Vice President of Development
Apply NowCompany: Academy For Urban School Leadership
Location: Chicago, IL 60629
Description:
Job Type
Full-time
Description
Organization Overview
The Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) is a non-profit organization that provides equity-focused programming to improve educational outcomes for students in underinvested communities. Through our nationally recognized teacher residency, we develop high-quality, passionate educators in hard-to-fill subject areas. Founded in Chicago, IL, AUSL became the first urban teacher residency in 2001 and the nation's first in-district innovation zone in 2006. In addition, AUSL also offers value-add consulting services to school districts across the country, combining our knowledge of instructional design, leadership, and family engagement practices to galvanize school communities for optimal learning outcomes. Looking ahead, AUSL is entering into a period of rapid expansion as we work to address the nation's critical teacher shortage.
To learn more about AUSL, please visit our website at:
www.auslchicago.org
Role Overview
In partnership with the Executive Director, the VP of Development is responsible for all fundraising and development activities. The VP of Development will design and implement a comprehensive plan for meeting AUSL's annual fundraising goals, nurturing existing relationships, and building new relationships to increase overall funding as the organization grows to address the crippling national teacher shortage.
The right candidate will enjoy working at both the strategic and tactical levels in a fast-paced environment. In addition to establishing and implementing the infrastructure needed to achieve a $4M+ fundraising target, a major component of the VP's job will be taking a lead role in identifying and securing major gifts to broaden AUSL's funding base.
The right candidate will be an excellent relationship builder who will expand and diversify AUSL's donor base/pipeline and collaborate closely with other team members to secure funding for new initiatives. In addition, the VP of Development will work closely with the board of directors and support board members as they support AUSL's fundraising efforts.
It is expected that the amount raised by AUSL will increase in future years as the VP of Development systematically and effectively strengthens the organization's overall fundraising capacity.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Fundraising Strategy and Execution
Requirements
Application Instructions:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume along with their work experience examples by answering the following questions. Please note that the answers to these questions will replace the traditional cover letter:
Why AUSL and why now? Give examples* of two achievements that gave you true satisfaction in your career where you could say "Yes, I landed that goal!"
*Note: each example should use no more than 300 words.
AUSL is an equal-opportunity employer. Employees and applicants will be treated fairly and without regard to their race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit based factors.
Full-time
Description
Organization Overview
The Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) is a non-profit organization that provides equity-focused programming to improve educational outcomes for students in underinvested communities. Through our nationally recognized teacher residency, we develop high-quality, passionate educators in hard-to-fill subject areas. Founded in Chicago, IL, AUSL became the first urban teacher residency in 2001 and the nation's first in-district innovation zone in 2006. In addition, AUSL also offers value-add consulting services to school districts across the country, combining our knowledge of instructional design, leadership, and family engagement practices to galvanize school communities for optimal learning outcomes. Looking ahead, AUSL is entering into a period of rapid expansion as we work to address the nation's critical teacher shortage.
To learn more about AUSL, please visit our website at:
www.auslchicago.org
Role Overview
In partnership with the Executive Director, the VP of Development is responsible for all fundraising and development activities. The VP of Development will design and implement a comprehensive plan for meeting AUSL's annual fundraising goals, nurturing existing relationships, and building new relationships to increase overall funding as the organization grows to address the crippling national teacher shortage.
The right candidate will enjoy working at both the strategic and tactical levels in a fast-paced environment. In addition to establishing and implementing the infrastructure needed to achieve a $4M+ fundraising target, a major component of the VP's job will be taking a lead role in identifying and securing major gifts to broaden AUSL's funding base.
The right candidate will be an excellent relationship builder who will expand and diversify AUSL's donor base/pipeline and collaborate closely with other team members to secure funding for new initiatives. In addition, the VP of Development will work closely with the board of directors and support board members as they support AUSL's fundraising efforts.
It is expected that the amount raised by AUSL will increase in future years as the VP of Development systematically and effectively strengthens the organization's overall fundraising capacity.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Fundraising Strategy and Execution
- Support and partner with the Executive Director and board members to develop and refine the organization's fundraising strategy.
- Develop a pipeline of potential major donors and lead the solicitation of major gifts.
- Develop, build, and manage fundraising systems that ensure the quality of execution for individual, foundation, and corporate donations.
- Oversee grant writing and reporting efforts to secure and maintain grants from foundations and government sources.
- Oversee special events to increase visibility and generate financial support.
- Cultivate a high-performing team by fostering collaboration, empowering individuals, providing clear direction, and actively supporting professional growth, all while aligning with the overall development strategy and goals of the organization..
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing development team, including fundraising staff and volunteers.
- Provide regular updates to the Board regarding development goals, activities, and progress toward financial targets.
- Support Board members in their fundraising efforts, ensuring they are equipped with the resources and information necessary to engage with potential donors.
- Collaborate with the communications team to ensure fundraising efforts are aligned with the organization's branding and messaging.
- Oversee the development of materials and content for fundraising campaigns, including newsletters, brochures, and digital communications.
- Ensure that the organization's fundraising events and activities are effectively promoted and recognized within the community.
- Oversee the development and management of the fundraising budget, ensuring expenses align with the revenue goals.
- Monitor and report on fundraising progress and metrics, including donor retention, revenue growth, and the effectiveness of various initiatives.
- Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, financial reporting requirements, and ethical fundraising practices.
Requirements
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in building a strategy and vision, with at least 5 years of experience cultivating an energized team
- Bachelor's and Master's degree in a related field.
- Demonstrated success in consistently meeting and surpassing fundraising targets.
- Proven experience in expanding and nurturing relationships with existing donors while cultivating new donor connections through structured systems and strategic processes.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to influence and engage a wide range of donors and build long-term relationships.
- Excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Expertise in current fundraising platforms, donor management tools, and CRM software.
- High-level organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- A professional and resourceful style; the ability to work independently and as a team player, to take initiative, and to manage multiple tasks and projects at a time.
- Salary range $160,000 to $180,000, with bonus
- Medical Insurance
- Health Savings Account
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Accidental Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Short-Term Disability
- Long-Term Disability
- Dependent Care FSA
- 403(b) Retirement Savings
- Employee Assistance Program
- Parental Leave
- Perks at Work Discounts
- Paid Time Off (21 days per year)
- Holiday Time Off (15 days)
Application Instructions:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume along with their work experience examples by answering the following questions. Please note that the answers to these questions will replace the traditional cover letter:
- First example: Use a team achievement, giving us a sense of your leadership style.
- Second example: Describe how you supported and energized a development team to meet an annual fundraising goal. Include your vision, strategy, systems, and processes that helped to create a successful annual campaign.
*Note: each example should use no more than 300 words.
AUSL is an equal-opportunity employer. Employees and applicants will be treated fairly and without regard to their race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit based factors.