Current Positions

Development Coordinator/Office Coordinator

Title: Development Manager 

Reports To: Executive Director 

Location: Chicago, IL 

Status: Full-Time, Exempt Position 

Special Olympics Chicago/Special Children’s Charities is currently seeking a full-time  Development Manager to manage the daily activities of the organization’s peer-to-peer events  and other fundraising events as assigned. Reporting directly to the Executive Director of  SOC/SCC, the candidate will assist in the development of goals and strategies for all assigned  events, including the Chicago Polar Plunge, Team SOC/SCC Chicago Marathon team and the  Evening Reception. The candidate will also provide the day-to-day planning and management  of the events from set up and management of the fundraising platforms and recruiting,  communicating with and assisting the participants and donors of the events.  

Key Responsibilities: 

General Development 

  • Create and maintain event pages for peer-to-peer and other fundraising events on donor  platform (Qgiv)  
  • Work with SOC/SCC management team to develop revenue projections and provide financial analysis to Executive Director for assigned events
  • Ensure brand standards and consistent tone and voice on all external materials in  conjunction with fundraising 
  • Collaborate with the Director of Development to create and maintain sponsorship  opportunities and relationships for each event 
  • Stay current on industry trends regarding development and fundraising initiatives 

Chicago Polar Plunge 

  • Execute plan for maximizing team and individual participation to achieve revenue goals by retaining existing teams and plungers, attracting new ones from all sectors of the community, and providing fundraising guidance and support to participants 
  • Recruit and train event volunteers to optimize best fundraising results Through networks, prospect, cultivate and steward Polar Plunge teams, sponsors and individual plungers to help grow the event
  • Work with ED and marketing team to develop materials related to event, including external communications, printed event materials and fundraising kits
  • Manage fundraising platform and participant inquiries including training staff on how to  use platform organization and use, and assist fundraisers in achieving their goals through use of the platform 
  • Provide ongoing communication with individual plungers and teams, providing event  updates, fundraising tips, etc. 
  • Develop and coordinate fundraising incentive programs and prizes Coordinate bus transportation for qualifying teams to and from the event Coordinate onsite check-in and registration area 

Team SOC/SCC – Chicago Marathon Team 

  • Manage pre and post event portfolio of 200+ marathon team runners and prospects Execute plan for maximizing runner fundraising efforts and team collaboration Serve as liaison with Chicago Marathon staff
  • Work with ED and marketing team to develop fundraising materials related to events including external communications, printed event materials and fundraising kits Through networks, prospect, cultivate and steward Team SOC members to achieve fundraising goals 
  • Develop and coordinate fundraising incentive programs and prizes Coordinate race day team headquarters and related events 
  • Conduct post event follow-up to encourage future participate in SCC/SOC events

Volunteer, Athlete, and Program Support 

  • Cultivate mission-related relationships which include athlete interactions Attend athlete competitions through the year as assigned 

General Duties 

  • Perform duties necessary to ensure the successful expansion of SOC/SCC’s mission and fundraising
  • Represent Special Children’s Charities/Special Olympics Chicago at fundraising events,  donor meetings, and prospective partner meetings 
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director

Requirements: 

  • Bachelor’s degree in related field 
  • 3-5 years of experience working in fundraising or project organization; preferred  experience managing event platforms for peer-to-peer fundraising events Strong communication skills, both written and oral 
  • Skilled at using Microsoft Office products, and quick to learn other computer programs such as donor management and event programs as needed  
  • Ability to work well within a collaborative team environment to promote company  initiatives, both inside and outside the organization 
  • Ability to multi-task several projects at one time 
  • High energy with an ability to learn quickly with a passion for enhancing the lives of  those with intellectual disabilities 
  • Strong organizational and time management skills with exceptional attention to detail Customer service-oriented and able to solve issues independently 

PLEASE SEND ALL COVER LETTERS AND RESUMES TO SCC@SOCHICAGO.ORG

About Special Olympics Chicago/Special Children’s Charities: 

Chicago is the birthplace of Special Olympics and is now held in over 170 countries worldwide, with over five million athletes with  disabilities. Special Olympics Chicago/Special Children’s Charities provides year-round athletic sports training and athletic  competition for children and adults in Chicago with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our mission is to promote, foster, and  encourage physical and mental health improvement for Chicago’s children and adults with intellectual disabilities and closely related  developmental disabilities. 

