Part Time Contractor
Position Summary
Friends of Jones (FOJ) seeks a strategic, entrepreneurial, and relationship-focused Director of Advancement and Engagement to support the long-term growth and sustainability of Jones College Prep. Reporting to the Fundraising Chair of Friends of Jones and working in close partnership with Jones College Prep leadership, this position will lead advancement initiatives that strengthen relationships with families, alumni, donors, and corporate partners. This is a contract position.
The Director of Advancement will establish and manage constituent engagement, donor stewardship, fundraising support, and corporate partnerships. This role will also provide project management support for initiatives jointly sponsored by the Friends of Jones Fundraising team.
Key Responsibilities
Student, Family, and Alumni Data Management
- Establish processes with Chicago Public Schools and school administration to obtain and maintain contact information for newly accepted and enrolled Jones students and families, consistent with applicable privacy requirements.
- Develop and maintain systems to track student enrollment trends, including students' originating middle schools.
- Create and manage an alumni database, including collection and maintenance of information related to college attendance and majors.
Fundraising and Donor Management
- Collaborate with the Friends of Jones fundraising team to strengthen donor engagement and increase philanthropic support.
- In tandem with Fundraising chair develop the annual fundraising plan. This includes but is not limited to:
- Developing goals for the Flying Eagles Annual Fund
- Develop tactical plan for fundraising – communication plan, events, outreach targets, segmentation approach
- Lead the execution of the tactical plans in conjunction with the fundraising chair and the fundraising team
- Work with the comms team to deliver fundraising messages to the Jones community
- Maintain donor records and oversee donor tracking, stewardship, and recognition programs.
- Work with treasurer to ensure fundraising reports and dashboards are accurate – in line with expectations
Corporate and Community Partnerships
- Develop and launch a corporate outreach and partnership program to connect Jones College Prep with local and national businesses.
- Identify, cultivate, and steward corporate sponsors and strategic partners.
- Create sponsorship opportunities that support academic programs, student experiences, events, and other school priorities.
- Identify other community groups for possible fundraising (i.e. chambers of commerce)
- Work with Friends of Jones leadership to establish goals, strategies, and processes for corporate engagement.
Strategic Projects and School Advancement
- Support strategic communications and marketing initiatives, including potential enhancements to the Jones website and digital presence.
- Coordinate stakeholders, vendors, volunteers, to ensure successful project fundraising execution.
Collaboration and Leadership
- Work closely with Friends of Jones leadership, school administration, volunteers, parents, alumni, and community partners.
- Develop annual advancement goals and measurable outcomes.
- Provide regular updates on progress, challenges, and opportunities.
- Foster a collaborative culture between Friends of Jones and Jones College Prep in support of shared advancement objectives.
- Attend monthly Friends of Jones Board meetings
- Attend weekly fundraising meetings
Alumni Relations and Engagement
- In tandem with alumni coordinator, support ongoing alumni outreach efforts and collaborate with designated alumni leaders.
- Assist in building a culture of lifelong engagement and philanthropy among Jones graduates.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree preferred.
- Experience in fundraising, advancement, nonprofit management, alumni relations, communications, education, or a related field.
- Strong project management and organizational skills.
- Experience managing constituent or donor databases and reporting systems.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
- Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities.
- Experience with CRM, fundraising, or alumni engagement platforms preferred.
Schedule and Compensation
- Part-time contract position (approximately 20–25 hours per week; flexible based on organizational needs).
- Some evening and weekend participation will be required for events and meetings.
- Compensation commensurate with experience.
Reporting Structure
The Director of Advancement reports jointly to the President and Fundraising Chair of Friends of Jones and works closely with Jones College Prep leadership to advance shared fundraising, alumni engagement, and strategic development goals.
Pay: $40,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Chicago, IL 60605
