Director of Development

Join CASL as a Director of Development and Make a Difference

Are you passionate about connecting people to a meaningful mission? Join CASL as our Director of Development and lead efforts to cultivate donors, corporate partners, and community champions who will help expand opportunities for the communities we serve.

Your Mission

About CASL

Founded in 1978, CASL is the largest and most comprehensive community-based organization in the Midwest, with deep roots in serving Asian Americans and a commitment to welcoming all. With over 45 years of experience, CASL supports individuals and families across four essential areas: health, human services, education, and advocacy. From early learning and senior care to legal assistance, housing support, and citizenship services, CASL helps thousands of Chicago-area residents build healthy, stable, and empowered lives.

To hear about:

1. CASL's history, watch here

1. CASL's future, watch here

Make a Difference, and Get the Support You Deserve

Salary Range: $95,000 - $110,000 /year | Full Benefits Package Included

We value your expertise and commitment, and we invest in both. From competitive pay and comprehensive benefits to a culture that puts people first, you’ll be supported while doing work that matters.

This role is based in Chinatown, Chicago, with a standard Monday–Friday schedule.

Scroll down for full details on salary, benefits, schedule and what it's like to be part of CASL.

What You’ll Impact

• Design and execute strategies to identify, qualify, and engage prospective individual, corporate, and community donors aligned with CASL's mission and funding priorities.

• Build and manage a discovery portfolio of 75–125 prospects, guiding individuals through the identification, qualification, and early engagement stages of the donor journey.

• Leverage board networks, community relationships, peer referrals, events, and research tools to uncover philanthropic opportunities and expand CASL's donor pipeline.

• Conduct discovery meetings, introductory conversations, site visits, and other engagement activities to assess donor interest, philanthropic capacity, and alignment with CASL's mission.

• Develop personalized engagement strategies and maintain accurate prospect records, assessments, and activity documentation within Salesforce.

• Build awareness of CASL throughout the Chicago philanthropic, civic, and community landscape to strengthen relationships and generate new donor opportunities.

• Partner with the Chief Advancement Officer, board members, and internal stakeholders to cultivate connections and secure introductions to prospective supporters.

• Utilize data, wealth screening, market insights, and portfolio analysis to prioritize outreach efforts and maximize pipeline growth and donor engagement.

What You Bring

To thrive in this role, you should have:

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, business, or a related field.

• Minimum 5–7 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, with demonstrated success identifying, qualifying, cultivating, and developing donor and/or corporate partnership opportunities.

• Proven track record of managing a fundraising or donor development portfolio and meeting or exceeding engagement, pipeline, or revenue goals.

• Experience with Salesforce or a comparable CRM platform for donor management, moves management, and reporting.

• Exceptional relationship-building skills with the ability to engage confidently with diverse donor audiences, board members, corporate executives, and community stakeholders.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage prospective donors, facilitate meaningful conversations, and communicate organizational impact effectively.

• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate organizational priorities into donor engagement strategies and fundraising initiatives.

• High degree of personal accountability, initiative, and ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining strong organization and follow-through.

• Data-driven approach to portfolio management, with comfort using metrics to evaluate performance and inform decision-making.

• Advanced degree in nonprofit management, communications, business, philanthropy, or a related field.

• Experience working in a community-based, social services, or mission-driven nonprofit organization.

• Familiarity with the Chicago philanthropic landscape, including individual major donors, corporate giving programs, and civic networks.

• Bilingual fluency in an Asian language spoken within CASL's service communities (e.g., Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Tagalog, Vietnamese).

• CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) certification or active pursuit of the certification.

• Standard business hours, Monday through Friday (9:00 am - 5:00 pm), with flexibility to work additional hours, as necessary.

• Regular local travel is required for donor meetings, cultivation events, community engagement activities, and organizational representation opportunities.

• Occasional evening and weekend attendance may be required to support donor engagement, fundraising events, and community activities.

Empowerment: Support staff empowerment through skill development and growth opportunities.

Collaboration: Be part of a workplace that thrives on collaboration and teamwork.

Transformation: Envision and realize transformative changes in people, processes, and policies.

Resiliency: Work with a dynamic workforce and model resiliency to achieve collective strengths.

Join Us and Make a Difference:

Join us at CASL, where together, we create a brighter future for our community.

Thank you for your interest in joining our team! Every application is personally reviewed by a real person—not AI. Our process may take some time, but rest assured, we will follow up with updates as soon as we can. We appreciate your patience and look forward to learning more about you.

At CASL, we believe that diverse perspectives fuel innovation and drive success. If you're excited about the opportunity but unsure if you meet every requirement listed, we still encourage you to submit your application. Our company culture thrives on the unique talents and experiences that each individual brings to the table. We're looking for the right fit, and that goes beyond a checklist of qualifications. Join us in shaping a dynamic and inclusive team where your skills and contributions truly matter.

CASL is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.