WHO WE ARE
SkyART is a permanent fixture in the vibrant cultural landscape of Chicago’s South Side. Founded in 2001 with a mission to provide youth with an accessible, safe place to participate in quality visual arts programs at no cost, SkyART continues to fulfill its mission in South Chicago and surrounding neighborhoods, reaching young people through a rich variety of programs. In 2020, SkyART announced the expansion to Chicago’s West Side. Driving its mission, is a deep understanding of the transformative power of art and its capacity to enhance intellectual, emotional, and social development. SkyART is a foundation from which creativity grows and individuals flourish. Participants are invited into a world of imaginative possibilities and connections that go beyond the individual, to positively impact all of the communities where we work and the city as a whole. With art at the center of everything we do, SkyART provides free, safe, open spaces where young people are empowered and connections are made.
Our work is guided by these core concepts:
- Accessibility – we remove barriers – promoting participation in our programs, connection with other institutions and communities, and access to the broader world.
- Responsiveness – we innovate – adapting programs to the evolving context within which we work, fostering civic engagement, cultural democracy, and social wellbeing.
- Totality – we are committed to reaching the whole person – recognizing that every participant has a unique life experience characterized by their own needs, assets, and interests.
- Stability – we are a consistent presence – the “third place” after home and school, where participants develop meaningful relationships and experience a feeling of extended family.
WHAT WE DO
Through interdisciplinary, process-based projects, skill-building workshops, and large-scale collaborations, SkyART encourages critical thinking and inspires creative expression for youth ages 3 to 24. In 2020 SkyART also began offering Art Therapy for Chicago youth. Using an artist-in-residence model, Teaching Artists and Art Therapists work side by side with participants, in an atmosphere of mutual esteem and shared curiosity, through our dynamic and experimental methodology, the SkyWAY. Our programs include after-school and Saturday programs at our studios; classroom and after-school programs at partnering schools, and programs ranging from one-day workshops to multi-week courses offered in coordination with organizations such as city parks and libraries, as well as other non-profit program partners.
HOW YOU CONTRIBUTE
The Development Manager identifies, develops and stewards relationships and subsequent fundraising activities with corporations, government agencies, foundations, and other funding institutions. The Development Manager works with the Director of Development, Executive Director, program staff, and Board of Directors to create, lead, implement and evaluate successful fundraising strategies from institutional funders. The Development Manager, working with a development staff of three, thinks creatively to develop new and innovative ways to fundraise. The Development Manager is committed to the goals of SkyART and can articulate the vision and mission.
JOB DUTIES
Leadership and Strategy
● Hiring, training, supervising, and developing employees to meet organizational needs
● Represent SkyART internally and externally to raise the agency’s profile and create fundraising opportunities.
● Actively promote the agency’s mission, vision and values.
● Participate in strategic and annual work planning.
● Stay abreast of relevant changes in the philanthropic sector and communicate to senior staff.
Institutional Giving
● Co-create long-term growth strategies for institutional giving.
● Keep abreast of programmatic needs and new program developments and outcomes by attending program meetings and communicating regularly with program staff.
● Co-create and monitor institutional giving revenue projections and goals and report progress to leadership.
● Manage the calendar of submissions to ensure timely completion of proposals and reports.
● Write and edit grants, reports and supporting documentation. Make assignments to other staff as needed. Supervise other staff preparing content for proposals and/or reports.
● Monitor progress of open grants.
● Review financial statements, budgets and reports; work with DOD and operations staff to ensure financial documents to funders are accurate and meet requirements set by funders.
● Identify, cultivate and steward relationships with appropriate staff at funding institutions.
● Conduct and/or delegate foundation and corporate research; manage a portfolio of that research to identify new funding opportunities.
● Conduct government RFP reviews to identify new funding opportunities.
● Work closely with leadership to engage with Board members and other individuals who may have access and contacts with foundation and corporations.
● Coordinate site visits and facilitate and participate as needed. Ensure staff are adequately prepared.
● Collect, maintain and analyze evaluative and anecdotal data from staff, other professionals and sources, policy makers, etc. to assist with solicitation.
● Manage challenge grants, ensuring paperwork is processed and requirements are fulfilled.
● Ensure compliance with grant requirements.
Individual Giving
● Develop and monitor individuals giving revenue projections and goals and report progress to leadership.
● Plan and execute the direct mail and online appeal programs; develop narrative and write appeal letters and solicitation materials; conduct analysis of campaigns; develop reports and make changes in strategy if needed.
● Research, develop and implement new social media-based fundraising strategies.
● Conduct and/or delegate prospect research; manage a portfolio of that research to identify new prospective donor opportunities.
● Work closely with leadership to engage with Board members and other individuals to fundraise from smaller donors, personalizing donor correspondence including phone calls and invitations
● Assist in coordinating the Board’s participation in their efforts to fundraise from smaller donors, personalizing donor correspondence including phone calls and invitations
● Collect, maintain and analyze evaluative and anecdotal data from staff, other professionals and sources, policy makers, etc. to assist with solicitation.
Special Events and Corporate Sponsorships
● As part of the development team, assist with planning and day-of logistics of fundraising events.
● Develop corporate sponsor prospect list. Work with the Director of Development to assign solicitors and manage/solicit your own portfolio of prospects.
● Organize sponsor benefits and manage and track sponsorship solicitation.
Administration and other
● Ensure accurate record-keeping of institutional contributions. Reconcile institutional income with finance staff
● Work with the development team to integrate consistent messaging and outreach to donor segments via the web, social media and e-newsletters
● Uphold best practices in data management and donor tracking. Attend and actively participate in required educational programs and staff meetings
● Protect organization’s value by keeping information confidential
● Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor
YOUR BACKGROUND INCLUDES
● A bachelor’s degree is required, with demonstrated pursuit of continuing education in the philanthropic sector.
● Minimum three years of experience in development, including fundraising research, writing, editorial support and messaging of fundraising requests.
● Ability to oversee staff and experience in training ensure effective performance.
● Overall understanding and knowledge of the philanthropic community, funding cycles and financial documents is strongly preferred.
● Proven track record in non-profit fundraising (the arts preferred); demonstrated ability to successfully raise funds, make presentations, prepare foundation requests.
● Previous supervision experience was helpful.
● Computer skills including familiarity with word processing, spreadsheets, CRM database and social media. Experience with Little Green Light or similar fundraising software is a plus
YOUR SKILLS INCLUDE
● Ability to organize and manage multiple projects/tasks simultaneously.
● Proven ability to meet deadlines.
● Strong oral and written communication skills.
● Working independently, as well as collaborating with colleagues, and adapting easily to changing priorities.
● Ability to analyze information, read situations, and solve problems.
WHAT WE OFFER: Exempt,Salary/Full-Time
SkyART offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a competitive salary commensurate with background, experience, and position responsibilities. Depending on the position, in addition to salary, benefits for eligible employees may include:
● Paid time off (PTO) allowance including two weeks vacation, five personal days, and five sick days per year
● Eleven paid holidays and one additional day off for your birthday
● Employee retirement account with up to 3% contribution from SkyART
● Health Insurance benefits with minimal cost paid by employee
HOW YOU APPLY
Please submit a cover letter and resume to: HR@skyart.org with ”SkyART Development Manager” in the subject line. Be sure to include your first and last name along with contact information in the body of the email. Do not mail or fax. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
SkyART is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. SkyART does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.