Director, Individual Giving

The University of Chicago

About Us:

The University of Chicago is an urban research university that has driven new ways of thinking since 1890. Our commitment to free and open inquiry draws inspired scholars to our global campuses, where ideas are born that challenge and change the world.

We empower individuals to challenge conventional thinking in pursuit of original ideas. Students in the College develop critical, analytic, and writing skills in our rigorous, interdisciplinary core curriculum. Through graduate programs, students test their ideas with UChicago scholars, and become the next generation of leaders in academia, industry, nonprofits, and government.

https://www.uchicago.edu/


Position Details

Director, Individual Giving
Job
Full-time
11/23/2021
Chicago Illinois
Chicago, IL

Department:

BSD DEV - Development: Individual Giving - Medicine & Surgery

About the Department:

Medicine and Biological Sciences Development’s mission is to inspire and facilitate philanthropy at the University of Chicago Medicine by building relationships with those who share its goals of advancing excellence in research, education, community, and patient care. We accomplish this mission through expertise, integrity, creativity, and collaboration.

Job Summary:

The job 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.

Responsibilities:

  • The Director of Individual Giving is a leader on a team that raises $5-15M from individuals and family foundations to advance the fundraising priorities established by the Leadership Team of Medicine & Biological Sciences Development (MBSD) and the Dean/CEO of The University of Chicago Medicine (UCM). 
  • Has a personal fundraising goal of $2 - 10M. 
  • Manages a portfolio of 60-80 donors and prospective donors who are capable of making major and planned gifts in the $500K to $9.5M range. 
  • Responsible for the cultivation, solicitation, gift closure, and stewardship of prospective donors and donors in their own portfolio as well as managing the efforts of their direct reports to similarly advance relationships of the individuals, families, and foundations in their portfolios. 
  • Works with MBSD’s Leadership Team, the UCM CEO/Dean, Trustees, Faculty, and volunteers as well as MBSD staff to identify and qualify prospects for support of his/her assigned Divisions, Departments, and/or Programs 
  • Using a Moves Management process, conceives of, promotes, and coordinates the interaction of potential and current donors with faculty and other individuals who have the ability to deepen the prospective donor’s engagement with the University.
  • Implements strategies to keep prospective donors and donors involved and informed of ongoing projects and programs. 
  • Conceives of, develops, and writes fundraising proposals and in so doing will collaborate with the Individual Giving team and with the Development Marketing & Communications team. Oversees the work of their direct reports as they develop solicitation proposals for prospects in their portfolios. 
  • May be responsible for mentoring and leading up to four direct reports so that annual goals are met. 
  • Establishes fundraising goals and priorities based on department objectives, designs strategies to meet those goals, and monitors progress against goals. 
  • 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.

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:

Experience:

  • A minimum of five years of experience in development or a related field such as public relations, sales, marketing, or non-profit management.
  • Experience planning and managing programs.
  • Experience soliciting and closing major gifts.
  • Planned giving experience.
  • Experience managing volunteers.
  • Experience in a university setting or a similarly complex institution.
  • Supervisory experience.
  • Experience developing and monitoring budgets

Preferred Competencies:

  • Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, characterized by the ability to listen, to speak, and to write well with a strong commitment to customer service 
  • Excellent organizational skills, and a high degree of flexibility and initiative 
  • Ability to travel and attend evening and weekend functions when necessary 
  • 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 Development and Alumni Relations, including the Alumni Development Database System Griffin, a Microsoft Windows computer environment, Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and Active Planner 
  • An exceptional work ethic and track record of personal initiative 
  • Ability to work collegially and collaboratively with a team of highly motivated individuals 
  • Familiarity with The University of Chicago


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