Director of Institutional Giving

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Director of Institutional Giving

Chicago, IL

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DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL GIVING

About Cara Collective

Cara Collective seeks to fuel a courageous national movement to eradicate relational and financial poverty. Through our three entities - Cara, Cleanslate and Cara Plus - we engage job seekers, employers, and other organizations across the country to break the cycle of poverty through the power and purpose of employment.

At present, we produce 1,000 jobs each year; however, our results don't just end with employment. Today, we take the insights gained over the past 35 years to equip other organizations and employers with practices to help build a more inclusive economy. Learn more at www.caracollective.org.

About the Institutional Giving Team

The Institutional Giving team is a critical function within Cara Collective's External Affairs department, responsible for securing and stewarding funding from foundations, corporations, and public sources. The team drives a significant portion of the organization's annual revenue, supporting both core operations and strategic growth initiatives.

Through thoughtful relationship management and compelling storytelling, the team translates Cara Collective's mission and priorities into strong cases for support that resonate with institutional partners. In close collaboration with Programs, Finance, and Marketing & Communications, the team ensures that funding opportunities are aligned with organizational goals and positioned for long-term impact.

The team is focused on both sustaining and growing a diverse portfolio of funders-balancing donor stewardship and retention with proactive prospecting and cultivation of new partners. Together, these efforts support Cara Collective in meeting and exceeding its annual institutional fundraising goal of $4M+ while advancing innovative solutions that address relational and financial poverty at scale.

About the Role

The Director of Institutional Giving is a senior leader who partners with the Chief External Affairs Officer to develop and execute strategies that grow Cara Collective's institutional funding portfolio. This role is responsible for driving revenue from foundations, corporations, and public sources in support of the organization's strategic priorities and long-term impact.

The Director oversees the full lifecycle of institutional giving, including prospecting, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, proposal development, budgeting, and moves management. They also manage a small team, providing coaching and direction to ensure strong execution and results.

As a member of Cara Collective's Leadership Team, the Director represents the Development & Marketing function in enterprise-wide strategy and decision-making, alongside peer leaders.

Success in this role is defined by achieving and exceeding annual fundraising goals, strengthening existing partnerships, and securing new institutional investments that advance Cara Collective's mission locally and nationally.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is a strategic and results-driven fundraising leader who thrives at the intersection of relationship management, revenue generation, and mission impact. You are energized by building and stewarding high-value institutional partnerships and translating organizational priorities into compelling cases for support.

You bring a strong balance of big-picture thinking and executional excellence-able to shape strategy while also ensuring high-quality, detail-oriented deliverables. You are a collaborative leader who can influence across teams, manage and develop staff, and represent Cara Collective externally with credibility and confidence.

You are comfortable operating in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, navigating complexity, and exercising sound judgment in prioritizing opportunities that align with organizational goals and capacity. Above all, you are deeply committed to advancing economic mobility and equity through Cara Collective's mission.

Requirements

• A minimum of 7-10 years of professional experience in institutional giving, philanthropy, nonprofit development, or a related field.
• Experience with public funding (city, county, state, or federal grants) is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• Demonstrated success securing and managing significant funding from institutional donors, including foundations, corporations, and/or public sources.
• At least 3 years of leadership experience, including managing, coaching, and developing staff.
• Proven ability to develop and execute fundraising strategies that meet or exceed revenue goals.
• Strong experience in grant writing, proposal development, budgeting, and managing complex submissions.
• Experience managing a portfolio of institutional donors, including prospecting, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders, including funders, partners, and senior leaders.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives and represent the organization effectively to diverse audiences.
• Experience working cross-functionally with program, finance, and executive teams to align funding opportunities with organizational priorities.
• High level of organization and attention to detail, with strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Comfort working with CRM systems (such as Salesforce) and using data to inform strategy and track performance.
• Experience with public funding (city, county, state, or federal grants) is a plus.
• Availability for occasional evening and weekend work.
• Strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and advancing economic opportunity for individuals impacted by poverty.

