Director of Development

UI Health; Rockford (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Life Insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Tuition waivers

Job summary

University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford is seeking a Director of Development to plan, direct, and implement major and planned gift programs. The role partners with department heads to identify priorities and develop solicitation strategies.

Travel to key regions for donor meetings and university business is required, with a focus on five-figure gifts and above. Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of development experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required.
• At least 5 years of development experience.
• Proven success in securing major solicitations in person.
• Strong communication, presentation, and fundraising skills.
• Willingness to travel including overnight, evenings, and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Manages a portfolio of major gifts and five-figure donors.
• Identifies and solicits alumni and friends for priority initiatives.
• Meets annual performance metrics including donor visits.
• Prepares proposals and funding requests for donors.
• Collaborates with COM and university leadership on donor strategy.

Skills

Major gifts fundraising

Face-to-face meetings

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Fundraising software

Job description

Posted on: 10/14/2026 - Application Deadline: 11/11/2026

Salary: The budgeted annualsalary range for this position is $100,000 to $120,000. Salary is commensuratewith qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

About the University of Illinois Chicago

UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent “Best Colleges” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has over 300,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits . This includes Health, Dental, Vision, LifeInsurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Position Summary

The University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford is seeking an experienced candidate to join our team as a Director of Development. This individual is responsible for planning, directing, and implementing activities and programs to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major and planned gifts from individual donors and prospects at the five-figure level and above. They serve as the primary liaison with department heads and other key faculty to identify fundraising priorities and initiatives and to develop a strategy for soliciting funds.

This individual will collaborate with the Chicago College of Medicine (COM) team on major gift strategies and will be able to leverage the Chicago COM team for alumni relations, donor relations, events, and corporate and foundation proposal development. Travel will be required to key regions for donor meetings and University business.

Duties & Responsibilities Duties & Responsibilities

• Actively manages a portfolio of major and planned gift donors rated $25,000 and above, employing appropriate strategies and tactics in prospect and portfolio management.
• Identifies, qualifies, cultivates, and solicits alumni and friends in support of College of Medicine (COM) and University priorities.
• Meets or exceeds annual performance metrics, including approximately 120 visits annually with alumni and donors to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts.
• Prepares professional presentations and funding proposals for donors as required.
• Directs development strategy and activities to ensure alignment with educational, research, and clinical Advancement priorities and initiatives.
• Serves as advancement subject matter expert for department heads, the dean, and faculty in developing and implementing strategies to solicit gifts, scholarships, facilities, or endowments to fund the mission of the College.
• Serves as subject matter lead on all COM Rockford strategic initiatives for the COM Advancement team.
• Coordinates high-level donor meetings with the Regional Dean of the College of Medicine Rockford and with faculty/senior leadership as needed for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of priority donors.
• Works with the Regional Dean, the Assistant Dean of Operations, the Director of Communications, and other senior leaders to cultivate and identify alumni for college, university, and community awards and recognition.
• Works and strategizes with the Director of Communications to increase donor- and alumni-focused content in college communications vehicles, including but not limited to online and print newsletters, website, and social media platforms.
• Works with Chicago COM data and operations teams to track fundraising and keep the Regional Dean and senior leadership updated on progress. Develops and presents in-depth research, metrics, and reports on prospect pool, benchmarks, success, and growth.
• Works with Chicago COM Stewardship team to oversee the delivery of timely acknowledgment letters, endowment impact reports, and other stewardship activities for high-level donors.
• Provides insight to the Chicago COM Individual Giving team on content for the College’s mailings and digital campaigns.
• Collaborates with Chicago COM Alumni Relations and Special Events teams to enhance interactions with prospects and donors and increase potential gifts.
• Travel to key regions for donor meetings, prospect cultivation and stewardship activities, and other University business.
• Performs other related duties and participates in special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in development or a related field.
• Proven success in securing and conducting face-to-face meetings for major solicitations.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team-based environment.
• Excellent communication, presentation, business development, organization, and computer skills.
• Proficiency using fundraising software and data management.
• Ability to travel, including occasional overnight, evening, and weekend commitments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Development experience within an institution of higher learning or a healthcare delivery institution.

