Executive Director, Annual Giving & Donor Strategy

University of Chicago; United States; Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

The University of Chicago is seeking an Executive Director, Annual Giving Channel Fundraising to lead a comprehensive, multi-channel direct response program. This role balances high-level strategy with hands-on management of the annual giving team, shaping a culture of philanthropy across alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends.

The Executive Director will partner with campus leadership, manage budgets, and mentor a diverse team to advance donor retention, acquisition, and pipeline

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a related field.
• 7+ years of work experience in annual giving or direct fundraising.
• Experience in higher education fundraising or related fields preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develops and oversees comprehensive annual giving strategies across units.
• Advises unit leadership and Directors of Development on capacity-building opportunities.
• Designs multi-channel fundraising programs including direct mail, digital campaigns, and events.
• Oversees rollout of cross-institutional giving programs and donor relations.

Skills

Annual giving

Direct response fundraising

Staff management

Alumni relations

Marketing

Education

Bachelor's degree

College/university degree in related field

Tools

Phoenix CRM

Donor Relationship Management System

Microsoft Office

Job description

The University of Chicago is seeking an Executive Director, Annual Giving Channel Fundraising to lead a comprehensive, multi-channel direct response program. This role balances high-level strategy with hands-on management of the annual giving team, shaping a culture of philanthropy across alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends.

The Executive Director will partner with campus leadership, manage budgets, and mentor a diverse team to advance donor retention, acquisition, and pipeline