Development and Executive Assistant

*PLEASE NOTE HOW TO APPLY*

Please submit a resume and cover letter to Elesha Jackson, [email protected] with the subject line “Application for Dev & Executive Assistant.” Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Development & Executive Assistant

Reports to : Executive Director (primary); Vice President of Advancement (dotted line)

Classification : Full-time, 40 hours/week | Contracted Position

Compensation : $55,000 annually

Location : Chicago, IL (Hybrid 2x/week in office)

Start Date: TBD

About the Organization

Founded in 1969 as part of the Kennedy-era Lawyers' Committee movement, the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights is Chicago's preeminent nonprofit civil rights legal organization. Our mission and strategic direction explicitly focus on racial equity, and we collaborate with grassroots organizations and other advocacy groups to implement community-based solutions that advance civil rights.

We provide legal representation through in-house staff and long-standing partnerships with over 30 member law firms. We mobilize 600+ volunteer attorneys , generating millions of dollars in donated legal services annually.

Our integrated legal team works across four core practice areas: Voting Rights, Equitable Community Development & Housing, Education Equity, and Economic Justice.

About the Role

The Development & Executive Assistant serves as the Executive Director’s dedicated development and administrative partner. This role is centered on supporting the ED’s personal fundraising portfolio — managing the calendar, preparing for and following up on donor meetings, and building profiles of the individuals, corporations, and institutions the ED is cultivating. Reporting to the Executive Director with a dotted line to the Vice President of Advancement, this person will also provide broader support to fundraising operations and events. The ideal candidate is highly organized, a strong researcher, detail-oriented, and passionate about civil rights, thriving in a fast-paced nonprofit environment where no two days look the same.

Key Responsibilities:

ED Fundraising & Donor Cultivation Support (approximately 60%)

• Research and build profiles of prospective and current donors, board members, law firm partners, corporate contacts, and institutional funders the ED is meeting with — including background, giving history, professional affiliations, interests, and relationship notes. Maintain and update these profiles on an ongoing basis. 
• Support the planning and execution of fundraising events, including the Annual Gala
• Coordinate event logistics such as venue liaison, catering, vendor management, invitation tracking, attendee registration, and day-of support. 
• Prepare sponsorship packets, donor cultivation materials, and grant application support documents in coordination with the Development team. 
• Manage follow-up after the ED’s donor meetings: send thank-you notes, schedule next steps, track commitments and pledges, and ensure timely outreach so no relationship falls through the cracks. Coordinate with the Development team to relay updates for the funder database. 
• Leverage AI tools (e.g., Claude) to draft donor communications, analyze giving data, research prospective funders, and streamline grant writing and reporting workflows. 
• Coordinate with the Communications team on donor-facing content, including newsletter segments, social media appeals, and the annual impact report. 

Calendar Management & Administrative Support (approximately 40%)

• Own the Executive Director’s calendar, proactively scheduling and prioritizing donor meetings, board interactions, law firm partner touchpoints, and funder calls. Prepare the ED in advance of each meeting with relevant donor profiles, briefing memos, talking points, and context on the relationship. 
• Draft, proofread, and format correspondence, memos, board reports, and presentations on behalf of the Executive Director. 
• Support board member engagement by tracking commitments and follow up on action items. 
• Handle travel arrangements, expense reports, and administrative filing for the Executive Director. 
• Serve as a professional first point of contact for external stakeholders reaching out to the Executive Director’s office. 

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• 2+ years of experience in an administrative, development, or operations role, preferably in a nonprofit or legal setting. 
• Familiarity with donor management software (Little Green Light, Bloomerang, or similar CRM) and ability to pull reports and coordinate with database staff. 
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Google Workspace. 
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain attention to detail. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft professional correspondence and reports. 
• Demonstrated discretion and good judgment handling confidential information. 
• Comfort working in a collaborative, mission-driven environment with a small, dedicated team. 

Preferred 

• Experience in fundraising, event planning, or donor relations in a nonprofit organization. 
• Familiarity with project management tools (Asana, Monday.com, or similar). 
• Experience supporting C-suite or senior leadership. 
• Interest in or commitment to civil rights, racial equity, and social justice. 
• Strongly preferred: Experience using AI tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT, or similar) to support fundraising, donor research, grant writing, or nonprofit communications. Comfort experimenting with new technology to increase team efficiency. 

Salary and Benefits

• Annual salary: $55,000. 
• Full-time, 40 hours per week. 
• This is a contracted position with the potential for conversion to a permanent staff role based on organizational needs and performance. 
• Professional development opportunities within a growing civil rights organization. 
• Collaborative, mission-driven work environment at the forefront of Midwest civil rights advocacy. 

Work Environment

This position is based in Chicago, Illinois, with an in-office 2 days/week component. Some evening and weekend availability may be required for events such as the Annual Gala and Power of Connection symposium.

To Apply 

Please submit a resume and cover letter to Elesha Jackson, [email protected] with the subject line “Application for Dev & Executive Assistant.” Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights values a diverse workforce and a culture of inclusivity and belonging. We are an equal opportunity employer, and encourage applications from all individuals without regard to an individual's race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. Those from groups historically underrepresented in the legal community are strongly encouraged to apply.