CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER

The Chief Advancement Officer will partner with Mikva Challenge leadership to propel the organization to the next level. Mikva Challenge is on the cusp of significant growth and is seeking a Chief Advancement Officer that will craft a development strategy aligned with the organization’s national growth plan. The Chief Advancement Officer will use a creative approach to convert strategy into effective execution, translating Mikva’s initiatives and goals into clear objectives for board and staff. The Chief Advancement Officer will build, develop, and nurture a high-functioning development team, utilizing a motivating approach to further collaboration, achieve consensus, and generate support from stakeholders. Collaborating closely with the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Advancement Officer will implement a comprehensive and multi-faceted donor communication and stewardship strategy that ensures donor satisfaction.

The Chief Advancement Officer is expected to travel, on average, 15-20% of the time to further the organization’s growth.

 

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

The Chief Advancement Officer will report to the Chief Executive Officer, Verneé Green. The Chief Advancement Officer will manage a team of eight, with three direct reports.

 

FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Though Mikva Challenge was founded nearly 25 years ago, there has perhaps never been a more exciting time to join our organization. Consider the myriad challenges our democracy currently faces: declining faith in public institutions, the spread of misinformation, increasing polarization, and a growing understanding that for a long time now, too many systems (ranging from schools to health care to justice to public safety) charged with serving the needs of all communities, not only do not, but also never have. A daunting list, to say the least — and yet, which among them might not be helped by engaging the active and thoughtful civic participation of a wide array of our nation’s youth?

Since 2018, I have moved from being the Chief Program Officer of the Illinois chapter to becoming that same chapter’s Executive Director, to my current role as the National CEO of Mikva Challenge — and across that time, I have been so proud to lead our creative, reflective, and indefatigable team’s work toward a mission that is more important now than it has ever been in our country’s history: to “develop youth to be empowered, informed, and active citizens who will promote a just and equitable society.” Undeterred by the pandemic, we continue to serve 400,000 youth (primarily in grades 6-12) in two ways: by working directly with youth to build community, make their voices heard, and develop policy solutions to the issues that impact them the most; and by supporting teachers with curriculum, professional development, coaching, and events to do the same in their own classrooms and communities. The results we seek can be simply stated: we want youth to feel empowered to speak and adults to value their perspectives when making decisions.

America, however, is not the only place facing a pivotal moment at this time — our organization is as well. In the last several years, our organization has grown organically to include not only two main chapters — in Chicago and Washington DC — but also a plethora of partnerships with school districts in California, Michigan, New York, Maryland, Delaware, and Kentucky — to name a few. As we begin this search for a new Chief Advancement Officer, we are in the final stages of developing our first ever strategic plan which will guide us in growing our work, telling the story of our impact, and developing and establishing systems and structures that will ensure said expansion is sustainable.

This is a key leadership role as the Chief Advancement Officer serves with me on the Executive Team, alongside our Chief Education Officer, Chief of Strategy Impact, and other senior leaders. In addition to being a close partner of mine, the Chief Advancement Officer will lead our committed team of fundraisers and our communications staff — so I am seeking someone who not only has national ties, but is also able to coach and guide a passionate and motivated team. The Chief Advancement Officer can also look forward to the active partnership of our dedicated national Board of Directors and two advisory boards (in Chicago and DC) that also help to fundraise and friends-raise. Our major focus has been on getting revenue from foundations and through government contracts, but we are looking to expand our base of corporate and individual donors. We also have solid relationships with school districts across the country and want to continue to spread our impact to more district partners.

In short, I’m extremely excited about the prospect of engaging with candidates for our Chief Advancement Officer role and look forward to welcoming a valued partner who is passionate about our work, reflects our organization values and who has significant fundraising expertise, national ties, strong management skills, and leadership experience to lead Mikva’s financial growth and sustainability. Democracy is a Verb!

–Verneé Green, Chief Executive Officer

 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Chief Advancement Officer will:

