Regional Development Director - Chicago

Job Title: Regional Development Director, Chicago Department: Development Reports To: Vice President, Midwest/MidAtlantic Region FLSA Status: Exempt We are seeking a dynamic and accomplished fundraising leader with a proven track record of driving revenue growth and advancing mission-focused initiatives. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, exceptional relationship builder, and inspiring people leader who excels at coaching, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams. This role will provide leadership for the Midwest Division, overseeing markets in Illinois (including Wisconsin and Missouri), Ohio, and Kentucky.

The successful candidate will bring demonstrated fundraising success and the ability to strengthen and rebuild market performance by developing strategic partnerships, cultivating donor relationships, and empowering local teams to achieve ambitious goals. This leader will play a critical role in shaping growth strategies, fostering collaboration across markets, and creating a culture of accountability, innovation, and excellence.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Reporting to the Vice President of the Midwest/MidAtlantic Region, the Regional Development Director (RDD), Chicago is responsible for providing strategic fundraising and leadership within the assigned Midwest Region. The RDD develops and executes comprehensive strategies to achieve revenue goals, strengthen donor and community relationships, expand the fundraising pipeline, engage volunteer leaders, and increase UNCF’s visibility and impact in support of the 37 member institutions.

The RDD serves as a senior representative of UNCF within the Midwest Division and provides leadership to development staff and volunteers while ensuring fundraising activities are aligned with organizational priorities, financial goals, and UNCF policies and standards. ABOUT UNCF The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) has been an engine of educational achievement for more than 80 years. UNCF’s mission is to build a robust and nationally recognized pipeline of HBCU students who, because of UNCF support, become highly qualified college graduates. In addition, UNCF ensures that its member institutions remain respected models of best practices in moving students to and through college.

Since its inception in 1944, UNCF has raised over $6 billion in private support, distributed scholarships to help students attend school, and enabled more than 500,000 scholars and low-income students to graduate from UNCF’s member historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and launch professional careers. UNCF is committed to closing the educational attainment gap by increasing postsecondary access and success for student groups, particularly low-income and first-generation students.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

AND DUTIES: Develop and execute comprehensive regional fundraising strategies across individual, major gift, corporate, foundation, sponsorship, and event revenue streams to achieve annual and long-term goals…

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