Director of Philanthropy (Communications)

About Noble
Noble is Chicago’s highest-performing and largest network of public charter high schools. Our 18 schools and 1,500 employees currently serve over 12,500 students, 98% of whom are students of color, 90% low-income, and 81% first-generation college-goers. The School Quality and Rating Policy scores for the Chicago Public Schools rated Noble campuses as ten of the top twelve public high schools in the city. Noble supports over 20,000 alumni with 98% of Noble students accepted into college and almost 94% choosing to enroll. 

The people we hire must have a commitment to being anti-racist in all areas of our organization. In the past, we have diligently worked toward pursuing the accomplishments listed above. We plan to use that same determination, innovation, and diligence in our goal to become an anti-racist organization. We believe our people are the most valuable asset in preparing our students to be successful in college and lead choice-filled lives - and welcome those ready to join us in that pursuit. 

The Role
The Director of Philanthropy (Communications) will re-design and lead Noble’s communication strategy for an annual $9M fundraising goal. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer (CDO), this person will work closely with the Director of Philanthropy (Operations) to serve as deputies to the CDO and strategic and culture leaders to the broader development team. The Director is expected to hire and manage at least one staff member and lead the communications wing of Noble’s Development Team. The Director will also manage a $1M+ portfolio of individuals and foundations, growing first-time grants and increasing renewal rates from current donors. 

Key Responsibilities
Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Design a communications strategy that enables the Development Team to respond to 90% of communications needs with best-in-class materials in a two-day turnaround. 
• Increase retention of donors in your portfolio by 5% YOY through personalized relationship management based on donor interest and strategic organizational priorities.
• Recruit five first-time grants of $50,000 or more through networking with Board of Directors and other Noble advocates.
• Develop division of responsibilities for the Communications wing of the Development Team.
• As philanthropic giving grows, hire and manage Philanthropy Associate to achieve outstanding results. 
• Serve as a culture and strategic leader for the Development Team overall, working alongside your co-Director (Operations) and Chief Development Officer to create a high-performing team that is committed to inclusion, anti-racism and achieving goals. 

Candidate Qualifications
Among the many qualifications we are seeking, the ideal candidate for Noble’s next Director of Philanthropy, Communications should have:

• Unwavering commitment to Noble's anti-racist commitment and mission of preparing students for college success and the firm belief in the potential of every student.
• Clear alignment with Noble’s core values of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Follow-Through; Humility and Self-Awareness; Respect; and Results.
• Strong point of view on communication strategy and processes, and a track record of creating outstanding marketing collateral that influences others to actions.   
• Demonstrated ability to manage associate/coordinator-level staff in an equity-focused, results-oriented environment.
• Excellent project-management skills, and proven experience working with others to backward-plan and anticipate roadblocks. 
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with peers and serve as a culture and strategic role leader.
• 7-10 years of experience in philanthropy or education with a proven track record of results strongly preferred.

Compensation
We strive to be among the best places to work in education, and our employee benefits are thoughtfully designed to support us in this ambition. Compensation is commensurate with experience for this role with an expected salary for this position starting at $100,000 annually.

Application Timeline & Process
This process is expected to include virtual and in-person interviews with a variety of Noble stakeholders, reference checks, and time for both the candidate and Noble to deeply consider a decision. We aim to complete final interviews by June 17, 2022, with an offer being made in late June. Noble’s Director of Philanthropy is expected to start July 12, 2022  but the start date can be flexible for an ideal candidate. Please direct inquiries about this role to careers@nobleschools.org.