Development Associate

About the Illinois Policy Institute
The Illinois Policy Institute is one of the nation’s leading free-market public policy organizations. We advance policies that promote economic freedom, personal liberty, and good governance, working to ensure Illinois is a state where families, businesses, and communities can thrive.

Through rigorous policy research, strategic litigation, and public education, Illinois Policy Institute plays a central role in shaping policy debates in Illinois and beyond. Our work is fast-paced, consequential, and grounded in a belief that principled ideas—paired with disciplined execution—can drive real reform.

About the Role
The Illinois Policy Institute is hiring a Development Associate to support a growing and high-performing fundraising operation. This role is ideal for an early-career professional who is eager to learn the fundamentals of nonprofit development while contributing meaningfully to donor engagement, stewardship, and revenue growth.

The Development Associate supports day-to-day fundraising activities, including proposal and report drafting, prospect research, donor communications, event support, and data management. This role is an important entry point into institutional fundraising and provides hands-on exposure to major gifts, foundations, and strategic donor relationships.

The Associate will report to the Vice President of Development and work closely with senior members of the development team, including major gifts staff, gaining direct mentorship and insight into how a best-in-class development shop operates.

This role is ideally based in Chicago (hybrid; minimum three days per week in office) .

Key Responsibilities

Proposal & Writing Support

• Draft and edit donor proposals, impact reports, and stewardship communications
• Maintain and update institutional boilerplate, program summaries, and funding materials

Prospect Research

• Conduct research on prospective donors, foundations, and partners
• Summarize findings and track cultivation activity within the organization’s CRM

Gift Processing & Data Management

• Coordinate with Finance and Operations to record gifts, pledges, and donor interactions
• Support reconciliation processes to ensure accurate and timely reporting

Stewardship & Acknowledgment

• Assist with drafting thank-you letters and donor acknowledgments
• Support donor club materials and ensure prompt, professional follow-up

Donor Outreach & Scheduling

• Assist with meeting coordination, briefing preparation, and personalized donor outreach
• Support senior staff in preparing for donor meetings and calls

Event Support

• Assist with donor receptions, briefings, and institute events
• Support logistics, guest coordination, and post-event follow-up

Qualifications

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and dependable
• Interest in fundraising, philanthropy, communications, or public policy
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office or Google Workspace; CRM experience a plus (training provided)
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Willingness to occasionally support events outside standard business hours (up to 10%)

What You Will Learn

• How to write effective donor proposals and impact reports
• How to use a modern CRM to track fundraising activity and donor engagement
• How donor meetings and events are planned and executed
• How a professional development team supports revenue growth and long-term donor relationships

Growth Opportunities
This role is designed as a foundation for a long-term career in nonprofit development. As the Associate grows in experience and skill, they will take on greater responsibility across donor stewardship, grant management, and prospect support.

Strong performers may advance into more senior development roles, gaining increasing ownership over donor relationships, strategy execution, and institutional impact.

Values Alignment
The Illinois Policy Institute’s development team is collaborative, disciplined, and results-driven. We are building a fundraising operation that matches the seriousness and scale of our policy work.

We are seeking a teammate who believes in free-market solutions, limited government, and the importance of private philanthropy in advancing durable reform—and who is eager to contribute to that mission through integrity, self-accountability and excellence in execution.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience ($55,000–$70,000)
• Performance-based bonuses
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with employer match
• Generous paid time off and holidays
• Professional development and training opportunities

How to Apply
Qualified candidates should submit the following materials in one PDF document :

• Cover Letter , including:
  • Three specific reasons you are drawn to the Illinois Policy Institute’s mission
  • At least one policy issue or reform area that resonates with you
  • Salary requirements

• Resume

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/.

Questions can be directed to Stephanie Keaveney, Senior Manager of Outreach at Talent Market, who is managing the search process: [email protected].

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.

Talent Market is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.