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Development Manager

Waukegan, IL
$45,000 – $55,000 a year – Full-time (Mon to Fri)

Position
Under the supervision of the Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships, the Development Manager plans, develops, and executes the organization’s fundraising programs with current and prospective donors to increase and diversify revenue streams private giving that will support the organization’s programs and goals. The Development Manager is responsible for managing the donor database and serves as grant administrator for private and foundation grants. This position supports the Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships with targeted outreach and donor communications while taking ownership of the individual donor stewardship cycle to ensure personalized, meaningful engagement. This role will also support YCC Board members with outreach and fundraising efforts, tracking and communicating progress in a timely, ongoing manner.

Benefits
401(k), Dental insurance, Health insurance, Life insurance, Paid time off, Vision insurance

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Primary Responsibilities

  • Development & Donor Stewardship (60%)

    • Support all aspects of the individual donor lifecycle: cultivation, solicitation, acknowledgment, and retention.

    • Manage and maintain the donor CRM (Network for Good), serving as the primary administrator for database operations:

    • Ensure accurate and timely data entry

    • Create and run segmented mailing lists and reports

    • Maintain donor interaction records, giving histories, and tracking systems

    • Oversee list hygiene and database integrity

    • Provide CRM support and training for relevant team members and board users as needed

    • Generate personalized thank-you letters, email follow-ups, milestone messages, and stewardship reports.

    • Coordinate donor acknowledgment systems and year-round stewardship touches (cards, updates, event invites, etc.).

    • Track donor engagement trends and help identify opportunities to re-engage or upgrade supporters.

    • Support direct mail and digital fundraising campaigns with data segmentation, personalization, and performance tracking.

    • Serve as liaison to Board of Directors for donor reports, commitment menus, and other communications

    • Coordinating Board of Directors committee meetings for Fundraising and Marketing committee – invitations, zoom links, etc

  • Fundraising Events & Volunteer Support (20%)

    • Assist with the planning and execution of fundraising events such as Build Brews Bears, Rockegan, golf outing, and other community engagement events

    • Support pre-event communications, registration, signage, and run-of-show coordination.

    • Capture and share photo and video content at events for real-time and post-event marketing

  • Marketing & Communications (20%)

    • Create or coordinate production of photo and video content that captures YCC’s mission in action.

    • Work with YCC’s freelance marketing communications coordinator to produce consistent, high-quality materials for outreach and branding.

    • Coordinate with marketing coordinator to update the YCC website with fresh stories, events, and donor-facing content.

    • Support media relations efforts and press coverage.

    • Support Events and Volunteer Coordinator with recruiting, tracking, and follow up communications.

Qualifications

  • 2-3 years of progressive fundraising experience.

  • Relationship management.

  • Project management for large- and small-scale projects.

  • Donor database management (CRM) and reporting.

  • Experience working with donors and volunteers.

  • Prior experience in grant writing and management.

  • Successful completion of criminal background checks, including but not limited to fingerprinting, National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and state police background check

Essential Functions

  • Strong organizational skills.

  • Ability to work well under pressure.

  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

  • Technical and creative writing.

  • Knowledge of donor data and database platforms.

  • Ability to manage volunteer board and committee members.

  • Maintain accurate and timely records and assist in preparing professional reports.

  • Strong interpersonal skills with excellent written and verbal communication.

  • Positive, collaborative team player.

  • Flexibility to work evening or weekend hours.

  • Solid skills in Microsoft Office and ability to learn and utilize other platforms.

Required Skills

  • Ability to read, write and communicate effectively.

  • Ability to research grant opportunities and potential donors.

  • Ability to work cooperatively within a multi-program, multi-grant funded environment.

  • Ability to communicate clearly and professionally, both orally and in writing.

  • Ability to work independently, maintaining strong attention to detail and managing workload to meet goals.

  • Possess a proficiency in Microsoft Office and ability to learn data management system.

  • Spanish language skills a plus.

  • Ability to lift and/or move at least 30 pounds using proper body mechanics.

  • Visual acuity to read a computer screen and other documents.

  • Ability to utilize a telephone and respond to callers.

  • Ability to utilize a video conferencing platform for meetings.

  • Ability to stand for a period of one hour or more during special events

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, nonprofit management, marketing, integrated communications, or appropriate field.