Key Responsibilities

Team & Portfolio Management (70%)

• Responsible for day-to-day oversight and support of the Senior Institutional Giving Lead and Institutional Grant Writer.
• Manage the institutional fundraising plan that is tracked in Salesforce and reported on regularly to evaluate progress and success.
• Build relationships with external corporate and foundation funders through site visits, correspondence, and regular communication.
• Lead and oversee all aspects of creating and submitting grant proposals, including writing, preparation of supporting documentation, and drafting and collection of required attachments.
• Lead applications to public funding sources in collaboration with Contracts & Compliance team, managing timelines and cross-department inputs, as applicable.
• Ensure adequate distribution of portfolio assignments.
• Collaborate across the enterprise, including our Programs team, social enterprise - Cleanslate, and our national expansion arm - Cara Plus, to create tailored letters of inquiry, proposals, and presentations.
• Establish productive working relationships with Cara Collective's leadership and staff; advise them on the feasibility of corporations and foundations as sources of support for priority programs and initiatives, and of the implications of funding opportunities.
• Support the events team and auxiliary boards with sponsorship solicitations for Cara Collective's key annual fundraising events, including the Cara Gala and Summer Social.
• Collaborate with peers within the Development & Marketing team to share resources and information; make effective use of and contribute to shaping communications, events, and other tools.
• Seek out and analyze data to inform development strategy.
• Co-lead moves management process, including regular meetings and evaluation.
• Conduct regular prospect research to grow institutional portfolio.
• Liaise with the Executive Team to identify, cultivate, and solicit top institutional prospects.

Leadership, Planning, & Strategic Initiatives (30%)

• Partner with Chief External Affairs Officer on overall departmental strategy including budgeting, moves management, stakeholder relations, and events.
• Sit on Leadership team representing the Development & Marketing team at the management level.
• Partner cross‑functionally with Programs, Finance, and Executive Team to develop proposals, budgets, and to vet funding opportunities for strategic fit.
• Represent Cara Collective at engagement opportunities.
• Ensure organizational goals and metrics are articulated in a stakeholder-friendly manner, compelling, and representative of the work of Cara Collective.
• In collaboration with Senior Director of Marketing & Communications, occasionally author and regularly review development-related communications.
• Advise senior leadership on institutional revenue strategy and opportunity prioritization.
• Exercise judgment in recommending which opportunities to pursue, decline, or defer based on alignment and capacity.
• Collaborate with Finance to ensure accurate budgeting, compliance, and reporting for restricted and public funds.
• Take on special projects as needed by the President & CEO or Chief External Affairs Officer.

Reports To

Chief External Affairs Officer

Direct Report(s)

The Director of Institutional Giving manages the Senior Institutional Giving Lead and Institutional Grant Writer.

Workplace Type & Team Culture

Cara Collective has a strong team culture that values collaboration, communication, and camaraderie. We believe in the power of working together in person, which is why we expect our employees to be onsite at one of our Chicago-based locations multiple days each week. The exact number of onsite days per week may vary by role, employee tenure, and other factors. This commitment to in-person collaboration fosters a sense of belonging and teamwork among our employees, creating a supportive and dynamic work environment.

We consistently measure staff satisfaction through employee surveys and have found that year after year, the vast majority of staff agree that Cara Collective is a great place to work and grow. This high level of employee satisfaction reflects our dedication to creating a positive and fulfilling workplace for all members of our team.

Starting Pay Range

We take budget and starting salary very seriously. We benchmark our roles using a salary analysis tool called PayScale and offer competitive, market-based compensation to all employees.

The expected starting salary range for this position is $90,000-$95,000.

Benefits

Cara Collective is proud to offer a comprehensive, competitive benefit package, with options designed to help you make the best decision for yourself, your family, and your lifestyle. Available benefits are based on eligibility. Our Total Rewards package includes a variety of medical and dental plans, vision coverage, disability and life insurance, 401(k):

• Medical, Dental, Vision Plans
• Basic Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• Personal Technology Reimbursement
• 4 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
• Starting with 17 Vacation Days, 8 Sick Days,
• 14 Paid Holidays

Employee Paid Benefits

• Pre-Tax Medical Flexible Spending Account
• Pre-Tax Dependent Care Account
• Pre-Tax Transit & Parking Options
• Supplemental Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan (employer match up to 4% upon hire & immediately vested)

As of this posting, we annually review our benefit offerings to meet our employees needs and be competitive in the market. All listed benefits offerings a at the discretion of the employer.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Cara Collective is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do 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. This commitment applies to all employment practices, including those supported by technology or artificial intelligence tools used in the hiring process.

We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability and require reasonable accommodation to complete this application or participate in the interview process, please email us at kboelkens@carachicago.org.

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