Legal Aid Chicago
External Relations Officer
Legal Aid Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290
Legal Aid Chicago encourages applicants with relevant volunteer and work experience, who have experiences with our client communities or individuals who identify as a person of color, LGBTQIA+, immigrant, or otherwise having backgrounds and experiences that are underrepresented in the legal profession to apply.
For over 50 years, Legal Aid Chicago has provided free civil legal assistance to people living in poverty in metropolitan Chicago. Each year our attorneys, volunteers, and staff help resolve civil legal problems, including domestic violence, consumer fraud, and unfair evictions. Legal Aid Chicago was founded on the philosophy that all individuals are entitled to quality civil legal representation, regardless of their income. We work to ensure that poverty is not an impediment to justice by dismantling the legal barriers that perpetuate inequality. Legal Aid Chicago staff live our mission through our core values of equity, excellence, inclusion, kindness, and respect.
Position : Legal Aid Chicago is seeking a full-time External Relations Officer. Under the direct supervision of the Associate Director of External Relations, who is overseen by the Chief External Relations Officer, the External Relations Officer is responsible for activities related to private foundation and corporate research and grant writing, grant submission, and post grant follow up. This position also includes, but is not limited to, management of the private grants calendar, organizing and submitting applications and reports to funders, and helping to further develop relationships with new and existing private funders. The External Relations Officer helps provide the skills, knowledge, and creativity to support effective and efficient operations of the department's private grants department.
Duties include:
Grant Writer for Private Foundations and Corporations
Conduct in-depth prospect research to identify potential corporate and foundation partners, assess philanthropic priorities, and tailor outreach and engagement strategies accordinglyInterpret guidelines and analyze RFPs, draft narratives, and fulfill other required proposal componentsCollaborate with the Government Grants team when neededWork with Program and Financial staff to prepare data and narrative reportsDraft and submit proposals to help obtain new and increased funding, often working in tandem with Practice Group Directors and their staff to obtain the latest data, initiatives, and client storiesPrepare for and participate in funder site visits and other funder monitoring activitiesEnsure appropriate stewardship of corporate relationships, including acknowledgement, recognition, and reporting on the impact of corporate support, as neededTrack progress toward organizational and programmatic outcomes and goals, and submit reports to fundersActively record and upload activities into Raiser's Edge for all assigned foundations, corporations, and partners, and maintain data integrity through regular reviewHelp establish and maintain personal contact and relationships with funders and program officersCollaborate with the Pro Bono & Community Partnerships Group to identify new potential fundersEnsure prompt acknowledgement of foundation giftsMaintain grants calendar to ensure timely submission of letters of inquiry, proposal deadlines and reportsPrioritize projects to keep multiple projects moving in a timely manner, meet deadlines and manage supplemental material required for proposalsMaintain strict confidentiality regarding donor informationDonor Communications
Provide writing support for individual contribution letters and acknowledgementsAssist with supporting and engaging long-term donorsCraft compelling documents that persuasively translate and communicate Legal Aid Chicago's vision, mission, and project/program initiatives, including for annual report, agency newsletter, and other fundraising communicationsOther Duties
Work with ER team to help renew law firms' and companies' sponsorship for Annual Luncheon and Justice Is ServedIn collaboration with the Chief of External Relations and Associate Director of External Relations, and rest of the External Relations team, assist in the planning and execution of special events, including the two biggest annual fundraisers (Annual Luncheon and Justice Is Served )Other duties as assignedSalary:
This position is part of the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW Local 2320. The Collective Bargaining Agreement sets employment terms and compensation is determined by the CBA salary scale, based on paid experience.
The External Relations Officer position begins at $63,248 and increases for every relevant year of experience.
Legal Aid Chicago offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
Bilingual External Relations Officers are eligible for an additional stipendMedical, dental, and vision insurance, effective the first day of employmentTime Off: 15 vacation days and 13 sick days accrued within the first year of employment14 paid holidays, including one floating holidaySix weeks of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of the salary after six months of employment403(b) retirement plan with an employer contribution after one year of employment$50,000 Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, at no costAccess to Employee Assistance Program resources, at no costMonthly internet reimbursementLegal Aid Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is an eligible employer for the federal public service loan forgiveness programRequirements
The Ideal Candidate Will Have:
Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 2-3 years of professional fundraising experience in a nonprofit environmentMinimum 2 years of Raiser's Edge experience preferredExperience with grant writing and/or creative writingExcellent writing, proofreading, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write compelling, evidence-based grant proposalsStrong project management skillsQuantitative skills required to work with spreadsheets and produce reportsSuperior time management skills and ability to handle multiple projects with attention to detail and meet deadlinesAbility to research quickly and effectivelyEnthusiastic about reaching out to and contacting donors and partnersSensitive to the needs of Legal Aid Chicago's clients and communityProficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Legal Aid Chicago offers a hybrid work environment. Our office, located in downtown Chicago at 120 S. LaSalle Street, is ADA accessible and has convenient access to public transportation and local expressways.
To Apply : Submit a cover letter, resume, and the contact information of two primary professional references and one alternative professional reference. For applicants with previous work experience, at least one reference must be a former supervisor. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled.
Legal Aid Chicago is firmly committed to creating a diverse workplace and is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and therefore does not discriminate on the basis of creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age religion, marital or parental status, alienage, disability, political affiliation or belief, military or military discharge status, or ex-offender status, or any other protected status.
