About the Vice President of External Relations Opening:
The Vice President of External Relations at Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) is responsible for providing leadership, strategy, planning, and guidance for the comprehensive fundraising efforts and day-to-day management for all development-related programs. The Vice President of External Relations will streamline all fundraising activities, including identification, qualification, and assignment of prospects, as well as cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. The primary focus of this role will be to ensure the internal workings of the fundraising department are on target and that all opportunities are seized.
Ideally, the VP of External Relations will work from our Chicago office. Illinois Policy Institute has a hybrid work policy where employees can work from home three days each week. A virtual work environment is available depending on experience.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategy:
- Develops and implements the organization’s fundraising strategy and annual fundraising plan in partnership with the President and Executive Vice President.
- Ensures that the department maintains full branding, policy, and outreach harmony with the other activities of the organization.
- Ensures all records and compliance requirements are met. This includes contributing to the organization’s annual budget planning and auditing process.
Management & Leadership:
- Provide the IPI with strong, creative, energetic, strategic leadership on all fundraising initiatives and set new, ambitious, but attainable goals to increase annual operating funds.
- Manage the current development team to achieve or exceed their revenue targets; manage margins, control costs, and capitalize on operational efficiencies; develop high-end innovative event programs within Illinois and nationally. This includes overseeing work, setting goals, providing training, giving performance reviews, and hiring.
- Oversee recruitment and retention of professional and support staff in the development organization; developing a strong sense of teamwork and establish an environment of mentoring and support; coach the team and bring strategic focus to the development department; foster a work ethic deeply rooted in innovation and a commitment to being always the best.
- Manage external vendors supplying development services.
- Contributes to senior leadership team meetings and discussions. This includes contributing to developing a strategic plan for Illinois Policy and aligning all external relations activities with the plan.
- When asked, report at the Board of Directors meetings on fundraising progress and outlook.
Major Gifts:
- Use the Moves Management process to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts and pledges from an active portfolio of key major gift prospects; maintain and manage a personal portfolio of prospects.
Qualifications:
- 5+ years of fundraising management with a track record of success, including experience in the full spectrum of fundraising (major gifts, direct mail, foundation, planned giving, etc.).
- 7+ years of major donor fundraising.
- Strong project management skills and ability to organize, multi-task, set priorities and follow through.
- Knowledge of free market donors and national network a major plus.
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Ability to travel regularly, at least 20%, including nationally on occasion.
- Strong commitment to the principles of personal responsibility and free enterprise.
Salary & Benefits:
IPI is offering 190-225K for this opening, depending on experience. IPI is also happy to offer a 20% base salary bonus and incentive bonus of 8-10% for funds raised over goal.
A robust compensation package includes health (company-paid medical), 401(k), flexible spending benefits, vacation and sick days, life insurance, professional development and educational opportunities.
To Apply:
Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials in one PDF document:
- Cover letter, which should detail your interest in this position and Illinois Policy Institute’s mission, and your salary requirements
- Résumé
Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link:
https://talentmarket.org/candidates/apply-for-your-dream-job/
There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.
Questions can be directed to Katelynn Barbosa, Director of Talent Engagement, at Talent Market, who is assisting with the search: [email protected]
While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.
Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.
