Job Title: Regional Development Director, Chicago
Department: Development
Reports To: Vice President, Midwest/MidAtlantic Region
FLSA Status: Exempt
We are seeking a dynamic and accomplished fundraising leader with a proven track record of driving revenue growth and advancing mission-focused initiatives. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, exceptional relationship builder, and inspiring people leader who excels at coaching, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams.
This role will provide leadership for the Midwest Division, overseeing markets in Illinois (including Wisconsin and Missouri), Ohio, and Kentucky. The successful candidate will bring demonstrated fundraising success and the ability to strengthen and rebuild market performance by developing strategic partnerships, cultivating donor relationships, and empowering local teams to achieve ambitious goals. This leader will play a critical role in shaping growth strategies, fostering collaboration across markets, and creating a culture of accountability, innovation, and excellence.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Reporting to the Vice President of the Midwest/MidAtlantic Region, the Regional Development Director (RDD), Chicago is responsible for providing strategic fundraising and leadership within the assigned Midwest Region. The RDD develops and executes comprehensive strategies to achieve revenue goals, strengthen donor and community relationships, expand the fundraising pipeline, engage volunteer leaders, and increase UNCF’s visibility and impact in support of the 37 member institutions.
The RDD serves as a senior representative of UNCF within the Midwest Division and provides leadership to development staff and volunteers while ensuring fundraising activities are aligned with organizational priorities, financial goals, and UNCF policies and standards.
ABOUT UNCF
UNCF is one of the nation’s largest and most effective supporters of higher education and serves as a leading advocate for college-bound students. Since its founding in 1944, UNCF has raised more than $6 billion to support students' access to higher education, provide scholarships and strengthen historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Each year, UNCF awards more than 13,000 scholarships to more than 10,000 students totaling more than $64 million. The scholarships support students attending more than 600 US-based colleges and universities including 36 UNCF-member HBCUs. Through its efforts, UNCF has helped generations of students to get to and through college. We believe a college education plays a vital role in strengthening the pipeline of leaders and professionals who advance our society. Our logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and our widely recognized trademark is, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Instagram.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
- Develop and execute comprehensive regional fundraising strategies across individual, major gift, corporate, foundation, sponsorship, and event revenue streams to achieve annual and long-term goals.
- Manage the region’s fundraising pipeline, including prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, renewals, upgrades, and multi-year opportunities.
- Monitor revenue performance, forecasts, and pipeline activity; identify gaps and implement strategies to maximize results.
- Cultivate and steward relationships with high-net-worth individuals, corporations, foundations, government entities, civic and community organizations, churches, and other key stakeholders.
- Partner with Majors and other development colleagues to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major and leadership-level donors.
- Serve as a visible ambassador for UNCF, strengthening the organization’s presence, reputation, and philanthropic relationships within the region.
- Recruit, develop, and engage influential community and corporate leaders to serve as UNCF ambassadors, advocates, fundraisers, and connectors establishing clear expectations and meaningful opportunities for engagement and fundraising and leveraging the volunteer networks to expand UNCF’s prospect base and strengthen community partnerships.
- Provide strategic oversight of market-based fundraising events, ensuring they support revenue, donor cultivation, volunteer engagement, and broader region objectives.
- Develop and implement market-level communications and engagement strategies, in partnership with Marketing and Communications, to strengthen donor relationships and advance fundraising priorities.
- Develop proposals, presentations, sponsorship materials, impact communications, and other collateral to support fundraising and stewardship.
- Ensure accurate and timely management of donor, prospect, and constituent information in Raiser’s Edge NXT, including portfolio management, moves management, contact reporting, and documentation.
- Maintain accurate revenue forecasts, reports, and performance metrics and use data to inform strategy and decision-making.
- Partner with Finance to ensure appropriate budgeting, expense management, reconciliation, and financial accountability.
- Ensure all market fundraising and operational activities comply with UNCF policies, procedures, financial controls, and applicable regulations.
- Collaborate with divisional and national teams to align market strategies with UNCF priorities and leverage cross-market and enterprise-wide opportunities.
- Lead, coach, and develop assigned staff and consultants, establishing clear performance expectations, goals, accountability, and professional development plans.
- Conduct performance evaluations and recommend hiring, promotion, training, disciplinary action, and termination in accordance with UNCF policies.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, professionalism, and results.
- Contribute to organizational initiatives, strategic priorities, and special projects as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Supervises Area Development Director(s) and other professional and/or administrative level staff.
QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
A bachelor's degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university is required and at least 10 years of experience in fundraising.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Ability to conduct major fundraising activities, including capital campaigns and annual giving drives.
- Excellent organizational, written and verbal communication skills.
- Outstanding human relations and managerial skills.
- Demonstrative initiative and ability to work with minimal supervision; and a working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Benefits include:
Medical, Dental & Vision
Vacation, Sick & Personal Leave
Life Insurance (Basic & Optional)
Flex Spending Accounts
403(b) Retirement Account
Holiday Savings Plan
Annual Incentive Pay
Salary Range: $123,600.00 To $132,000.00 per year (Salary is commensurate with experience.) This is a hybrid role: 4 days on-site and 1-day remote per week, located in UNCF’s Chicago Office building.
To learn more about this opportunity and impactful work of our Development Department, please visit: UNCF Chicago
Background checks required.
UNCF is EOE M/F/D/V
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university
- At least 10 years of fundraising experience
- Experience conducting major fundraising activities, including capital campaigns and annual giving drives
- Excellent organizational, written, and verbal communication skills
- Outstanding human relations and managerial skills
- Demonstrated initiative and ability to work with minimal supervision
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
What We Do
UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is a nonprofit education organization that works to expand college access and success, particularly for students of color and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). It awards scholarships, provides financial support to HBCUs, and advocates for minority education and community engagement. Its programs help students overcome financial barriers, persist through college, graduate, and become leaders.
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