Associate Director of Development - Major Gifts & Campaigns

University of Chicago • Chicago, IL

1d • $72,000 - $93,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director of Development – Major Gifts & Campaigns will help lead ISAC’s immediate and long-term growth and success. This position will play an important revenue-generating role for capital gifts, annual giving and other priorities, especially any upcoming capital campaign. Reporting to the Director of Development the Associate Director of Development will be an essential part of a Development & Membership team’s efforts to seek five-figure annual gifts and major gifts of $100,000 or more for capital, endowment, operational and special projects. This position will collaborate closely with the Director of Development, senior ISAC leadership, and volunteer leadership to develop and pursue ambitious yet achievable annual fundraising, proposal/solicitation and visit goals.

Requirements

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Work collaboratively in a team setting.
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
• High self-motivation and the ability to take initiative.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree.
• Experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales, or similar professional work experience.
• Demonstrated track record of success in cultivating, soliciting, and closing significant philanthropic commitments.
• Experience working with volunteer leadership and/or Board members.
• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available through the UChicago Office of Advancement, including the University's donor relationship management system and the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Demonstrated skill using Excel / spreadsheets.
• Demonstrated project management experience.
• Knowledge of and affinity for history, archaeology, and museums

Responsibilities

• Major Giving: Participates in the cultivation, qualification, solicitation, and stewardship of major gifts, in collaboration across the team– along with developing and maintaining an active personal prospect portfolio of 75-90 encompassing both annual and capital giving.
• Leadership Giving: Secures, renews, upgrades, and stewards annual $10,000+ gifts through personal outreach and visits with individuals that have the capacity and interest to make five and six-figure gift commitments.
• Collaborates in identifying, crafting strategies, cultivating, and solicitation prospective new donors who have the capacity to make financial commitments of $1M - $2M or more.
• Creates and manages high-touch valued donor relations communications and cultivation matrix, with weekly updates for the Team and senior leadership.
• Achieves personal fundraising activity goals monthly, quarterly, and annually.
• Creates, manages, and delivers important development projects with complex budgets, such as travel events.
• Works with Regional Advancement teams and Discovery Officers to identify new prospective supporters and coordinate potential cultivations/solicitations – and expand presence in key cities and regions through visits and events.
• Collaborates with Development team, senior leadership, and volunteers to plan, produce, implement and attend ISAC donor-related events.
• Helps ensure meeting goals and timeframes for effective acknowledgement process and general donor relations and stewardship.
• Coordinates with Foundation and Corporate Relations office on grant strategy.
• Project manage select grants with content experts.
• Collaborates with Development & Membership team, create development communications: write appeal letters, briefings, and proposals; create and oversee prospect content for print and digital publications; ISAC website; and related projects.
• Maintains active and regular local travel schedule to meet with prospective donors as needed, with occasional foreign travel.
• Utilizes new and developing technologies for development applications (e.g. DonorBox, Thankview, ChatGPT, video conferencing, collaborative documents, etc.).
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance including attending webinars, seminars, building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
• Establishes fundraising goals and priorities based on department objectives, designs strategies to meet those goals, and monitors progress against goals.
• Identifies, analyzes, and qualifies donor interest to maximize giving.
• Helps with overall planning efforts for the University's most important prospects.
• Works independently to develop communication strategies for projects, including publications and public presentations.
• Works with Senior Leadership, Officers and Deans to design strategic objectives and action steps that will lead to the successful realization of these projects.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Benefits

• The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level