Development Manager

JCUA’s Development and Engagement team works to develop on-ramps for people to get involved with the organization, including the engagement and stewardship of donors, both online and in-person. We believe that social change happens through organized people and organized money. We work to cultivate and engage members, many of whom are donors who provide financial resources which help to sustain and grow JCUA. JCUA seeks a motivated, organized and detail-oriented individual to serve as its Development Manager. We seek a highly enthusiastic, people-oriented fundraiser who is a team player and committed to JCUA’s values and mission. JCUA is a small dynamic organization where the staff is highly collaborative and committed to supporting each other’s work and goals. As an outgrowth of our most recent strategic plan, JCUA’s stakeholders (board, staff and members) are working to bring a racial equity framework to all of the organization’s work. The Development Manager reports directly to the Director of Development and Advancement and is a trusted and critical member of the Development and Engagement team.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Individual Giving

• Work closely with the Director of Development and Advancement to streamline and implement new fundraising systems and infrastructure.
• Develop and implement portfolio management, develop and manage moves management strategies to retain current donors and engage prospective supporters. 
• Manage an active organizational schedule for meetings and solicitations; prepare and support individual staff members for successful donor meetings and help to manage relationships that result in increased financial support for JCUA.
• Prepare solicitation materials such as briefing memos, major gift proposals, slide decks, presentation pieces, and other materials as needed.
• Build relationships with small and moderate donors through ongoing communications and prospect new donors, both personally, and for the Director of Development and Advancement, Executive Director, and Board members in securing gifts directly.
• Create cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities for mid-level donors to reach and help to build JCUA’s major gift pipeline.

Event Coordination and Special Fundraising Campaigns

• Coordinate fundraising opportunities, logistics and programming for JCUA’s flagship annual event, Acts of Change. 
• Partner with Director of Development and Advancement and Communications and Engagement Manager to oversee JCUA’s fundraising appeals; oversee JCUA’s end of year campaign to continually improve JCUA’s individual donor retention.
• Coordinate small fundraising events, parlor meetings, and other opportunities to identify and cultivate new donors.

Foundation and Administration Support

• Support JCUA’s foundation submissions, letters of inquiry and reports, including gathering data. Track due dates, award letters, and all other funder communications. Support grant writing and assist in sourcing new grant opportunities.
• Manage Development calendar, help generate content for appeals and updates, and coordinate recipient lists.
• Work with the Director of Development and Advancement and Executive Director to build out systems and best practices for grant and gift portfolio management, donor tracking and cultivation.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or comparable experience.
• 3 or more years of fundraising experience with demonstrated growth in responsibilities, including direct solicitation experience.
• Demonstrated track record and passion for inspiring people to give.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Effective event management skills with a strong attention to detail. 
• Experience using CRM systems; experience in EveryAction is a plus. 
• Knowledge of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies and techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to multitask and lead multiple projects and to complete them in a timely manner.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team setting and manage up accordingly.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and demonstrated ability to take initiative.
• Passion for social justice and desire to advance JCUA’s values and mission.
• Exposure and understanding of the Chicago Jewish community is a plus. 

LOCATION:

JCUA’s office is located on the northside of Chicago. Due to Covid considerations, staff currently work two days in the office with additional days remote optional, which is subject to change.

BENEFITS:

• Salary range is $54k-$60k.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Retirement matching program.
• Generous days off including two weeks of paid vacation (with an increase over time), sick leave, and major Jewish holidays. JCUA closes at 1:00pm on alternate Fridays in an effort to promote a healthier work/life balance. 
• Flex and comp time available to balance evening/weekend scheduling
• A supportive work environment with people committed to bringing out the best in each other and to advancing positive social change.

TO APPLY:

Send cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three references to devmanager@jcua.org.

Community Development Manager

ABOUT JCUA’S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORK

JCUA’s work on Community Development is centered around our Community Ventures Program (CVP). CVP strengthens Chicago neighborhoods through a revolving loan fund that provides zero-interest loans to nonprofit developers for affordable housing and economic development projects. Through CVP, JCUA helps to create and preserve thousands of affordable housing units and living-wage jobs. CVP advances JCUA’s mission by advancing housing and community development that addresses systemic inequality at the neighborhood level. Since its creation in 1991, CVP has provided more than $7.5 million in zero-interest loans, created or preserved nearly 5,000 units of affordable housing, created more than 1,400 living-wage jobs in Chicago, and invested in communities across the entirety of the Chicago area. The revolving loan fund has grown substantially in the last five years to $2.5 million, with a current portfolio of 13 loans in 11 different neighborhoods and a track record as a catalyst for development in historically disinvested communities.

