Executive Director - Chicago

Join to apply for the Executive Director - Chicago role at American Lung Association

The American Lung Association has an excellent opportunity for an Executive Director, Chicago. Working as a member of the Development department, you will join an outstanding group of professionals dedicated to our mission: to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through research, education, and advocacy.

The position is located at the American Lung Association’s Chicago, Illinois office and will be a hybrid of in-person and virtual work.

• Serve as the lead development officer and oversee unrestricted revenue goals, including special events, individual and corporate giving.
• Meet or exceed fiscal unrestricted revenue goals.
• Ensure the effective implementation of all fundraising activities including, but not limited to, signature events and cause campaign, using nationwide, proven-effective best practices.
• Directly manage, hire, train, and evaluate all local fundraising staff ensuring that the team is tracking to meet market revenue goals. Provide ongoing development opportunities, feedback, and course corrections when necessary.
• Develop, cultivate, and solicit a personal portfolio of local corporate prospects with an emphasis on meeting and/or exceeding corporate revenue goals in event sponsorship and cause related marketing.
• Working together with the Nationwide Individual Giving Team, develop, cultivate, and solicit a personal portfolio of individuals for mid-level, major, and/or planned gifts.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy among all market staff and volunteers.
• Provide effective support for volunteer fundraisers.
• Evaluate market success and potential and, together with the Division Vice President and Chief Field Officer, develop plans which support market revenue growth and mission delivery.
• Identify and foster corporate relationships for potential multi-region and/or nationwide engagement.

• Establish and build strategic and sustained relationships with key business leaders, individual donors, event participants, top government officials, members of the media and community leaders.
• Identify and recruit a strong Leadership Board Chair and Vice Chair and work with them during their two-year term to foster a culture of philanthropy amongst all volunteer leadership.
• Identify, recruit, and engage a strong market Leadership Board of 12-18 members using Nationwide, proven-effective best practices. Leadership Board members must have the capacity and connectivity to leverage resources and influence support. Revenue raised as a result of Leadership Board member involvement will be tracked and measured against American Lung Association standards.
• Serve as the staff lead to the Leadership Board, providing guidance, support, materials, reports, and assistance in implementing annual work plans while ensuring the ongoing development of a strong and participatory Leadership Board.
• Together with the Division Vice President, provide an annual analysis of Board performance.
• Responsible for the recruitment and engagement of corporate leaders to chair all event committees.
• Together with the local Development Team, support, manage, and successfully engage a committee of corporate leaders for each signature event.

• Serve as the first point of contact in the market for constituents, media, and the general public, coordinating with the market staff team to best handle inquiries about the American Lung Association’s mission.
• Together with the Mission Team, cultivate community relationships.

• Provide a supportive, positive, and collaborative working environment for staff and volunteers.
• Foster a strong working relationship between Mission and Development teams.
• Operate within the approved budget for the market, ensuring maximum resource utilization and a positive financial position.
• Provide reports to the Division Vice President, including revenue forecasting monthly at minimum.
• Participate in training opportunities and provide encouragement for the team in the market team to do the same.
• Actively participate on regional and/or national work teams to collectively improve Development outcomes.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned by the Division Vice President or Chief Development Officer.

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university required, preferably in Non-Profit Management, Marketing, or related field.
• A minimum of eight years in non-profit management with a successful track record in revenue generation through peer‑to‑peer special events and corporate development.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to successfully leverage relationships and negotiate agreements.
• Proven supervisory, leadership, and team building skills.
• Strong experience in volunteer recruitment and engagement.
• Experience with individual donors a plus.
• Ability to meet American Lung…