Department
ARD College Alumni Philanthropy
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.
The College Development team raises $80M-$100M annually, advancing philanthropic partnerships with key alumni, parents and friends of the College to support the educational goals of its undergraduates. This includes support for financial aid, teaching and research, career development, international study, athletics, and housing.
Job Summary
This role has deep knowledge and expertise in leading programs designed to meet 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. Leads the College Reunion team to achieve a $15M fundraising program, setting and surpassing Reunion fundraising goals. Designs, manages, and executes development strategies and programs to maximize philanthropic support for the College’s Reunion priorities. Drives efforts to increase volunteer engagement and participation in College Reunion initiatives.
Responsibilities
- Leads a team focused on strategic and highly personalized engagement of College Reunion donors set to achieve Reunion fundraising goals surpassing $15M annually.
- Develops and implements an outreach and personal solicitation program for College Reunion donors of every gift band.
- Thinks critically, strategically, and creatively about how the College Reunions program contributes to the overall goals and progress of The College, including Reunion dollar and donor goals.
- Manages a portfolio of assigned Reunion prospects, with a focus on cultivating, soliciting, and securing gifts of all sizes, including multi-year pledges, major gifts, and bequest intentions, in support of a comprehensive $15M annual Reunion fundraising goal. Speaks persuasively about the case for Reunion fundraising initiatives, maintaining a knowledge of and educating direct reports about College and University fundraising priorities.
- Manages and coaches direct reports to cultivate and solicit Reunion prospects through individual meetings, volunteer peer outreach, mass communications, strategic events, and individual class campaigns. Provides training and guidance for team members regarding volunteer engagement in peer-to-peer solicitation and fundraising strategies.
- Identifies, recruits, trains, and motivates volunteers to engage and solicit their peers. Partners across ARD with University Relationship Managers to engage trustees and top donors in relationship building and solicitation to advance and meet class fundraising goals.
- Develops effective strategies for increasing fundraising participation by alumni celebrating their class reunion, with a personal focus on at least two reunion classes.
- Manages strategic oversite of signature cultivation and recognition events, including Alumni Weekend reunion dinners and class-specific programming, in partnership with ARD partners.
- Continually evaluates all reunion programming for ongoing improvement and growth, with a particular focus on driving Reunion fundraising goals.
- Collaborates with some divisions and schools, and relays information regarding capacity and inclination to give to the appropriate channels in the University through knowledge of the University process.
- Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions and with an eye towards broadly diversifying the advancement profession.
- Establishes fundraising goals and priorities based on department objectives, designs strategies to meet those goals, and monitors progress against goals. Manages a portfolio of current and potential donors.
- Identifies, analyzes, and qualifies donor interest to maximize giving. Assists 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 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Certifications:
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Preferred Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree.
Experience:
- Minimum five years of professional work experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales, or similar field.
- Minimum two years of management experience, including supervising staff.
- Personally soliciting and closing gifts with prospective alumni donors.
- Fundraising, contact management, or other database software.
- Background working with volunteers.
- Planning and executing events.
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 the University's donor relationship management system.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
- Proficient with Salesforce CRM.
Preferred Competencies
- Build, lead, mentor, and motivate a diverse team, and encourage growth and change in both people and programs. A strong commitment to personal and professional development, and foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment.
- Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
- 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.
- Self-motivated and take initiative.
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.
- Travel domestic and internationally.
- This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.
Application Documents
- Resume/CV (required)
- Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (preferred)
When applying, the document(s) MUST be 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
$102,000.00 - $120,000.00
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 theBenefits 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.
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