3Arts Job Application: Director of Development and Partnerships

POSITION: Director of Development and Partnerships 

STATUS: Full-time  

LOCATION: Chicago, IL (currently hybrid)  

Organization Overview and Culture  

3Arts is a nonprofit organization that advocates for and supports artists, including women artists, artists of color, and Deaf and disabled artists working in the performing, teaching, and visual arts. Our investment in artists’ enterprises, agency, and wellbeing reflects an equal commitment to bolstering the creative spirit and health of every neighborhood in the metropolitan area where they work and live. Our focus on social justice and artists is designed to upend common systems of power by putting resources directly into the hands of the creative practitioners who propel needed and formidable ripple effects across our region.

Through unrestricted cash awards, project funding, residencies, and professional development, 3Arts helps artists build momentum in their careers over time. Since 2007, 3Arts has supported more than 2,500 artists, representing approximately 66% women artists, 74% artists of color, and 27% Deaf and disabled artists working in Illinois, and distributed $8.2 million through our grantmaking.

3Arts is a 113-year-old organization that was founded as The Three Arts Club of Chicago to support young women studying the arts—eight years before women had the right to vote. For the past 18 years, we have operated as an arts service and grantmaking organization with a mission rooted in our history of arts and social justice. 

Our organization’s culture embodies creativity, responsiveness, collaboration, fluidity, integrity, and depth of purpose. Every member of our small staff is a representative of our mission, both behind and beyond our office doors. We strive to instill a balance between rigorous production and purpose-driven values, in which both organizational and sector-wide vision and advocacy are investigated and experienced. In each other, we value flexibility, good humor, openness, a collaborative spirit, curiosity, and positive energy. 

3Arts is always evolving; we are looking for a deep-thinking, detail-attentive leader to join our five-person staff who shares our drive, is committed to building relationships and next practices, and enthusiastically implements our mission as part of a close-knit team.  

Position Overview  

The DoDP is a full-time salaried exempt position that reports to and works closely with the Executive Director (ED) on all revenue-building and advancement efforts. This role is perfect for a seasoned communicator who loves to write. As is true for the whole 3Arts team, the DoDP collaborates with all staff members on many aspects of the activities they oversee, including foundation, corporation, and government grants; public relations and communications; individual donor relations, tracking, and record-keeping; Board of Directors support; event planning and production; and administration. The fundraising budget for 2025 is $1.26 million.

Responsibilities  

The DoDP works with the Executive Director to implement all aspects of fundraising and partnership development. Responsibilities include:  

• Developing and executing a fundraising plan to support our organization’s programming 
• Managing the grants calendar to meet all deadlines 
• Reporting on fundraising activities at board meetings and in annual data summaries  
• Nurturing and expanding funding relationships with integrity and discernment  
• Conceiving, writing, and submitting proposals and reports, related budgets, and other relevant documents  
• Tracking and maintaining records and reports for all revenue sources and prospects  
• Researching, identifying, and advancing new funding opportunities year-round  
• Conveying and designing donor and funder communications 
• Determining annual budgeted revenue targets  
• Creating mid-year reports for Award Partners and event reports for sponsors  
• Receiving checks and depositing them, ensuring that all time-sensitive mail is processed conscientiously 
• Overseeing funding and community partnerships  
• Maintaining our online donor database 

Community Award:  
The DoDP manages all aspects of our annual Community Award crowdfunding campaign, including:  

• Working with the Board of Directors to invite contributions 
• Collaborating with our media partner to produce the project video  
• Tracking, acknowledging, and reporting on contributions  

3Arts Awards celebration:
With the ED and event contractors, the DoDP oversees all aspects of our annual awards celebration, including: 

• Public relations, marketing strategies, and audience outreach  
• Communications with the Host Committee, Board of Directors, supporters, sponsors, and external stakeholders  
• Event reports for funders 

Board of Directors Support:  
The DoDP works with the ED to support all board functions, including:  

• Tracking and reporting on board member contributions  
• Communicating with board members to activate funder and donor prospects  
• Working with the board to promote the annual event  
• Creating toolkits, correspondence templates, and social media posts for board members to use for their solicitations during the Community Award campaign and annual awards presentation  

Core Competencies 

• Mission alignment: understand and embrace the values and mission of 3Arts 
• Adaptability: willingness to embrace change, test new ideas, and learn new ways of working 
• Collaboration: eagerness to share resources/knowledge and work with others toward organizational goals 

 Experience & Qualifications

• At least five years of experience working in development and the arts
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong project management and organizational skills, demonstrated success in managing multiple responsibilities, meeting deadlines, and enhancing productivity processes
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and design software such as Canva
• Experience with email marketing systems (Constant Contact and MailChimp)
• Familiarity with database and/or application management and/or with CRMs (3Arts uses eTapestry)

Salary & Compensation  
This full-time position provides a salary of $100,000.

Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance; two weeks of paid vacation in the first year of employment, two weeks of sick time, plus paid time off from December 24 through January 1; 15 paid holidays and three personal days; paid parental leave; short term and long term disability insurance; life insurance; an optional 403(b) retirement plan with employer match; and opportunities for professional development. 3Arts also has a sabbatical policy in place for all staff who have worked at our organization for at least six years. And more!  

Working Conditions  
3Arts does not have a traditional or permanent office. We work remotely and in person at Impact House, a co-working space located in Chicago’s Loop.

This position primarily requires work on weekdays, with occasional events in the evening or on weekends. Specific working hours are flexible.

3Arts is committed to supporting a diverse and creative workplace that reflects our mission and values.    
 

To Apply  

Please proceed with the following application to apply. Application materials include contact information, a PDF of your resume, and a PDF of your cover letter. Cover letters should describe the candidate’s interest in the position and qualifications in 400 words or less. 

The position will remain open until filled, but we do aim to fill it swiftly and ideally in the first quarter of 2025. We expect this to be a competitive process. We encourage candidates to submit application materials by February 17.    

Due to our small team capacity, we will not respond personally to every application. However, every applicant will hear from us either to schedule an interview or when the position has been filled.    

If you have any questions about the application process, application materials, or would like to request access accommodations, please contact info@3arts.org.