Development Fellow
IMAN is seeking a strong candidate to serve as IMAN’s first Development Fellow. The Fellow will work closely with IMAN’s Director of Development and will support operations of the Development Office while gaining a fast track into the world of fundraising, with emphasis on special event planning, donor cultivation, and grant seeking. The Development Fellow is a competitive full-time position that offers a stipend to the successful candidate.
Working closely with the Director of Development and other IMAN staff, the Development Fellow will gain valuable skills and hands-on experience through the following activities:
Special Event Planning. The Development Fellow will plan, coordinate and provide logistical support for IMAN’s fundraising brunches, an arts benefit and other cultivation events that raise funds for IMAN’s operations and programs. The Fellow will work directly with the Development Director, Executive Director, Communications Director and other staff to plan event programs, showcase IMAN programs and services, and interact with active and potential donors. Working with IMAN’s Arts and Culture Department, the Fellow will have the opportunity to secure corporate sponsorships for the 2012 Takin’ It to the Streets urban festival, Community Cafes and other arts and culture programming.
Ramadan Drive. The Fellow will participate in the creation and execution of IMAN’s 2012 Ramadan Drive including messaging, online fundraising, social media, mosque outreach and direct mail appeals. This will engage the Fellow in planning meetings with the Development Director, Communications Director and Executive Director about the theme, schedule, and implementation of all aspects of the Ramadan Drive.
Grant Seeking. The Fellow will learn the art of grant writing, an essential skill set for work in the nonprofit sector. Skill building will focus on funder research, grant writing, reporting, and grant management for IMAN key programs and projects, including the community health clinic, youth programming, arts and culture events and organizing/social justice campaigns such as Muslim Run and the Multifaith Housing Reclamation Campaign.
Stretch Assignment. The keystone of the Fellowship is the once-in-a-life time opportunity to participate in the production of IMAN’s 15th Anniversary Fundraising Gala. This event will be the celebration of IMAN’s 15 years of dynamic work at the local, national and global level and the unveiling of IMAN’s vision for the next 15 years. The Fellow will work closely with the Development Director, Executive Director, Communications Director, Arts and Culture Director and a Planning Committee to produce the celebration event, including conceptualization, messaging, logistical support, and execution of the 15th Anniversary Dinner at the historic Chicago Cultural Center on December 15, 2012.
Qualifications:
• Extremely organized and detail-oriented
• Ability to multi-task
• Special events experience a plus
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Capacity to jump into new situations and take initiative
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to engage diverse segments of our donor base
• Willingness to take on administrative duties
• Passion to support the organization in its fulfilling mission and goals.
• The ideal candidate will have a Bachelors Degree in Communications, Administration or related field.