Church EngagementCommunicationsDonor EngagementFundraisingVolunteer Engagement
Useful technologies
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordRaiser’s Edge NXT
Required qualifications
Study levelBachelor's
Original posting
Are you a person of compassion? An advocate for justice? Someone who stands up for the rights of the vulnerable and speaks out for the marginalized, the exploited and the forgotten? Do you believe in our calling as Christians to welcome the least of these and love our neighbor? If you answered ‘yes’, to any of the above, World Relief, and millions of people around the world need you. At this pivotal moment in time, we are rapidly expanding and growing our team to meet the increasing needs of our world. We are looking for people who want to use their gifts and talents to make a real and tangible difference in our world and the lives of the suffering. If you’re looking for a purpose-driven career in which you can grow your talents, while also standing up for the rights of the vulnerable, we want you to join us today. ORGANIZATION SUMMARY World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization whose mission is to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the church. The organization was founded in the aftermath of World War II to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of war-torn Europe. Since then, for 80 years, across 100 countries, World Relief has partnered with local churches and communities to build a world where families thrive and communities flourish. Today, organizational programming focuses on humanitarian and disaster response, community strengthening and resilience, and refugee & immigrant services and advocacy. POSITION SUMMARY: World Relief seeks a Director of Advancement for the Chicagoland Region that will lead local office fundraising, communications and external engagement strategies. This role provides strategic leadership for all advancement functions in Chicagoland, ensuring alignment with broader World Relief priorities and organizational goals. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in fundraising, a history of compelling communications, a collaborative leadership approach, and a strong results orientation.
ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES:
This role is responsible for supervising others and includes responsibilities consistent with supervising employees, including but not limited to monitoring daily work activities, tracking and approving timesheets including approving time off, monitoring performance including entering goals, progress check-ins, and weekly or bi-weekly check-ins, documenting performance concerns, entering staff promotions, transitions, and separations in HRIS within required time frame. Managers at World Relief are also considered spiritual leaders and are expected to lead staff in a manner consistent with our Christian values, including but not limited to praying with staff, leading devotionals, and fostering a Christian environment in interactions with staff throughout World Relief.
Strategic Leadership - Provide leadership and strategic guidance related to World Relief's mission, fundraising strategy, and external engagement efforts in Chicagoland
Develop and implement annual private fundraising plans, including goals, key performance metrics, timelines, and accountability measures, in collaboration with Executive Director and US Advancement Team
Ensure coordinated strategy and execution across church engagement, development, communications, and volunteer engagement teams, ensuring strong integration with national directions
Work closely with Program Directors and Executive Director on strategies for funding opportunities tied to specific programs, grants, initiatives, or donor interests
Actively serve on Chicagoland’s Leadership Team, providing input into regional vision and strategy, and aligning local direction with World Relief’s overall strategy
Team Leadership and Administration - Lead and coach the Director of Church Engagement, Development Team, and Communications Team, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and goals
Provide functional leadership and strategic guidance for volunteer engagement goals through a matrixed relationship to the Director of Volunteer Engagement
Foster strong vision, collaboration, and accountability toward goals among church, volunteer, development, and communications staff
Ensure effective fundraising systems (including Raiser’s Edge NXT usage), donor management processes, reporting, and stewardship practices that support achievement of fundraising goals
Maintain an environment where all team members can bring their ideas to the table, ensuring the best solutions to challenges
Strategic Donor Engagement and Growth - Lead strategies to identify, cultivate, and acquire new major and mid-level donor prospects
Grow and manage a portfolio of 50 major donors through personalized engagement, consistent communication, and meaningful recognition of their impact
Engage in donor meetings and speak at churches/ with church partners on a regular basis
Partner with positions that report nationally, including Portfolio Development Manager and Strategic Partnership Director to ensure coordinated strategy and relationship management
Collaborate with program teams and communications staff to connect donors with mission outcomes, and create opportunities for shared learning and deeper partnership in advancing organizational goals
Communications - Oversee the planning and implementation of a communications plan and calendar for World Relief Chicagoland, coordinating closely with national Communications Support Officer
Ensure branding, messaging, tone, and voice are consistent with World Relief’s values and posture
As needed, write and/or edit fundraising and communications content, including appeals, campaigns, and donor communications
Lead alignment across external channels of World Relief Chicagoland including Church Mobilization and Volunteer Mobilization
Represent World Relief Chicagoland in media opportunities and ensure staff are well-prepared and effectively positioned as subject matter experts when serving as organizational spokespersons
Oversee the cultivation of stories to ensure impactful and ethical storytelling
Advisory Board Development - Work alongside Executive Director to develop and launch an advisory board for World Relief Chicagoland
Work with Executive Director to strategically engage advisory board members to increase the effectiveness and reach of World Relief Chicagoland
Other duties as assigned
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
Mature and personal Christian faith
Committed to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief
Desire to serve and empower the Church to impact vulnerable communities
Valid drivers license, access to reliable vehicle and ability to pass MVR standards
Bachelor’s degree with minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including 3-5 years managing major donor portfolios
Experience managing others to do effective fundraising
Demonstrated ability to build trust-based, collaborative relationships with donors, partners and cross-functional teams
Strong background in strategic communications and ethical storytelling; skilled at coaching teams to ensure consistent messaging and representing the organization effectively in digital communications platforms and media
History of positive contributions to organizational culture
Ability to use with fluency all Microsoft programs such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Ability to articulate a personal philosophy of giving and stewardship
Thrives in taking initiative and pursuing challenging goals
Strong results orientation with a proven history of increasing giving
Strategic acumen and an ability to shape plans and activities to align with strategic goals
Empathetic communicator and relationship-builder, skilled at listening, fostering trust, and engaging donors, partners and staff with care and authenticity
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams, leverage personal influence to reach goals, and foster strong collaboration
Well organized with the ability to navigate competing priorities and meet concurrent objectives
Familiarity with CRM (Raiser’s Edge NXT preferred) and Project Management Tools
Strong familiarity with digital communications platforms (social media, web, email)
Excellent problem-solving abilities with an ability to “think outside the box” on a frequent basis
Demonstrated resilience and leadership in the face of frequent change
Experience in faith-based, international or community development organizations, with sensitivity to diverse cultural contexts
Advanced education or training, or experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, communications, or a related field
World Relief offers a competitive benefits package and employee discount program for full-time employees. World Relief is honored to be recognized with the Gold-level Cigna Healthy Workforce Designation for exceeding the core components of our well-being program including leadership and culture, program foundations and execution, and whole person health. *** Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing. For World Relief staff, strong commitment to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief is essential, and Christian faith is a prerequisite for employment, based upon United States federal guidelines provided in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Director of Advancement at World Relief — BranchFactor