Assistant Director, Leadership Annual Giving

University of Chicago•Chicago, IL

2d•$65,000 - $90,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Director, Leadership Annual Giving plans and executes the institution’s campaign for annual gift support from all constituents, including alumni, and solves straightforward problems as they arise. The role identifies, solicits, and stewards prospective donors capable of giving $2,500 to $100K+, while building a pipeline of future major gift donors. The Assistant Director manages a portfolio of at least 200–300 prospects and donors and works toward an annual fundraising goal of $500,000–$1.5 million, including multi-year commitments and third-party event revenue. The position develops strategies for leadership gift fundraising, cultivates donor engagement through opportunities such as events, calls, and visits, and coordinates stewardship and fundraising activity with teams across Medicine and Biological Sciences Development and the University. The role plans and executes prospect calls, visits, and solicitations; travels as needed to meet prospective donors; develops solicitation strategies and fundraising proposals; and supports campaign goals. It also tracks and analyzes stewardship activity, donor movement and retention, appeal results, and fundraising projections. The position is hybrid, with three days in the office and two days remote, and is based in an office environment.

Requirements

College or university degree in a related field.
2–5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Strong verbal and writing skills, attention to detail and follow-up, and organizational skills.
Strong commitment to customer service.
Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and tact.
Ability to learn the internal workings of the University quickly.
Ability to work collaboratively and collegially in a team setting, with leadership ability to delegate and execute.
Strong work ethic, personal initiative, interpersonal skills, and communication skills, including listening, speaking, and writing.
Flexibility and adaptability to new programs in an emerging and changing environment.

Nice To Haves

Professional work experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales, or similar work.
Knowledge of managing gift prospects and fundraising volunteers.
Experience soliciting and closing gifts of $2,500 or more.

Responsibilities

Identify, solicit, and steward prospective donors with the capacity to make financial commitments of $2,500 to $100K+ and build a pipeline of future major gift donors.
Build and manage a portfolio of at least 200–300 individual prospects and donors, with an annual fundraising goal of $500,000–$1.5 million, including multi-year commitments and third-party event revenue.
Use existing engagement opportunities, events, phone calls, and visits to secure annual gifts and begin stewardship that can lead to future major gifts.
Plan and implement coordinated fundraising strategies for leadership gift prospects; qualify newly identified prospects and assess their capacity, inclination to give, and interests.
Use stewardship programs and other resources to keep prospects and donors informed about University of Chicago Medicine projects, developments, and advancements.
Collaborate with staff across MBSD to increase leadership annual gift activity on behalf of UCM and the Biological Sciences.
Plan and execute a target of 150 prospect calls and visits and 75 solicitations, traveling as necessary to meet prospective donors in the community, at events, or with faculty.
Develop solicitation strategies and write fundraising proposals, potentially collaborating with Development Marketing and Communications on content or format.
Ensure prospects receive timely, personalized acknowledgments; research and prepare stewardship reports for donors making expendable gifts; and coordinate stewardship with the Donor Relations team.
Identify reports needed to track and analyze stewardship activity, appeal results, donor movement through giving levels, donor retention, and fundraising projections.
Contribute to plans for soliciting prospective donors and meeting campaign goals, including speaking persuasively to new prospects about annual giving.
Collaborate with divisions and schools and relay information about donor capacity and inclination to the appropriate University channels.
Perform other related work as needed.