Academy for Local Leadership
Development & Communications Manager
Academy for Local Leadership, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290
Position Overview
Development & Communications Manager
– Reports to: Executive Director (Bridget Lee). Start Date: October 13, 2025. Type: Full-time, exempt.
MUST APPLY HERE TO BE CONSIDERED:
https://airtable.com/appBd08K9QWDXoEr2/pagY0DKSbR6IG2Opl/form About ALL: At the Academy for Local Leadership, we envision a democratically elected, anti-racist school board that works in partnership with community and district leadership to advance the educational goals of students—especially those who are furthest from opportunity. Through our ALL Chicago Fellowship, we prepare emerging community leaders to step confidently into governance and advocacy roles in Chicago’s evolving district school board system. Position Overview The Development & Communications Manager will play a crucial role in shaping and sustaining the public narrative and fundraising strategy that elevates ALL’s impact. This role, reporting directly to the Executive Director, will work in close collaboration with her on fundraising, communications, and organizational strategy, thereby directly contributing to the advancement of our mission. We are seeking a highly organized, proactive professional who thrives in autonomy, takes initiative, and embraces ambiguity. The ideal candidate is a go-getter—someone who can build systems, juggle multiple priorities, and transform complex work into clear, compelling messages that mobilize support for ALL’s mission. Key Responsibilities
Fundraising & Development Co-create and execute a fundraising plan that includes individual donors, institutional funders, and sponsorships tied to ALL Chicago Fellowship and community governance work. Cultivate and steward donors, ensuring timely follow-up, acknowledgments, and impact communication. Lead development of donor-facing content: appeals, newsletters, grant proposals/reports, and annual reports. Manage grant calendar and support proposal development with program leaders. Communications & Branding Develop and implement a multi-channel communications strategy—press, digital, social, and community outreach—that reflects ALL’s anti-racist, civic leadership mission. Manage external consultants (press, marketing) and vendors to ensure cohesive messaging and efficient execution. Produce engaging graphics and content for website updates, newsletters, fellow spotlights, and press outreach, drawing on program stories and impact data to inform the messaging. Create and design communications materials (flyers, event graphics, reports, presentations, social media assets) using Canva and other basic design software. Ensure brand consistency through style, messaging guidelines, and media assets. Organizational Collaboration & Metrics Partner with the Executive Director, Fellowship Director, and Community Engagement Director to surface stories and outcomes for fundraising and communications use. Track and report on outreach metrics, campaign performance, and fundraising benchmarks for review by the ED and board. Manage ALL’s growing database of individual and organizational contacts. Represent ALL in external engagements—including events, speaking, or communications outreach—when needed. Qualifications
3–5 years in nonprofit development or communications, with strong writing, storytelling, and graphic design skills Experience raising funds through grants and individual donors Highly organized with strong project management skills; able to manage multiple deliverables in a fast-paced environment and deliver on time Comfortable with ambiguity; proactive and resourceful in moving projects forward with minimal direction Proficiency in Canva and other basic design software for creating compelling visuals and communications materials Familiarity with education, leadership development, or civic engagement campaigns is a plus Experience working with consultants or external vendors is a bonus Deep alignment with ALL’s vision: advancing democratic, equitable education governance and leadership in Chicago Compensation & Benefits
Compensation for this position is $70,000 - $85,000. Comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees (and their families). Employees are able to enroll in a 401(k) retirement plan with up to a 3% employer match. Pre-tax transportation benefits, 200 hours of vacation, 80 hours of health leave, up to 2 days of casual leave, 20 hours of volunteer leave annually, and 13 paid holidays. Eligible for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave after 90 days of employment. Hiring Statement
Academy for Local Leadership is a project of Hopewell Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity. Hopewell Fund is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that respects the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law. E-Verify Statement
Hopewell participates in E-Verify and will provide Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the United States.
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Development & Communications Manager
– Reports to: Executive Director (Bridget Lee). Start Date: October 13, 2025. Type: Full-time, exempt.
MUST APPLY HERE TO BE CONSIDERED:
https://airtable.com/appBd08K9QWDXoEr2/pagY0DKSbR6IG2Opl/form About ALL: At the Academy for Local Leadership, we envision a democratically elected, anti-racist school board that works in partnership with community and district leadership to advance the educational goals of students—especially those who are furthest from opportunity. Through our ALL Chicago Fellowship, we prepare emerging community leaders to step confidently into governance and advocacy roles in Chicago’s evolving district school board system. Position Overview The Development & Communications Manager will play a crucial role in shaping and sustaining the public narrative and fundraising strategy that elevates ALL’s impact. This role, reporting directly to the Executive Director, will work in close collaboration with her on fundraising, communications, and organizational strategy, thereby directly contributing to the advancement of our mission. We are seeking a highly organized, proactive professional who thrives in autonomy, takes initiative, and embraces ambiguity. The ideal candidate is a go-getter—someone who can build systems, juggle multiple priorities, and transform complex work into clear, compelling messages that mobilize support for ALL’s mission. Key Responsibilities
Fundraising & Development Co-create and execute a fundraising plan that includes individual donors, institutional funders, and sponsorships tied to ALL Chicago Fellowship and community governance work. Cultivate and steward donors, ensuring timely follow-up, acknowledgments, and impact communication. Lead development of donor-facing content: appeals, newsletters, grant proposals/reports, and annual reports. Manage grant calendar and support proposal development with program leaders. Communications & Branding Develop and implement a multi-channel communications strategy—press, digital, social, and community outreach—that reflects ALL’s anti-racist, civic leadership mission. Manage external consultants (press, marketing) and vendors to ensure cohesive messaging and efficient execution. Produce engaging graphics and content for website updates, newsletters, fellow spotlights, and press outreach, drawing on program stories and impact data to inform the messaging. Create and design communications materials (flyers, event graphics, reports, presentations, social media assets) using Canva and other basic design software. Ensure brand consistency through style, messaging guidelines, and media assets. Organizational Collaboration & Metrics Partner with the Executive Director, Fellowship Director, and Community Engagement Director to surface stories and outcomes for fundraising and communications use. Track and report on outreach metrics, campaign performance, and fundraising benchmarks for review by the ED and board. Manage ALL’s growing database of individual and organizational contacts. Represent ALL in external engagements—including events, speaking, or communications outreach—when needed. Qualifications
3–5 years in nonprofit development or communications, with strong writing, storytelling, and graphic design skills Experience raising funds through grants and individual donors Highly organized with strong project management skills; able to manage multiple deliverables in a fast-paced environment and deliver on time Comfortable with ambiguity; proactive and resourceful in moving projects forward with minimal direction Proficiency in Canva and other basic design software for creating compelling visuals and communications materials Familiarity with education, leadership development, or civic engagement campaigns is a plus Experience working with consultants or external vendors is a bonus Deep alignment with ALL’s vision: advancing democratic, equitable education governance and leadership in Chicago Compensation & Benefits
Compensation for this position is $70,000 - $85,000. Comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees (and their families). Employees are able to enroll in a 401(k) retirement plan with up to a 3% employer match. Pre-tax transportation benefits, 200 hours of vacation, 80 hours of health leave, up to 2 days of casual leave, 20 hours of volunteer leave annually, and 13 paid holidays. Eligible for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave after 90 days of employment. Hiring Statement
Academy for Local Leadership is a project of Hopewell Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity. Hopewell Fund is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that respects the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law. E-Verify Statement
Hopewell participates in E-Verify and will provide Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the United States.
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