  • establish a strong development program aligned to the strategic growth plan, positioning Mikva for long-term, sustainable success through strong and growing philanthropic support;
  • develop and implement a robust national development strategy that encompasses foundations, major and other individual donors, corporations, special events, and government contract and fee-for-service revenue for a $7M organization;
  • create and implement a process by which a steady source of donor prospects are identified, researched, and qualified for the appropriate level of cultivation and solicitation, with the goal of creating a multi-year pipeline to sustain and grow the organization for the future;
  • define and establish the communication goals and strategy for our national organization;
  • manage Mikva’s Communications Director to deliver strategic messages to various individuals and stakeholder groups to increase their understanding of the organization’s identity and brand, strategic imperatives, and case for charitable support;
  • proven track record in managing a portfolio of 40-50 major donors, supporters and Board members;
  • prepare the annual operational plan for fundraising and communications, including the delineation of timetables, budgets, and strategies for accomplishing goals and objectives;
  • prepare and ensure accurate fundraising reports that include all lines of revenue, including philanthropy, government and district contracts, fee-for-service — monitoring monthly progress towards goals;
  • review and create clear policy guidelines for development, including processing and accounting, donor recognition, and stewardship;
  • develop a master calendar of advancement activities and events — including up to three major fundraising events each fiscal year — and ensure proper planning, preparation, and follow-up;
  • identify and track fundraising trends in the nonprofit sector;
  • develop feedback mechanisms to measure the impact of Mikva’s communications/marketing program;
  • nurture, motivate, and lead a committed development and communications team who are passionate about the mission of Mikva Challenge through goal-setting, mentorship, evaluation, and recognition;
  • manage the performance and professional development of the development and communications teams;
  • create an environment where all staff feel welcome and have equal access to opportunities for professional growth and impact;
  • articulate an inspiring vision and demonstrate an authentic commitment to organizational success;
  • develop a strong bond with the organization, thoroughly understanding its history, distinct mission, values, and culture; its youth participants; operations; base of financial support; and the opportunities for involvement;
  • build a productive working relationship with the organization’s Chief Executive Officer and other members of the Executive Team, and provide them with timely advice and counsel in all development and public relations areas;
  • collaborate and leverage relationships of the Chief Executive Officer, Board Members, and senior leaders — ensuring they are effectively supported in order to achieve fundraising goals;
  • assist the Chief Executive Officer in managing relationships with current and former Board Members, identifying and recruiting new members, setting philanthropic goals for the Board, and participating in relevant committees;
  • lead the board’s Resource Development Committee, partnering with the Resource Development Chair to oversee Board fundraising activities and ensure revenue goals are met;
  • build knowledge about and relationships with thought and philanthropic leaders to become conversant and competent within the civic landscape;
  • be a source of development knowledge and expertise for the organization;
  • stay on top of research industry trends and best practices in philanthropy and apply findings to inform and adapt fundraising strategy; and
  • be visible in the civic and philanthropic community nationally (often by attending events to that raise awareness of Mikva and its work), promote Mikva’s presence in appropriate business and civic conversations, and attract donors and advocates to advance Mikva’s mission.

 

LEADERSHIP AND KEY COLLEAGUES

Verneé Green
Chief Executive Officer

Verneé Green has over 25 years of experience in the education and nonprofit sectors. She joined Mikva Challenge in April 2018 as the Chief Program Officer and most recently served as Executive Director of Mikva’s Illinois chapter. She’s excited to be in this role to advance Mikva’s mission to help youth develop civic knowledge, leadership skills, and transform their engagement in the political process. Verneé holds a Bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Master’s Degree from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration. She also earned a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management and has studied at Harvard’s School of Business. Verneé is a fellow of Leadership Greater Chicago and in 2022 was a recipient of the Beacon Award, a recognition from The CAFE Group’s 1954 Project which honors the impact of Black leaders across the education ecosystem.

Robyn Lingo
Chief of Strategy & Impact

Robyn Lingo brings over fifteen years of youth empowerment, nonprofit management, curriculum development, and youth facilitation experience to her role as Executive Director for Mikva Challenge DC, and now her expanded role as our Chief of Strategy & Impact. A native of the Washington, DC area, Robyn is passionate about providing authentic spaces for youth to investigate, affect, and change the world around them. Robyn has held a variety of local and national roles — including the Program Director of the DC office of The Posse Foundation — providing curriculum, resources, training, and support to local affiliates to develop and improve their educational and youth programming. She worked with both the KIPP Foundation’s KIPP Forward program and the Children’s Defense Fund’s CDF Freedom Schools program. Robyn earned a BA from Grinnell College in American Studies and an M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in Social Justice Education.

Jill Bass
Chief Education Officer

Jill Bass has worked at Mikva Challenge for the past 13 years. As Chief Education Officer, she oversees all the school-based Action Civics work nationally. She has written a chapter for Teaching the College, Career, and Civic Life Framework, and for Teaching for Democracy in an Age of Economic Disparity. Prior to joining Mikva Challenge, Jill worked as professional developer, curriculum writer, educational consultant, instructional coach, and, most importantly, teacher. In her heart she is, and always will be, a teacher. She taught in Chicago and New York City public schools for 13 years, an experience that has shaped her understanding of education ever since.

