Executive Director of Advancement

Founded in 1971 Y.O.U. is an Evanston-based non-profit that partners with families schools and the community to provide academic social and emotional support to close the opportunity gap and prepare all youth for post-secondary and life success. Each year Y.O.U. serves 300 youth across 9 school sites with free holistic out-of-school-time programming including afterschool and summer along with community-based mental health services. This is an exciting time for the organization which completed a successful $16.4M capital campaign in 2017 that expanded programs launched an endowment and funded a new headquarters facility. The organization is implementing a new strategic plan focused on serving as a community hub and leader measuring and communicating our powerful impact creating a sustainable infrastructure and building a culture of inclusion and transparency. Our staff are a diverse collection of 30 passionate individuals committed to social justice to a trauma-informed approach to equity and to helping youth realize their full potential.

The Role

• Development and Stewardship: 60%
• Leadership Strategy & Risk Management: 20%
• Event Management: 10%
• Organizational communication: 10%

Development and Stewardship

• Set and execute a vision for advancement in partnership with the CEO that best supports the strategic plan of the organization
• Lead the Y.O.U. Board of Directors and Executive Team in developing short medium and long-term fundraising plans and projections
• Foster a culture of philanthropy at Y.O.U. ensuring collaboration among and between internal stakeholders in keeping with our values and financial goals
• Oversee the advancement planning process to meet and grow a $4.5-$5M annual operating budget to ensure availability and sustainability of resources and to maximize impact and growth
• Develop successful identification cultivation solicitation and stewardship strategies to direct and monitor the progress of donor relationships
• Establish innovative strategies to promote giving to Y.O.U. in particular focusing on attracting and increasing corporate foundation and individual support
• In partnership with the CEO create individual stewardship plans for each board member and other major givers to ensure leadership contributions and 100% board participation
• Ensure the accurate and up-to-date maintenance of corporate and foundation records as well as individual donor information in the Neon database
• Develop and utilize forward-looking fundraising models to provide insight into the organizations current future and past fundraising goals and strategies
• Utilize a variety of engagement strategies with all donors to increase giving including personal visits with other Y.O.U. allies (CEO etc.) to develop and foster understanding of Y.O.U.s vision and programs and enthusiastically embrace asking strategies. In partnership with the advancement staff cultivate and nurture relationships with current and potential corporate and foundation contributors.
• Collaborates closely with Y.O.U.s Finance Department and Program Teams to develop fundraising proposals grant expenditure and programmatic impact reports and respond to current and future fundraising opportunities
• Establish and follow advancement policies and procedures and maintain appropriate internal controls
• Provide timely accurate and useful management reporting for all funders and Y.O.U.s Board of Directors; prepare and communicate monthly and annual fundraising status reports including a real-time pipeline of current and future fundraising opportunities

Leadership Strategy & Risk Management

• Support the development and leadership of the Advancement Team which includes an Associate Director of Advancement Grants Manager Grants and Communications Specialist and Advancement and Communications Coordinator
• Serve as staff lead of the Advancement and Nominating Committees of the Board of Directors and support preparation of full Board meetings
• Continually review department infrastructure to ensure support of organizations revenue growth and goals
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Chief Executive Officer supporting strategic planning organizational dashboards and reporting data & evaluation efforts and external relations
• Collaborate closely with Executive Directors of Talent Finance OST and Clinical Services on cross-functional issues such as culture management effective program design and managing organizational change
• Serve as a key leader and build internal relationships with staff in order to develop an understanding of programming that enables strategic resource allocation for efficient impact and growth of financial resources to meet programmatic needs
• Represent Y.O.U. to internal and external stakeholders including the Y.O.U. board community partners donors grantmakers and public officials
• Other projects and duties as assigned to assist the CEO and broader organizational initiatives

Events Management

• Conceptualize manage and support the coordination and execution of all fundraising events in partnership with respective organizational staff board members and community stakeholders
• Assist the CEO in strategically preparing for and prioritizing external events involving CEO and other organizational leadership

Organizational Communications

• Lead the creation and support the implementation of a comprehensive communications plan that enhances Y.O.U.s public image and status in the local community as well as with corporate and grant communities with a recognizable brand reflective of organizational mission and values
• Define expectations and lead the development and maintenance of brand image positioning and messaging for Y.O.U.
• Define expectations and lead in the maintenance of image and identity standards for the organization
• Manage the development and production of organizational marketing communications including print and electronic publications collateral materials presentations website content social networking sites such as Instagram and LinkedIn new media productions advertising media relations and television broadcasts for staff and the community

The Offer

Y.O.U. is a dynamic and energetic place to work with a rich history as a community organization coupled with an entrepreneurial approach to solving problems. Out-of-school time programming spans grades 2 12 and a holistic model of program delivery includes collaboration with families schools and partners. The Y.O.U. headquarters is a newer facility housing administrative offices a MakerSpace for STEM programming a commercial-grade demonstration kitchen clinical counseling spaces a community gathering space and an outdoor garden and event space.

Staff members of Y.O.U. benefit from

• Medical Dental & Vision Coverage
• Pre-tax benefits including flexible spending dependent care and transit
• 401K plan including company contribution after one year of employment
• 12 paid holidays per year including a Winter Break
• 15 days of paid vacation and 12 days of paid sick leave annually
• $25000 portable life insurance paid by Y.O.U.
• Competitive salary practices
• Team-oriented culture supported by staff work groups to inform our values shape our practices and build community through social gatherings
• Caring and flexible work environment committed to work-life balance
• Strong commitment to building and maintaining an inclusive environment

Y.O.U. is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion gender gender identity or expression sexual orientation national origin genetics disability age or veteran status.