POSITION TITLE: Vice President of Development

POSITION LOCATION: Peoria Service Center, 507 E. Armstrong Ave, Peoria, IL 61603

POSITION STATUS: Full-Time

Lead philanthropy that changes lives across Central Illinois.

Easterseals Central Illinois is seeking a strategic, relationship-driven Vice President of Development to lead and advance our philanthropic vision. This role reports directly to the President and CEO and plays a critical role in shaping our mission's future through transformational fundraising, donor engagement, and organizational leadership.

Founded in 1919, Easterseals Central Illinois has served our community for more than a century, building a strong legacy of impact, trust, and innovation. Today, we are a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children and families across Central Illinois through high-quality, mission-driven services. The Vice President of Development plays a critical role in advancing our legacy by leading strategic fundraising efforts that sustain and expand the programs and services that make meaningful, lasting impact for the individuals and families we serve.

At Easterseals Central Illinois, philanthropy directly fuels impact.

We invite you to watch the video below to see how donor support translates into meaningful outcomes for the individuals and families who rely on our services every day, and how strategic development leadership enables that impact.

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking a strategic, collaborative development leader who balances vision, operational excellence, and relationship-building expertise. The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Proven success leading comprehensive fundraising strategies, including annual campaigns, donor stewardship, and special events
• Ability to build and sustain meaningful relationships with individual, corporate, and community partners
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams
• Strong strategic planning and financial acumen, including budget oversight and performance metrics
• A leadership style that fosters collaboration, accountability, and a strong culture of philanthropy

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation for this position falls within the range of $100,000 - $115,000 annually. The final offer will consider several individualized factors, including relevant experience, qualifications and credentials, talent availability and specialization, and organizational needs. This range is subject to change in the future.

Compensation is just one component of the total rewards package offered for this role. Easterseals Central Illinois offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being of our team members:

• Paid Time Off
  • Generous Paid Time Off (PTO), including vacation time, sick time, personal time, paid holidays, and paid holiday breaks
• Health and Insurance
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance with multiple plan options
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Medical and Dependent Care expenses
  • Employer-Paid Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Voluntary Life and AD&D Coverage options
  • Supplemental Coverage Options: Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Plans
• Retirement Planning
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan with Employer Match
• Professional Development
  • Annual Professional Development & CEU Allowance
  • Easterseals qualifies for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

All benefits are subject to eligibility, terms, and plan guidelines.

Job Description

Position Objective: The Vice President of Development is responsible for leading philanthropic programs and initiatives at Easterseals Central Illinois. The Vice President of Development is responsible for developing and cultivating long-term, meaningful relationships with new and existing donors. The Vice President of Development is responsible for day-to-day operations, including supervising staff and preparing and managing the departmental budget. The Vice President of Development oversees Easterseals Development and Donor Services.

Job Functions:

• Provides cohesive leadership and direction to the President & CEO and development team in the effective execution of a substantive, actionable, and measurable strategic development plan that spans across the Central Illinois community.
• Stewards a culture of philanthropy at all levels of the organization, including staff, leadership, and volunteers.
• Lead and manage the implementation of strategies designed to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts from prospective and current donors.
• Provides leadership and guidance for operational strategy, management, and processes, including timelines, objectives, and metrics.
• Conceptualizes, coordinates, and executes the annual campaign, including a year-round stewardship strategy for annual campaign donors and volunteers.
• Manages the planning and execution of special events, in coordination with the event planner, as a strategic opportunity to acquire, cultivate, and engage individual and institutional donors.
• Ensures clear collaboration between the Bloomington and Peoria development strategies to create a cohesive strategic plan.
• Maintains partnerships with development leaders to create, deliver, and refine research analysis, business processes, and products that support donor prospect research efforts.
• Assists with creating, implementing, and maintaining a strategy for donor segmentation.
• Works collaboratively with the Donor Services team to prepare and direct the preparation of donor research, gift acknowledgment, and other reports, ensuring that donor and financial records are maintained in accordance with general accounting and fundraising standards.

Marginal Responsibilities:

• Leads the development, implementation, and monitoring of the development department’s budget.
• Serves as staff liaison for the Development and Marketing Committees of the Board of Directors, preparing strategic materials for the meetings.
• Cultivates and maintains courteous and positive relationships with all internal and external stakeholders including, volunteers, vendors, committee members, including volunteers, vendors, committee members, and colleagues, embodying the organization's values in all interactions.
• Posts and interviews for department positions as they become available. Participates in additional interviews as requested.
• Provides comprehensive onboarding and training for new staff, utilizing the appropriate competencies for each position.
• Responsible for the performance management of department staff, including completion of performance evaluations, performance improvement plans, and employee disciplinary reports as needed.
• Provides support to special projects and committees as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education/Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a major in marketing, public relations, communications, non-profit management, organizational leadership, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• A minimum of five years of fundraising experience with a successful track record of comprehensive fund development, including but not limited to annual campaigns, capital campaigns, special events, and individual, major, and planned giving.
• CFRE (Certified Fund-Raising Executive) designation preferred.

Competency Requirements:

• Interpersonal skills and ability to lead and motivate people, build consensus, gain support, and align an organization around a shared vision.
• Demonstrated administrative, organizational, strategic planning, and project management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and public speaking skills.
• Working knowledge of personal computers and software (MS Office Suite).
• Working knowledge of or ability to learn donor database software.
• Ability and willingness to maintain a flexible work schedule.

Easterseals Central Illinois is an equal-opportunity employer. Easterseals does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Easterseals is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, call 309.686.1177.