Hybrid Manager of Donor and Volunteer Relations en CHICAGO SCHOLARS FOUNDATION

Description

Reports to:  Chief Development and Operations Officer

About Chicago Scholars

At Chicago Scholars we strive to prepare our Scholars for the world and the world for our Scholars. Our dual focus on Scholars and the world are both essential to our strategy. The first part of our work supports college acceptance, matriculation, persistence, and career access for our Scholars. The second part allows Scholars to go beyond surviving to thriving, from achieving to excelling, from attending and working to belonging and exceeding. The first part of our work allows entry, the second truly opens up opportunity and redistributes power. To achieve these goals we center diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and racial justice so that we can launch and lift our Scholars and enable them to lead and leverage their power wherever they are on their journeys.

Chicago Scholars is transforming the leadership landscape of our city by resolving the fundamental barriers to success for academically driven, first generation college students from under-resourced communities. Through college counseling, mentoring, and by providing a supportive community to our Scholars through each phase of our program: College Access, College Success, and Career and Leadership Development, we ensure that they realize their full potential as students and leaders.

76% of Chicago Scholars graduate college within 6 years. Per the University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research, only 49% of their peers earn a degree within 6 years. Upon graduation, our Scholars move into leadership positions across Chicago, helping to drive the economic future of their communities and our thriving city.

READI Commitment 

At Chicago Scholars we strive to prepare our Scholars for the world and the world for our Scholars. Our dual focus on Scholars and the world are essential to our strategy. To achieve these goals, we center racial justice, equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion (READI) in all that we do. 

Chicago Scholars’ commitment to READI encompasses all of our stakeholders—from our staff to our board, from our volunteers to our partnering organizations, and most importantly our Scholars. This holistic approach is necessary for the sustained, long-term, positive impact that we seek for our Scholars, our neighborhoods, our city, and our world.

To learn more about Chicago Scholars commitment to READI, please visit chicagoscholars.org/readi.

At Chicago Scholars, we believe that education is social justice. That's why we're empowering Chicago's best and brightest first-generation college students and students from low-income communities with the mentors, resources, and opportunities to go to our nation's best colleges and universities, graduate on time, and become Chicago's next generation of leaders. Since 1996, we've impacted the lives of more than 5,000 young leaders in Chicago.

Our Values

These are a set of guiding principles that apply to all stakeholders within the Chicago Scholars ecosystem. We select and retain stakeholders based on these stated expectations for how we achieve our mission and vision. Each are supported with core competencies and narrative for the sake of clarity.

We Dream Big. We speak up, innovate, push the boundaries and keep the creativity flowing. We don’t accept the status quo because the stakes are too high. We have an incredible belief that growth and change is possible. While we dream big, we are laser focused on our intended goals and outcomes for our Scholars, our city and the world.

We Show Up. We show up every day; not just physically, but with a positive attitude and willingness to work, connect, challenge, engage, solve problems and have fun. We don’t wait for someone to tell us what to do. We take action and get the job done. If we don’t know how, we figure it out through our knowledge, exploration or our network.

We Embrace Our Differences. We represent a multicultural nation and our collective backgrounds, experiences, styles, values, perspectives and beliefs are an asset to the world. We recognize that together we achieve better outcomes more quickly. Justice and equity starts with us using our collective voice.

We Model the Way. We exhibit the behavior that we want to see in others and in the world. Titles are granted, but our behavior is what earns us respect. In order to model the way, we must be clear about our guiding principles, celebrate our accomplishments and learn from our challenges and failures.

We Care For Each Other. We adapt to the needs of the person in front of us. We pause, reflect and listen. We do our best work when we are in good relationship together. We care personally and challenge directly.

We Keep Our Word. When we commit, we are all in. Whether for events, a Scholar, a peer or ourselves. Our words are as powerful as our actions and are the building block of trust, respect, self-worth and integrity.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Director of Development, the primary responsibilities of the Manager of Donor and Volunteer Relations are to lead fundraising campaigns and steward meaningful relationships with individual donors, recurring donors, and volunteers. Additionally, plan and implement a comprehensive volunteer relations program resulting in increased engagement in every phase of Chicago Scholars programming (time, talent, treasure, and testimony), and serve as the staff liaison to the Associate Board. 

Requirements

Key Responsibilities:

Donor Relations

· Coordinate with the Development and External Engagement team to lead targeted fundraising campaigns in accordance with the annual development plan for different stakeholder groups including volunteers, mentors, etc.

