Associate Director, Major Gifts

Job Summary

This role manages programs designed to meet University fundraising goals for contributed income. Serves as strategist of efforts to secure gifts and build relationships with alumni, faculty, administrators and organizations with potential to make gifts. Develops communication strategies for projects. Plan and implement strategies for a coordinated program of fundraising and engagement activities for Central States. Identify, cultivate and solicit alumni, parents and friends who have the capacity to make financial commitments $100,000 and up. Responsible for developing and implementing tailored engagement plans for a portfolio of assigned prospects.

Responsibilities

• Identifies, qualifies, cultivates, solicits and stewards alumni, parents and friends who have the capacity to make financial commitments of $100K-$4.9M to the University of Chicago.
• Develops and implements compelling engagement strategies to inspire high net worth individuals to maximize their philanthropic engagement with the University.
• Develops and manages a portfolio of major gift prospects (~100-120) building philanthropic relationships benefitting a wide range of the University’s units, schools and Divisions.
• Builds and manages a prospect pipeline that could yield as much as 24 major gift solicitations, and $3 million in booked gift commitments at steady state.
• Achieves personal fundraising and activity metrics around visits, qualifications, and solicitations.
• Builds knowledge and represents University history, programs, priorities, initiatives, and impact.
• Builds internal relationships and partners with colleagues throughout Alumni Relations and Development and the University in support of advancement goals.
• Contributes to development and execution of regional philanthropic community building strategy. Develops regional expertise and serves as an advisor on regional engagement to internal partners. Serves as general representative of the University at alumni events and other regional activities.
• Attends periodic alumni events.
• Provides scheduled and ad hoc updates to manager and senior leaders on progress and strategies and enters timely contact reports.
• 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.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree.

Experience:

• Minimum five years of professional work experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales or similar field.
• One or more years of frontline development or sales and marketing experience.
• Proven record of accomplishment in devising cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Background providing timely and effective follow-up to prospects and donors, crafting compelling fundraising proposals, and creating clear, concise briefing materials for development and academic leadership.

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.
• Proficient in a 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.
• Self-motivated and take initiative.
• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.