About

What is the Development Leadership Consortium (DLC)?
The DLC is an organization whose mission is to mentor fundraising professionals who are new to the field and to engage them throughout their careers, encouraging their growth into committed, connected leaders of the Chicagoland philanthropic community and beyond.

How can I participate in DLC programs?
We encourage you to review our fellowship and public program offerings. Applications for fellowship programs are accepted through June 1st of each year and programs begin in September.

The Philanthropy Forecast is a public event that takes place on a bi-annual basis. Check our website for more details.

Who participates?
Alumni include fundraising professionals from a number of nonprofit organizations, ranging in size and mission.  To learn about the accomplishments of our individual fellows, visit the ‘Members’ section of our LinkedIn page at: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?viewMembers=&gid=59682&sik=1279743894834

Testimonials:
“We are fortunate to work with many great professionals and we view members of the DLC as among the very best.”
— Marian Alexander DeBerry, Director, Executive Search

“Thank you so much for your generous gift that made my scholarship award possible.  Participation in the Management Fellows Program of the Development Leadership Consortium met and exceeded my expectations; the total experience was exceptional.   From the stellar guidance by Tom Wick, the real-world advice of the prestigious guest speakers, to the friendships developed with my classmates, the program is a unique convergence of tangible lessons that seem rarely available elsewhere.  I now feel more confident in my career development and believe that I can take on greater leadership positions.  Oh, and it is so great to be reminded that field of Development is a noble cause!”
— Sarah Klein, Director, Donor Relations & Communications, American College of Surgeons Foundation

“The Management Fellows Program has been invaluable in my professional development. Before I was accepted to the program, I was at the point in my career where I felt like I was not being given enough resources in terms of support and training to effectively lead a fundraising team. Meeting with successful executives from the nonprofit and charitable sector who have shared their insights and real life management and organizational scenarios has been eye-opening and greatly appreciated. I am in awe of the program that Clyde Watkins has helped build and feel incredibly fortunate for this growth opportunity that I believe will propel me even further with my career. The peer camaraderie has also been an incredibly fulfilling part of our monthly meetings. To know that I am not alone with the challenges I face and that I have a group of 9 other people who really get my work and appreciate me lifts my spirits. I know that even after this program ends I will have a “posse” of fellows to share best practices, have a beer with, or reach out to for guidance and support during difficult times. Without the scholarship, I would not have been able to afford participation in the program as my organization unfortunately did not have enough in its budget to cover the full cost. I hope to repay the incredible generosity of DLC donors by making my own contributions in the years to come as I advance in my career. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
— Rudy Ash, Senior Development Officer, Posse Chicago

“This Development Leadership Consortium is an amazing organization and there is nothing else like it.  I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to participate in the DLC and I hope to be able to give back to  the organization in the future.   Thank you!!”
— Courtney Kohout, Associate Director, Gift Planning, University of Chicago

“The DLC provided me with a group of colleagues who were more or less at the same level within their own careers, all with the same curiosity and drive to learn more about the field.  Because everyone is from a different specialty within the nonprofit sector, any sense of competition is neutralized, and we have truly became a professional support system for one another through ups and downs at our home institutions.  We can bounce new ideas off of one another, talk about upcoming events, end of year campaigns, Annual Fund appeals and strategies, Board issues, cranky bosses and frustrating co-workers, comparing work environments and experiences with each other, and then use all of that feedback to our advantage without worrying about repercussions at our home institutions.  It’s pretty wonderful to be able to talk shop with someone who completely understands where you’re coming from—rather than friends or family—but who has no control over or stake in your fate at your organization.  It’s also comforting to know, based on conversations with other Annual Fellows, that my organization’s problems and pitfalls are not entirely unique, and that I am not the only person who feels the way I do about one issue or another within Development.”
— Mary Hayes, Development Coordinator, Facets Multimedia

Our Partners:
Ter Molen Watkins & Brandt LLC is the official sponsor of the DLC. Other sponsors of the DLC include the following the following:

Alumni Partner Organizations

DLC members come from a diverse group of non-profit organizations, from small, local social service groups to international non-governmental organizations. The wide array of organizations that have been represented in DLC programs include:

AIDS Foundation of Chicago
Benedictine University
CARE
Chicago History Museum
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Chicago State University
Columbia College Chicago
Delta Institute

DePaul University

Driscoll Catholic High School

Illinois Institute of Technology
Grenzenbach Glier & Associates
John G. Shedd Aquarium
LatzBruni Partners, LLC
Lincoln Park Zoo
Museum of Contemporary Art
National Museum of Mexican Art
National-Louis University
Northwestern University
Openlands
Purdue University Calumet
Ravinia Festival
Roosevelt University
Rush University Medical Center
The Chicago Lighthouse
The Museum of Science and Industry
The Nature Conservancy
The Newberry Library
The University of Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago

Program Partners

Many generous organizations have hosted DLC fellows sessions over the years. The hosts give formal presentations and share informal advice about working in the fundraising arena and the nonprofit community in general. The DLC would like to thank all of its Program Partners, past and present, including:

Arie and Ida Crown Memorial
Campbell & Company
Chicago Community Trust
Donors Forum of Chicago
Field Foundation of Illinois
Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
Lloyd A. Fry Foundation
Loyola University Chicago
Michael Reese Health Trust
Peoples Energy
Polk Bros. Foundation
Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation
Ter Molen Watkins & Brandt LLC
The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
The Spencer Foundation
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Washington Square Health Foundation
Witt/Kiefer