· Manage portfolio of donors and relationships, including mid-level donors, corporate partners, Board of Directors, Associate Board and key volunteers

· Manage monthly Persister (recurring donors) giving program

· Assure that solicitations and all necessary follow up and stewardship are carried out appropriately and in a timely manner, including Salesforce documentation

· Contribute to annual development planning and assist in setting individual giving revenue goals

· Develop and propose strategies for solicitation of individuals, volunteers, and major gifts in partnership with Development and External Engagement Team and identify key staff members to be involved in subsequent cultivation and stewardship

· Conduct research to identify prospective donors and cultivate relationships

· Support gift entry and acknowledgment processes as needed

· Represent Chicago Scholars publicly at funder meetings, conferences, lunch and learns and other external engagements

Volunteer Relations

· In partnership with the Development and External Engagement team, coordinate an effective program for recognition, involvement, and stewardship of volunteers

· Manage individual volunteers for signature event engagement (i.e. Onsite)

· Develop and implement strategies for recruiting new volunteers, ensuring a diverse and inclusive volunteer base.

· Work closely with other departments to identify volunteer needs and opportunities for collaboration.

· Maintain regular communication with volunteers through newsletters, emails, and meetings to keep them informed and engaged.

· Provide ongoing support and resources to volunteers to ensure they have a positive and fulfilling experience.

Board Relations

· Serve as liaison to the Associate Board

· Set and communicate strategic priorities for Associate Board in alignment with Chicago Scholars organizational priorities

· Support the organization with Governing Board meetings and Board stewardship

Additional Responsibilities:

· This role will occasionally work on nights and weekends for Scholar and Development events and programming. This role is also required to attend and support mandatory all staff events 

· Supervise a collegiate Scholar intern who provides administrative support, curation of content for newsletters, and event related tasks

Requirements:

? Education: College degree required. 

? Experience: Minimum of 3+ years of experience; customer relations, volunteer management and/or nonprofit development experience preferred

? Must live in the Chicagoland area and have reliable access to transportation 

Technical Knowledge (if applicable to this role):

? Knowledge of Salesforce or other donor CRM is a plus

? Proficiencies with technology and standard office applications; willingness to adapt to new technologies

Core Competencies:

? Communication: Ability to speak in public and engage all stakeholders including staff, donors, students, external partners, mentors, volunteers, board members and donors. Demonstrated ability to cultivate and sustain relationships with diverse audiences.

? Project Management: Ability to plan and organize tasks and work responsibilities to achieve objectives; allocate and use resources properly.

? Accountability: Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion. Demonstrated ability to achieve high performance goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Ability to motivate and to take initiative as a self-starter.

? Continuous Improvement: Ability to propose new approaches, methods, or technologies to improve practices, processes, and outcomes.

? Adaptability: Ability to operate effectively and flexibly in changing contexts and operating environments. 

? Collaboration & Teamwork: Demonstrates awareness and respect of cultural and individual values. Listens to ideas from others, even when different from own. Is careful to ensure all sides are heard before reaching a conclusion. Shares time, energy and knowledge with others to ensure they can succeed. 

? Growth mindset: Views growth as important for personal and professional development; seeks out opportunities to expand skills, even if change is required. Ability to collect, enter and track accurate data to inform decision making. 

? Problem Solving and Critical Thinking: Able to break down tasks into manageable sections in order to make informed decisions and solve problems. Able to perceive and resolve a gap and overcome obstacles between a present situation and a desired goal. 

? Creativity and Innovation: The ability to craft organizational design and messaging in new and effective ways. Create and identify new approaches to address challenging situations and problems; develops new ideas or adapt ideas from elsewhere using best practices to create desired outcomes. 

Salary Range: $55,000 - $62,000

Best Offer First Policy: The data nationally show for every $1 paid to white men, women earn 82 cents, black men earn 88 cents, and black women earn 76 cents.  Women and black and brown people are also less likely to negotiate than their white male peers. Chicago Scholars has decided to offer our best offer first rather than wait for a potential negotiation. This allows us to set salaries based on market data and internal equity and ensure fair and equal pay for every role. 

If you have questions regarding either of the above policies, or any of Chicago Scholars employment policies, please reach out to the Human Resources team at [email protected] with the subject line: Policy Question.

To Apply

Please click 'Apply' to submit your application which should include a resume and cover letter no later than August 22, 2025, 5 pm CST. 

Please include a cover letter that explains your interest in Chicago Scholars and why your experience makes you well-suited to this role. Applicants must reside in the Chicago metropolitan area.