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Director of Foundations & Grants

Reporting to the Managing Director of Development as part of the team responsible for raising $3.5M annually, the Director of Foundations & Grants will work closely with the entire City Year Chicago (CYC) development team, staff, corps, and board to expand our revenue base with foundation partners. As a member of the Development team, the Director of Foundations & Grants will lead stewardship of current grants and foundations as well as identify and secure new partnership funding to drive student impact through national service. The ideal candidate is an effective relationship builder and storyteller who can bring our student impact work to life through strong presentations, communication, and grant proposals that inspire transformational investment from current and future foundation partners. They will be a creative fundraiser passionate about social justice that leverages their networks, knowledge of local and national foundations, City Year relationships, and targeted prospecting to build a robust pipeline of champions. They will develop tailored prospect engagement that builds genuine connection in advancing this important work, which includes prioritizing time and resources to ensure maximum return.

Starting salary range for this role is $75,000 - $85,000. Anticipated start date for this role is summer 2026. This is a primarily in-person role with flexibility to periodically work remotely.

Responsibilities

• Grants & Foundation Relations
• Oversee a portfolio of foundations to maintain $1.4M+ funding annually with a goal of increasing funding by $100,000 or more within 12 months through active prospecting of new foundation funders.
• Working with City Year's national foundation's team, write strong grants that get funded 85% of the time.
• Working closely with the Managing Director of Development and apply knowledge of organizational initiatives to identify, research, and set strategies for grants and foundations that are prospects for CYC's initiatives.
• Ensure reports and letters of intent are submitted in a timely manner to ensure ongoing funding
• Strategy & Revenue Leadership
• Own and lead the overall strategy for the foundation's revenue stream, including goal-setting, forecasting, and performance tracking to ensure sustained growth.
• Partner with CYC leadership and national development staff to align foundation strategy with organizational priorities and multi-year planning
• Continuously evaluate and refine approach to foundation engagement using data insights, sector trends, and partner feedback to ensure CYC remains competitive and compelling in a shifting philanthropic landscape.
• Develop and present strategic revenue plans to senior leaders and the Board to drive shared accountability and partnership in advancing fundraising outcomes.
• Cultivation and Stewardship
• Ensure the successful stewardship of current foundation donor relationships by managing appropriate frequency of outreach, communication, appreciation and involvement.
• Work with staff and key stakeholders to develop, execute and evaluate strategies to engage institutional partners through outreach, education, invitations to special events, and personal contacts; support implementation of funded programs and initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications department to create and implement communications and acknowledgement related to cultivation and stewardship of grants and foundation partners.
• Development Operations
• Work with the Senior Manager of Development Operations to ensure accurate tracking and reporting of institutional gifts and engagement using City Year's Salesforce CRM.
• Partner with the Senior Manager of Development Operations and other team members to hold regular prospecting, pipeline, revenue forecasting, and moves management meetings.
• Work closely with fellow Development team members to understand priorities and business goals and develop strategies to meet the organization's needs.
• Work with the development team to leverage events to increase giving, such as City Year's Ripples of Hope fundraiser, service days (school beautification projects), and school visits for potential donors.
• Represent City Year at external and partner functions to establish and deepen potential and current donor relationships.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred; five or more years of relevant work experience including knowledge of fundraising for non-profit or educational organizations preferred.
• Strong knowledge base of all aspects of fundraising with a strong emphasis on individual giving programs.
• Experience working with foundations, identifying prospects, and writing grant proposals
• Experience using donor/relationship management software to track donors, establish goals, and generate reports (experience with Salesforce preferred).
• Authorized documentation to work in the United States of America
• Criminal background history clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with an ability to engage and inspire a wide range of audiences.
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to handle multiple tasks and think critically.
• Passion for and understanding of City Year's work within the national service movement and education sphere.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office platforms required.
• City Year and AmeriCorps alumni are encouraged to apply.
• Demonstrated project management competency.
• Highly ethical standards of professionalism and integrity.
• Ability to execute a strategic plan and motivate staff.
• Ability to work as both an independent leader and a team member.

Competencies

• Communication: understands audience to deliver convincing and well-organized presentations; facilitates effectively to move initiatives forward; uses brand to convey mission and goals; coaches others.
• Team Leadership: successfully leads diverse teams of individuals to achieve results; sets priorities and appropriately delegates tasks; holds people accountable - proven ability to engage in cognitive conflict and hold staff accountable towards their performance goals.
• Decision Making/Judgment: understands and manages organizational decision-making, including integration across network/departments; effectively communicates, manages, owns, and champions decisions being implemented.
• Project Management: staff organizes, prioritizes, tracks, and manages workflow and resources.
• Strategic Thinking and Planning: develops and translates strategies into objectives, action plans, and measurements, which build the capacity of the site/department.
• External Relationship Development: takes initiative in establishing new partnerships and external opportunities; ability to secure commitments to organization.

Working Conditions

• Local travel required, including to local partner schools and events, and to other City Year sites and national conferences
• Must have access to reliable transportation or the ability to navigate public transit
• Occasional lifting or carrying of materials (e.g., event supplies, training materials) up to ~20 lbs.
• Works a hybrid schedule, including typical 3-4 days in-person, with occasional periods of longer in-person commitments
• Must have reliable internet access when participating in any required virtual meetings or trainings

A cover letter and resume must be submitted to be considered for this position. Preferred resume formats will depict not only a candidate's responsibilities and job functions in previous work, but will include specific, quantitative results where applicable. Additional quantitative context around specific budget sizes, team sizes, or other work environment information will help City Year compare the scale of your work environment with our operations.

Full-time employees will be eligible for all benefits including vacation, sick days and organization holidays. You may participate in all benefit programs that City Year establishes and makes available to eligible employees, under (and subject to all provisions of) the plan documents that govern those programs. Currently, City Year offers medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death and dismemberment and disability coverage, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), and other benefits including 401(k) plan(s) pursuant to the terms and conditions of company policy and the 401(k) plan document. For more information, click here.

Employment at City Year is at-will.

City Year does not sponsor work authorization visas.