Development and Engagement Specialist

Job Title(s): Development & Engagement Specialist Department: Development Reports To: Marketing and Communications Manager Direct Reports: NA Classification: Exempt Date: 6/5/26 Revised: 7/17/26 Organization Overview Founded in 2017, Covenant House Illinois (CHIL) provides critical protection and resources for youth ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness throughout Chicagoland and across Illinois. To date, CHIL has served nearly 2,000 young people, administering tailored, wraparound services, including interim and transitional shelter, workforce and education programming, clinical case management, life-skills training, and more to help youth permanently escape the cycle of homelessness. CHIL's programs and services are youth affirming, supportive, and rooted in harm reduction and trauma-sensitive care. With a newly renovated campus on Chicago’s west side and a recently enacted three-year strategic plan outlining a comprehensive vision of program expansion and service innovation, CHIL is uniquely positioned to meet the emerging needs of young people experiencing housing instability and provide the resources and care they need to achieve sustainable independence. We empower them to finish high school, start college, gain employment, live independently, and ultimately step out into the world knowing they are prepared to be successful. Primary Responsibilities: The Development & Engagement Specialist supports fundraising, donor engagement, and community outreach initiatives by coordinating special events, managing donor stewardship activities, assisting with fundraising campaigns, maintaining donor records, and fostering relationships with donors, volunteers, and community partners. This role helps advance the organization's development strategy and supports efforts to increase philanthropic support and community engagement. Essential Duties & Responsibilities Event Fundraising & Community Engagement Collaborate with the Marketing & Communications Manager on participant engagement strategies for Sleep Out: Chicago, including recruitment, retention, fundraising support, stewardship, communications, and event logistics. Coordinate participant experience and relationship management for Sleep Out and other peer-to-peer fundraising initiatives, ensuring a high-quality engagement experience from recruitment through stewardship. Develop and coordinate customized corporate, school, faith-based, and community Sleep Out experiences throughout the year. Cultivate relationships with corporate partners, schools, industry associations, and other community stakeholders to expand participation and fundraising opportunities. Research, evaluate, and develop new peer-to-peer fundraising and community engagement initiatives that increase awareness and revenue. Manage CHIL's participation in third-party fundraising opportunities, including athletic and peer-to-peer fundraising programs. Donor Engagement & Stewardship Collaborating with CHIL’s Major Gift officer and other Development team members, coordinate and executing an annual calendar of donor cultivation, stewardship, and recognition events. Partner with development staff to create meaningful donor experiences that strengthen relationships and encourage increased philanthropic investment. Support donor stewardship efforts through event management, communications, recognition activities, and personalized engagement opportunities. Partner with program staff to connect donors with CHIL's mission, impact, and youth success stories through onsite and offsite experiences. Assist with the planning and execution of board, major donor, and prospect engagement activities. Volunteer Program Leadership Develop, implement, and manage a comprehensive volunteer engagement program that supports organizational priorities and youth services. Create and maintain a calendar of individual, group, corporate, and virtual volunteer opportunities. Recruit, onboard, train, and steward volunteers while ensuring compliance with organizational and Covenant House International policies and procedures. Develop and maintain volunteer program infrastructure, including handbooks, agreements, policies, training materials, and operational procedures. Establish systems to track volunteer participation, hours, skills, interests, and engagement outcomes. Serve as the primary point of contact for volunteer groups and corporate service partners. Coordinate volunteer projects that support both operational needs and youth programming. Recruit and manage reception desk volunteers and other administrative volunteer opportunities as needed. In-Kind Giving & Community Partnerships Manage CHIL's in-kind donation program, including donor outreach, intake procedures, inventory coordination, and distribution logistics. Develop processes that align donated goods and services with organizational needs and capacity. Build relationships with corporations, community groups, and individual donors to increase in-kind support. Coordinate donation drives and community service projects that support CHIL's programs and operations. Partner with program team to assess and prioritize in-kind needs throughout the year. Youth & Program Engagement Events Work with program staff to support the planning and coordination of youth-centered events and celebrations, including holiday celebrations, Pride programming, Juneteenth activities, workforce events, and other mission-aligned experiences. Support workforce development, educational, life-skills, wellness, and recreational programming through event coordination and volunteer engagement. Facilitate engagement opportunities that connect volunteers, donors, and community partners with CHIL's youth and mission in meaningful and appropriate ways. Systems, Reporting & Cross-Functional Collaboration Develop and maintain systems for tracking event performance, volunteer engagement, participation metrics, and fundraising outcomes. Produce reports and dashboards that measure engagement, retention, participation, revenue, and volunteer impact. Collaborate closely with Development Operations to ensure accurate data management and constituent tracking within the CRM. Work cross-functionally with development team members and executive leadership to advance organizational engagement and fundraising goals. Identify opportunities to improve processes, increase efficiency, and enhance the constituent experience across all engagement channels. Qualifications: Education & Experience Bachelor's degree in Nonprofit Management, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Business Administration, or a related field preferred. Minimum of 2–3 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, donor relations, event coordination, community engagement, or a related field. Experience supporting fundraising campaigns, donor stewardship activities, special events, or volunteer engagement initiatives preferred. Experience working with donor databases/CRM systems and maintaining accurate donor records preferred. Skills & Abilities Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and priorities. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to create engaging donor communications. Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records and documentation. Ability to build positive relationships with donors, volunteers, community partners, and internal stakeholders. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with donor management systems. Ability to work collaboratively in a mission-driven nonprofit environment and support fundraising goals. Working Conditions This position requires the employee to work hybrid/remote and onsite in our office facility. Potential exposure to challenging behavioral situations or high-stress environments, requiring the ability to maintain composure and apply trauma-informed practices. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to verbally communicate, listen, stand for moderate periods of time, walk, and lift up to 50 pounds, occasionally driving a minivan. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. At Covenant House Illinois, diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of our mission. We know that a team with varied backgrounds and perspectives is stronger and better equipped to serve our youth. That’s why we foster a culture where every team member feels valued, heard, and supported. We are committed to continuous learning, honest reflection, and creating opportunities for growth. Covenant House Illinois is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We base all employment decisions on qualifications and business needs—without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other protected status. Discrimination and harassment have no place here, and we welcome all qualified applicants to join our team.