Special Children’s Charities (SCC) funds the Special Olympics Chicago (SOC) programs and other programs, which are  administered by the Chicago Park District, the Chicago Public Schools, and various agencies throughout the City of Chicago. Special Children’s Charities also provides life-enriching programs such as an Art and Music Therapy program through CPS, an After  22 Program, an athlete-produced cable access television show, and a series of popular online events, like online cooking and art  classes.

Internship

Title: Intern 

Company: Special Olympics Chicago/Special Children’s Charities 

Location: Chicago, IL 

Status: Part-Time 

Special Olympics Chicago/Special Children’s Charities is a not-profit organization seeking energetic,  self-starting college students to intern at SOC/SCC for the Fall and Winter of 2022. You will assist a  small team in its efforts to increase the public’s awareness of the athletes’ capabilities and needs, and  assist with its events, programs and fundraising efforts, such as the SOC/SCC Chicago Marathon  Team and the Chicago Polar Plunge.  

Special Children’s Charities is the fundraising arm of Special Olympics Chicago and our mission is to  provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults in Chicago with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to  develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills  and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Additionally, we  produce our own programs which are enjoyed by Chicagoans with intellectual disabilities.  

By joining our team, you’ll have the rare opportunity to gain extensive hands-on experience relevant to  today’s non-profit environment. Interns will assist with a variety of projects in the following areas: 

  • Programming
  • Marketing and communications
  • Development and fundraising
  • Non-profit administration

Responsibilities may include: 

Assist with program development for the organization: 

  • Research new program initiatives designed for SOC/SCC constituents
  • Work with Program Manager to develop programs with providers
  • Prepare lists and communication inviting athletes to participate in programs or events Provide registrants with event participation information
  • Make sure program or class is successfully administered

Assist with marketing and communications for the organization: 

  • Develop content for various e-newsletters, targeted e-marketing, video development, helping to maintain editorial calendar
  • Market events including: planning, logistics, information sheets, event banners, day-of support Assist with creating content for social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn)

Assist with fundraising and development initiatives: 

  • Attend community events to promote organizational goals and cultivate donors Prepare communication to donors
  • Support program staff for special projects and initiatives
  • Enter and edit data in SCC/SOC database
  • Conduct prospect research and complete donor profiles
  • Assist with annual appeals including drafting letters, compiling prospect lists, and mailings 
  • Attend some athletic competitions and other programs of our athletes with intellectual disabilities Assist with general office tasks as necessary

Qualifications and Requirements: 

  • Excellent written and verbal skills, as well as ability to proofread and edit
  • Social Media Experience
  • Microsoft Office Skills (especially Excel and Word)
  • Graphic design skills highly desired
  • Ability to communicate with a variety of people by phone, email and in person Ability to work independently
  • A positive attitude with good organizational and people skills
  • Ability to multi-task
  • Reliable and detail-oriented

This position is available as a paid internship that is located at the SCC/SOC office in the South Loop of  Chicago. You will be required to work an agreed upon number of hours per week. An unpaid position  may be available if necessitated by internship requirements or as negotiated. Candidates must be  enrolled in a college or university and should be enrolled in a program that would be enhanced by the  experience gained through this internship. Examples include but are not limited to: Marketing, Special  Education and/or Special Recreation and Non-profit Management. Work outside designated hours may  be required occasionally. 

Please provide a cover letter as well as a resume outlining previous work and school experience.  Please send to scc@sochicago.org. Deadline for applying is September 15, but applications will be  reviewed and positions may be filled prior to the deadline.  

Your own transportation to the office and to events is required.