Director of Philanthropy (Full-time, hybrid)

Position Highlights

• Excellent opportunity to impact the lives of youth
• Full-time, hybrid position​​​​​ (see below for specifics)
• Compensation: $110K-$130K annually, commensurate with experience
• Reports to the President
• Supervises the Events & Volunteer Manager
• Location: HQ Wilmette, IL

Company Overview:

Hope Ignites Chicago, formerly Boys Hope Girls Hope of Illinois, is a Residential Scholarship program and catalyst that helps young people achieve their full potential. We connect with youth ages 10-13 who are bright, motivated, and inspired to help their families break the cycle of poverty and create a new beginning. In partnership with their families and guardians, our job is to guide and nurture them along the way. We help them find their purpose and passion by exposing them to life, educational, and professional opportunities they might not otherwise be able to access.

We make a long-term commitment to our young people from middle school through high school, college, and into their early careers. Our Residential Scholarship program is the primary home for scholars who receive round-the-clock care in a structured, loving environment. We provide scholarships, wrap-around support, and connections to internships and jobs for post-secondary/collegian students.

Hope Ignites Chicago has 20+ team members and more than 150 volunteers who work together to serve 60+ young people. Hope Ignites Chicago is part of an international network. Network-wide, we serve 1,200 young people in 15 cities across the United States, Guatemala, and Mexico. Scholars come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and we encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply. 

Position Overview:

This is an exceptional opportunity for a senior development and fundraising professional who is passionate about Hope Ignites Chicago's mission and has a proven track record of identifying and strategically cultivating authentic, productive relationships with donors.

Primary responsibilities include strengthening existing relationships to increase engagement and giving, as well as identifying and cultivating new high-potential donors to build a robust philanthropy pipeline. The Director of Philanthropy engages with prospects, current donors, and community leaders as a senior representative of Hope Ignites Chicago.

The Director of Philanthropy works closely with the President, Board members (including the Governing Board’s Revenue Committee), committed donors, and volunteers to identify, cultivate, and solicit major gift donors. This role also oversees recruitment, stewardship, and retention activities through point-of-entry events, prospect identification, and personal networking.

Additionally, the Director of Philanthropy is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing Hope Ignites Chicago’s individual giving initiatives and annual fund campaigns, as well as leading planned giving efforts.

The Director of Philanthropy supervises the Events & Volunteer Manager to achieve fundraising goals through three signature events (e.g., Golf Outing, Gala, Spring Event). Working closely with the President, Governing Board members, and volunteers, the Director provides strategic direction on event ideation, planning, and execution. Ultimately, this role ensures that all activities are well-planned, timely, and appropriate.

In addition, the Director of Philanthropy oversees the grants program, including maintaining the annual grants calendar, ensuring timely submission of applications and reports, collaborating with staff and contractors, identifying new revenue opportunities, representing the organization at grant-related events, and cultivating relationships with funders.

Hope Ignites Chicago values high-performing team members who prioritize strong, respectful relationships with colleagues and stakeholders. The team culture is grounded in trust, transparency, and open communication.

What You Will Be Responsible For:

• Develop a strong working knowledge of Hope Ignites Chicago, including its strategic initiatives, programs, Scholars, and funding priorities.
• Promote the organization’s mission across the community, including the North Shore and the City of Chicago.
• Contribute to a positive and collaborative organizational culture.
• Demonstrate integrity, ethical behavior, and fiscal responsibility in support of the mission.
• Perform additional duties as assigned, including evening and weekend commitments for events.

60% – Individual Giving Strategy & Relationship Management

• Develop and execute strategies to grow the donor base by identifying and recruiting major gift prospects.
• Conduct 15–20 face-to-face visits per month, building and managing a portfolio of 100–125 active prospects and donors capable of giving $10,000+ annually.
• Grow major gifts revenue to $500,000 within the first 18 months and to $750,000–$1 million in subsequent years.
• Collaborate with the President and staff to expand corporate support beyond event sponsorships.
• Supervise the Events & Volunteer Manager.
• Partner with the President and Board of Directors to foster meaningful donor and community relationships through intentional stewardship.
• Manage prospects within a team-based approach, utilizing the defined Core Process to guide fundraising efforts.
• Maintain accurate, timely tracking of donor and prospect interactions, including documentation of all communications.
• Engage Board members, volunteers, and community leaders for referrals and participate in point-of-entry and fundraising events to cultivate relationships.
• Identify meaningful volunteer opportunities that engage major donors and prospects.
• Coordinate with development staff on prospect communications, including contact reports, proposals, acknowledgments, and stewardship materials.

25% – Fundraising Events Oversight

• In partnership with the President, oversee all fundraising event planning and execution.
• Supervise the Events & Volunteer Manager to ensure events are well-organized, meet revenue goals, stay within budget, and exceed attendee expectations.

15% – Grants Management

• Collaborate with staff and contractors to develop and implement a strategy for growing grant revenue.
• Write approximately 30% of grant applications annually.
• Ensure all grant reports are accurate and submitted on time.

What You Bring to the Role:

The successful candidate will bring demonstrated leadership in the nonprofit sector and the ability to engage high-performing Board members and supporters effectively.

• Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) required; Master’s degree and/or CFRE preferred.
• 5–10+ years of experience in fund development or related fields, preferably within education or youth development.
• Proven success in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gifts ($10,000+).
• Experience managing a portfolio of 125–150 donors.
• Commitment to and understanding of Hope Ignites Chicago’s mission and beneficiaries, with strong cultural sensitivity.
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Familiarity with prospect management systems; Salesforce experience is strongly preferred.
• Willingness to leverage professional expertise and networks to advance the organization’s mission.
• Strong team orientation, with a commitment to organizational culture.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High degree of diplomacy, tact, and professionalism.
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and passion for supporting Scholars.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• A sense of humor!

Compensation, Benefits, and Job Structure:

Cultivating strong donor relationships requires flexibility, including early mornings, evenings, and occasional weekends.

This position follows a hybrid schedule:

• Standard office hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., three to four days per week onsite
• Remote work: Fridays (all staff) and one optional offsite day (Monday–Wednesday)

The hybrid schedule will be finalized after 90 days, subject to the President's approval. This is a fast-paced, high-impact role.

How to Apply:

Please submit your resume through the NextGroup website. The NextGroup search team will contact you regarding the next steps.

About NextGroup:

NextGroup is Chicagoland's leading executive search firm and nonprofit talent network connecting mission-driven organizations with exceptional leaders who drive impact. We customize talent solutions with our nonprofit partners, recruiting permanent, fractional, and interim professionals across executive leadership, finance, development, and operations. 

We have a network of 10,000+ professionals in Chicagoland and beyond. We reject cookie-cutter approaches and instead partner with you to build human capital strategies that match your unique growth and capacity-building needs. NextGroup also provides career coaching and transition services to professionals advancing in the social impact sector.