Associate Director, Donor Relations

University of Chicago•Chicago, IL

2d•$74,000 - $84,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director, Donor Relations, is a key member of the Advancement team at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. The role oversees and executes stewardship strategies for Annual Fund donors, ensuring donors are appreciated, informed about their impact, and engaged in meaningful ways that encourage continued support. The Associate Director partners with fundraising and communications teams to deliver a comprehensive donor stewardship program aligned with organizational values and priorities. The position is currently expected to work in the office a minimum of three days per week and may require travel to campus or other locations for University business, as well as occasional evening and weekend work. It is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization.

Requirements

College or university degree in a related field.
Five to seven years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Strong understanding of Annual Fund fundraising and donor engagement strategies.
Exceptional written and verbal communication and proofreading skills.
Demonstrated ability to take strategic and creative approaches to work.
Flexibility and adaptability in an emerging and changing environment.
Excellent organizational skills; ability to work independently and collaboratively.
Ability to manage multiple projects, set priorities, and meet short deadlines.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to customer service.
Scrupulous discretion and confidentiality.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree.
Professional experience in advancement, alumni relations, donor relations and stewardship, communications, marketing, public relations, or similar work.
Background in higher education or a nonprofit institution.
Understanding of fundraising databases such as Salesforce.
Familiarity with Marketo or similar marketing software.
Proficiency with the Windows environment and standard MS Office suite.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a multi-year stewardship strategy for Annual Fund donors, including Chicago Booth Dean’s Society donors, with timely recognition and impact reporting.
Manage Annual Fund donor stewardship projects, including the quarterly newsletter, campaign reporting, honor rolls, first-time donor and pledge packet mailings, Dean’s Society stewardship touchpoints and events, and other Annual Fund donor activities.
Expand stewardship opportunities for Annual Fund donors, particularly email and mail communications through a DRIP campaign and special offerings for Dean’s Society donors.
Collaborate with Booth Advancement colleagues, including the Leadership Annual Giving team, to ensure consistent messaging and coordinated donor engagement.
Work with the Booth Marketing and Communications team to develop compelling stewardship materials and donor stories.
Monitor and evaluate stewardship initiatives and recommend improvements using donor feedback, industry standards, and analytics.
Assist with donor relations tasks, activities, and projects as directed by the Director, Donor Relations and Senior Associate Director, Donor Relations.
Apply expertise in recognition, stewardship, acknowledgement, and proposal writing; set activity goals and develop the annual operating budget for donor-related programs.
Work with the special events team to develop annual recognition activities and serve as a resource to other units on fundraising and engagement activities.
Perform other related work as needed.