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.
The Leadership Engagement Team (LET) fosters strategic engagement and leverages leadership networks to enhance donor involvement and optimize fundraising outcomes. As the pivotal link between fundraising strategy and operational execution, LET integrates advanced strategic insights with operational efficiency. Our team collaborates with University departments across the organization, ensuring the seamless execution of a cohesive strategy aimed at engaging top-tier donors and achieving fundraising excellence.
Job Summary
This position uses best practices and knowledge in the planning and implementation of development activities; typically within the undergraduate college, an academic department, a professional school, the central development office, or another University unit. Executes fundraising projects, cultivation programs for prospective donors and for visiting committees.
Responsibilities
Oversees the process and protocol around prospect and donor visit preparation for the President, Vice Presidents, the Provost, Trustees, and other University leadership.
Leads the preparation of confidential briefings for events and individual meetings by collaborating with colleagues University-wide, including but not limited to development officers, prospect research, and prospect management. Ensures quality of comprehensive briefing preparation for University leadership.
As the primary liaison to President's Office, coordinates and manages presidential engagements, scheduling and briefing needs. Develops effective protocols and operational tools to ensure seamless collaboration and to efficiently support the development activity of the President and other University leaders.
Creates and manages project timelines for briefing requests and delivery. Provides strategic guidance to teams supporting the President, Vice President, the Provost, Trustees, and Senior Leadership around briefing content, fundraising strategy, and development of materials.
Participates in the analysis, development, implementation, and ongoing management of the President's prospect and donor portfolio to meet visit and monetary goals. Drives, builds, and effectively presents recommendations on solicitations approaches.
Manages and provides guidance on presidential scheduling requests by development officers across ARD and campus. Provides recommendations on presidential scheduling requests, including travel and events. Collaborates with team members on financial report production, mailings, data management, and in writing and editing tailored correspondence for the President, Trustees, and other University leadership.
Convenes principal gift-level meetings to review and prioritize strategies for university multi-interest prospects and ensures follow up on agreed strategies.
Tracks high-level fundraising activities for President and Vice President, prepares and annotates meeting agendas, and ensures appropriate follow-up.
Convenes and leads planning groups for domestic and international leadership trips, campaign-related activity, and other activities which involve the President, Vice President, and University leadership.
Responds to inquiries, anticipates leadership needs, and proactively solves problems and/or independently handles issues as necessary.
Oversees process with the gift administration team and relationship managers to produce and deploy Trustee pledge reminders.
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.
Has a deep understanding of fundraising operations for a school or department of the University. Participates in the development of fundraising goals, policies and short and long-term strategies. Assesses, analyzes and evaluates fundraising programs, specialized projects or major events.
Prepares annual development reports assessing progress toward achievement of goals. Analyzes and evaluates information to identify trends and patters, evaluates strategies and makes recommendations.
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 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Certifications:
---
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor's or advanced degree.
Experience:
Minimum five years of professional experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales or similar professional work experience.
Minimum of two years of leading a project team or managing staff.
Minimum of one year of experience developing and monitoring budgets.
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 and Access.
Preferred Competencies
Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively. Able to explain complex ideas clearly and simply.
Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
Self-motivated and take initiative.
Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
Working Conditions
This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence.
Standard office environment.
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.
Application Documents
Resume/CV (required)
Cover Letter addressed to the Hiring Committee (preferred)
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
$89,250.00 - $105,000.00 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.
The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at:http://securityreport.uchicago.edu.Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.
