The Illinois Policy Institute seeks a development associate to join our development team, playing a key role in supporting the institute’s growth, fundraising, and outreach initiatives. The ideal candidate will be analytical, detail-oriented, adept at prioritization and execution, and comfortable using data-driven applications. Frequent interaction with donors and potential donors through phone, email and in-person meetings requires excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Responsibilities
- Act as a special assistant to the vice president of external relations
- Handle inquiry calls, emails and mail for the development team, responding or routing them efficiently.
- Engage with individuals to schedule meetings.
- Coordinate and prepare for key meetings with development officers, including document preparation, meeting reminders, and logistical arrangements for both physical and virtual meetings.
- Support direct mail campaign management including assisting with large-scale mailings.
- Assist in the collection, organization and accurate entry of donor information.
- Collaborate with the team in problem solving and strategy discussions.
- Use screening platforms to assess donor and foundation capacity.
- Utilize CRM platforms to analyze donor behavior and history for meeting preparation.
- Support development events and fundraising activities involving the president and executive team.
- Compile donor data for specific projects and attend development and all-staff meetings.
- Plan and manage donor events, both in-person and virtual.
Qualifications and requirements
- A minimum of 5 years of professional administrative experience.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel, including formatting, mail merges and basic functions.
- Experience with database navigation and data entry.
- Familiarity with Salesforce CRM and Eventbrite.
- Event planning experience.
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong prioritization and multitasking abilities.
Compensation
The salary range is $50,000 to $75,000, based on experience. The compensation package includes health (medical and dental plans with employer contributions), 401(k), flexible spending benefits, and paid vacation and sick days.
Location
The position is based in our Chicago office, with a hybrid work policy allowing up to two days of remote work per week.
To Apply
Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials:
- Résumé
- Cover letter detailing:
- Your interest in this position
- Why the mission of the Illinois Policy Institute resonates with you
- Your salary requirements
- A sample meeting request letter