Regional Development Director - Chicago

We are seeking a dynamic and accomplished fundraising leader with a proven track record of driving revenue growth and advancing mission-focused initiatives. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, exceptional relationship builder, and inspiring people leader who excels at coaching, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams.

This role will provide leadership for the Midwest Division, overseeing markets in Illinois (including Wisconsin and Missouri), Ohio, and Kentucky. The successful candidate will bring demonstrated fundraising success and the ability to strengthen and rebuild market performance by developing strategic partnerships, cultivating donor relationships, and empowering local teams to achieve ambitious goals. This leader will play a critical role in shaping growth strategies, fostering collaboration across markets, and creating a culture of accountability, innovation, and excellence.

• Develop and execute comprehensive regional fundraising strategies across individual, major gift, corporate, foundation, sponsorship, and event revenue streams to achieve annual and long-term goals.
• Manage the region’s fundraising pipeline, including prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, renewals, upgrades, and multi-year opportunities.
• Monitor revenue performance, forecasts, and pipeline activity; identify gaps and implement strategies to maximize results.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with high-net-worth individuals, corporations, foundations, government entities, civic and community organizations, churches, and other key stakeholders.
• Partner with Majors and other development colleagues to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major and leadership-level donors.
• Serve as a visible ambassador for UNCF, strengthening the organization’s presence, reputation, and philanthropic relationships within the region.
• Recruit, develop, and engage influential community and corporate leaders to serve as UNCF ambassadors, advocates, fundraisers, and connectors establishing clear expectations and meaningful opportunities for engagement and fundraising and leveraging the volunteer networks to expand UNCF’s prospect base and strengthen community partnerships.
• Provide strategic oversight of market-based fundraising events, ensuring they support revenue, donor cultivation, volunteer engagement, and broader region objectives.
• Develop and implement market-level communications and engagement strategies, in partnership with Marketing and Communications, to strengthen donor relationships and advance fundraising priorities.
• Develop proposals, presentations, sponsorship materials, impact communications, and other collateral to support fundraising and stewardship.
• Ensure accurate and timely management of donor, prospect, and constituent information in Raiser’s Edge NXT, including portfolio management, moves management, contact reporting, and documentation.
• Maintain accurate revenue forecasts, reports, and performance metrics and use data to inform strategy and decision-making.
• Partner with Finance to ensure appropriate budgeting, expense management, reconciliation, and financial accountability.
• Ensure all market fundraising and operational activities comply with UNCF policies, procedures, financial controls, and applicable regulations.
• Collaborate with divisional and national teams to align market strategies with UNCF priorities and leverage cross-market and enterprise-wide opportunities.
• Lead, coach, and develop assigned staff and consultants, establishing clear performance expectations, goals, accountability, and professional development plans.
• Conduct performance evaluations and recommend hiring, promotion, training, disciplinary action, and termination in accordance with UNCF policies.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, professionalism, and results.
• Contribute to organizational initiatives, strategic priorities, and special projects as assigned.

• Ability to conduct major fundraising activities, including capital campaigns and annual giving drives.
• Excellent organizational, written and verbal communication skills.
• Outstanding human relations and managerial skills.
• Demonstrative initiative and ability to work with minimal supervision; and a working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.