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Development Manager | Intern

Development Manager

The development manager reports directly to the executive director and manages FOTP’s foundation, corporate, and individual fundraising strategies. The development manager plays a key role in advancing FOTP’s giving program by building meaningful relationships, growing donor engagement, and strengthening the pipeline for future major gifts. The development manager sits at the intersection of relationship management, project execution, data oversight, and operational coordination. 

FOTP is a hybrid work environment that requires at least two days of work in the downtown Chicago office. Some weekends and evenings may be required. 

The following list of responsibilities will be prioritized according to a work plan established in collaboration with the executive director.

Foundation Coordination

  • Manage the grants calendar

  • Lead the prospect research, writing, and submission of proposals, letters of inquiry (LOI), and grant reports to foundations, ensuring adherence to deadlines

  • Cultivate relationships with foundation program officers

  • Develop and maintain stakeholder relationships to facilitate new opportunities and strengthen FOTP’s connections within the philanthropic community

  • Attend meetings and site visits with prospective and current funders as required; represent FOTP at external events and briefings where FOTP should have a voice.

Donor Cultivation and Management 

  • Maintain donor records, fundraising database, and tracking systems 

  • Ensure proper donor recognition and stewardship in newsletters, reports, and at events

  • Support FOTP’s individual giving program by new prospect identification, cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation while strengthening existing donor relationships

  • Provide support for fundraising events, donor cultivation events, and special campaigns

  • Collaborate with staff on fundraising appeals, donor communications, newsletters, impact reports, social media campaigns, and event promotion.

  • Create fundraising materials, sponsorship packets, presentations, and other donor-facing collateral

  • Assist in developing strategies to diversify revenue sources and expand the organization’s fundraising capacity

  • Complete other tasks and assignments as requested

Business & Corporate Support

  • Identify corporate and small business funding opportunities.

  • Develop and manage corporate sponsorships, employee giving programs, and philanthropic partnerships.

Qualifications

  • Three-plus years of experience in nonprofit development and fundraising, corporate engagement, or a related field.

  • Bachelor’s degree preferred, or equivalent work experience

  • Knowledge of nonprofit fundraising best practices and various forms of development solicitation practices, including events, corporate partnerships, cause marketing, and major gift solicitation

  • Grant-writing and time-management skills required

  • Ability to produce high-level, exciting, and interesting brand-driven content

  • Superior relationship-building and interpersonal skills to build trust with internal and external stakeholders

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

  • Ability to manage confidential matters with utmost integrity

  • Passion for FOTP’s mission.

  • Self-motivated person highly skilled in time and task management

  • Analytical skills to solve problems

  • Strong organizational skills and the ability to multitask and prioritize projects under deadlines or in fast-paced environments.

  • Strong team builder who strives in collaboration while taking initiative

  • Proficient with Google and Microsoft Suite and EveryAction or comparable CRM system, preferred.

Compensation

The annual salary range is between $60,000 and $65,000. FOTP offers a competitive benefits package that includes health care, dental, and life insurance. An employee-matched retirement plan is available after three months of employment.

To Apply

Send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to Jobs@FOTP.org. The subject line must include “Development Manager”.
The posting will remain open until the position is filled.

Friends of the Parks Internship Program

The FOTP Internship Program allows university students to turn their passion for conservation, environmental education, and community engagement into real-world experience. Interns gain practical skills, explore nonprofit operations, and contribute directly to projects in advocacy and policy, communications, development, and environmental education.


FOTP is proud to partner with leading academic institutions to provide meaningful internship opportunities that connect students with hands-on experience in park advocacy, environmental stewardship, community engagement, research, and nonprofit leadership.

Our university partnerships include collaborations with Loyola University Chicago, the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), and the Simon Wiesenthal Center, creating pathways for students to apply their academic knowledge to real-world projects that support Chicago’s parks and communities. Our UIC partnership includes work with specialized programs such as the UIC Illuminate Program and the UIC Freshwater Lab.

Through these partnerships, interns gain professional experience while contributing to initiatives that advance equitable access to parks, environmental research, and community-driven park advocacy throughout Chicago.

To learn more about being an intern at FOTP, email interns@fotp.org