Senior Assistant Director, Leadership Annual Giving, SSD

The University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 69,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Assistant Director of Leadership Annual Giving to join their dynamic Social Sciences Division development team. This pivotal role involves identifying, cultivating, and soliciting prospective donors while building a robust pipeline for future major gifts. The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of fundraising principles and the ability to engage effectively with alumni and stakeholders. With a focus on strategic planning and program management, you will contribute to significant fundraising goals, fostering relationships that support the University’s mission. If you are passionate about making a difference and have a collaborative spirit, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Health Insurance

Retirement Plans

Paid Time Off

Professional Development Opportunities

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; 2-5 years of experience in related fields.
• Strong skills in fundraising, donor engagement, and communication.

Responsibilities

• Identify and solicit prospective donors for Leadership Annual Gifts.
• Develop and execute donor engagement strategies and correspondence.

Skills

Fundraising Principles

Donor Engagement

Communication Skills

Prospect Management

Strategic Planning

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Donor Relationship Management System

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Department

ARD Social Sciences Division

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.

A central component of the University’s Office of ARD, the Division of the Social Sciences Development enterprise is a team of fundraising professionals who work collaboratively to secure annual, major, and principal gift support for divisional priorities and objectives, as set by the Dean, and foster increased engagement with the division. The team undertakes this work through in-person meetings, carefully curated cultivation and stewardship events, and other forms of donor engagement.

Consistently ranked among the top ten social science research universities in the world, the Division of Social Sciences is at the vanguard of inquiry and impact. Whether through the field-defining scholarship of the Chicago Schools in Sociology and Economics, the path-breaking impact of the first graduate international affairs program in the U.S., the creation of interdisciplinary programs in the Department of Comparative Human Development and the John U. Nef Committee on Social Thought, or many other pivotal milestones, the Division has repeatedly transformed the social sciences since its founding in 1930. The Division offers PhD degrees in nine disciplines and Master of Arts degrees in five interdisciplinary fields. The Division also offers a number of joint degrees, and these collaborative initiatives uniquely position the Division to pioneer creative modes of thinking about society’s most complex issues.

Job Summary

The Senior Assistant Director of Leadership Annual Giving is a key member of the Social Sciences Division development team, who possesses a keen understanding of the principles of fundraising and the SSD Dean’s priorities and strategic vision. The Senior Assistant Director is responsible for the identification, qualification, solicitation, and stewardship of prospective donors, while building a robust pipeline of future major gift donors. The Senior Assistant Director also participates in the team’s strategic planning and program management, as well as meets individual annual visit and solicitation goals.

This role implements programs designed to meet fundraising goals for contributed income with moderate guidance. Helps build relationships with alumni, faculty, administrators and organizations with potential to make gifts at the instruction of others. Executes communication strategies for projects.

Responsibilities

• Drives and supports SSD activity for Leadership Annual Gifts. Coordinates this activity with the SSD Senior Associate Director of Development. Identifies, cultivates, and solicits prospective donors who have the capacity to make financial commitments of $1,500 to $50,000 or more. Aiming for $500k - $1M solicitations per year.
• Qualifies new prospects and segments of the alumni pool. Maintains a strong focus on stewardship and upgrade of current donors. Determines creative cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Arranges for prospects to meet with appropriate University staff and faculty. Plans and executes a local strategy to affiliate alumni donors with long-range potential for major gifts.
• Seeks and uncovers potential for planned gifts and works in partnership with gift planning colleagues on securing such commitments.
• Builds and manages a portfolio of 150 – 200 individual prospects and donors aiming for an annual fundraising goal of $200k - $350k in booked gifts.
• Writes timely and strategic correspondence to advance relationships. Organizes and executes donor engagement preparation; follows-up; and plans trips as needed for self, the SSD Senior DOD, Dean, and others, which includes partnering with SSD and ARD staff to generate briefings, proposals, solicitation plans, gift documentation, and gift recognition plans.
• Develops solicitation strategy and writes compelling fundraising proposals. May collaborate with the communications team for proposal content or format.
• In collaboration with team colleagues, ensures that individual prospects are acknowledged in a timely, personalized, and expert manner. Researches and prepares stewardship reports for donors. Coordinates stewardship efforts with the donor relations team.
• Works with others to maximize prospective donor cultivation. Focuses on keeping SSD prospects and donors involved and informed of ongoing projects, developments, and advancements at the University. Collaborates with staff throughout ARD to increase leadership annual gift activity on behalf of the SSD team.
• Works closely with the Senior Associate Director on implementation of SSD’s alumni relations programming, including reunion and regional engagements. Links current donors and friends with events such as lectures, symposia, conferences and public forums.
• Assists in the development and execution of strategic events, including alumni engagement activities and cultivation events for both current and prospective donors.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance including attending webinars, seminars, building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
• Writes timely and strategic correspondences to advance relationships.
• Works with others to maximize prospective donor cultivation.
• 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 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications: ---

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree.

Experience:

• Minimum two years of professional work experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales, or similar professional work.
• Familiar with research and prospect management.
• Background in prospect management, research and/or other advancement services.

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 and the Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Competencies

• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a fast-paced team setting.
• Self-motivated and take initiative.
• Attend and help with weekend and evening events as needed.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write well with a strong commitment to customer service.

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.
• 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

$69,700.00 - $82,000.00

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 the Benefits 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