Ladies of Virtue (LOVChicago) · 1 month ago
Senior Development Manager
Chicago, IL
Full-time
Hybrid
Senior Level
$90K/yr - $95K/yr
5+ years expLadies of Virtue is a nationally recognized mentoring and leadership program focused on empowering girls. The Senior Development Manager will lead the development strategy, manage donor relationships, and oversee fundraising efforts to ensure the organization meets its revenue goals.
Education Management
Responsibilities
Build and own the annual fundraising plan and contributed revenue budget in partnership with the CEO
Manage and grow a diversified pipeline of individual, corporate, and foundation donors/partners, with clear moves management and forecasting
Hire and supervise a fractional Development Associate/Coordinator to support data, stewardship, and campaign execution
Ensure that Network for Good (or similar CRM) and related systems are accurate, effective, and donor-centered
Partner with our marketing consultants and social media team to move people from brand awareness (e.g., “This Black Girl” campaign, LOV Day, Decision Day) into deeper engagement and giving
Develop, implement, and continuously refine an annual fundraising plan and contributed revenue budget that aligns with Ladies of Virtue’s strategic plan and growth goals
Map a three-year vision for contributed revenue, including goals for individuals, foundations, corporations, and events/special campaigns
Create and monitor development metrics (e.g., donor retention and upgrade rates, LYBNT/SYBNT re-engagement, monthly giving growth, event ROI, email conversion, number of meaningful donor contacts) and provide regular updates to the CEO and Board
Maintain a clear moves management system so that prospects move through defined stages (identify → cultivate → solicit → steward)
Serve as a strategic thought partner to the CEO on fundraising priorities, pacing, and sustainability, helping to prevent burnout and overextension of staff
Manage and grow a portfolio of mid-level and major donors, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
Co-create customized strategies with the CEO for top prospects and donors; accompany or represent the CEO at donor meetings, small gatherings, community events, breakfasts, brunches, and evening galas (typically 1–2 evenings/early mornings per week)
Design and execute individual giving campaigns, including: Year-end giving and seasonal appeals, Special campaigns (e.g., funding a van or specific program needs), Growth of a monthly/recurring giving program
Work with the Development Associate/Coordinator to ensure timely thank-you calls, notes, emails, and impact updates for donors at all levels
Develop clear upgrade and retention strategies for existing donors
Provide strategic oversight and leadership of foundation and corporate giving
Maintain and monitor a corporate calendar capturing proposal deadlines, impact reports, site visits, stewardship touchpoints, and renewal dates
Collaborate with grant writers to ensure proposals and reports: Reflect accurate data and impact, Are aligned with LOV’s voice, values, and strategic priorities, Support multi-year and/or increased funding when appropriate
Identify and prioritize new institutional funding opportunities (corporate and foundation) that align with Ladies of Virtue’s mission, growth plans, and geographic focus
Participate in (and sometimes lead) external meetings, site visits, and presentations with institutional funders
Lead fundraising strategy and revenue goals for key annual campaigns and events, such as: LOV Day, Signature events and galas, Special project campaigns
Collaborate with event teams, staff, and vendors on guest lists, sponsorships, program design, and donor recognition with a focus on conversion of attendees into ongoing donors
Ensure post-event follow-up, segmentation, and cultivation plans are executed so that events deepen long-term relationships, not just one-time gifts
Serve as the owner of development data and systems, ensuring that Network for Good (or successor CRM) is accurate, up-to-date, and effectively used as a strategic tool
Establish clear data standards, workflows, and dashboards that track important KPIs and pipeline health
Supervise the Development Associate/Coordinator (once hired) to ensure: All gifts are entered and acknowledged promptly, Dashboards and donor records are maintained and regularly cleaned, Impact data, photos, and stories are gathered for reports, newsletters, and campaigns, Monthly e-newsletters and other recurring donor communications are sent consistently
Partner with LOV’s marketing consultant and social media manager to translate strong brand awareness into fundraising results
Help shape a communications and campaign calendar that aligns awareness activities (e.g., “This Black Girl” storytelling, Decision Day highlights, alumnae spotlights) with clear fundraising pathways and calls to action
Collaborate on content for fundraising-focused emails, web pages, impact stories, and social posts, ensuring messages are compelling, consistent, and rooted in the voices and experiences of our girls and alumnae
Directly supervise and support: Two Grant writers (contracted), Fractional Development Associate/Coordinator focused on data, acknowledgments, impact reports, and campaign support
Foster a culture of communication and partnership with the CEO, program team, and operations staff so that fundraising strategies reflect real-time program needs and impact
Partner with the CEO to engage the Board of Directors in fundraising, supporting them as ambassadors, donors, and connectors within their networks
Qualification
Required
5–8+ years of progressive nonprofit fundraising experience
Demonstrated success in individual giving and major gifts, including cultivating and soliciting gifts at the four- and five-figure levels (and above)
Experience developing and managing an annual fundraising plan and revenue goals, including setting and tracking metrics
Strong understanding of fundraising fundamentals and terminology (e.g., donor pipelines, LYBNT/SYBNT, moves management, stewardship, institutional funding, events as pipeline)
Comfort being a public-facing representative of the organization, including attending and sometimes leading early-morning, evening, and weekend donor-facing events (with appropriate schedule flexibility)
Proficiency with fundraising CRMs (Network for Good or similar) and the ability to use data and reporting to inform strategy and decision-making
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience writing donor communications, grant-related content, and making in-person solicitation asks
Strong project management and organizational skills; able to juggle multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-moving environment
Deep alignment with Ladies of Virtue's mission and a demonstrated commitment to the leadership of Black girls and young women
Preferred
Experience supervising staff and/or contractors (e.g., grant writers, associates, consultants)
Familiarity with email marketing tools (e.g., Constant Contact, Mailchimp) and working with marketing partners on campaigns
Knowledge of youth development, education, or gender equity sectors
Experience with the Chicago fundraising landscape and donor community
Benefits
Competitive benefits package, including a year-end office closure.
Company
Ladies of Virtue (LOVChicago)
The leading mentoring program for Black girls in Chicago - empowering a generation of confident, purpose-driven leaders.
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageLeadership Team
Jamila Trimuel
Founder & CEO
Company data provided by crunchbase