Director of Alumni Relations and Development

Association of Fundraising Professionals; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

McCormick Theological Seminary seeks a collaborative Director of Alumni Relations and Development to lead the Division of Institutional Advancement. Reporting to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, the role covers alumni relations, events, annual giving, development communications, and critical data management functions.

The ideal candidate will foster strong relationships with alumni, donors, faculty, and staff; drive engagement and fundraising growth; and contribute to a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; 5–7 years in higher education advancement, alumni relations, or related field preferred.
• Experience using donor CRM systems (Raiser's Edge preferred).
• Strong skills in communications, events, stewardship, and data management.

Responsibilities

• Develop, coordinate, and strengthen alumni relations programs and events to deepen engagement with the Seminary.
• Grow the annual giving program; develop strategies, timelines, and donor segmentation.
• Collaborate on development communications and donor stewardship; ensure donor-centered messaging.

Skills

Alumni engagement

Donor stewardship

Event coordination

Communications

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a related field

Graduate degree in Theological Education (preferred)

Tools

Raiser's Edge

Job description

Position: Director of Alumni Relations and Development
Reports to: Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Department: Institutional Advancement

Status: Full-Time/non-exempt

Organization Overview

For 190 years, we have been a progressive leader within the Reformed tradition committed to fostering a community of Christian leadership that serve diverse ministries and congregations in a challenging and complex world. Through academic excellence, critical reflection, and transforming witness, McCormick Theological Seminary uniquely equips excellent Church leaders for faithful, inclusive, and liberating ministries in God’s world.

Position Summary

McCormick Theological Seminary seeks a collaborative, detail-oriented, and mission-driven Director of Alumni Relations and Development to join the Division of Institutional Advancement. Reporting to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, the Director will provide leadership for the Seminary’s alumni relations and events program, annual giving efforts, development communications, and selected advancement data management functions.

This position is ideal for an advancement professional who enjoys building relationships, strengthening alumni engagement, supporting fundraising growth, and working in a collegial environment marked by cooperation, creativity, and idea-sharing. The Director will work closely with the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, the Director of Communications, other Seminary colleagues, and two student workers assigned to support the Division of Institutional Advancement.

The successful candidate will support the mission and vision of McCormick Theological Seminary and bring experience, judgment, and initiative to a growing advancement program.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Alumni Relations and Events — 30%

• Develop, coordinate, and strengthen alumni relations programming that deepens alumni engagement with McCormick Theological Seminary.
• Plan and execute alumni events, gatherings, reunions, virtual programs, and other engagement opportunities.
• Work with Seminary leadership, faculty, staff, and alumni volunteers to create meaningful opportunities for alumni participation.
• Help identify alumni stories, achievements, and milestones that can be celebrated through Seminary communications.
• Support alumni cultivation strategies that encourage long-term relationships with the Seminar
• Coordinate logistics for alumni and advancement events, including invitations, registration, event materials, vendor coordination, follow-up, and post-event evaluation.
• Provide direction and project assignments to student workers who assist with alumni relations and event-related tasks.

Annual Giving — 25%

• Manage and help grow McCormick’s annual giving program in collaboration with the Vice President for Institutional Advancement.
• Assist in developing annual giving strategies, timelines, appeals, and donor segments.
• Track annual giving activity and results, including donor participation, retention, upgrades, and campaign performance.
• Help identify prospects for increased giving and assist in moving donors toward deeper engagement with the Seminary.
• Support stewardship efforts for annual donors through timely acknowledgment, reporting, and communication.
• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure annual giving messages are aligned with Seminary priorities and institutional voice.

Development Communications — 15%

• Collaborate with the Director of Communications on development-related communications, including donor appeals, stewardship messages, alumni communications, event materials, and impact stories.
• Help develop clear, compelling content that communicates the Seminary’s mission, vision, priorities, and philanthropic opportunities.
• Assist and collaborate on newsletters, web content, social media, reports, and other advancement communications as needed.
• Ensure that development communications are accurate, timely, donor-centered, and consistent with Seminary messaging.
• Identify opportunities to share stories of alumni leadership, donor generosity, student impact, and institutional momentum.

Data Management — 20%

• Maintain accurate alumni and donor records in the Seminary’s donor CRM.
• Enter, update, and review constituent information, contact reports, event participation, giving records, and other advancement data.
• Produce lists, reports, queries, and data exports to support alumni relations, annual giving, events, and stewardship.
• Help ensure data integrity, consistency, confidentiality, and effective use of advancement information.
• Support gift processing, acknowledgment tracking, donor segmentation, and campaign reporting as assigned.
• Use data to help inform engagement strategies, fundraising priorities, and program evaluation.

Other Administrative Duties — 10%

• Provide administrative and project support to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement.
• Assist with meeting preparation, scheduling, correspondence, reporting, and other divisional needs.
• Help coordinate the work of student workers assigned to the Division of Institutional Advancement.
• Participate in divisional planning, strategy discussions, and cross-functional projects.
• Represent the Division of Institutional Advancement professionally with alumni, donors, colleagues, volunteers, and external partners.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's Degree
• At least 5–7 years of experience in higher education advancement, alumni relations, annual giving, development communications, advancement services, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience using a donor CRM; preferably with Raiser’s Edge
• Strong understanding of alumni engagement, annual giving, donor stewardship, event coordination, and advancement operations.
• Commitment to supporting the mission and vision of McCormick Theological Seminary.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate degree in Theological Education
• Experience using Raisers Edge Database System is strongly preferred
• Previous experience in Alumni Relations or Annual Giving at an institution of higher education.

Competencies

• Excellent written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and priorities with accuracy and good judgment.
• Comfort working both independently and collaboratively in a small, mission-driven institutional environment.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy and confidentiality.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse constituencies, including alumni, donors, faculty, staff, students, volunteers, and Seminary leadership.

General Requirements

• Passion for MTS’s mission and purpose and ability to communicate this passion to others
• Ability to serve as an advocate and exemplar for the vision, values, and mission of MTS.
• Demonstrate strong relational skills.
• Information regarding students and employees must remain confidential. Individuals who break confidentiality are subject to dismissal.
• All employees shall avoid even the appearance of conflict of interest, special interest, or any other inappropriate conduct.
• Awareness of our multi-cultural environment with the ability to distinguish diverse characteristics and the ability to work accordingly.

Type of work environment associated with the job

• Full-time position requiring 40 hours per week.
• Hybrid position with at least three days in the office per week.
• Some evening and weekend work required for alumni, donor, Seminary, and advancement events.
• Minimal travel required.
• Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds in connection with event setup, materials, and related activities.
• Position requires regular use of a computer, donor database, email, virtual meeting platforms, and standard office equipment.