Development Manager of New Site Development

At Youth Guidance, we believe that no matter what challenges a young person faces, they are more likely to succeed when they have caring adults in their lives. Our highly-trained staff guides kids to overcome the life and academic challenges facing Chicago’s youth. We meet kids where they are — physically and emotionally — to help them focus on their education, make positive choices, and remain on the right path toward life success.

Youth Guidance creates and implements school-based programs that enable at-risk children to overcome obstacles, focus on their education and, ultimately, succeed in school and in life. Founded in 1924, Youth Guidance is a leading provider of outcomes-driven programs, directly serving approximately 14,000 youth in over 200 schools this year. Youth Guidance’s Counseling & Prevention Programs include Becoming a Man (BAM) and Working on Womanhood (WOW). The organization also provides Community & Afterschool Programming and Youth Workforce Development services.

Position Summary: The Development Manager of New Site Development will support fundraising and partnership development to successfully launch and sustain Youth Guidance’s Becoming A Man (BAM) & Working On Womanhood (WOW) programs nationally. BAM & WOW are nationally recognized group counseling and mentoring programs that have been found to have positive impacts on youth’s social-emotional, psychological, and academic outcomes. Currently, BAM and WOW reach youth across nine cities including Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, London, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Washington DC.

The Development Manager of New Site Development will work with the Director of New Site Development to support emerging and newly established program sites with the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of corporate, foundation, and government grant makers. The Development Manager, National Expansion will also support the design and implementation of systems (i.e. data dashboards, resource libraries) and tools (i.e. project management software) that enhance Youth Guidance’s fundraising activities nationally. This role will provide support to Youth Guidance’s strategic plan, which seeks to launch BAM & WOW programming in 1-3 additional cities by 2026.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

Fundraising – 50%

• Conduct extensive and ongoing prospect research (online, databases, clearinghouses, professional literature, and donor prospecting directories) of current and prospective corporate and foundation donors to identify viable funding opportunities that align with Youth Guidance’s programs
• Support Youth Guidance’s national and site-specific grant-seeking efforts to achieve strategic growth goals by completing all stages of private and government funding proposals including outreach to grant-makers; the development of letters of inquiry; online applications; and formal proposals with the appropriate organization approvals obtained
• Maintain a portfolio of corporate and foundation donors and prospects; build and maintain relationships with new and existing donors in-person meetings, phone calls, and reports
• Provide proactive and highly responsive communications to external partners through cross-functional collaboration with program, finance, human resources, and evaluation departments
• Provide support to the Director of New Site Development in funder meeting preparation and follow-ups
• Proofread and edit text for correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and clear and concise language that effectively presents the agency’s mission and communicates a compelling case for support
• Track external meeting notes, grant and report deadlines, and progress toward fundraising goals utilizing Raiser’s Edge

New Site Development- 25%

• Manage inquiries from new cities and school districts that are interested in implementing Youth Guidance programs providing timely and appropriate follow-up
• Support the identification and engagement of prospective Youth Guidance champions in new geographies, including government, philanthropic, and nonprofit partners
• Organize and manage site visits for prospective funders and school districts to see Youth Guidance programming in action

Development Operations- 25%

• Project manage short-term capacity-building projects that enhance Youth Guidance’s national development function

• Collaborate with national sites to ensure their geographies are well represented in the organization’s digital and print communications through coordination with the Marketing & Communications team

• Support training of development staff across the country to promote utilization of departmental systems and tools (i.e. Raiser’s Edge utilization, gift acknowledgment, resource libraries)

• Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

Education/Experience/Training

• Master’s degree in public policy, public administration, or social work preferred. Bachelor’s degree in a related field required
• Minimum of two (2) years of development experience and a demonstrated track record in resourcing the launch of new endeavors within the nonprofit sector required
• Government relations experience preferred
• Strong computer skills (Microsoft Office Suite)
• Raisers’ Edge or other CRM experience preferred

Skills/Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to present a positive image, develop relationships and communicate mission effectively with diverse stakeholders

• Highly organized, with proven ability to handle multiple tasks, handle pressure and meet deadlines

• A strategic approach to the advancement of mission, with a keen eye for ensuring alignment of external activities with Youth Guidance’s mission and growth plan.

• The ability to work well both independently and cross-functionally

• Commitment to cultural sensitivity and respect for differences

• Commitment to the continuous improvement of service quality and the organization’s mission

Our Development Manager of New Site Development exemplifies:

• Communication: Able to use effective written and oral communication with internal and external audiences and stakeholders; demonstrates empathy and listening
• Client orientation: Can recognize the needs of diverse stakeholders and approaches relationships with a service orientation to ultimately maximize the impact
• Planner: A problem solver who is able to manage uncertainty and adapt to changes while still performing at high levels of excellence.
• Equity mindset: Understands and is committed to goals of equity; consistently brings an equity mindset to the organization’s work and workplace
• Growth mindset: Views growth as important for personal and professional development; seeks out opportunities to expand skills, even if change is required; Demonstrated ability to be solutions-focused, self-reflective, and dedicated to the continuous improvement of service quality
• Ownership and quality of work: Effectively manages own work and the work of internal and external stakeholders ensuring delivery of high-quality work.
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office Products (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to frequently talk and hear.
• The employee frequently is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time; walk; use hands and fingers to handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The duties performed are primarily in an office setting and working with the public, COVID-19 vaccination is required.

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines. Overnight travel required (10%).

This is a hybrid position and candidates should be based in one of the following cities where Youth Guidance operates: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Los Angeles, or Washington, D.C.

What Youth Guidance offers:

We offer a robust package for eligible candidates including:

• Hiring Range of $63,000.00 - $92,000.00
• A hiring bonus of $250 for part-time and $750 for full-time
• A retention bonus of $250 after 90 days of continuous service.
• A competitive benefit package. Even though healthcare costs have gone up, we have not passed along those increases to our staff.
• If you are pursuing your social services licensure, we can help you by providing licensure test study support. Licensing test reimbursement. Assistance in attaining licensure supervision hours.

DEI Statement

At Youth Guidance, we understand that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) are fundamental to realizing our vision of bright and successful futures for all young people. We celebrate the diversity of youth and recognize them as empowered leaders, problem-solvers, and experts of their own experiences. At the same time, we acknowledge that many systems and institutions meant to support youth are inequitable and unjust.

As such, we are committed to advancing DE&I through our words and our actions, both internally and externally, by:

• Strengthening cultural competence as well as policies, practices, and organizational structures that foster belonging and leverage the unique backgrounds and talents of staff;
• Offering youth-centered programs that are accessible and responsive to people from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, abilities, sexual identity, gender identity, expression, language, and cultural and religious beliefs and practices;
• Influencing systems that youth, their families, and communities are impacted by, such as schools, organizational networks, governmental bodies, researchers, and the funding community, to apply approaches that embrace DEI in addressing the needs and supporting the aspirations of young people.

Youth Guidance is an equal-opportunity employer and proudly values diversity. Youth Guidance does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law and is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity along all of these lines. People of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

EOE/M/F/D/V/SO