THE ORGANIZATION
Midtown Educational Foundation guides low-income urban youth in Chicago along pathways of success. Its proven enrichment programs embrace the dignity of the person by focusing on academic excellence, virtue development, individual attention, and parental engagement. MEF operates through its Metro Achievement Center for girls and Midtown Center for boys in grades 4 – 12. Programs focus on Hispanic and African American youth, offering after-school and summertime growth opportunities that help students of average academic ability to achieve above-average results. Programs are rooted in Catholic moral and social teaching and embrace students regardless of their religious, racial, ethnic, or familial status. MEF received its original inspiration from Opus Dei, an institution of the Catholic Church, and continues today its partnership with Opus Dei.
MEF's approach can be remembered with the help of an acronym that also describes every child it serves: "A V.I.P."
• The "A" stands for ACADEMICS. MEF enables children to compete in college prep high schools and then enter good colleges.
• The "V" stands for basic VIRTUES. Civic virtue and moral character are taught along with academics.
• The "I" stands for INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION. We believe the best motivation is personal friendship and attribute a large part of the success of our programs to the individual mentoring each student receives.
• The "P" stands for PARENTS. MEF operates on the principle that parents are the primary educators of their children. We provide valuable support through educational seminars on parenting, one-on-one consultations, and more.
THE OPPORTUNITY
This is an outstanding opportunity for a driven leader who is looking to make a significant impact and help grow a dynamic and innovative nonprofit. The successful candidate will be an individual who cares about and is committed to inner-city youth and motivated to achieve development goals. The Director of Advancement is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing all MEF’s fundraising, including the major gifts program, annual fund, planned giving, and capital campaigns. The Director works closely with The Executive Director and the Board of Directors in all development and fund raising endeavors. The Director reports directly to the Executive Director.
RESPONSIBILITIES
• Lead the Advancement Team effort to meet and exceed MEF’s annual fundraising goal (individuals, corporations, foundations, and other)
• Set and guide Advancement Team strategy
• Guide Advancement Team identification and cultivation of prospective donors
• Personally manage a prospect and donor portfolio
• Directly manage the Advancement team, positively influencing its members to achieve results that are in the best interest of MEF
• Furnish regular Advancement Team updates to the Executive Director and Board of Directors
• Conduct Annual Program Report processes between the Centers and MEF
• Chief MEF Member of the Board of Directors’ Advancement Committee
• Represent MEF in professional fund raising associations and maintain high external visibility for networking purposes
• Chief grant strategist, researcher, and writer, delegating where appropriate and necessary
• Act as an additional MEF connection to the Midtown Center for boys through regular check-ins to ensure MEF is accurately portraying and promoting student and family programming
REQUIRED LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES
• Behave Ethically: Commitment to MEF’s mission. Understand ethical behavior and business practices and ensure own behavior and the behavior of others are consistent with these standards and align with the values of the organization.
• Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization.
• Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Focus on Donor Needs: Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of donors to meet or exceed their expectations within the organizational parameters.
• Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problem, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Lead: Positively influence team members to achieve results that are in the best interest of the organization.
• Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization.
• Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information and activities.
• Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.
• Creativity/Innovation: Explore new and unique ways to improve the finances of the organization and to create new opportunities.
• Driven: Internally motivated to self-start and drive projects.
• Intellectual curiosity: Tenacious determination to learn; the ability and desire to discover, study, and incorporate new methods of achieving goals both through technological advances and partnership opportunities.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Proven ability to meet and exceed fundraising goals
• Undergraduate degree
• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation is an asset
• Knowledge of local, state and federal regulations and legislation affecting not for profits
• Knowledge of fund raising software preferred
• Proficient in technology especially Gmail, Word, and Excel
• Other helpful but not essential technological tools/skills: Adobe, Photoshop, Social Media Platforms, Third Party Email Systems, Square
Resumes can be emailed to: Glenn Wilke, Executive Director: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For more information: call Glenn Wilke at 312-738-8301