Alumni Relations and Development (ARD) engages alumni (~220k), current students, parents and friends of the University through intellectual, professional and social activities on campus, around the world and online. ARD raises $600 Million annually to support faculty and researchers, practitioners and patients, and students and programs across the University. Our work supports priorities in every division, school, department, and institute.
This role is situated within Alumni Relations and Development on the Arts and Culture team.
Smart Museum Development works collaboratively with colleagues across ARD and the Museum to build and sustain philanthropic support that aligns with the Museum's priorities and objectives. This work involves qualifying, cultivating, stewarding, and securing gifts and grant awards from individuals and institutions, developing meaningful donor relationships, and fostering deepened engagement in the Museum for short-and long-term benefit.
As the fine arts museum of the University of Chicago, the Smart Museum of Art (the Smart) is a site for rigorous inquiry and exchange that encourages the examination of complex issues through the lens of art objects and artistic practice. Through strong scholarly and community collaborations and a welcoming approach to its exhibitions, collections, publications, research and teaching, and public programs, the Smart plays a dynamic role in expanding artistic canons, rethinking received histories, introducing new perspectives, and engaging diverse communities-locally, nationally, and internationally. For more information, please visit https://smartmuseum.uchicago.edu/.
Job Summary
The Assistant Director of Development reports to the Smart's Director of Development and works closely with colleagues across ARD, UChicago Arts, and the Museum. This role provides essential support to the Museum in the following areas: annual giving, the SmartPartner membership program, and all aspects of institutional philanthropy (foundation, government, corporate). This position provides professional support of assigned development activities with instruction from others. Executes fundraising projects, cultivation programs for prospective donors and for visiting committees.Additionally, it spearheads stewardship efforts through timely acknowledgment and gift communication processes.
The Assistant Director of Development is responsible for managing and analyzing the Museum's database activity and designing and creating attractive and impactful stewardship reports, proposals, research profiles, acquisition and solicitation campaigns, and other promotional matter. This role also has donor-facing responsibilities and, together with the Director of Development, qualifies, cultivates, and stewards a wide range of donors and prospects over Zoom and in person. A core departmental goal is to significantly increase philanthropic support in the next three to five years, with an emphasis on pipeline development.
Responsibilities
Identifies, activates, and sustains institutional gifts from foundations and corporations through research, cultivation, and direct engagement with existing and potential funders. Develops comprehensive grant applications, post-award reports, and ongoing stewardship communication, working in concert with the Smart Director of Development, other Museum colleagues, and University ARD Foundation and Corporate Relations.
Maintains a calendar of current and future institutional giving opportunities and priorities, finite grant initiatives, deadlines, budget, action plans, and strategic information to enhance revenue pull-through.
Guides a multifaceted direct response (DR) program that helps to retain, renew, strengthen, and establish new connections with individual donors and implements multi-channel campaigns that drive annual fund gifts in collaboration with University ARD (and Smart Communication).
Leads and activates a consistent donor stewardship program involving timely, considered gift acknowledgements in partnership with central ARD, physical signage, and print recognition of support; ongoing strategic communication that fosters increased engagement; and a series of donor events comprised of curated gallery tours, exhibition openings, and salon-style events, etc.
As needed, cultivates relationships with existing and prospective donors through direct engagement visits and targeted communication to foster revenue and enhance growth.
Partners with the Museum's Guest Services, Curatorial, and Education departments on general and programmatic visitation, engagement, and other data capture critical for funder reporting and case statement development.
Serves as the expert on Smart Museum/University donor database systems and yearly philanthropic giving to implement and maintain donor acknowledgments, records, lists, and reports; analyzes and synthesizes data to evaluate program performance across all gift levels, particularly germane to giving society architecture, to come in the future; identifies potential prospects in tandem with ARD's Prospect Research; and liaise with Smart and University colleagues on data integrity, filing of reports, necessary research, prospect management, and analytics.
Coordinates Smart Development departmental financials and reporting in tandem with University ARD. Maintains contributed revenue reports on a monthly basis, tracks expenses, and confirms and corrects gift allocation and attribution where appropriate.
Other duties as assigned, including museum-wide priorities such as support of the Director of Development on special projects, donor briefings, select donor research, other information gathering, Board meeting support such as presentations and reporting, and additional writing, proofreading, etc. as well as advancing Smart Museum DEAI initiatives.
Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance including attending webinars, seminars, and building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
Has a moderate/solid understanding of fundraising operations for a school or department of the University. Identifies budget requirements and staffing needs on a project or event basis.
Cultivates and maintains relationships with donors and volunteers. Establishes and maintains donor records and accounts.
Performs other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Certifications:
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Preferred Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor's or advanced degree.
Experience:
Minimum 2 years of professional experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales, or similar professional work.
Data analysis and communicating complex topics to non-technical people.
Managing cross-team projects.
Technical Skills or Knowledge:
Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to the Office of Alumni Relations and Development, including Phoenix (the University's Donor Relationship Management System), Microsoft Windows computer environment, Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint; Zoom, Google Drive, Box, and Adobe. Fluency and comfort with technology is essential.
Preferred Competencies
Self-motivated and take initiative.
Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively. Communicate with influence.
Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
Excellent proofreading and time management skills.
Knowledge of Chicago's cultural life and a sense of humor.
Enthusiasm for the mission and vision of the Smart and desire to learn.
Working Conditions
This position has a hybrid work schedule,/CV which includes weekly in office presence at either ARD offices or the Museum.
Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
Work evenings and weekends as needed.
This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court and at 5550 S. Greenwood Avenue.
Application Documents
Resume/CV (required)
Cover Letter addressed to the Hiring Committee (required)
When applying, the document(s) MUSTbe uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
Job Family
Alumni Relations & Development
Role Impact
Individual Contributor
Scheduled Weekly Hours
37.5
Drug Test Required
No
Health Screen Required
No
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
No
Pay Rate Type
Salary
FLSA Status
Exempt
Pay Range
$59,500.00 - $75,000.00 The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.
Benefits Eligible
Yes 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.
Posting Statement
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.
We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.
All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.
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