 

COMPETENCIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

Mikva Challenge seeks a Chief Advancement Officer with:

  • a commitment to the mission of Mikva Challenge — to develop youth to be empowered, informed, and active civic leaders who will promote a just and equitable society;
  • experience leading a successful national fundraising program within a nonprofit institution of similar or larger size, structure and scope;
  • an ability to serve as a visible and effective leader — to recognize and nurture talent while building and retaining a successful team;
  • PR/marketing skills and experience; an expert storyteller, with a keen ability to craft narratives communicating our work to multiple audiences
  • an ability to foster an environment marked by creativity, commitment to professional growth, connectivity, collegiality, mutual respect, and cultural competency across the development function and beyond with an emphasis on equity;
  • an ability to assess and implement successful identification strategies for new sources of support from individuals, corporations, and foundations;
  • an ability to build, manage, nurture, and evaluate strong teams;
  • a proven record of converting strategy into effective execution;
  • an ability to execute a development plan and evaluation of outcomes using a metrics-based approach;
  • experience with donor-centric approaches to resource development;
  • experience establishing and meeting strategic goals;
  • knowledge of the latest innovations in fundraising techniques and philanthropy and an ability to translate those innovations and techniques into action;
  • an ability to communicate on the power of philanthropy to diverse audiences, internally and externally;
  • strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work with varied constituencies;
  • superb written and verbal communication skills, including active listening skills;
  • strong financial competence in budgeting and revenue goal-setting; and
  • working knowledge of donor database programs, preferably DonorPro/Salsa

A bachelor’s degree is required for this position as is at least ten years of experience in development/fundraising for a non-profit organization.

 

LOCATION

This position is ideally located in Chicago, Illinois or Washington, D.C., but we are willing to make exceptions for competitive candidates.

 

SALARY & BENEFITS

Mikva Challenge offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive package of benefits including choice of HMO or PPO health care plan including dental and vision; 401(k) retirement plan matched up to 3% of salary; generous paid vacation and sick leave; flexible spending account; short- and long-term disability; Life Insurance; and an Employee Assistance Program.

 

ABOUT MIKVA CHALLENGE

One of the premiere national organizations developing youth to be informed, empowered, and active civic and community leaders who will promote a just and equitable society, Mikva Challenge was founded in 1998 as a tribute to former White House Counsel, Judge, and U.S. Congressman, Abner Mikva and his wife, Zoe, a former public-school teacher, and lifelong education activist. Mikva is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization guided by the principles central to its founders: the best way to learn democracy is to do democracy. For Mikva Challenge, Democracy is a Verb. To that end, Mikva creates bridges between youth and adults to allow them to form interpersonal connections and make civic decisions, together, by providing opportunity, support, and connections that increase civic knowledge, engagement, and transformation — culminating in empowerment, skill, and inclusion. The consequences for young people are transformative to identity — from motivation to serve one’s community, to improvements in academic and social lives, and to the development of active, thoughtful citizens and leaders.

Mikva Challenge is the founder of Action Civics — which provides hands-on experiential lessons in areas, such as community problem solving and youth leadership — and is the premier organization developing civic leadership and civic identity for over 20,000 adolescent youth across the country. Since 1998, Mikva Challenge has grown and developed an impressive history. Mikva has expanded its reach to impact over 17 states, 3200 teachers, and more than 135,000 high school students, annually. By opening up spaces for democratic education and youth participation in schools and government, Mikva strives to prioritize the needs of low-income youth and under-resourced communities and schools. 88 percent of the youth Mikva serves come from low-income households, and 90 percent are youth of color. Over the last few years, the percentage of students enrolled in Mikva programs who are more likely to be successful beyond high school has increased by over 85 percent. Mikva is poised for growth to build a national Action Civics movement!

 

MIKVA CHALLENGE’S COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Since its founding, Mikva Challenge’s mission and work has centered around supporting and promoting the voices, concerns, and solutions of youth of color. However, as an organization who has been in this work for over 20 years, it also recognizes the need to reflect on, and revisit, its values and practices to deepen its commitment to racial equity and justice, and make the implicit more explicit in all its public and internal values and work.

Over the past three years, Mikva Challenge has engaged in a learning and reflection journey to deepen its racial justice and equity work and lens. This has been — and continues to be — a full organizational process, involving the staff from all chapters and partner sites, as well as the National Governing Board and Advisory Boards, and the students and teachers it serves. This process has included ongoing racial equity trainings with staff and board, focus groups, surveys, and interviews with current stakeholders and partners such as students and teachers, and an internal equity audit.

Through this work, the Mikva staff have also developed a new Racial Equity and Justice statement to guide their internal and external work. That statement is as follows: Mikva Challenge envisions a world where each person can thrive with dignity. To get there, we will name and examine power; uncover and interrogate how systems of oppression operate; center persons and Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities most impacted; and uplift equitable policies across institutions.

At this point, the Racial Equity and Justice work is fully embedded in Mikva’s strategic planning process, with an intent to produce a plan for enacting those racial equity recommendations and shifts to its internal and external work.

 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please email your résumé and cover letter to careers@mikvachallenge.org with “Chief Advancement Officer” in the subject line.  All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of Mikva Challenge as well as the responsibilities and qualifications presented in the prospectus. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the successful candidate has been selected.

No phone calls will be accepted. Due to the number of applications we receive, we will only respond to those candidates whom we would like to invite to interview for the position.