Development and Board Associate

Civic Consulting Alliance is a nonprofit organization bringing together collaborative investments to get big things done for Chicago. We provide pro bono consulting services that are amplified by the expertise of our corporate partners. Together, we work at the systems-level to reshape our region to be more just, equitable, and resilient.

Since 1985, Civic Consulting Alliance has served as an invaluable component of our region’s civic infrastructure by building meaningful connections with government, social impact, and corporate leaders. We triple the impact of every dollar invested in our mission to provide an average of $15 million in pro bono consulting services annually.

We achieve impact in three key platforms that are integral to improving quality of life and creating a region that can reach its full potential – building safer and more just communities, ensuring equitable access to education opportunities and outcomes, and growing an economy that works for everyone. Within each platform, we serve public and social sector clients working at a systems-level toward inclusive and equitable solutions. Learn more about Civic Consulting Alliance’s unique model at www.ccachicago.org/about.

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The Opportunity

The Development and Board Associate will sustain and strengthen the critical operational support needed for success of Civic Consulting Alliance’s Development, Board, and Finance functions. They will report to the Chief Operating Officer, and will collaborate closely with the Development Team, CEO, and Executive Assistant, while also interfacing with Civic Consulting Alliance’s other staff and Board leadership to achieve key metrics of success for this position.

Defining Success

The Development and Board Associate’s success will be measured by progress to:

1.     Maintain and evolve the integrity of data and systems needed to support an effective Development Team, and to build a more fiscally sustainable organization

2.     Sustain and streamline systems to support a dynamic and engaged Board

3.     Support strong organizational infrastructure by carrying out key financial reporting functions

1.     Maintain and evolve the integrity of data and systems needed to support an effective Development Team, and to build a more fiscally sustainable organization

Effective and sustainable fundraising requires exceptional data management; Development shops rely on clean and dynamic data to identify and focus their efforts where they will have the greatest fundraising impact. The Development and Board Associate will play a critical role in maintaining and evolving these systems, with impact on every stage of the fundraising cycle—from prospecting, to securing funds, to stewarding donors—and will ensure our day-to-day processes are effective and efficient.

To achieve success in this area:

- They will work in closest collaboration with Development Team colleagues and the Chief Operating Officer, and will regularly interface with colleagues of our parent organization, the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

- The Development and Board Associate’s support of an effective Development Team will draw heavily on proficiency and continuous learning in Salesforce, where the Development Team tracks all fundraising and donor relationships, and on proficiency in the Microsoft Suite, through which we report relevant fundraising data to our accounting colleagues of the Civic Committee.

- They will be driven as a strategic problem solver to deeply understand our donor data and evolve how we use and interpret it.

Responsibilities will include the following.

- First, the Development and Board Associate will ensure that we accurately track line-by-line projections for the revenue that we expect to raise in each fiscal year, including to update our records as projections progress from initial engagement to funding commitment.

- Second, the Development and Board Associate will provide operational support for specific fundraising campaigns, and will ensure that we efficiently receive and process funding commitments. This will include collaboration with the Chief Executive Officer and Development Directors to project manage and facilitate our annual campaign to secure Board members’ personal and organizational funding commitments. It will also include: invoicing, agreements, and other communications to secure payments; proactive follow-up to ensure timely receipt of payments; and generating letters and other communications to acknowledge donations in a timely and thoughtful manner.

- Finally, the Development and Board Associate will play a critical role in building stronger donor stewardship practices within the Development Team. This will include tracking, monitoring, and responding to reporting requirements related to institutional (corporate and foundation) funding.

2.     Sustain and streamline systems to support a dynamic and engaged Board

The Development and Board Associate will provide operational support to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer related to quarterly Board meetings, and Board recruitment and governance, and ongoing data management.

To achieve success in this area:

- They will collaborate with the Executive Assistant to streamline systems for greater effectiveness and efficiency of day-to-day operations.

Responsibilities will include the following.

- First, successful quarterly Board meetings will be a collaborative effort between the Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair, and staff team of Chief Operating Officer, Senior Communications Associate, Development and Board Associate, and Executive Assistant, and diverse colleagues who contribute to the content and framing of each meeting’s agenda. The Development and Board Associate’s role will be to streamline and sustain systems that support effective meeting materials, an engaging meeting agenda, and a meaningful meeting experience for all.

