Senior-Level Development Officer-Chicago, IL

The Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC), the Midwest’s leading environmental advocacy and eco-business innovation organization, seeks to hire a senior-level Development Officer to work full-time in our Chicago office. This position reports to ELPC’s Director of Development and is focused on growing and broadening the organization’s financial support. This person will have responsibility for writing compelling and persuasive documents to gain significant financial support for ELPC’s innovative program work and for meeting with current and prospective funders and donors to persuade them to provide support.

ORGANIZATION: ELPC is the Midwest’s leading public interest environmental legal advocacy and eco-business innovation organization. ELPC’s major program areas include: promoting clean energy development strategies that help solve climate change problems and reduce environmental degradation by encouraging energy efficiency and renewable energy alternatives to conventional power plants; promoting innovative transportation approaches, such as the development of a Midwest high-speed rail network, that will lead to cleaner air and more jobs; and protecting and preserving critical natural resources that improve the quality of life in our communities. ELP puts into practice our core belief that environmental progress and economic development can be achieved together. ELPC’s multidisciplinary professional staff includes 46 attorneys, M.B.A.s, public policy advocates and communications specialists. ELPC has offices located in Chicago, IL, Des Moines, IA, Jamestown, ND, Sioux Falls, SD, Columbus, OH, Madison, WI, Minneapolis, MN, and Washington, D.C. ELPC was established in 1993 and has an annual budget of $6.75 million. For more information, please see www.elpc.org.

RESPONSIBILITIES:The Development Officer works closely with ELPC’s Development Team and Executive Director to grow and broaden ELPC’s financial base. This job places high priority on making “asks” and includes the following tasks: (1) Direct solicitation of grants and donations; (2) Assessment of funder/donor potential capacity; and (3) Creation and implementation of individualized strategies to deepen relationships between ELPC and current/prospective major funders/donors to persuade them to make higher level contributions. The position requires some evening/weekend work and travel.

QUALIFICATIONS:Candidates should have a Graduate degree (i.e., business, law, journalism, public policy, etc.), demonstrated writing skills, and approximately five to eight years of experience in the fundraising sector for non-profit environmental advocacy organizations. The successful candidate will have an entrepreneurial approach to fundraising, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and a passion for ELPC’s mission and vision. He or she must be able to work productively with a team of skilled professionals in a fast-paced deadline-driven environment where attention to details and follow-through is critical.

SALARY:Commensurate with experience and with ELPC’s salary structure that is competitive with other major public interest environmental organizations. Excellent benefits provided.

APPLICATION PROCESS:Applicants should send a: (1) cover letter, (2) resume; (3) contact information from three employers; (4) salary history; and (5) fund-raising writing sample to: ELPC’s Director of Development, Linda Lipton, at [email protected]. Telephone inquiries are discouraged. ELPC is an equal opportunity employer and is continually seeking to diversify its staff.