ABOUT THE POSITION

JCUA is seeking a Manager of Community Development who is passionate about affordable housing, community development, and Chicago’s neighborhoods. This is a new full-time position and will report directly to JCUA’s Executive Director.This person will be responsible for monitoring and managing CVP’s current loan portfolio, fostering relationships with community partners, identifying new mission-aligned projects for potential funding, managing loan requests, and repayments, connecting the work of CVP with JCUA’s other core programs, and undertaking program-specific fundraising in conjunction with the organization’s staff. In close partnership with the CVP Advisory Committee, a group of lay leader experts in financing and development, the Manager of Community Development will work with potential applicants to prepare loan applications and documentation for vetting and approval. Successful candidates for the Community Development Manager position will demonstrate the ability to understand funding requests from entities embarking on complex development projects and convey project details to advisory committee members for evaluation. The Community Development Manager will usher those loans through an internal process, monitor them, and stay in close communication with borrowers and related stakeholders throughout the loan period until the loan is repaid.Over the past several years, JCUA has sought to bring a racial equity framework to all of the organization’s work. Like all staff members, the person in this position will be expected to fully participate in our work to advance racial equity. Within CVP, one of the manifestations of that work is that JCUA is seeking out and prioritizing development projects led by People of Color.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• Cultivate relationships with potential borrowers and affordable housing professionals in Chicago to publicize CVP and seek out partnership opportunities.
• Develop a pipeline of early-stage projects for later consideration.
• Assess the viability of potential development projects in conjunction with the CVP Advisory Committee.
• Assist applicants in the application process; obtain and evaluate documentation for loan requests pursuant to available funds and repayment schedules.
• Prepare materials for CVP Advisory Committee.
• Negotiate terms and arrangements with the borrowing organization. 
• Usher loans through JCUA’s internal decision-making process.
• Manage and monitor new and existing loans including timely funding, coordination of pay-offs, and related activities.
• Foster relationships with CVP Advisory Committee members, borrowing entities, nonprofit lenders, and foundation funders. 
• Prepare for and lead monthly CVP Advisory Committee meetings.
• Prepare content for grant proposals and carry out reporting functions related to CVP funding sources and potential funding sources. 
• Identify capital raising opportunities and represent JCUA in meetings with funders and/or investors in the loan fund.
• Participate in JCUA organizational events, training programs, and educational events, particularly as they relate to JCUA’s work on housing-related issues.
• Work with JCUA communications team to create marketing and communications content about the CVP program.
• Work with JCUA leadership team to ensure that CVP is integrated into JCUA’s larger housing and economic development strategies.

JCUA’s office is located in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago. Due to COVID-19 considerations, staff currently work Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the office with additional days remote optional, which is subject to change.

BENEFITS

• The salary range is $56K to $63K; the salary range may be higher if the candidate demonstrates considerable experience.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Retirement matching program.
• Generous days off including two weeks of paid vacation (with an increase over time), sick leave, and major Jewish holidays. JCUA closes at 1:00 on alternate Fridays in an effort to promote a healthier work/life balance. 
• Flex and comp time available to balance evening/weekend schedule.
• A supportive work environment with people committed to bringing out the best in each other and to advancing positive social change.
  

HOW TO APPLY

The Jewish Council on Urban Affairs believes that personnel diversity is an organizational strength and recognizes and values the intersecting identities that staff members bring to our organization. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply. JCUA is committed to providing equal employment consideration without discrimination on the basis of race, gender, disability, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other protected status. Candidates will be working within the Jewish community but do not need to be Jewish for this position. To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to commdev@jcua.org. Applications will be accepted through July 11, 2022.

Community Organizer

ABOUT ISSUE-BASED CAMPAIGNS & COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

As a model for community engagement on a grassroots level, JCUA has built relationships and stood in solidarity as an ally with communities directly affected by poverty and discrimination for the past five decades. In the past, our work has focused on a variety of issues including civil rights, public housing, police brutality, immigration reform, and worker rights — all with an emphasis on correcting systemic injustice in our city and region. Today, in the context of JCUA’s community organizing work, JCUA pursues social, racial, and economic justice by mobilizing our members to work as powerful partners with organizations and in coalitions on pressing issues in Chicago. Our active members comprise an internal leadership core that informs our work, develops organizing campaign strategies, and actively carries out JCUA’s work to win campaigns and bring about systemic change.

ABOUT THE POSITION

JCUA is seeking to hire a highly motivated Community Organizer who is passionate about social justice and organizing the Jewish community. The Community Organizer is a key position within the Organizing Team, working to recruit and develop JCUA members to make an impact on critical issues in Chicago. Coordinating with staff, this person will play a lead role in organizing our Community Safety Committee and current campaign work, including work that is underway on Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS), the Treatment Not Trauma campaign, and the Defund campaign. In conjunction with the Associate Director & Director of Organizing, the staff member will identify and coordinate issue campaigns, take the lead staff role when appropriate, and carry out community organizing activities to accomplish goals. Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to build relationships and work with people who hold a range of identities and experiences. JCUA is a small dynamic organization where the staff is highly collaborative and committed to supporting each other’s work and goals. As an outgrowth of our most recent strategic plan, JCUA is working to bring a racial equity framework to all of the organization’s work. Everyone on staff is expected to participate in that work. This position will report to JCUA’s Associate Director & Director of Organizing.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and sustain relationships with JCUA leaders, Congregation Partners, local coalitions and groups,
  leaders in the Jewish community, and other stakeholders.
• Develop JCUA leaders who are committed to organizing a powerful Jewish base to advance racial equity and
  end systemic oppression.
• Organize opportunities to cultivate leadership development for members and leaders to learn and grow i.e.
  relational one-on-one’s, strategy sessions, political education, trainings, and community-building events.
• Work with committee leaders to identify issues, plan, strategize, set goals and achieve results to advance ECPS, Treatment Not Trauma, and further the vision for public safety in Chicago.
• Represent JCUA and play staff role in coalition work with attention to coalition expectations and values
• Mobilize JCUA members & leaders to accomplish coalition and campaign objectives
• Take initiative on projects while practicing solid follow-through; work strategically to balance multiple activities and deadlines.
• Create materials and conduct research & analysis to support campaign work as needed.
• Willingness to work flexible hours to complete programmatic goals— including evenings and weekends.