Associate Regional Director, Philanthropy

At Mercy Housing, the nation's largest affordable housing provider, we believe that business and mission are not competing values. Our core values of Respect, Justice, and Mercy guide how we serve our residents, support our employees, and work together to create stable, vibrant communities.

We are looking for key contributor to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospective donors, which may be corporate, foundation, government, faith-based, and/or individual. You will expand Mercy Housing’s fundraising program in the Lakefront region through research, writing, and submission of grant proposals and reports, and individual appeals. 

This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule. Preference for candidates based in the Chicago area. 

PAY: $90,000-98,000 annually, depending on experience

Benefits

• Research, establish and nurture relationships with donors from a range of funding sources


• Facilitate and support the involvement of the Regional Director, President, and other staff and volunteers in the cultivation process.


• Represent the Lakefront region of Mercy Housing at various public events, professional organizations, conferences, and meetings that are relevant to our mission.


• Write high-quality, best practice-oriented proposals, letters of interest/inquiry, requests for proposals (RFPs), case for support documents, concept papers, and related materials for grant proposal submissions.


• Ensure funder reporting requirements are met, including tracking expenses, data/outcomes, high-level program evaluation, site visits, compiling resident testimonials, photos, and other content requested by funders.


• Plan and coordinate fundraising events with support from staff, including identifying and collaborating with an array of vendors, invitations, ticket sales, managing sponsors, printed materials, ongoing guest communications, day-of coordination, post-event follow-up, and other duties as needed.


• Plan and coordinate funder-related and community volunteer events and activities in the region and encourage use of the Golden Volunteer platform by staff and prospective volunteers.


• Conduct stewardship activities with funders and donors in the region. 


• Act as a resource for local and/or national information on regional and/or national grant proposals. Assist with preparation of national or multi-regional proposals, as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.


• Minimum of five (5) years in general fundraising, grant writing, prospect research, individual giving, grant reporting, donor stewardship, communications, or related field.


• Experience supervising staff.

 Preferred Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Management, Social Work, English, journalism, public relations, or related field.


• Training and/or certification in fundraising principles, such as CFRE certification.

This is a brief description summarizing the abilities needed for the position. Mercy Housing is a fair chance employer; while we conduct background checks for all positions, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.