Director of Development

Hiring Department : Administration

Location: Rockford, IL USA

Requisition ID: 1043152

Salary: The budgeted annualsalary range for this position is $100,000 to $120,000. Salary is commensuratewith qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

About the University of Illinois Chicago

UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent “Best Colleges” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has over 300,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits . This includes Health, Dental, Vision, LifeInsurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Position Summary

The University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford is seeking an experienced candidate to join our team as a Director of Development. This individual is responsible for planning, directing, and implementing activities and programs to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major and planned gifts from individual donors and prospects at the five-figure level and above. They serve as the primary liaison with department heads and other key faculty to identify fundraising priorities and initiatives and to develop a strategy for soliciting funds.

This individual will collaborate with the Chicago College of Medicine (COM) team on major gift strategies and will be able to leverage the Chicago COM team for alumni relations, donor relations, events, and corporate and foundation proposal development. Travel will be required to key regions for donor meetings and University business.

Duties & Responsibilities Duties & Responsibilities

• Actively manages a portfolio of major and planned gift donors rated $25,000 and above, employing appropriate strategies and tactics in prospect and portfolio management.
• Identifies, qualifies, cultivates, and solicits alumni and friends in support of College of Medicine (COM) and University priorities.
• Meets or exceeds annual performance metrics, including approximately 120 visits annually with alumni and donors to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts.
• Prepares professional presentations and funding proposals for donors as required.
• Directs development strategy and activities to ensure alignment with educational, research, and clinical Advancement priorities and initiatives.
• Serves as advancement subject matter expert for department heads, the dean, and faculty in developing and implementing strategies to solicit gifts, scholarships, facilities, or endowments to fund the mission of the College.
• Serves as subject matter lead on all COM Rockford strategic initiatives for the COM Advancement team.
• Coordinates high-level donor meetings with the Regional Dean of the College of Medicine Rockford and with faculty/senior leadership as needed for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of priority donors.
• Works with the Regional Dean, the Assistant Dean of Operations, the Director of Communications, and other senior leaders to cultivate and identify alumni for college, university, and community awards and recognition.
• Works and strategizes with the Director of Communications to increase donor- and alumni-focused content in college communications vehicles, including but not limited to online and print newsletters, website, and social media platforms.
• Works with Chicago COM data and operations teams to track fundraising and keep the Regional Dean and senior leadership updated on progress. Develops and presents in-depth research, metrics, and reports on prospect pool, benchmarks, success, and growth.
• Works with Chicago COM Stewardship team to oversee the delivery of timely acknowledgment letters, endowment impact reports, and other stewardship activities for high-level donors.
• Provides insight to the Chicago COM Individual Giving team on content for the College’s mailings and digital campaigns.
• Collaborates with Chicago COM Alumni Relations and Special Events teams to enhance interactions with prospects and donors and increase potential gifts.
• Travel to key regions for donor meetings, prospect cultivation and stewardship activities, and other University business.
• Performs other related duties and participates in special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in development or a related field.
• Proven success in securing and conducting face-to-face meetings for major solicitations.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team-based environment.
• Excellent communication, presentation, business development, organization, and computer skills.
• Proficiency using fundraising software and data management.
• Ability to travel, including occasional overnight, evening, and weekend commitments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Development experience within an institution of higher learning or a healthcare delivery institution.

Looking for more University of Illinois positions?

We invite you to search for positions at each of the University of Illinois locations, the University of Illinois System Office and the University of Illinois Foundation. The University of Illinois System Office supports the primary missions of teaching, research, public service, and economic development for all of the Universities and offers positions in all locations. The University of Illinois Foundation is the official fundraising and private gift-receiving agency for the University of Illinois and also offers position in all locations. Click the links below to search for other University of Illinois positions.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, covid sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.