Director of Mission Advancement

Position Title: Director of Mission Advancement
Reports To: Executive Director
Employment Type: Full-Time
Location: Chicago, IL

Organizational Background:
The Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation (PBMR) mission is:  Rooted in the spirituality of the Precious Blood, we restore human dignity through hospitality, hope, and healing.

We work as agents of reconciliation to:

• Build relationships among youth and families impacted by violence and/or conflict
• Create safe spaces where people can experience radical hospitality, hope, and healing, and
• Promote a restorative approach to conflict and build a sense of community.

For more information, please visit www.pbmr.org.

Position Summary: 
The Director of Mission Advancement serves as a member of PBMR's Executive Leadership Team and provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and organizational accountability for the financial sustainability and philanthropic advancement of the organization. Working in partnership with the Executive Director and Executive Leadership Team, the Director of Mission Advancement leads PBMR's fundraising, grants management, data management, communications, donor engagement, special events, and advancement operations efforts while helping guide organizational strategy and long-term sustainability. This position combines executive leadership with direct engagement in fundraising, donor stewardship, grant development, and resource development activities. The Director ensures that Mission Advancement activities reflect PBMR's mission, values, and commitment to hospitality, hope, healing, accompaniment, and responsible stewardship.

Key Responsibilities
Mission Advancement Leadership & Management

• Serve as a member of PBMR's Executive Leadership Team and contribute to organizational planning, decision-making, and strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to establish organizational priorities, goals, & objectives.
• Identify opportunities for responsible growth, innovation, and long-term sustainability across Mission Advancement functions.
• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for fundraising, grants management, communications, data management, donor engagement, special events, and operations.
• Ensure Mission Advancement activities operate in alignment with PBMR's mission, the values of Precious Blood Spirituality, organizational priorities, and advancement best practices.
• Responsible for developing annual department goals, work plans, and performance metrics.
• Monitor departmental performance, fundraising results, and resource development outcomes.

Staff Supervision & Team Development

• Supervise, support, and develop Mission Advancement staff, consultants, and volunteers.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable team culture.
• Conduct regular supervision meetings, performance evaluations, and professional development planning.

Fundraising & Philanthropic Engagement

• Lead the development and implementation of annual and multi-year fundraising strategies.
• Cultivate, solicit, steward, and strengthen relationships with individual donors, foundations, corporations, congregations, and community partners.
• Maintain an active portfolio of major donors, prospects, and institutional funders.
• Partner with board members, staff, volunteers, and community stakeholders to strengthen philanthropic support.
• Identify opportunities to diversify revenue streams and expand philanthropic investment in PBMR's mission.

Grants Strategy & Resource Development

• Provide strategic leadership for PBMR's grants program, including foundation, corporate, government, and institutional funding opportunities.
• Oversee grant prospecting, proposal development, submission processes, reporting, and funder stewardship activities.
• Collaborate with program, finance, and data staff to ensure strong grant performance, compliance, and outcomes reporting.
• Monitor funding opportunities and grant requirements to support organizational sustainability.

Communications, Public Engagement & Special Events

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for PBMR's communications, storytelling, and public engagement efforts.
• Support organizational messaging, brand management, donor communications, media relations, and community outreach activities.
• Represent PBMR with donors, funders, community leaders, partners, stakeholders, and external audiences.
• Provide leadership for fundraising events, donor engagement activities, and special events that strengthen awareness, relationships, and support for PBMR's mission.

Data Management, Operations & Resource Stewardship

• Provide strategic oversight for organizational data management, reporting, evaluation, and information systems to support fundraising, grants management, program outcomes, and organizational decision-making.
• Partner with the Data Manager, Controller, and leadership team to ensure data integrity, reporting accuracy, and effective use of organizational information.
• Oversee donor databases, fundraising systems, reporting processes, and advancement operations.
• Support organizational planning, forecasting, performance measurement, and data-informed decision-making.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible leadership experience in fundraising, philanthropy, nonprofit management, mission advancement, communications, organizational leadership, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success securing and managing philanthropic revenue through individual, corporate, foundation, government, and institutional giving.
• Demonstrated experience leading fundraising strategy, donor engagement, grant development, communications, and advancement operations.
• Minimum of three years of supervisory experience leading and developing staff, teams, consultants, or cross-functional initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically while maintaining strong operational and organizational management skills.
• Strong leadership, communication, relationship-building, and presentation skills.
• Experience managing budgets, fundraising metrics, organizational reporting, and performance measurement.
• Proficiency with donor databases, fundraising systems, data management platforms, and Microsoft Office.
• Commitment to understanding and advancing the mission of PBMR through the values of Precious Blood Spirituality, including reconciliation, hospitality, accompaniment, healing, and community.

Preferred Qualities

• Demonstrated commitment to social justice, equity, and community healing.
• Ability to navigate complex interpersonal and organizational dynamics with empathy and accountability.
• Flexible, collaborative, and solutions-oriented leadership style.