique identities. Our mission is to protect children, strengthen families, and transform communities. Joining us in this role will give you a chance to help fulfill that mission and help the community. Shelter Youth and Family Services is a smoke free and drug free workplace.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work is performed primarily in the assigned facility, and occasionally in vehicles, meeting rooms both in the facility and at other agency sites.
Job Overview
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Fundraising Leadership & Strategy – 65%
- Lead all fundraising strategy, planning, and efforts to meet or exceed the agency’s charitable revenue goals.
Financial Overview:
o Development Department raised last year: $1.8M
o Development Department goal this year: $2.0M
o Development Department goal in three years: $4M
o Total Organization Budget last year: $10M
o Anticipated organization budget this year: $11.2M
o Anticipated organization budget next three years: $14M
- Develop a large and new community of donors, and prospects, through relationship building and deep engagement to raise funds.
- Design and execute a comprehensive multi-year development plan to grow philanthropic revenue from $2 million to $4 million+ annually.
- Personally manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects; lead strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts at the five-, six-, and seven-figure levels.
- Design and execute an integrated annual and multi-year development plan with specific revenue targets, timelines, and strategies across major gifts, annual giving, corporate and foundation partnerships, events, and planned giving.
- Transform contacts into new relationships and strategic asks according to donors’ potential.
- Oversee funding sources and trends, with foresight, to help position the organization ahead of major funding changes or trends.
- Align development strategy with Shelter’s mission priorities, including expansion of residential services, community outreach, and systemic advocacy for children and youth.
- Launch and lead campaigns for capital, programmatic, or emergency needs as necessary.
- Introduce and optimize donor management tools, metrics, and pipelines using NEON CRM to ensure data-driven decisions and measurable ROI.
- Provide strategic guidance and tactical support for special campaigns, including capital, growth, or emergency initiatives.
Team Management & Department Oversight – 20%
- Grow, train, supervise, and mentor development staff and communicate fundraising goals and progress throughout the year.
- Develop a strategic roadmap for scaling the development team from 2 to 5+ FTEs over the next 2–3 years, with clear hiring priorities, role design, and performance expectations.
- Recruit, onboard, and retain top talent across major gifts, foundation/corporate giving, events, donor relations, and communications.
- Foster a high-performing team culture grounded in accountability, coaching, shared goals, and professional development.
- Implement SOPs, performance tracking tools, and cross-training systems to build departmental resilience and capacity.
- Mentor team members to increase their effectiveness, confidence, and readiness for expanded responsibilities.
- Use data analytics and NEON CRM to track campaign performance, donor engagement, event success, and fundraising ROI.
Board & Community Engagement – 10%
- Partner with the CEO and Board of Directors to deepen board involvement in fundraising and donor engagement.
- Serve as the staff liaison to the Development Committee and actively collaborate with committee members and event chairs.
- Represent Shelter at external events, conferences, and donor meetings to enhance visibility and forge new partnerships.
Marketing & Communications Collaboration – 5%
- Support the creation and implementation of marketing and community outreach strategies that align with fundraising goals.
- Oversee messaging for donor appeals, event promotions, and external development materials in coordination with marketing and communications.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Bachelor's degree and minimum 7 years of progressive development experience in nonprofit fundraising.
- At least 5 years of management experience, including supervising teams achieving annual revenue targets in nonprofit sector or comparable sales role.
- Demonstrated success in personally securing major gifts and managing donor relationships.
- Strong knowledge of development operations, donor, and data-driven decision-making.
- Ability to build trust between stakeholders, lead through influence, and represent Shelter’s mission with integrity and passion.
- Embodies entrepreneurial spirit and growth-minded attitude.
- Understands how to read financial reports, produce budgets, and present investments.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking abilities.
- Must have a valid Illinois driver’s license, vehicle, and automobile insurance.
- Must pass DCFS background check, fingerprinting, TB test, and submit academic transcripts.
Preferred
- Advanced degree in nonprofit management, public administration, or related field.
- 10+ years of fundraising experience, including capital campaigns, donor analytics, and planned giving.
- Experience with state and federal grants and contracts preferred.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Bachelor’s degree and 7+ years of progressive development experience, with a track record of managing and growing philanthropic revenue.
- At least 3 years in a leadership role with experience building or significantly scaling a development team or department.
- Demonstrated ability to grow donor bases, lead successful major gift initiatives, and create sustainable fundraising systems.
- Strong management skills with experience supervising cross-functional teams and overseeing recruitment, performance, and retention strategies.
- Experience in donor database management (NEON CRM preferred), data analysis, and building performance dashboards.
- Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills; a collaborative leader with high emotional intelligence.
- Valid Illinois driver’s license, access to reliable transportation, and ability to travel locally for meetings and events.
- Must pass DCFS background check, fingerprinting, TB test, and submit academic transcripts.
Preferred
- Advanced degree in nonprofit management, public administration, or related field.
- 10+ years of nonprofit fundraising experience, including leadership of a team through a period of organizational growth or change.
- Experience substantially scaling a development department and diversifying its funding model.
CLASSIFICATION STATUS
This is an exempt position.
Attn – Shelter Youth and Family Services encourages the application of all bilingual applicants to work with our client community. Applicants who can successfully certify their skill level in reading, speaking, and writing in two languages with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services may receive an additional salary stipend. Certification testing is set by DCFS.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $85,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Referral program
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Monday to Friday
Education:
- Bachelor's (Required)
Experience:
- previous Development: 2 years (Required)
- Employee Management : 2 years (Required)
- Neon CRM: 1 year (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Arlington Heights, IL 60004 (Required)
Willingness to travel:
- 25% (Required)
Work Location: In person
