Development Director

Job Title: Development Director
The Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
Location: Chicago, IL

About The Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture:

The Athenaeum Center was built in 1911 on the St. Alphonsus campus and is home to Chicago’s oldest continuously-operating off-Loop theater. Our mission is to invite people into encounters with beauty and to revitalize the great Catholic tradition of the arts from our location in one of Chicago’s most unique religious, artistic, and civic buildings. At the Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture, we believe that beauty has the capacity to build up culture, transform society, and change lives. We hope to help you contemplate, encounter, and delight in beauty.

Job Overview: 

The Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture is seeking an experienced, dynamic, and strategic Development Director to lead all aspects of the organization’s fundraising efforts. The Development Director will be responsible for securing major gifts, corporate sponsorships, grants, and in-kind donations. The Director will work closely with the Executive Director and Associate Director to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the organization and cultivate strong, lasting relationships with donors, corporate partners, and the broader community.
The Director of Development will play a key leadership role in shaping the long-term fundraising vision of the Athenaeum Center. This includes developing a compelling case for support aligned with ACTC’s mission and future growth, and creating a multi-year fundraising plan that supports the organization’s artistic, cultural, and institutional goals.

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Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Fundraising Leadership

• Develop and lead a compelling case for support and multi-year fundraising strategy, including major gifts, institutional support, sponsorships, and events, aligned with ACTC’s long-term vision.
• Oversee all fundraising activities, including major gifts, individual and corporate sponsorships, grants, and in-kind donations.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors, ensuring the development of long-term relationships and significant contributions.
• Develop narrative frameworks and communications that clearly articulate the impact of donors’ investments and advance the case for support.
• Lead the creation of compelling donor communications, including personalized appeals, thank-you letters, and impact reports.
• Collaborate with leadership to establish annual fundraising goals and track progress against those goals.
• In the first year, establish donor pipeline strategies, stewardship systems, and foundational development processes that position the organization for sustained revenue growth.

Corporate Sponsorships & In-Kind Donations

• Lead efforts to secure corporate sponsorships for Athenaeum events, programs, and initiatives.
• Develop and present sponsorship proposals that offer tangible benefits for corporate partners, aligning with their business goals.
• Cultivate relationships with corporate sponsors to ensure their continued engagement and investment in the organization.
• Manage in-kind donations, coordinating the solicitation, tracking, and recognition of donated goods and services.

Fundraising Events & Campaigns

• Oversee the planning, execution, and evaluation of major fundraising events, including ACTC’s annual dinner, quarterly Founders & Friends events, and Suburban Soirées.
• Collaborate with the marketing and events teams to create engaging and effective fundraising campaigns, both digital and traditional.
• Ensure events are well-executed, impactful, and aligned with The Athenaeum's mission, while maximizing revenue generation.
• Lead the development of campaign strategies to increase donor participation and contributions.

Grant Writing & Foundation Relations

• Oversee the grant writing process, ensuring the timely submission of high-quality proposals to foundations, government agencies, and other funding sources.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with foundation partners and ensure compliance with reporting requirements.
• Research and identify new grant opportunities to diversify the organization’s funding base.

Board & Leadership Engagement

• Work closely with the Executive Director, Associate Director, and Board of Directors to develop fundraising strategies and ensure their involvement in key fundraising initiatives.
• Prepare regular reports and updates for the Board regarding the progress of fundraising efforts and key donor relationships.
• Assist in organizing board and donor events to strengthen relationships and engage leadership in fundraising efforts.

Community Engagement & Advocacy

• Serve as a key representative of The Athenaeum to external stakeholders, including potential donors, sponsors, and community leaders.
• Build and sustain relationships with community partners to enhance the Center’s visibility and impact.
• Engage in public speaking, networking, and advocacy to increase awareness and support for the organization’s mission.

Qualifications:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree required
• At least 5-7 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a proven track record of securing major gifts, corporate sponsorships, and grants.
• Experience working in or with faith-based nonprofits is a plus.

Skills & Abilities

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and inspire a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong leadership, management, and team-building skills.
• Proficiency in fundraising software and Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to think strategically while managing day-to-day operations.
• Knowledge of grant writing and management processes, with experience submitting successful grant proposals.
• A passion for The Athenaeum's mission and the ability to translate that passion into compelling fundraising efforts.

Personal Attributes

• Results-driven with a strong focus on meeting and exceeding fundraising goals.
• Enthusiastic, personable, and able to build meaningful relationships with donors, partners, and staff.