- Second, supporting a dynamic and engaged Board relies on effective systems for Board recruitment and governance. The Development and Board Associate will further collaborate with the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer—as well as members of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board, and Development Team colleagues—to provide operational support where it is most needed to achieve organizational goals for new Board member recruitment and Board governance. This may include leveraging data analysis and presentation solutions (including Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint) to support better understanding of current Board strengths, opportunities for growth, and high potential strategies to achieve those opportunities.

3.     Build strong organizational infrastructure by carrying out key financial reporting functions

The Development and Board Associate will support day-to-day financial reporting that allows Civic Consulting Alliance to meet our fiscal responsibility requirements.

To achieve success in this area:

- They will collaborate closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and colleagues of our parent organization, the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago; it supports accounting needs as well as fundraising.

Responsibilities will include the following.

- Financial reporting functions will evolve as the Development and Board Associate contributes to streamlining systems for greater effectiveness and efficiency of day-to-day operations.

• Enthusiasm for Civic Consulting Alliance’s mission, and to modeling our core values -- This might be demonstrated by success or interest in leveraging the power of government and policy to promote equity -- We expect that a strong candidate will have a history in and commitment to Chicago.
• At least two years of full-time work experience. You might be a great fit if -- You’re coming from a role where you: provide operational support to a high-functioning development (fundraising) team; serve as a database manager; and/or serve as a project manager for a robust piece of a team’s work -- You’re interested in pursuing a career in and growing your skills in nonprofit development -- You have social sector experience (within a nonprofit or civic organization, or government).
• A track record of success in quickly understanding how systems work, and continuously improving them in support of a sustainable organization -- You think in systems – you intuit how the pieces fit together, and can distill their complexity into a coherent and concise explanation -- You are comfortable navigating ambiguity, where problems may not be clearly defined, and the path to solutions are uncertain
• A natural orientation toward data and analysis -- You quickly develop an intuition for the story that data is telling, and how to efficiently and effectively maintain its integrity -- You understand how to interpret and report on data, and how to communicate your analysis to others in a clear manner and with the appropriate level of detail
• Solid knowledge of and enthusiasm for continuous learning of effective and responsive technology solutions -- Proficiency with CRM solutions (Salesforce preferred) -- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace suites, with particular competency related to: Microsoft Excel as a reporting and data analysis tool, and Microsoft PowerPoint as a tool to distill and visualize complicated data -- Experience in finding project management solutions to track and report on workstreams -- Ability to understand, respect, and navigate data confidentiality concerns
• Ability to interact with a diverse constituency, including capacity to motivate and collaborate successfully with board, funders, and cross-functional colleagues -- High degree of emotional intelligence, with an intuition and ability to anticipate needs -- Comfort and willingness to manage up, and bring colleagues along with processes -- Ability and drive to forge and maintain long-term, authentic relationships
• A disciplined self-starter able to set objectives, activate plans, and self-manage performance -- Demonstrates and inspires cooperation, collaboration, and reliability -- Proactively shares information and communicates effectively -- Extraordinary organizational skills, with ability to think strategically and creatively, and to prioritize and meet deadlines with urgency and attention to detail -- Comfort giving and receiving coaching and feedback, and acting upon it for continuous improvement -- Able to persist to overcome obstacles, work independently, and be flexible

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Hybrid Work Environment

As an organization, we believe that in-person work is critical to achieving our mission; it promotes stronger relationship building with our key stakeholders (clients, funders, and partners), creates closer connection and team-building with our colleagues, and provides broader opportunities for learning and growth. This shared belief underpins our expectation for in-person requirements. Staff are expected to work two or more (2+) in-person days, and up to three (3) remote days, per five-day work week. (On Tuesdays, all staff will work in the office. Teams will align on at least 1 additional day each week to work together in-person; additional days may be required.)

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Excellence at Civic Consulting Alliance is enhanced through inclusion, which encourages each person to bring themselves and the diversity of their perspectives fully to their work. As such, we commit to creating a vibrant organization in which people from many backgrounds experience a sense of belonging, have the opportunity to be heard, and contribute to driving equity in our region.

What Applicants Should Expect

While the interview process may adjust as we go, we expect the process to include the following stages:

- Application - Cover letter and resume

- Phone screen

- Two rounds of in-person interviews with teammates, second including work sample

- Reference checks

- In-person interview with CEO

As a condition of employment at Civic Consulting Alliance, you are required to complete a COVID-19 vaccine primary series, and receive an additional booster shot. If you receive an invitation to interview, we can answer any questions you may have during the interview process. If an offer of employment is extended, new hires are expected to provide proof of vaccination prior to their start date.

Thank you in advance for your interest in joining Civic Consulting Alliance!