Development Manager
Company: La Casa Norte
Role summary
Development Manager is a role at La Casa Norte in Chicago, Illinois, United States (on-site). Posted 2026-08-25. Experience level: 5-10.
- Job title
- Development Manager
- Company
- La Casa Norte
- Location
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Work arrangement
- on-site
- Category
- Software Engineering
- Experience level
- 5-10
- Date posted
- 2026-08-25
La Casa Norte is looking for someone passionate about community impact to lead their fundraising and donor relations efforts. You will enjoy a meaningful career where your ability to build lasting relationships directly helps fight homelessness in Chicago, all while receiving a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits.
Job description
Title: Development Manager
Reports To: VP of Development
Classification: Full-Time (Exempt)
Salary Range: $60,000 - $70,000
La Casa Norte’s mission is to empower youth and families facing homelessness with the tools to achieve lasting independence and stability.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Vice President of Development, the Development Manager leads La Casa Norte’s external communications while supporting a broad portfolio of fundraising activities, including institutional giving, individual and corporate donor engagement, and special events.
The Development Manager is responsible for the strategy, planning, coordination, and execution of La Casa Norte’s external communications, including the organization’s website, social media, email communications, newsletters, annual report, and external storytelling. The position works across departments to identify opportunities to highlight La Casa Norte’s programs, clients, partnerships, accomplishments, and impact while maintaining a consistent external voice and brand.
As a member of the Development team, the Development Manager also manages relationships with a portfolio of foundations, individual donors, and corporate partners. The position develops and assists with grant proposals and reports, supports donor cultivation and stewardship strategies, and assists with the planning and execution of fundraising events.
This position requires an exceptional writer, strategic communicator, and strong relationship builder who can independently manage multiple priorities while collaborating with programs, finance, and executive leadership.
This is a full-time, exempt position working Monday through Friday, with occasional evening and weekend responsibilities.
PRINCIPLE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Communications and Marketing
Lead La Casa Norte’s external communications strategy and oversee all public-facing communications.
Manage the organization’s website, social media, email communications, newsletters, and communications calendar.
Develop content that highlights La Casa Norte’s programs, client stories, partnerships, accomplishments, and impact.
Write and edit external materials, including press releases, talking points, presentations, fundraising materials, and the annual report.
Oversee media relations, including coordinating media inquiries, developing press releases and media materials, identifying opportunities for media coverage, and working with leadership to prepare for interviews.
Develop and train AI-assisted tools and models using La Casa Norte’s approved content, data, and writing standards to improve the efficiency and consistency of grant writing and other Development communications.
Institutional Giving & Donor Engagement
Develop grant proposals, letters of inquiry, reports, and other funding requests for an assigned portfolio of foundation and corporate funders.
Research and identify prospective foundation, corporate, and other institutional funding opportunities that align with La Casa Norte’s programs and priorities.
Work with program and finance staff to gather program information, outcomes, budgets, and other supporting documentation for proposals and reports.
Track grant deadlines, reporting requirements, and other deliverables for assigned funders.
Develop and train AI-assisted tools and models using La Casa Norte’s approved content, data, and writing standards to improve the efficiency and consistency of grant writing.
Build and maintain relationships with an assigned portfolio of foundation, corporate, and individual donors through regular cultivation and stewardship.
Coordinate donor and funder meetings, site visits, presentations, and other engagement opportunities.
Maintain accurate records of proposals, reports, donor interactions, and correspondence within Raiser’s Edge NXT.
Represent La Casa Norte at community events, conferences, funder meetings, networking opportunities, and other external engagements.
Special Events
Assist with the planning and execution of La Casa Norte’s fundraising and donor engagement events, including Gala ¡Esperanza!, the Education Luncheon, Hope for Homes Day, and other events and campaigns.
Support event sponsorship solicitation, sponsor cultivation and stewardship, donor outreach, and follow-up.
Work with the Development team to identify and cultivate prospective event sponsors and attendees.
Develop event communications, invitations, sponsorship materials, donor correspondence, and other event-related content.
Assist with guest cultivation and post-event strategies designed to strengthen relationships with attendees and convert new supporters into ongoing donors.
Education and experience Requirements:
Bachelor's degree required.
Minimum of five (5) years of experience in communications, institutional fundraising, grant writing, or nonprofit development.
Demonstrated success securing foundation and corporate grants.
Experience collaborating on government grant applications preferred.
Experience managing multiple concurrent deadlines and complex grant portfolios.
Skills and Qualifications:
Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
Excellent project management and organizational abilities with exceptional attention to detail.
Ability to analyze program data and translate outcomes into compelling funding narratives.
Experience developing grant budgets in collaboration with finance staff.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel.
Experience with Raiser's Edge NXT or comparable donor database preferred.
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across departments.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple prioriti