Posted: 06-Jul-25
Location: Elgin, Illinois
Type: Full Time
Salary: $45,000-$55,000
Preferred Education:
Additional Information:
TITLE: Development Projects Manager
REPORTS TO: Executive Director
HOURS AND SALARY: This is an exempt position, based on an estimated 40 hours per week. The position is salaried ($45,000-$55,000) and eligible for benefits. This position will work largely independently, with a flexible schedule outside of occasional scheduled meetings. The nature of the position will require the Manager to work some evenings and weekends, including Sundays during the EYSO season.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: This position will work in a hybrid remote capacity, with some regular weekly hours onsite at EYSO’s administrative offices at Elgin Community College (ECC) as needed for rehearsals, concerts, and other events.
SUMMARY
The Development Projects Manager (DPM) is responsible for implementing fundraising strategies developed by and in collaboration with the Executive Director. The Manager will oversee a comprehensive development communications calendar including a minimum of three multi-channel appeals, a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign, periodic events (with support from the Board’s Special Events Committee), and other fundraising collateral. They will also manage the annual grants calendar, and they will be responsible for all fundraising operations, including gift receipt and acknowledgment, CRM administration, reporting, etc.
This position requires someone who is self-directed and adept at learning new systems and skills. They should be comfortable collaborating with others and managing colleagues, board members, and volunteers to meet project priorities and objectives on target. They must possess strong written and verbal communication skills, and they should have experience working with or a willingness to learn Microsoft Office applications and CRM systems. An appreciation for or experience with classical music is a strong asset, as is an understanding of best practices in many-to-one fundraising.
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Annual Giving
- Project manage a minimum of three multi-channel fundraising appeals each year, including direct mail, email, social media, and digital advertising
- Collaborate with the Marketing & Communications Manager and the Executive Director to develop content and design
- Prepare mailing lists including building donor segments, setting solicitation amounts, removing duplicate records, and cleaning addresses and salutations
- Establish practices to track appeal performance
- Administer the annual peer-to-peer NOTES campaign, including:
- Configuring and administering the software platform
- Creating coaching and stewardship material for participants and supporters
- Overseeing a comprehensive communications plan, in collaboration with the Marketing & Communications Manager
- Serve as the primary liaison for all EYSO supporters, and maintain lists of active, lapsed, and prospective donors
- Regularly review and revise print and digital information about ways to support EYSO
Corporate Giving
- Maintain records for existing and prospective corporate donors
- Conduct outreach to 25+ current and prospective sponsors, and serve as a first point-of-contact
- Administer all sponsor recognition benefits, and report to sponsors on their EYSO and community impact, as well as their marketing reach
Foundation & Government Grants
- Maintain an annual calendar of 60+ grant opportunities, including application and reporting deadlines, and manage application/report submission
- Collaborate with Executive Director, Artistic Director, and other staff to collect data, stories, and other information as needed for grant applications and reports
- Proofread all grant applications and reports prior to submission
- Serve as a front-line liaison to grant and foundation representatives
Special Events
- Serve as project manager for all fundraising related special events held by EYSO, including liaising with vendors, overseeing communications, organizing volunteers, and coordinating staff
- Attend meetings of the Board’s Special Events Committee as needed
Development Operations
- Receive mail, record donations, and manage donor stewardship
- Maintain the Neon CRM donor database including managing duplicate accounts, updating records, and pulling reports as needed by staff and board members
- Support the Director of Membership & Operations in monthly financial reconciliation and reporting
- Identify opportunities to bring efficiency and increased sophistication to the donor experience utilizing CRM tools
To Apply: please submit a resumé and cover letter to Daniel Meyers, Executive Director at dmeyers@eyso.org
QUALIFICATIONS
- 3-5 years of experience working in a data-driven, multi-faceted environment
- Skilled project manager with an ability to juggle multiple projects and competing priorities
- Strong written and verbal communications skills as well as comfort with telephone communication; customer service experience a plus
- Understanding of current best practices in direct mail and many-to-one fundraising
- Experience with (or willingness to learn) CRM software, email marketing systems, website content management systems, Google Analytics, and other performance tracking tools
- Knowledge of or experience in classical music or the performing arts a plus
- Knowledge of or experience in the Elgin/greater Chicago-area highly valued