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Vp Development Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

WFMT

Vice President of Development

Chicago, IL · On-site

$120K/yr

The Vice President of Development is a senior fundraising leader who will help shape the future of WTTW and WFMT, one of the nation's most respected public media organizations. This role will advance ...

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Vp Development information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$67.5K

$151.9K

$253.9K

How much do vp development jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for vp development in Chicago, IL is $151,872.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,500.00 and $180,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a VP of Development typically collaborate with other departments to achieve organizational goals?

A VP of Development works closely with teams across the organization, including marketing, finance, program management, and executive leadership, to align development strategies with overall business objectives. They often coordinate cross-departmental initiatives, facilitate communication between technical and non-technical stakeholders, and ensure that development projects support the company’s growth and innovation targets. Effective collaboration in this role is essential for streamlining processes, securing resources, and driving successful project outcomes.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a VP of Development, and why are they important?

To thrive as a VP of Development, you need extensive experience in fundraising, strategic planning, and team leadership, often supported by a relevant degree and a strong track record in nonprofit or institutional advancement. Familiarity with donor management software (such as Raiser’s Edge or Salesforce), CRM systems, and fundraising analytics tools is typically required. Exceptional interpersonal skills, persuasive communication, and the ability to build lasting relationships with stakeholders are crucial soft skills for this role. These competencies drive successful fundraising campaigns, ensure donor engagement, and support the organization’s long-term growth and mission.

What does a VP of Development do?

A VP of Development is responsible for overseeing and leading the development team within an organization, which can include areas like software, business, or fundraising depending on the industry. Their main duties involve setting strategic goals, managing teams, securing resources, and ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget. They also serve as a bridge between executive leadership and development staff, aligning projects with the company’s overall vision. This role requires strong leadership, communication, and project management skills.
What are the most commonly searched types of Development jobs in Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Development jobs in Chicago, IL are:
Vp Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Vp Development job openings in Chicago, IL as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $151,872 per year, or $73 per hour.
Vice President, Development

Vice President, Development

Blessings in a Backpack

Chicago, IL • On-site, Remote

$110K - $130K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 3 days ago

Job description

BACKGROUND
Blessings in a Backpack mobilizes communities, individuals, and resources to provide weekend food for school-aged children across America who might otherwise go hungry. Guided by a 'One Team for All Kids' philosophy, Blessings is transforming operations to drive measurable impact and growth, building on a remarkable legacy of providing 30M hunger-free weekends while reaching over 1M children in just 15 years.
Founded in Louisville, Kentucky with an office in downtown Chicago, Blessings has grown tremendously and currently consists of 4 regionals teams, 7 chapters, 1200+ community-driven programs, 45 employees across 11 states, and a $16M operating budget. Blessings is focused on evolving operations, maximizing mission delivery, and cultivating a culture of collective achievement.
Position Summary:
The Vice President of Development is the architect of the organization's central fundraising engine and a key driver of enterprise-wide growth. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer (CDO), this role is responsible for directing the foundation of central fundraising services, including individual giving, grants, and special events, to ensure fundraising teams are equipped with the infrastructure and strategy needed to scale.
The Vice President bridges the gap between high-level strategy and tactical execution by directly managing a high-impact portfolio of national and multi-market donors. This role ensures that Blessings in a Backpack's fundraising operations are consistent, sophisticated, and high performing across the entire 'One Team' landscape.
Key Responsibilities:
Enterprise Fundraising Strategy & Central Services
  • Partner closely with the CDO to shape the organization's overall fundraising vision and identify opportunities that can be activated locally and scaled across markets.
  • Direct Individual/Leadership Giving, Grants, and Special Events, participate in corporate giving initiatives and standardize the core pillars of the development department.
  • Build the 'Fundraising Playbook': Create and deploy the centralized frameworks, toolkits, and scalable models that support local execution of campaigns that incorporate the local touch but sophistication reflective of our national size and presence

High-Impact Portfolio & Multi-Market Growth
  • Directly manage and grow a curated portfolio of high-capacity individual donors and national corporations and foundations.
  • Identify and close multi-market opportunities and partnerships in collaboration with national partnerships, marketing, and regional teams.
  • Ensure alignment and consistency across markets while respecting local context and relationships.

Strategic Partnership with Regional Leadership
  • Act as a senior thought partner to Regional Vice Presidents, supporting regional performance through strategy, insight, and collaborative problem- solving.
  • Translate enterprise fundraising priorities into clear, adaptable frameworks that support local decision-making and execution.
  • Identify common challenges across regions and elevate solutions that drive consistency and performance.

Development Operations & Influence
  • Work in close partnership with the Development Operations Director to ensure systems, data, and reporting inform strategy and goal-setting.
  • Use performance data to assess effectiveness, identify trends, and recommend strategic adjustments.
  • Influence across teams and functions without direct operational control, building alignment through trust and clarity.

This role is ideal for a leader who is:
  • The Systems Architect: Thinks in enterprise-wide impact; builds the central fundraising foundation and 'engine' required to power national and regional growth.
  • The Clarity Finder: Thrives in complexity and ambiguity; distills messy, high-level challenges into clear, actionable frameworks and strategic paths forward.
  • The Collaborative Influencer: Leads through peer partnerships rather than hierarchy; builds deep trust with regional leaders to drive alignment and shared success.
  • The Strategic Voice: Delivers insight and perspective to senior-level conversations; serves as a high-level thought partner who provides the CDO with executive-level clarity.
  • The Mission-Driven Producer: Motivated by measurable impact; directly manages a high-impact portfolio to mobilize resources that provide weekend food for school-aged children across America.

Qualifications & Experience:
  • 10+ years of progressive fundraising experience, including senior-level leadership or strategy roles.
  • Demonstrated success across individual giving, events, and/or grants in a multi- market or complex organization.
  • Experience partnering with senior leaders to shape fundraising direction.
  • Strong strategic, analytical, and facilitation skills.

Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in a nonprofit with regional, chapter-based, or federated structures. Experience supporting enterprise fundraising initiatives with local execution. Comfort working across teams with shared accountability.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
  • Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
  • The ability to communicate with colleagues, partners, and clients via phone, video call, and email.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
This position may be hybrid or fully remote, depending on the candidate's location. Relocation assistance is not provided. Occasional travel will be required for team meetings, donor engagements, training, and organizational events.
BENEFITS
Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability Insurance, Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Paid Winter Break, Summer Fridays, FSA Plan, 403(b) Plan
APPLY NOW: JOIN OUR TEAM AT BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK
Interested individuals are encouraged to submit their applications by visiting our career page at: https://blessings-in-a-backpac...
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Blessings in a Backpack is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender or transsexual individual), sexual orientation, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current or prospective service in the uniformed services, predisposing genetic characteristic, domestic violence victim status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.
Blessings in a Backpack is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you need reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the recruitment process, please email HR at: HR at blessingsinabackpack . o r g

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