Director, Development, Court Theatre at The University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois

Job Description:

Department

ARD Court Theatre



About the Department

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.


A broad platform for multidisciplinary arts across the University of Chicago, the Arts and Culture Team encompasses the University's arts engagement with students and faculty, our community, Chicago, and the world. The Arts and Culture Team supports the study, presentation, and experience of arts and includes:
•Academic departments and programs in the Division of Arts and Humanities, the College, and the Library.
•Public-facing arts organizations Arts + Public Life, Arts, Court Theatre, Gray Center for Arts and Inquiry, Logan Center for the Arts, Oriental Institute, Smart Museum of Art and University of Chicago Presents.
•Student-facing initiatives such as Arts, Science + Culture Initiative and the Arts Labs in the Media Arts, Data, and Design Center; and more than 60 student arts organizations.


Building on this foundation, the Provost's Arts Steering Committee has developed a vision for the future of the arts at UChicago that deepens academic excellence, student arts engagement, community arts engagement, global arts engagement, and experimental inquiry and practice. To learn more, please visit https://www.uchicago.edu/life-at-uchicago/arts.



Job Summary

The Director of Development will be responsible for leading and coordinating fundraising efforts for Court Theatre. A member of the Court Theatre's senior leadership team, the Director will design and implement comprehensive strategies to identify, cultivate and solicit annual, major gifts donors in collaboration with Court Theatre leadership, Court Board of Directors and development colleagues. Working closely with the Court and University Alumni Relations and Development teams, the Director will identify funding opportunities, support individual and foundation donor engagement opportunities and solicitations, and collaborate with the Court Board of Directors, Artistic Director and Executive Director to develop strategic approaches for fundraising growth. Director of Development is a senior fundraising position with management responsibilities for the Court Theatre fundraising team and will also work closely with other arts leaders across the UChicago Arts initiative and develop partnerships with other appropriate UChicago fundraising colleagues.


This role manages a team of professional staff responsible for planning all development activities; typically within the undergraduate college, a large academic department or professional school, or the central development office. Leads fundraising projects and cultivation programs for prospective donors and for visiting committees.



Responsibilities

• Develops and leads Court's fundraising activities including annual giving, major gifts programs, fundraising events, campaigns, institutional funding as well as create and refine cases for support.


• Leads, collaborates and manages the creation and implementation of a strategy for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and gift closure of individual and foundation major prospects in collaboration with Alumni Relations and Development (ARD) staff and leadership.


• Works with the Executive Director and Artistic Director in supporting the Court Board of Directors, including staffing and overseeing the Board's development committee, including board development.


• Builds and manages a portfolio of 50-75 individual prospects. In addition to portfolio management, partners with fundraising colleagues on multi-interest prospects to include Court solicitations in their overall prospect solicitation plans. Monitors progress against goals ensuring deadlines are met.


• Manages and supervises Court's Development team. Hires, manages, evaluates, develops and terminates development staff as needed and as assigned. Actively encourages staff members' professional growth and participation in the life of the University.


• Responsible, with the Court Development and support from the Arts and Culture team, for raising between $2M - $3M annually.


• Individually responsible for up to 9-12 solicitations above $100K, totaling between $8M and $12M asked.


• Collaborates with colleagues to identify and develop prospects and proactively expand the prospect pipeline.


• Assists with the planning and execution of events, including the annual fundraising Gala, working directly with the Board and Gala committee.


• Monitors and manages an annual development budget. Addresses budget variances as they occur.


• Prepares timely, accurate, and relevant proposals, presentations, and other fundraising materials for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.


• Responsible for training office staff on office procedures and protocols. Coordinates special projects.


• Researches and analyzes data to create reports and may create other reports for grants and contracts.


• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.


• Serves as a development officer for a unit with responsibility for setting the strategy for the identification, cultivation and solicitation of a portfolio of individual major and principal gift prospects.


• Networks with high-level prospects through visits, events, correspondence, and regular calls. Maintains relationships with top donors, various volunteer committees, and top administrators. Solicits gifts and may negotiate gift discussions.


• 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 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.



Certifications:




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Preferred Qualifications




Education:

• Bachelor's or advanced degree.

Experience:

• Minimum seven years of professional work experience in related roles.


• Minimum three years of experience leading a project team or managing staff.


• Minimum one year of experience developing and monitoring budgets.


• Demonstrated track record of success in cultivating, soliciting, and closing significant philanthropic commitments.

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, etc.

Preferred Competencies

• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively. 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 (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

People Manager



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

$127,500.00 - $150,000.00
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 equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, 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.


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.


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. Apply Now