If an accommodation is needed to complete this application, contact Human Resources at humanresources@legalaidchicago.org.
Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to respond to individual inquiries regarding an application status. We will contact candidates who are selected for the next stage of the hiring process.
For over 50 years, Legal Aid Chicago has provided free civil legal assistance to people living in poverty in metropolitan Chicago. Each year our attorneys, volunteers, and staff help resolve civil legal problems, including domestic violence, consumer fraud, and unfair evictions. Legal Aid Chicago was founded on the philosophy that all individuals are entitled to quality civil legal representation, regardless of their income. We work to ensure that poverty is not an impediment to justice by dismantling the legal barriers that perpetuate inequality. Legal Aid Chicago staff live our mission through our core values of equity, excellence, inclusion, kindness, and respect.
Position : Legal Aid Chicago is seeking a full-time External Relations Officer. Under the direct supervision of the Associate Director of External Relations, who is overseen by the Chief External Relations Officer, the External Relations Officer is responsible for activities related to private foundation and corporate research and grant writing, grant submission, and post grant follow up. This position also includes, but is not limited to, management of the private grants calendar, organizing and submitting applications and reports to funders, and helping to further develop relationships with new and existing private funders. The External Relations Officer helps provide the skills, knowledge, and creativity to support effective and efficient operations of the department's private grants department.
Duties include:
Grant Writer for Private Foundations and Corporations
Conduct in-depth prospect research to identify potential corporate and foundation partners, assess philanthropic priorities, and tailor outreach and engagement strategies accordinglyInterpret guidelines and analyze RFPs, draft narratives, and fulfill other required proposal componentsCollaborate with the Government Grants team when neededWork with Program and Financial staff to prepare data and narrative reportsDraft and submit proposals to help obtain new and increased funding, often working in tandem with Practice Group Directors and their staff to obtain the latest data, initiatives, and client storiesPrepare for and participate in funder site visits and other funder monitoring activitiesEnsure appropriate stewardship of corporate relationships, including acknowledgement, recognition, and reporting on the impact of corporate support, as neededTrack progress toward organizational and programmatic outcomes and goals, and submit reports to fundersActively record and upload activities into Raiser's Edge for all assigned foundations, corporations, and partners, and maintain data integrity through regular reviewHelp establish and maintain personal contact and relationships with funders and program officersCollaborate with the Pro Bono & Community Partnerships Group to identify new potential fundersEnsure prompt acknowledgement of foundation giftsMaintain grants calendar to ensure timely submission of letters of inquiry, proposal deadlines and reportsPrioritize projects to keep multiple projects moving in a timely manner, meet deadlines and manage supplemental material required for proposalsMaintain strict confidentiality regarding donor informationDonor Communications
Provide writing support for individual contribution letters and acknowledgementsAssist with supporting and engaging long-term donorsCraft compelling documents that persuasively translate and communicate Legal Aid Chicago's vision, mission, and project/program initiatives, including for annual report, agency newsletter, and other fundraising communicationsOther Duties
Work with ER team to help renew law firms' and companies' sponsorship for Annual Luncheon and Justice Is ServedIn collaboration with the Chief of External Relations and Associate Director of External Relations, and rest of the External Relations team, assist in the planning and execution of special events, including the two biggest annual fundraisers (Annual Luncheon and Justice Is Served )Other duties as assignedSalary:
This position is part of the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW Local 2320. The Collective Bargaining Agreement sets employment terms and compensation is determined by the CBA salary scale, based on paid experience.
The External Relations Officer position begins at $63,248 and increases for every relevant year of experience.
Legal Aid Chicago offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
Bilingual External Relations Officers are eligible for an additional stipendMedical, dental, and vision insurance, effective the first day of employmentTime Off: 15 vacation days and 13 sick days accrued within the first year of employment14 paid holidays, including one floating holidaySix weeks of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of the salary after six months of employment403(b) retirement plan with an employer contribution after one year of employment$50,000 Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, at no costAccess to Employee Assistance Program resources, at no costMonthly internet reimbursementLegal Aid Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is an eligible employer for the federal public service loan forgiveness programRequirements
The Ideal Candidate Will Have:
Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 2-3 years of professional fundraising experience in a nonprofit environmentMinimum 2 years of Raiser's Edge experience preferredExperience with grant writing and/or creative writingExcellent writing, proofreading, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write compelling, evidence-based grant proposalsStrong project management skillsQuantitative skills required to work with spreadsheets and produce reportsSuperior time management skills and ability to handle multiple projects with attention to detail and meet deadlinesAbility to research quickly and effectivelyEnthusiastic about reaching out to and contacting donors and partnersSensitive to the needs of Legal Aid Chicago's clients and communityProficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Legal Aid Chicago offers a hybrid work environment. Our office, located in downtown Chicago at 120 S. LaSalle Street, is ADA accessible and has convenient access to public transportation and local expressways.
To Apply : Submit a cover letter, resume, and the contact information of two primary professional references and one alternative professional reference. For applicants with previous work experience, at least one reference must be a former supervisor. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled.
Legal Aid Chicago is firmly committed to creating a diverse workplace and is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and therefore does not discriminate on the basis of creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age religion, marital or parental status, alienage, disability, political affiliation or belief, military or military discharge status, or ex-offender status, or any other protected status.
If an accommodation is needed to complete this application, contact Human Resources at humanresources@legalaidchicago.org.
Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to respond to individual inquiries regarding an application status. We will contact candidates who are selected for the next stage of the hiring process.