Vice President of Advancement & Engagement

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.

Our model generates millions in donated legal services annually: we recruit, train, and support

volunteer attorneys who work alongside our legal team on impact litigation, policy advocacy,

and community-based legal support. We operate across Illinois and Indiana as the only Lawyers’

Committee affiliate in the Midwesta region of 61 million people.

After successfully replacing $400,000 in lost federal funding in 2025, we’re positioned to

expand our regional footprint at a moment when state-level civil rights enforcement has never

been more critical.

About the Role

The VP of Advancement & Engagement 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 systemsa 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 momentwhen state-level civil rights litigation is

more critical than everyou’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.

What You’ll Get

You’ll join a senior leadership team that’s 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 communitieslaw 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 overheadyou’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. You’ll see the direct line between your work and impact.

And you’ll build something. This isn’t a maintenance roleyou’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 infrastructuredonor journeys, stewardship systems,

recurring giving programsstill needs to be built. You won’t be inheriting someone else’s

system; you’ll create one that works. You’ll have the autonomy to innovate, the support to take

smart risks, and the resources to build a program that lasts.

What Success Looks Like (Year One)

• 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

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Fundraising Leadership

• 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

national landscape

• Lead Gala and Power of Connection symposium fundraising
• Leverage existing professional networks in Chicago philanthropic, legal, and civic

communities to open doors

• Represent CLC at community events, conferences, and networking opportunities
• Attend fundraising events in evenings and occasional weekends as needed

Regional & National Fundraising Strategy

• Identify and cultivate Indiana-based funders aligned with CLC’s work
• Pursue national foundation support fo