Director, Community Engagement - Upper Mid-West (Chicago, IL)

Autism Speaks • Chicago, IL

4d • $75,500 - $82,000

About The Position

We are hiring a Director of Community Engagement in our Upper Midwest Area! This position has a primary focus on special events in the Greater Chicagoland area. The Director will be responsible for leading our Chicago Chip In Casino Night Gala and growing our special events portfolio, as well as managing key corporate, major gift and 3rd party relationships and activities.

This position is a front-line fundraiser and ambassador for Autism Speaks and will speak knowledgeably and persuasively about the mission of the organization and the variety of ways to engage.

The ideal candidate will have a passion for the autism community and the mission of autism speaks and will thrive in a flexible environment with a kind and compassionate culture. At Autism Speaks, we remain steadfast in our commitment to being a trusted and caring resource for our community and constituents from the time of diagnosis through adult life.

PURPOSE: Raise funds for Autism Speaks by recruiting and managing volunteers, soliciting corporate sponsorships, raising awareness, and implementing fundraising and mission-related events to achieve revenue goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• 7+ years demonstrated success in fundraising position.
• 5 years of leading special events
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including presentation skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Adaptable
• Intermediate proficiency with MS Office 365, including Excel and Outlook
• Database knowledge (Stratus Live and Blackbaud Luminate preferred)
• Well-organized and detail-oriented
• High energy, enthusiastic, professional, diplomatic, and possessing a positive, can-do attitude
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed to support programs and events.
• This role includes travel primarily related to events, which at times can involve overnight stays; occasional travel for team meetings and conferences may also occur.
• Event days include setting up and moving materials as well as being actively engaged on‑site for prolonged periods
• Regular use of a computer for extended periods of time.
• Must have reliable mode of transportation (automobile, valid driver’s license, and insurance is required)
• You are responsible for protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all Autism Speaks data and information.

Nice To Haves

• Leadership with recruitment and management of volunteer committees, relationship building, networking, budget management, and volunteer mobilization.
• Proven track record of multi-functional, fundraising experience (special events, multiple walk events, corporate campaigns).

Responsibilities

• Achieve the revenue goals for assigned fundraising events
• Execute fundraising events in partnership with volunteer leadership, specifically managing committee recruitment and retention
• Achieve the assigned fundraising goals by implementing strategies including sponsorship and committee recruitment and retention, and mission integration.
• Support the local implementation of global campaigns of Autism Speaks, sometimes in collaboration with the area’s Outreach Director.
• Manage the day-to-day operations of assigned events, including logistics, data entry, acknowledgements and materials management.
• Manage and provide administrative support to volunteer committees
• Make presentations to businesses, organizations and community groups to secure sponsorship, recruit teams and committee volunteers and manage accounts on a year-round basis
• Integrate digital marketing initiatives, such as email campaigns, fundraising websites, as well as other forms of digital outreach

Benefits

• Autism Speaks offers a competitive compensation, benefit and vacation package.
• We also provide flex work hours, weekly training sessions, tuition reimbursement and summer bonus Fridays in addition to a creative, innovative, collaborative, inclusive, kind and fun work environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level