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Who We Are:
Reading is the single most important skill a child needs. Yet many children lack access to books, especially books of their own. That’s why Bernie’s Book Bank works so hard to provide free quality books to children in our local areas to build personal libraries.

Our purpose is simple: Enable positive life experiences through books and book ownership. We envision a future where every child has equal access to books and the opportunities they inspire. To accomplish all of this, we source, process, and distribute eight books annually to children ages birth through sixth grade at Title I schools and early childhood programs. Bernie’s Book Bank focuses on communities where children are the least likely to have access to books of their own and delivers the age-appropriate, high-interest, and culturally relevant books children deserve.

Title:  Director of Development & Leadership Gifts

Reports to:  Executive Director

FLSA Classification:  Exempt

Job Status:  Full Time

Primary Function:

Bernie’s Book Bank seeks a proven and inspirational major gifts officer who is passionate about our mission to serve as our Director of Development & Leadership Gifts. As a member of the organization’s leadership team, this person will work with the Executive Director and Revenue Development Committee to create the annual fundraising plan to support our goals and operations. The Director will create and maintain best practices to build a highly effective relationship-based donor culture and will lead a small team of Development professionals.

Candidates must demonstrate passion about our mission to enable positive life experiences through books and book ownership and inspire others to embrace our mission. While fulfilling responsibilities, the Director will be expected to maintain the integrity of Bernie’s Book Bank’s mission, culture, brand standards, core values and goals at all times.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

In partnership with the Executive Director:

  • Create compelling fundraising initiatives in support of Bernie’s Book Bank’s ambitious vision to serve all Chicagoland children who qualify.
  • Identify, solicit, and nurture relationships with donors and prospective donors to secure and close annual and major gifts (defined as gifts $5,000 and above).
  • Design and implement annual and multi-year fundraising plans and KPIs for leadership gifts, including special event support as well.
  • Develop metrics to monitor and evaluate performance level of annual donors and progress towards goals.
  • Collaborate with the Executive Director and Marketing team to develop an innovative voice for the book bank, creating a consistent and strong narrative around opportunities for growth.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration and trust within the team and among departments.

Raising Funds

  • Grow revenue to meet and exceed annually established targets for Development Department.
  • Expand the size and scope of the major gifts pool.
  • Maintain a portfolio of major gift donors to cultivate, solicit, secure, and steward new five and six-figure gifts.
  • Write and edit content for a variety of communications, including proposals, emails, LOI’s, etc.
  • Utilize prospect research tools, to amplify the solicitation process and/or identify new leads.
  • Help to produce major gift prospect reports in preparation for Board and Committee meetings.
  • Collaboration with the Marketing Department is key to accurate and timely impact reports and updates of donor wall (and associated recognition as organization evolves).
  • Develop, execute, and evaluate strategies and programs to identify, cultivate, steward, and solicit donor prospects.
  • Develop short- and long-term fundraising goals, plans and objectives, as well as solicitation proposals to meet the organization’s budgetary needs.
  • Participate in presentations to business, social and civic groups.
  • Supervise assigned staff.

 

Requirements:

  • Minimum of 7+ years working as part of a development team with a progressive increase in roles and responsibilities.
  • Possess the following qualities: organized, able to multitask/prioritize, detail-oriented, problem-solving, self-motivated, system-driven, friendly, enthusiastic, team-oriented.
  • Experience managing a portfolio of donors of at least 2 million dollars annually. And sourcing new donor opportunities outside existing portfolios.
  • Experience in working with/or managing a multi-person development team.
  • Ability to learn computer systems and databases, including Salesforce and event-related software.
  • Computer proficiency for applicant consideration:
    • 3-5 years of experience with software systems (experience with Salesforce preferred)
  • Excellent customer service and oral/written communication skills.
  • MUST have and exude an exceptionally positive, “I CAN/I WILL” attitude.
  • MUST understand the value of relationships as the lifeblood of Bernie’s Book Bank.
  • Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience.

Working Conditions/Physical Demands:

The duties of this job will typically be performed in an office environment and role may require lifting of up to 25 lbs. Individuals must have the ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand in a variety of environments. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential job duties.

Bernie’s Book Bank is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws .

Please contact Amber Emken with interest.

Grant Writer – Part Time or Contract Basis

Who We Are and Our Mission:
Reading is the single most important skill a child needs. Yet many children lack access to books, especially books of their own. That’s why Bernie’s Book Bank works so hard to provide free quality books to children in our local areas to build personal libraries.

Our purpose is simple: Enable positive life experiences through books and book ownership. We envision a future where every child has equal access to books and the opportunities they inspire. In order to accomplish all of this, we source, process, and distribute eight books annually to children ages birth through sixth grade at Title I schools and early childhood programs. Bernie’s Book Bank focuses on communities where children are the least likely to have access to books of their own and delivers the age appropriate, high interest, and culturally relevant books children deserve.

Bernie’s Book Bank creates pathways to success through book ownership and empowers children to explore new ideas, gain knowledge and strengthen reading skills. With the support of generous donors and volunteers, Bernie’s Book Bank is transforming children’s stories. Since 2009, Bernie’s Book Bank has distributed more than 25 MILLION free children’s books.


The Role:

Bernie’s Book Bank is looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated member of our team to become a part time grant writer as we continue to grow to meet the literacy needs of children in underserved communities. This grant writer will be responsible for maintaining current grant funding, as well as researching and growing revenue from both the foundation and corporate sectors. We are seeking a qualified candidate who has a successful track record of applying for and winning foundation and corporate grants. This individual should be highly organized, detail oriented and able to manage multiple deadlines. This role will be part time, 15-20 hours per week, onsite at our Lake Bluff locations approximately 25% of the time and remote the other 75%.


Essential Job Responsibilities:

  • Report to and work directly with the Director of Development or Executive Director
  • Build Bernie’s Book Bank grant and proposal portfolio for future growth
  • Research, identify, and evaluate potential funding opportunities from various sources
  • Build relationships with current and potential funding partners
  • Write proposals and reports with an eye toward consistency, quality, and efficiency
  • Meet proposal and grant reporting deadlines by establishing priorities and target dates for: information gathering, writing, review, approval, and submission
  • Maintain a calendar of grant application deadlines and track progress on submitted proposals
  • Enter, monitor, track and pull data from Salesforce
  • Create “boilerplate” language and repository of supporting documents that can be edited to meet the needs of prospective granter/funder requirements
  • Work collaboratively with internal teams and accounting team to generate program and organization budgets in formats required for proposals
  • Other related and development duties as assigned

Requirements:

  • 3+ years of related experience in grant writing or commensurate experience
  • Work experience in grant writing for the not-for-profit sector
  • Has handled or participated in the grant proposal process for grants of $10,000+
  • Strong ability to multi-task and prioritize
  • Natural storyteller; uses creative thinking
  • Highly organized and self-motivated
  • Excellent verbal and communication skills
  • Bachelor’s degree in English or related field

Work Location: Hybrid
Candidate must have the ability to work in person as needed but most work can be done remotely after orientation. We would like this person in the office 1 day a week in Lake Bluff if possible on an ongoing basis.

Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential job duties.

Bernie’s Book Bank is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws .

Salary: From $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 15 – 20 per week