Senior Consultant and Project Manager

Artistic Fundraising Group is a fundraising consultancy serving nonprofit arts, humanities, education, social services, health, and disability organizations. The Senior Consultant and Project Manager leads a small team, manages a portfolio of nonprofit clients, develops customized fundraising strategies, and supports internal operations and professional development.

Responsibilities:

• Management of a small team of two to three AFG consultants (a mix of full- and part-time staff) to provide supervision, project enhancement, training, and mentorship
• Weekly/bi-weekly 1:1 meetings with direct reports
• Ongoing communication regarding client work and strategies via Slack
• Review and approval of work generated by the team (such as grant proposals, donor communications copy, and other deliverables)
• Biweekly or monthly meetings via Zoom with clients to support direct reports
• Overall supervision of project goals, outcomes, and timely deliverables with the guidance of AFG leadership
• Investment in the professional development and wellness of direct reports
• Leadership on high-level consulting services in overall fundraising strategy and special fundraising initiatives
• Creation of cultivation strategies for both individual and institutional supporters
• Fractional support via the preparation of grant proposals and reports, prospect research, and generation of donor communications and appeal strategies
• Establishment and maintenance of operational best practices within the development function of an organization
• Workshop presentations for client stakeholder groups, board meetings, and group professional development series
• Collaboration with both clients and fellow AFG team members regarding upcoming deadlines and deliverables to ensure timely completion of work in advance of project deadlines

Requirements:

• 4-6+ years of professional fundraising experience
• Previous experience in grant writing and management with a track record of proven success
• Previous experience in individual giving with a track record of proven success
• Previous experience serving in a management/supervisory role, with an emphasis on empathic mentorship and supportive leadership practices
• Previous experience in the development and presentation of fundraising strategies, either while working on staff within a nonprofit or as a consultant
• An intimate understanding of Chicagoland's philanthropic and nonprofit landscape
• High-efficiency writing and composition skills that support the timely generation and revision of written deliverables
• A working understanding nonprofit financials, including budgeting and forecasting
• Effective verbal presentation skills, with experience in articulating new concepts to those with limited understanding of processes and best practices
• Production of timely, quality work with thorough attention to detail
• Technical proficiency/ability to train in Google Drive/Microsoft Suite, project management software, and donor CRMs
• Ability to analyze client needs and resources, identify opportunities for growth, and develop sustainable pathways to lasting impact, both within client meetings and in offline work
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively on multiple deadline-oriented projects at once
• Ability to produce timely, quality work with thorough attention to detail
• Ability to develop responsive internal solutions to support fellow team members in project management and execution
• experience in major gifts and board fundraising
• Background in and/or enthusiasm for the arts, humanities, journalism, education, or human services