Vice President, Non-Profit & Social Impact

About the Organization

Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights is a non‑partisan, non‑profit group of civil rights lawyers and advocates working to secure racial equity and economic opportunity for all. We provide legal representation through partnerships with the private bar, and we collaborate with grassroots organizations and other advocacy groups to implement community‑based solutions that advance civil rights. For more than 55 years, we've partnered with 30+ leading law firms to provide high‑impact legal representation in voting rights, fair housing, education equity, and economic justice.

The VP of Advancement will lead fundraising strategy and execution during a critical growth phase, building revenue from $3.2M to $4‑4.5M while laying groundwork for regional expansion. This role requires someone who can both personally cultivate major gifts and build scalable systems—a strategic fundraiser who leverages technology to multiply impact.

This is a role for someone who takes initiative and thinks strategically. You'll anticipate opportunities, navigate challenges proactively, and serve as a true partner to the Executive Director and senior leadership team. In this moment—when state‑level civil rights litigation is more critical than ever—you'll help ensure we have the resources to keep cases moving and communities protected.

You'll work directly with the Executive Director and board members to deepen law firm partnerships, grow individual giving from an under‑tapped prospect base, secure foundation support across Illinois, Indiana, and nationally, and create infrastructure that allows a small team to punch above its weight.

You'll join a senior leadership team that is smart, mission‑driven, and committed to your success. The Executive Director is deeply invested in professional development and will be a thought partner in your growth. You'll inherit strong relationships in Chicago's legal and philanthropic communities—law firm managing partners who take your calls, foundation officers who know and respect CLC's work, and 600+ pro‑bono attorneys who are potential donors.

You'll work on something that matters. You're not raising money for overhead—you're funding litigation that challenges voter suppression in real time, fair housing cases that are changing the market, and the legal infrastructure that protects constitutional rights across 61 million people in the Midwest.

And you'll build something. This isn't a maintenance role—you're creating the development infrastructure for regional civil rights work at a moment when it's desperately needed. You'll have the opportunity to build an individual giving program from the ground up. CLC has strong recent wins in individual giving, but the infrastructure—donor journeys, stewardship systems, recurring giving programs—still needs to be built. You won't be inheriting someone else's system;

you'll create one that works.

• Achieve $4‑4.5M in total revenue across all streams
• Secure 2‑3 new institutional funders above $50K, including at least one Indiana‑based funder and one national funder
• Grow individual giving by 50%+ (from ~$130K to $175K+) by building foundational infrastructure and activating large prospect list
• Add 2‑3 new law firm members and increase overall membership revenue to $440K+
• Execute a $600K Gala (net $400K) with high‑profile keynote
• Develop compelling case for support for Midwest Voting Rights Program expansion
• Create and execute engagement strategies that build broader movement participation
• Build CRM infrastructure and donor analytics capacity

• Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategy across foundations, individual donors, law firms, events, and planned giving
• Personally cultivate and solicit major gifts ($10K+)
• Build relationships with managing partners and pro‑bono directors at member firms
• Identify and pursue new institutional funding opportunities across Chicago, Indiana, and the national landscape
• Lead Gala and Power of Connection symposium fundraising
• Leverage existing professional networks in Chicago philanthropic, legal, and civic…