Senior Associate Director, Donor Relations, Reporting

University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 80,750 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago seeks an experienced donor relations professional to lead a comprehensive University-wide program that enriches donor relationships. This role plans, organizes, and guides recognition and stewardship across giving levels, partnering with senior leadership and Advancement colleagues.

Responsibilities include overseeing reporting programs, building donor-centric communications, and maintaining records in Phoenix, while supporting fundraising goals and standards across the

Qualifications

• Minimum five years in nonprofit management, alumni relations, or related field.
• Experience leading a project team or managing staff.
• Ability to analyze data and communicate complex topics to non‑technical audiences.
• Experience with donor reporting or stewardship programs.
• Proficiency with Windows OS and Microsoft Office suite.

Responsibilities

• Oversee donor engagement and stewardship reporting across the University.
• Maintain and analyze stewardship reports using Phoenix and other systems.
• Collaborate with Advancement colleagues to implement donor recognition policies.
• Develop communications strategies for donor stewardship, online and print.
• Educate staff on policies and best practices for donor relations.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Data analysis

Donor relations

Cross-team collaboration

Microsoft Office

Database proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s or advanced degree

Tools

Phoenix

Job description

About The Department

Department

ADV Donor Relations

The Advancement Office engages alumni (~220k), current students, parents, and friends of the University through intellectual, professional and social activities on campus, around the world and online. Advancement 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 Stewardship and Events team oversees and implements best practices in outstanding donor engagement, stewardship, and events, creating exemplary experiences that cultivate lasting relationships with our alumni, donors, and friends.

Job Summary

This role develops and implements programs with senior leadership and colleagues to lead a comprehensive University-wide donor relations program to enrich the relationship between donors and the University. Plans, organizes, and leads the donor program to recognize, steward, and cultivate individuals in meaningful ways and at different giving levels.

Responsibilities

• Oversees reporting programs with leadership and other colleagues to engage, steward, and create universal, meaningful experiences for donors across the University at all giving levels.
• Manages stewardship and engagement reporting for the central units.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with colleagues within Advancement and across the University. Closely partners on stewardship projects to convey donor impact.
• Contributes to team meetings and presentations on stewardship best practices.
• Becomes proficient in the University’s relationship database, Phoenix, by maintaining thorough and timely records and utilizing the data to efficiently produce large-scale stewardship reports and communications.
• Develops and manages communication strategies for donor and volunteer stewardship and engagement reporting through an online platform and in print forms.
• Serves as representative and voice of donor, participating in events and experiences that are donor-centric, strategic, advance overall fundraising goals, and are consistent and coordinated across the University.
• Educates and trains colleagues on policies and best practices through a variety of communication tools and vehicles including written information, meetings, presentations, and staff training.
• 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.
• Guides the creation of University-wide standards on appropriate ways to recognize and steward donors. Uses deep understanding in donor programs to develop policies and quality control guidelines for donor relations programs.
• Has a deep understanding within the areas of recognition, stewardship, acknowledgement, and proposal writing. Sets activity goals and develops the annual operating budget for donor related programs.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Education

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications

Preferred Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree.

Experience

• Minimum five years of professional experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales or similar field.
• Minimum one year leading a project team or managing staff.
• