Assistant Disability Rights Jobs in Downers Grove, IL

CDEL Development Coordinator (Part-Time)

The Center for Disability & Elder Law (CDEL) provides free legal services to low-income older adults and persons with disabilities.  CDEL’s clients, individuals often marginalized by age, disability and income, may have difficulty accessing the legal system. CDEL strives to provide access to the legal system to assist our clients in asserting their legal rights and living better lives.

CDEL is seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Development Coordinator to support the Director of Development in advancing the organization's fundraising and donor engagement efforts. This part-time position provides critical operational and project support for grants management, donor stewardship and prospect research.

The ideal candidate enjoys working behind the scenes to keep fundraising efforts organized, thrives on managing multiple projects and is excited to contribute to an organization making a meaningful impact in the lives of older adults and persons with disabilities.

This position offers an excellent opportunity for a detail-oriented development professional seeking flexible, meaningful work while contributing to the growth of a dynamic nonprofit organization. Working closely with the Director of Development, the Development Coordinator will play an important role in strengthening CDEL's fundraising capacity and expanding access to justice for thousands of older adults and persons with disabilities throughout Cook County.

This position has hybrid flexibility with completely remote work a possibility.

Responsibilities

Grants Administration

• Maintain the grants calendar, tracking proposal and reporting deadlines through grant tracking software.
• Assist with the preparation, submission, and organization of grant applications and reports.
• Collect program data and supporting documentation for grant reports.
• Maintain grant files and records.

Prospect Research

• Research prospective individual, corporate, and foundation donors.
• Prepare donor and prospect profiles for cultivation meetings.
• Assist with identifying new funding opportunities aligned with CDEL's mission.
• Support donor pipeline development and moves management.

Donor Database & Stewardship

• Maintain accurate donor records and gift documentation.
• Assist with gift acknowledgments and stewardship communications.
• Generate reports and mailing lists from the donor database.
• Support donor recognition and stewardship activities.

Development Operations

• Assist with the preparation of fundraising materials, presentations, and donor communications.
• Provide operational support for fundraising campaigns and special events.
• Perform other development-related projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, grants administration, donor relations or a related field preferred.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong research and analytical abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities independently while meeting deadlines.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a hybrid work environment.
• Commitment to CDEL's mission of expanding access to justice for older adults and persons with disabilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience researching foundations, corporations, and major gift prospects.
• Familiarity with grant writing, grants administration, and grant reporting.
• Experience supporting fundraising campaigns, donor stewardship, or special events.
• Experience using donor relationship management (CRM) systems, with Bloomerang experience preferred.
• Experience using grant research and management platforms, with Grantseeker experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize competing deadlines, and work independently in a collaborative nonprofit environment.

Compensation & Schedule

• Part-time position averaging 10–15 hours per week (approximately 40–60 hours per month).
• Hybrid work environment with flexible scheduling and the opportunity to work remotely for much of the position.
• $25–$35 per hour, commensurate with experience.

About the organization

The Center for Disability & Elder Law (CDEL) is a dynamic 501(c)(3) legal aid organization dedicated to empowering low-income older adults and persons with disabilities in Chicago and Cook County through pro bono legal assistance. Founded by the Chicago Bar Association in 1982, CDEL serves more than 3,000 clients annually, delivering access to justice and improving lives.

With a talented in-house team and a network of hundreds of volunteer attorneys, students, and paralegals, CDEL focuses on resolving legal challenges in four key practice areas: end-of-life planning, adult guardianship, housing and consumer issues. Through innovative programs and passionate advocacy, CDEL ensures that legal solutions are within reach for thousands of individuals every year, enabling them to lead their lives with dignity and security.

CDEL is an equal opportunity employer. We are a welcoming community that engages, encourages and empowers those who are members of underrepresented communities. We are a dedicated advocate for our clients who hold many diverse identities and experiences, across race, color, sex, age, religion, class, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge, source of income, housing status and gender identity. We believe that these communities must be centered in the work we do. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized and underrepresented communities to apply for this position. We also encourage you to read our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement available on our website.

Position is open immediately and will be closed when filled. Applications received by August 15, 2026 will be given preference.