Celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2022, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs is where your world and the world meet. The Council is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that empowers more people to help shape our global future. Through content and engagement experiences that offer diverse, fact-based perspectives and in-depth analysis, we foster dialogue on the world’s most critical issues. We are committed to building an inclusive community of globally conscious people who want to actively participate in global affairs and gain the knowledge that can help them make a tangible impact – big or small – in the world.
As the Council enters its second century, we are embarking on an ambitious digital transformation and are growing our development team to reach and engage more people in Chicago and beyond.
The Role
The Development Officer provides high-level administrative and project support for the Vice President (VP) and the Development team. The Officer is a hybrid role and requires some in-person attendance at our Downtown Chicago location based on work activities and peak seasons.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Complete a wide variety of administrative tasks for the VP, including proactive research, prioritizing, following up on inquiries, and determining the appropriate course of action, referral, or response.
- Assist the VP in creating development team meeting agendas and post-meeting action items, monthly fundraising reports, preparing slide decks and presentations for individual fundraising and development committee meetings, and providing administrative support to the development team.
- Using the Salesforce CRM, manage gift processing for the development team, including but not limited to researching contributions that don’t have a clear opportunity.
- Generate and distribute acknowledgment letters for board members and major gift donors.
- Manage and help develop internal processes for the Development team’s CRM, which includes revenue reports and goal tracking across departments, general record clean-up, merging of duplicate records, and direct maintenance of our contact records email deliverability.
- Assist VP in planning and executing the Council’s annual Global Leadership Awards Dinner with duties including tracking and processing pledges and gifts, working with the communications team on email blasts, event invitations, and Dinner support, acting as the point of contact for constituent requests and questions, and mailing tax contribution letters.
- Complete expense reports for VP and work with individual giving and corporate teams to reconcile monthly with accounting.
- Manage the Council’s annual donor listing.
- Work with accounting and database teams to identify and fix issues within the CRM credit card processing system, including reconciliation and donor payment inquiries.
- Participate collaboratively with the Development team’s diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies.
- Occasionally assist at the front desk in meeting/greeting Council constituents and answering or routing incoming calls.
- Provide support at Council events approximately 3 – 4 times monthly (registration, ushering, etc.), requiring some evening and early morning hours.
- Perform other projects as assigned.
Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree and 2+ years of relevant experience, preferably supporting a senior corporate, nonprofit, or think tank executive
- Excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills with strong attention to detail and the ability to meet tight deadlines
- Creative and analytical thinker; shows initiative, works well independently and as part of a team, is flexible, has high emotional intelligence, and adapts easily to new situations
- Extensive knowledge of and experience using MS Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook)
- Strong computer software and analytical skills, including experience with databases and/or customer relations management software (Salesforce is preferred)
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; superb interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate with all levels using courtesy and discretion
- Natural problem-solver, great initiative, and proactive spirit (e.g., the ability to anticipate executives’ needs)
- Ability to work effectively and efficiently under pressure in a fast-paced, demanding environment with conflicting and changing priorities, juggle multiple tasks and requests in a mature and calm manner
- Team player and willingness to collaborate with colleagues. Demonstrated interest and/or background in fundraising/database management/international affairs
- Ability to work evening and early morning programs
Council Benefit Highlights
There are many benefits to working at the Council, including a flexible remote/in-office work environment, half-day summer Fridays, paid parental leave, employer-subsidized medical/dental/vision insurance, generous paid time off, retirement match, mobile phone stipend, commuter accessible, fitness center membership, and more.
We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, handicap or disability, marital status, military service or veteran status, genetic information, or for any other reason prohibited by applicable law.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
We are committed to weaving diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the fabric of the Council, and we believe people — their identities, experiences, beliefs, knowledge, and ideas — are critical to our success and to global affairs. We will elevate diverse voices and identities and a full range of perspectives, advance equitable and inclusive access to exploring and shaping ideas, and ensure our organization reflects the diversity of Chicago, our nation, and the world.
To learn more, visit: https://www.thechicagocouncil.org/about-us/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-council
Vaccination Statement
For the safety and well-being of our staff, the Council requires that all prospective employees submit proof of an up-to-date COVID vaccination and booster record or seek a reasonable accommodation for a religious or medical reason prior to their first day of employment.