How to Apply
Email a cover letter and resume to [email protected]. Note: applicants that do not email a cover letter and resume with not be considered.
Overview
Looking to match your professional drive with a deep love for animals? Welcome to Heartland Animal Shelter! We are a progressive, community-forward team dedicated to saving lives, protecting human-animal bonds, and redefining animal welfare.
For an enthusiastic relationship-builder and creative storyteller, Heartland isn’t just a place to work—it’s where your passion turns into tangible, life-saving impact. Here, you will find an energetic, collaborative environment where your ideas are valued, your professional network will thrive, and your hustle directly supports hundreds of homeless animals and the families who love them every single day.
We are seeking an organized, creative, and results-driven Mission Advancement & Marketing Manager to split their time between impactful fundraising support (70%) and digital storytelling (30%). This role helps manage and grow a portfolio of $250,000 in existing event and campaign revenue. If you have a natural knack for connecting with people, an enthusiastic attitude about asking for support, and an eager willingness to learn, we value your drive far more than a direct fundraising experience.
Core Responsibilities:
Collaborative Revenue Generation & Relationship Building
- Goal Stewardship: Manage and grow our annual $250,000 event and campaign revenue stream (including a gala, ticketed small events, and a peer-to-peer campaign).
- Community Outreach: In collaboration with other staff, conduct friendly, proactive outreach to local businesses to secure mid-level event sponsorships and vendor booths.
- Donor & Sponsor Care: Serve as the main point of contact for our wonderful sponsors—ensuring they feel loved, their logos are beautifully displayed, and their benefits are fully delivered.
- Auction Coordination: Help bring the magic to our Gala! Source fun in-kind auction items, write engaging descriptions, and keep things organized in our event software.
Campaign Strategy & Peer-to-Peer Support
- Empower Our Community: Cheer on and support our incredible Young Professionals Associate Board and community members hosting third-party fundraisers.
- Fundraising Enablement: Create simple, fun toolkits (sample social copy, tips sheets) to help our passionate supporters raise money on our behalf.
- Targeted Outreach: Look at past event data to invite top past fundraisers and attendees back for this year’s fun.
Event Operations & On-Site Magic
- Committee Collaboration: Bring people together! Help facilitate our volunteer event planning committees and map out fun timelines.
- Logistics Coordination: Chat with vendors (catering, rentals) and help secure event permits so our celebrations run smoothly.
- Day-Of Leadership: Be the enthusiastic, go-to energy on event days—helping guide volunteers, coordinate vendors, and keep the timeline moving.
- Post-Event Gratitude: Ensure every supporter gets a prompt, heartfelt thank you, and lead a casual team debrief to celebrate wins and note improvements.
Social Media Content Creation & Strategy
- Tell Our Story: Build a fun, streamlined pipeline to gather beautiful, real-time photos, videos, and stories from our animal care teams and volunteers.
- Calendar Management: Curate a vibrant weekly social media schedule that captures Heartland’s unique voice across all active platforms.
- Audience Engagement: Ensure a happy balance of cats, dogs, and shelter priorities that speaks directly to our adopters, fosters, volunteers, and donors.
- Digital Metrics: Keep an eye on what’s working! Track engagement and growth to see what stories connect best with our community.
- Development: Develop a comprehensive social media strategy, including all appropriate platforms.
What You Bring to the Team:
- Experience: 2–5 years of professional experience in non-profit events, marketing, or digital storytelling. A background in sales, hospitality, or community organizing translates beautifully here, too!
- The Right Attitude: A genuine enthusiasm for fundraising and a lack of fear when it comes to inviting people to invest in our mission.
- Communication Skills: A warm, persuasive writing style perfect for both corporate sponsorship proposals and heartwarming Instagram captions.
- Tech Savvy (or a quick learner): Familiarity with standard social media channels (Meta, TikTok, Canva) and a comfort level learning CRM/Event software (like DonorPerfect, Clickbid, or Givebutter).
- Financial Comfort: Ability to work collaboratively to track event expenses and maximize every dollar raised for the animals.
Our Culture & Values
At Heartland, we believe in creating a world where animals and people thrive. We support one another and expect our team to embody compassion, community, respect, collaboration, and trust. We work hard, celebrate often, and always put the animals first.
Compensation and Benefits
- Salary: $50,000–$55,000/year (Full-Time, 40 hours/week)
- Benefits: Flexible hybrid schedule, Paid Time Off (PTO), Health Insurance, Retirement Plan, and at-cost veterinary services/medications for your own furry family members!
Physical Requirements
- Ability to lead active on-site setup for events (moving banners, supplies, etc.) and a willingness to work select nights or weekends when it’s time to throw our major events.
Pay: $50,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 403(b)
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Wheeling, IL 60090
