Chief Operating Officer

Interested candidates should submit applications by September 30, 2026. This search is supported by recruitment firm Civic Search; email search@mbtcivic.com for assistance.

About the Organization

The Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund (DMSF) unlocks educational opportunities for talented Chicago-area students facing financial need. Founded in 1989, DMSF partners with Scholars, families, schools, alumni, donors, and community leaders through high school and beyond by providing scholarships, academic programs, and personal support. Each year, DMSF offers around 150 scholarships to 8th graders, supporting over 500 Scholars in high school with a 100% graduation rate. Scholars attend roughly 40 different parochial and independent day schools in the Chicago area, as well as 40 boarding schools nationwide.

Responsibilities

• Organizational Leadership & Operations
  • Provide leadership and oversight of organizational operations, systems, and internal processes to ensure efficiency, accountability, and alignment across teams.
  • Lead the implementation of strategic priorities in partnership with the CEO and leadership team.
  • Develop, strengthen, and continuously improve operational systems, workflows, and internal communications to support organizational growth.
  • Oversee organizational goal tracking, staff accountability, project management, and cross-department coordination.
  • Build a culture of clarity, collaboration, urgency, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
  • Lead staff culture, professional development, and organizational health initiatives.
  • Partner with the CEO on board preparation, strategic planning, executive-level initiatives, and special projects.
  • Identify operational challenges and proactively recommend solutions to improve effectiveness.
  • Lead, mentor, and develop the Development team (2-3 direct reports).
• Fundraising Operations
  • Partner with the CEO to drive fundraising strategy, donor engagement, stewardship, and revenue growth initiatives.
  • Support preparation for donor meetings, sponsorship conversations, foundation meetings, and major fundraising initiatives.
  • Conduct donor and prospect research and develop briefing materials, talking points, meeting agendas, and follow-up strategies for the CEO.
  • Monitor fundraising progress toward annual goals and support reporting and analysis efforts.
  • Lead operations for the annual Golf Classic (which raised $3.4M in 2026) and other fundraising events in partnership with team members and outside agencies.
• Executive Support & Strategic Partnership
  • Serve as a strategic thought partner to the CEO on organizational priorities, opportunities, challenges, and growth initiatives.
  • Prepare materials, presentations, follow-up, and strategy documents for board meetings, donor meetings, and external partnerships.
  • Assist in managing organizational priorities and ensuring follow-through on key initiatives.
  • Represent DMSF externally with donors, partners, volunteers, schools, alumni, and community stakeholders as needed.
  • Support special projects and organizational growth initiatives led by the CEO.
  • Translate the CEO’s vision and board priorities into clear action plans, ownership, timelines, and measurable outcomes.
• Financial Oversight
  • Collaborate with the CEO to develop annual program and organizational budgets and manage revisions as needed.
  • Provide oversight of all financial procedures, including bill payment, payroll coordination, expense coding, approval processes, and monthly financial review.
  • Review monthly financial reports for accuracy and help identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
  • Collaborate with accountants, board finance leadership, and internal team members to ensure compliance with approval processes, reporting requirements, and financial policies.
  • Support and coordinate pre-planning and execution for the annual audit and 990 preparation.
  • Ensure DMSF maintains strong financial controls, clear documentation, and sound administrative practices.
• Data and Systems Management
  • Work with DMSF staff, vendors, and contractors to ensure accurate and timely data entry across all organizational and internal tracking systems.
  • Develop systems to enhance efficiency and maintain records to ensure organizational compliance and proactivity.
  • Identify opportunities to consolidate systems and better use technology, data, and reporting tools to support fundraising, programs, finance, and leadership decision-making.
• Contract, Privacy, and Compliance Management
  • Serve as a liaison and provide contract management support for all office, vendor, consultant, technology, and service providers.
  • Ensure DMSF Privacy and Security Policies are fully implemented and updated as needed.
  • Conduct regular risk assessments to resolve vulnerabilities and train staff as needed.
  • Help maintain appropriate records, documentation, insurance information, vendor files, and compliance materials.
• Human Resources Management
  • Lead all human resource functions, including hiring, onboarding, development, performance management, offboarding, payroll coordination, and employee relations.
  • Oversee DMSF organizational policies and procedures (including manuals), creating or updating policies as needed.
  • Stay abreast of human resources laws, policies, and trends; serve as a resource to the CEO and leadership on potential changes.
  • Serve as a resource to staff and leadership on organizational policies, expectations, and internal processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 5+ years of nonprofit leadership in operations, administration, development, or similar (10+ years of relevant work experience preferred).
• Demonstrated success leading multiple operations functions, including finance, human resources, compliance, data, contract/vendor management, information technology, or facilities.
• Demonstrated success managing a high-performing team (direct supervisory experience required) and leading cross-functional initiatives.
• Demonstrated success supporting executive leadership and preparing high-level internal and external communications/materials.
• Experience in or deep exposure to fundraising strategy, nonprofit development operations, donor engagement work, and events.

Skills

• Mission-focused: Strong belief in DMSF’s approach and a commitment to supporting educational access for Scholars.
• Systems-minded: Driven by creating, executing, and maintaining excellent and sustainable operational systems to propel organizational growth.
• Strong interpersonal skills: Ability to motivate and lead a productive team, execute initiatives across functions, and build trust with staff, board members, donors, volunteers, families, and external partners.
• Meticulous: Highly organized, detail-oriented, and compliance-focused; thorough in execution.
• Results-focused: Sets ambitious goals, creates and tracks team and organizational metrics, and consistently achieves results.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $165,000 to $175,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Schedule

This is a full-time exempt position in a hybrid work environment (3 days per week in DMSF’s downtown Chicago office) and may require periodic weekend and evening work.

Benefits

• HMO & PPO Health Insurance options.
• Dental/Vision coverage.
• Paid Time Off:
  • Vacation: 10 days in Year 1, with an additional day added each year worked.
  • 10 Sick days and 4 Personal days.
  • Winter Holiday Office Closure.
• Retirement match.
• Flexible spending account.
• Life insurance, short-term & long-term disability.