Development director

Reports To: Executive Director

Status: Full-Time, Exempt (Some weekends and evenings required)

Salary Range: Commensurate with experience

Benefits: Group health insurance plan w/employer contribution

Position Summary

Chicago Jazz Philharmonic (CJP) seeks a Development Director to provide strategic leadership and execution of the organization’s fundraising and development goals. A successful candidate will be adept at communicating CJP’s mission and vision to a wide variety of audiences and stakeholders and will bring a passion for cultivating meaningful relationships to advance the organization’s artistic and educational impact.

The Development Director partners closely with the Executive Director to manage the organization’s grant portfolio, lead individual giving initiatives, and co-lead corporate sponsorship programs. This role includes developing and implementing CJP’s annual fundraising strategy, managing donor campaigns, and identifying new funding opportunities through grants, sponsorships, and partnerships.

CJP’s annual development strategy includes a major fundraising Think Big Event, two individual giving campaigns, corporate and foundation giving, and patron cultivation events associated with the organization’s performances and educational programs. The Development Director will also play a key role in donor engagement surrounding international residencies and cultural exchange events.

Individual Giving

• Envision and implement patron advancement and cultivation plans with the Executive Director and Communications Coordinator.
• Refine, create, and share analysis of patron attributes and giving behavior.
• Lead end-of-year and spring appeal campaigns.
• Update and manage patron database (Salesforce) to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Prepare donor acknowledgment letters and stewardship correspondence.
• Oversee the Jazzical Society monthly donor program.
• Track fulfillment of donations, sponsorships, and contributions.
• Develop donor segmentation strategies to enhance engagement and retention.
• Partner with the Executive Director to establish measurable fundraising benchmarks and assess progress quarterly.
  
  

Grant Writing & Foundation Support

• Partner with the Executive Director in writing and editing grant proposals and reports.
• Create and submit detailed project and organizational budgets for grant proposals.
• Partner with the Education Programs Manager and Executive Director to evaluate program outcomes and gather data for reports.
• Responsible for researching and writing new grants in conjunction with independent consultants
• Maintain an updated grant tracking and reporting calendar.
• Establish relationships with foundation representatives to build long-term funding pipelines.
  
  

Corporate Sponsorship & Partnerships

• Expand CJP’s corporate sponsorship program.
• Conduct research and outreach to identify new corporate partnership opportunities.
• Develop sponsorship packages and recognition benefits aligned with partner objectives.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director to build and steward corporate relationships.
• Leverage matching gift and employee engagement programs to maximize contributions.
  
  

Special Events & Donor Engagement

• In partnership with the Executive Director and Event Committee, organize and execute the organization’s annual Think Big Event.
• Develop and implement event planning procedures, budgets, and sponsorship strategies.
• Coordinate solicitation and procurement of silent auction, raffle items, and in-kind donations.
• Lead planning and execution for donor cultivation events throughout the year (e.g., Annual Impact Report Breakfast, pre/post-concert receptions).
• Assist with international donor trips, including logistics, itineraries, and stewardship communications.
• Represent CJP at community and industry events to engage current and potential supporters.
  
  

Board Relations

• Support the Executive Director in managing board giving campaigns and donor cultivation.
• Provide regular development updates and progress reports at board meetings.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director to identify and recruit new members aligned with fundraising goals.
• Assist in developing stewardship opportunities.
  
  

Marketing & Communications Collaboration

• Collaborate with the Communications Coordinator to develop compelling storytelling for campaigns, newsletters, and digital platforms.
• Ensure all development materials align with CJP’s brand identity and mission.
• Oversee creation of development collateral including sponsorship decks, donor recognition materials, and annual reports.
• Partner with the Communications Coordinator to execute digital giving campaigns and analyze performance data.
  
  

Data Management, Reporting & Analytics

• Manage donor and fundraising data in Salesforce and generate analytical reports for leadership and board use.
• Track campaign performance and fundraising outcomes to guide decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with donor confidentiality, data security, and ethical fundraising practices.
• Develop dashboards to visualize donor engagement trends and revenue streams.
  
  

Internal Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director in advancing a culture of philanthropy across the organization.
• Collaborate with staff to align development efforts with artistic and educational goals.
• Supervise and mentor administrative or intern staff supporting development tasks.
• Lead internal development meetings to coordinate campaigns, events, and timelines.
  
  

Professional Development & Innovation

• Stay current with fundraising trends and arts philanthropy best practices.
• Seek opportunities for professional growth such as Certified Fundraising Executive (“CFRE”) and apply innovative fundraising techniques.
• Recommend creative fundraising initiatives such as peer-to-peer campaigns, virtual events, or giving challenges.
  
  

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in nonprofit administration (arts administration preferred).
• 3–6 years of demonstrated success in fundraising, grant writing, and donor cultivation.
• Proven ability to develop and execute fundraising strategies and manage campaigns.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to craft compelling narratives.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work collaboratively and independently.
• Proficiency in Salesforce or comparable CRM systems.
• Skill in Microsoft Office and project management tools.
• Availability of working evenings and weekends.
• Passion for and commitment to Chicago Jazz Philharmonic’s mission, programs, and values.
  
  

To Apply

Please send your current resume to Laura Rice, Executive Director, at [email protected].

Chicago Jazz Philharmonic does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religious belief, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status, physical or mental disability or any other protected status in admission or access to, or employment in its programs and activities.