Summary of Position: The Development Manager – Volunteer and In-kind Donations is the primary point of contact for the 1,500+ volunteers that the agency engages annually in support of its mission. The Development Manager – Volunteer and In-kind Donations reports to the Associate Director of Development – Community Engagement and coordinates volunteer efforts across the agency, working with operational, programmatic, and fundraising teams. The Manager is a strong relationship builder and representative for the agency, seeking out opportunities to grow the base of community support via partnerships with individuals, schools, and more to meet both volunteer and in-kind donation needs.
Schedule and Work Environment: Connections for the Homeless is committed to a hybrid work environment as each unique position allows. This position would primarily work out of the Lake Street Church location, located at 1458 W. Chicago Avenue in Evanston, IL but oversees volunteers at other Connections’ locations in the area. This is a full-time role with a flexible Monday through Friday daytime schedule, as evening and weekend work will regularly be required to support volunteer and agency events.
Volunteer Management Duties: (50%)
- Recruitment and Onboarding
- Build and maintain an engaging volunteer program that also builds a donor pipeline
- Recruit a diverse group of volunteers for both recurring and single-day opportunities, including drop-in volunteers, recurring dinner cooks, Saturdays of Service, and more
- Provide in-depth training for all volunteers and support volunteers on-site
- Ensure volunteers are upholding agency values and coach volunteers when needed
- Lead Junior Council program that engages 20+ high school students across 5+ local schools
- Communications
- Create all volunteer communications, including monthly newsletters and volunteer meetings
- Maintain shared volunteer calendar and communicate opportunities internally and externally
- Support Volunteer Coordinator with inbound inquiries
- Collaborate with Communications Team for social media needs
- Evaluation and Reporting
- Maintain VolunteerHub and Basecamp platforms to effectively record volunteer activity
- Evaluate the success of the volunteer program by analyzing data and volunteer feedback
- Provide weekly and monthly reports with analysis, challenges, and action points
- Identify agency volunteer needs and create opportunities to fill gaps across the organization
- Special Events
- In partnership with the Events Manager, recruit and train volunteers for agency events like Block Party, Gift of Giving, and Winter Warmth
- Host annual Volunteer Appreciation Reception to honor volunteers and community partners
In-Kind Donation Program Duties (40%)
- Train incoming staff and volunteers on Connections’ in-kind donation program
- Identify and source in-kind donation needs across the agency, including newly housed home items, food pantry donations, toiletries, clothing, and more
- Secure in-kind donations for distribution events, including coat giveaways and holiday gift drives
- Collaborate with operations team to manage the acceptance, storage, and disposal of in-kind donations across multiple locations
- Collaborate within development team to ensure in-kind donations are recorded and acknowledged
General Development Responsibilities (10%)
- Support overall development and implementation of the annual development team plan
- Attend and support all agency events, especially development department events
- Adhere to the Code of Conduct for Connections for the Homeless and demonstrate agency core values in all interactions with program participants and staff
- Perform other duties and complete special projects as assigned
The following qualifications are requirements for the position
- Minimum 5 years of experience, with preference to those with volunteer management experience
- Demonstrated leadership skills and experience garnering excitement from community members
- Highly organized with experience independently setting priorities and managing inbound inquiries
- Exceptional oral and written communications skills, especially inter-departmental communications
- Excellent computer skills, including MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel)
- Flexible schedule –will be required to attend weekend and after-hours meetings and events
- Valid Illinois Driver’s License and ability to lift 20 lbs
The following qualifications are highly desirable
- Bachelor’s degree or work experience equivalency
- Familiarity with VolunteerHub or similar volunteer management software
Other Requirements
- Must submit to a criminal background check
Application Requirements
- Submit a cover letter and resume with application
Agency Overview: At Connections for the Homeless, we serve and catalyze our community to end homelessness, one person at a time. In support of our mission, we operate using the following Core Values to guide our interactions between participants, colleagues, and our community: equity and inclusion, community, resilience, transparency, and generosity of spirit.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $60,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year