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Reports to: Executive Director

Salary: $45,000 - $55,000 DOE

Schedule: Full Time (occasional weekends, evenings, and some travel may be required)

Classification: Exempt

Location: Remote, with preference given to candidates living in Illinois

 

About Literacy Works

Literacy Works’ mission is to advance equity by promoting literacy education and the use of clear language through our Community Literacy and Clear Language Lab programs. We work to make communication more accessible and push back against white dominant, patriarchal, and heteronormative standards that are too often the status quo of government and nonprofit communication.

 

About the Position

Literacy Works is seeking a creative and self-directed professional who is passionate about communication and social justice to lead and implement a well-coordinated fundraising plan to cultivate support from individuals, foundations, and corporations.

 

The Development Manager will work from home with the ability to work flexible hours. Stable internet access is required.

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Key Responsibilities

Fundraising (45%)

• Lead the implementation of all organizational fundraising strategies, goals, and activities alongside the Executive Director

• Conceptualize and plan annual fundraiser A Book That Changed My Life by securing venue and vendors, speakers, and sponsorships, while managing all logistics and volunteers

• Manage and grow key individual giving campaigns (year-end appeal, spring appeal, online campaigns) by cultivating and stewarding relationships with donors and prospective donors

• Maintain NeonCRM donor database: track requests and donations, create reports that inform individual giving strategies, enter donations and execute the donor acknowledgements process

 

Marketing and Communications (30%)

• Manage all print and electronic communications from concept to completion, including but not limited to: mail appeals, email campaigns, annual report, social media, videos, brochures, and event invitations

• Conceptualize, create and schedule social media and email marketing campaigns in collaboration with program staff

• Maintain the Literacy Works website by updating content and implementing user experience improvements as needed

• Recruit and supervise in-kind professionals who assist with photography, graphic design, and other branding/communications initiatives

 

Grant Coordination (15%)

• Track all applications submitted and timelines for future submissions

• Act as project manager with staff to establish deadlines and delegate tasks for writing, editing, and assembling documents needed for submitting all grant applications

• Manage and coordinate all applications, award follow-up, and reporting, schedule site visits as needed

• Research new funding opportunities and strategize how best to present our work to potential new funders

 

Board Management (5%)

• Serve as a staff liaison to the Board of Directors by attending all board meetings and presenting fundraising and grantmaking reports

• Engage board members in fundraising strategies by communicating individual fundraising goals, preparing recruitment materials, and updating them on key action items regularly

 

Other Duties (5%)

• Participate in organizational budgeting process

• Collaborate on organizational strategic planning

 

Qualifications

• 3-8+ years of experience in the nonprofit sector with a focus on development, including event planning, campaign writing, and implementation of various fundraising strategies and techniques

• Outstanding English language writing and communication skills that integrate plain language principles

• Strong project management skills, organizational abilities, and excellent attention to detail

• Ability to think critically and strategically about the tracking and management of data

• Proven ability to work under deadlines with little supervision and to maintain close adherence to schedules

• Proficiency with MS Office, Google apps, and social media

• Experience with Constant Contact, Wix, Canva and/or graphic design software is a plus

• Knowledge of CRM databases, experience with NeonCRM a plus

• Positive outgoing personality; ability to work closely with small staff and board

• Eagerness to network on behalf of Literacy Works and the field of adult education

 

Benefits

Literacy Works promotes a strong work/life balance for our employees and we are proud to offer a team-oriented and supportive workplace culture. Some of the benefits we offer full-time employees include:

• Unlimited paid time off and 13 paid holidays

• An employer-funded Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) of up to $5,000 annually to cover the cost of health insurance premiums and other medical expenses 

• A company sponsored Simple IRA retirement plan with 3% salary match

 

How to Apply

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to jobs@litworks.org. Applicants can expect to hear back within 2-4 weeks. There is no deadline to apply; submissions will be accepted until the position is filled. Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a valid medical or religious exemption will be required of any final applicants before their first day of work.

 

Reasonable Accommodation and Equal Opportunity

Literacy Works values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. Literacy Works is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws. Literacy Works will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.​

 

Last Updated 8/28/25