Caring Network is growing rapidly. With this growth, they are seeking two Development Officers to join the Development team, led by the Vice President of Development. The ideal candidate has two or more years’ experience raising 4-to-6 figure gifts. Applicants are also welcome to apply who have equivalent expertise demonstrated through sales success, church-based fund development, or similar.
THEIR STORY
Caring Network started more than 43 years ago with the mission of helping women facing an unexpected pregnancy. They began as a few volunteers serving women out of a mechanic’s garage, but over the years they have grown into a staff of 40 professionals, skilled in pregnancy consultation and medical technology, serving women through six crisis women's centers.
Between 2010 and 2020, they grew from 3 to 6 women's clinics in DuPage County and during that same time saw the number of abortions drop by 40% in DuPage County and 2 of the 4 abortion providers shut down.
Seeing this impact in DuPage County, they created a scalable model to start 25 new women’s clinics across the state of Illinois, supported by a centralized Telecare Clinic. This June, they planned to open the first of these new women's clinics in downtown Aurora and six more clinics in the City of Chicago this fiscal year.
Through all their full-service women's clinics, they offer free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, pregnancy consultations, resources, referrals, and after-abortion care* all without cost to the women. They are Christ-centered and share the gospel with women when the Lord opens the door.
* Restore is their post-abortion program for men and women suffering from the trauma of past abortions. This 12-week, biblically based curriculum helps clients find freedom and forgiveness after having chosen an abortion.
OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES
Opportunities
The ministry has a significant growth vision, with backing from funders, its board, and the team to single-mindedly advance.
Despite a huge vision and forward movement to making it real, none of the leadership team expressed feeling overwhelmed. When asked why, the answer was the team is united, respects each other’s capabilities, has invested in open communication and productive conflict, and takes days for fasting and prayer.
Caring Network’s four strategic priorities are:
Go where the need is greatest in the state.
Reach her first.
Equip her to choose life - physical for the baby and eternal for the mother and
Connect her into a supportive, caring network.
The most important things now, to achieve its vision, are to:
Get better at recruiting nurses and key staff.
Continue protection of state opposition to the work.
Develop more church partnerships and support.
Challenges
Illinois has the most abortions per capita of any state, and the most permissive abortion laws. Given the nature of Caring Network’s work and magnitude of the vision, it is important to know this task will face hard work including spiritual opposition. In addition, the government is opposed to the work of Caring Network and is working to find ways to shut down operations. Caring Network has a strong alliance with attorneys who have helped prevent citations to this point.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Caring Network seeks to hire two Development Officers who will work closely alongside the Vice President of Development in DuPage/Kane or DuPage/Cook counties and as needed, in the ministry’s office in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
What might the ideal candidates be doing at this time? They may be working in fundraising with two or more years’ experience, or looking to change to fundraising after successfully demonstrating sales effectiveness or church-based fund-development, or similar. They can travel and meet with individuals and organizations across their respective counties (DuPage/Kane or DuPage/Cook) and join Caring Network staff on occasion, as needed, at the Glen Ellyn office or center locations.
The ideal candidate is also living in or willing to relocate to allow for regular travel within their assigned counties (with some hybrid days) and at the administrative office in Glen Ellyn, IL. Staff who have moved to Glen Ellyn describe it as a “great town.” Housing in Glen Ellyn is a bit pricey, but there are several adjacent communities within a 15–20-minute commute that are also great and less expensive. These include Lombard, Wheaton, Downers Grove, Villa Park, Lisle, Naperville, and Warrenville. The average price for a 3-bedroom home in these areas is around $450,000.
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: DEVELOPMENT OFFICER (2 positions)
REPORTS TO: VP Development
DIRECT REPORTS: None
LOCATION: DuPage/Kane or DuPage/Cook Counties. On occasion, in the office in Glen Ellyn, IL, or at the organization’s women’s centers.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The goal for each role is to increase financial resources for the ministry through
strategically identifying new individuals, foundations, organizations, and
business owners, building relationships with them, inviting them into financial
partnership/ increased giving and stewarding of their gifts.
Each position will focus on securing five and six-figure multi-year gifts to support
the expansion of the ministry. These roles are also responsible for expanding the
donor base in their assigned counties by identifying and engaging new major gift
prospects, churches, community leaders, and businesses in the area.
This role reports to the VP of Development and serves as part of the
Development Team.
ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTES
A committed Christian who demonstrates a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and is a participant in a local church.
Maintains a consistent life-affirming philosophy and would never refer or advise a woman to have an abortion.
Agree with and be willing to uphold Caring Network’s Statements of Faith and Principle and Core Values, Humility, Mutual Respect, Sacrificial Love, Optimism, Excellence, Integrity, Mission Focus, & Perseverance.
Enthusiasm for and commitment to the mission and strategy of Caring Network.
Comfortable with participating in prayer with co-workers.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Maintain a portfolio of mid- and major donors.
Engage in face-to-face solicitations to secure major gifts, including 4 to 5-figure gifts and 5 to 6-figure gifts.
Identify prospects and grow the donor base in Kane/DuPage or DuPage/Cook counties.
Engage current donors to increase their level of giving by developing short and long-range plans, which include:
personalized communications
insider events
face-to-face meetings
stewardship
impact reporting.
Integrate planned giving to secure long-term sustainable giving.
Document, in CRM database, all contacts with donors.
Attend and support donor events.
Collaborate with Special Events Manager to organize events at Caring Network’s Aurora clinics. This may include recruiting volunteers.
Participate in bi-monthly Development Team Meetings and Monthly Staff Meetings.
Represent ministry at local churches and organizations on a limited basis.
Other job-related duties as assigned.
REQUIREMENTS
A committed Christian who demonstrates a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and is a participant in a local church.
Exhibit a strong commitment and dedication to the pro-life position and enthusiasm for the mission and strategy of Caring Network.
Agree with and be willing to uphold Caring Network’s Statements of Faith and Principle and Core Values.
2-5 years of successful face-to-face major gift solicitations or equivalent combination of experience, such as sales or church-based fund development.
Proven record of successful gift solicitations demonstrating a history of portfolio growth to meet and exceed fundraising goals.
Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree or CFRE a plus.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Excellent organizational and project management abilities, with attention to detail and deadlines.
Comfortable with participating in prayer with co-workers and ministry partners.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and customer relationship management (CRM) systems.
Available to work weekends and evenings, as needed, and must be able to work from the Glen Ellyn administrative office and in DuPage/Kane or DuPage/Cook counties.
WORKING CONDITION REQUIREMENTS
Must have ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of donors, clients, or employees of organization. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand for an extended period of time; walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. An employee must work with a moderate noise level.
The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required and the scope of responsibility but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements.
SALARY & BENEFITS
Salary: Depending on experience.
Benefits: Low to no employee cost for health, dental, and vision insurance; discounted rates for dependents. 403(b) with company match. STD, LTD and FSA Program. Insurance benefits begin the first day of the month following hire date. 403(b) with company match. Short-term and Long-term Disability. FSA Program. Caring, empowering, mission-driven culture!
Vacation: Generous PTO policy including substantial vacation time and sick time. Nine (9) paid company holidays PLUS Christmas Break.
Travel: 10 to 20%.
To learn more about Caring Network, please visit their website at www.caringnetwork.com.
If, after prayerfully reviewing this information, you sense one of these roles could be a good fit for you, please click on the APPLY NOW button below. Or, if you know someone who may be interested and a fit, please share this opportunity using the social media and email buttons at the top of this page. For any specific questions, please contact Search Consultant, Dr. Naomi Cramer Overton, at naomi@missionleadership.org.