Grantwriter / Fundraiser
Starting Salary: $50-60,000 annually with benefits, depending on skills, experience and qualifications
Position Summary
We are looking for a Grantwriter/Fundraiser to help Voice of the People continue to provide affordable housing and collaborative services for 800 people in Voice-sponsored affordable housing in our community of Uptown, and to expand networking and services for other owners in the North Lakefront Region of Chicago who house thousands more. Our organization, which is community-based and tenant led, seeks a highly motivated candidate to assume grants management and fundraising responsibilities and train for future work in public relations, marketing and resource development. The G/F actively supports the Executive Director, program managers and administrative staff, and will be charged with
- Writing grant proposals and donation requests, with related funder/board relations and reporting;
- Conducting outreach to current and prospective individual supporters, cultivation and curation of donor relationships; and
- Supporting and organizing promotional, fundraising and special events.
G/F Duties and Responsibilities
- Researches and writes grants for proposal and report funding for corporations, corporations and foundation and donors on a timely basis and consistent with guidance and collaboration with the Executive Director and/or organizational consultants;
- Develops annual strategic plans and updates to long term plans for Marketing & Resource Development; prepares and presents quarterly reports to board of directors based on the plans;
- Produces quarterly e-newsletters for the general organization, and more frequent ones leading up to annual Sweet Home Uptown celebration and fundraiser;
- Makes monthly organizational social media posts for general organization, maintaining organizational and community calendar of events, and Wish List for donations of money, goods, volunteer time and services to be routinely shared and updated on website and social media;
- Supports executive and management staff in organizing of annual fundraiser and community events; and,
- The G/F supports the Executive Director with public and community relations, including emergency response communications.
General Qualifications & Requirements
A position-related degree from an accredited college or university, plus at least three years of experience in grant writing specifically, and ideally and additionally, with marketing and public relations work, is required. Candidates must have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and have a demonstrated proficiency specifically in proposal writing. (Candidates may be asked to document or test for the same.) Certification or membership status with the Association of Fundraising Professionals or equivalent organization is preferred. Knowledge and experience with affordable housing issues, Chicago foundations and funders of housing and service programs, and demonstrated capabilities in donor research are all preferred. With growth of the organization and based on demonstrated qualifications and performance, a G/F could be eligible for promotion to Resource Development Manager, with coordination and management responsibilities in community and public relations, marketing and outreach, website/YouTube and multi-media management, organizational planning and evaluation, plus education and training programming.
Contact Us
E-mail cover letter, resume, writing sample(s) and references to careers@uptownvoice.org
About the Organization
Voice of the People in Uptown is a nonprofit, community-controlled housing corporation with 56 years of service in the Uptown community. Voice is owner or partner of affordable housing, overseeing property and asset management, providing resident support services to over 800 people, including seniors in 14 buildings, and connecting tenants to service and economic opportunities. Voice now also provides affordable housing support services to owners that is essential for sustaining racial and economic diversity in north lakefront communities. The organization has a proud legacy of tenant organizing, community development, and advocacy for affordable housing and social justice, which continues to the present day in tandem with housing, service and advocate allies. The organization is an equal opportunity employer. Learn more about the organization at UptownVoice.org or at bit.ly/VoiceVideos.
Recruitment & Hiring: June-September, 2024