Fundraising

ICA Fund accelerates great businesses through mentoring and investments to catalyze value in local markets and create community wealth. We back founders building promising, revenue-generating businesses who are overlooked by mainstream finance, pairing capital with hands-on advising from a network of experienced operators.

Summary

ICA is seeking to engage a strategic, collaborative, and mission-driven Fractional Chief Communications & Development Officer to lead the organization’s fundraising, donor engagement, communications, and storytelling efforts. This senior-level consultant will serve as a strategic advisor and operational partner to organizational leadership, helping strengthen fundraising infrastructure, elevate organizational visibility, and expand philanthropic support.

The ideal candidate brings a proven track record of successful experience in nonprofit development, internal and external communications, grant management, donor engagement and cross-functional leadership. This role requires both strategic thinking and hands-on execution with the ability to guide organizational messaging while building sustainable fundraising systems and partnerships.

Responsibilities

Scope of Services

• Lead the development and implementation of strategic fundraising plans aligned with organizational priorities and growth goals
• Strengthen and diversify revenue streams including individual giving, institutional philanthropy, sponsorships, campaigns, and partnerships
• Support donor cultivation, stewardship, and engagement strategies
• Partner with executive leadership and board members to strengthen fundraising participation and donor relationships
• In partnership with Director of Marketing and Communications, develop donor-facing materials including fundraising campaigns, appeals, sponsorship decks, and impact communications
• Monitor fundraising performance metrics and recommend strategic adjustments to improve effectiveness and sustainability

Communications, Marketing & Storytelling

• Oversee the day-to-day activities and workflow of a small communications and/or development team, ensuring alignment, accountability, and effective execution of priorities
• Provide direction, coaching and mentorship to staff to support professional growth, leadership development and long-term career advancement while fostering a collaborative, high-performing team culture
• Develop and guide communications strategies that strengthen organizational visibility, credibility, and donor engagement
• Shape compelling organizational storytelling that communicates mission, impact, and community outcomes
• Support development of key messaging frameworks, brand voice, and communications priorities
• Oversee content strategy across newsletters, donor communications, website messaging, reports, and social media platforms
• Identify opportunities for public relations, media visibility, and thought leadership positioning
• Ensure communications efforts effectively support fundraising and relationship-building goals

Grants Strategy & Management

• Identify and prioritize grant opportunities aligned with organizational strategy and funding priorities
• Oversee and coordinate the work of the organization’s third-party grants management and grant writing firm
• Ensure timely submission of grant proposals, reports, and supporting documentation
• Responsible for maintaining grants calendars, proposal pipelines, and tracking systems
• Review grant narratives and materials for strategic alignment, quality, consistency, and organizational voice
• Collaborate with program and finance staff to support accurate reporting, compliance, and impact measurement

Leadership & Organizational Support

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the CEO
• Support board engagement in fundraising, donor stewardship and external communications
• Prepare development-related presentations, reports and board materials
• Participate in events, leadership meetings and planning discussions as appropriate

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, and/or communications
• Demonstrated success in closing individual gifts, managing donor portfolios, and writing funded grant proposals
• Strong strategic thinker who can operate independently with minimal oversight in a resource-constrained environment
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to tailor messaging for diverse audiences
• Experience with donor management/CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce NPSP, Bloomerang, Little Green Light, or similar)
• Comfortable working in a small nonprofit environment, wearing multiple hats and pivoting quickly
• Ability to represent the organization confidently across varied audiences including donors at all giving levels, institutional funders, community stakeholders and cross-sectional partners

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a fractional, consulting, or contract capacity serving multiple nonprofit clients
• Experience building development infrastructure from the ground up or significantly expanding fundraising programs
• Proficiency with email marketing tools (Mailchimp, Constant Contact), social media management, and basic website CMS

Compensation and Benefits

Based on experience.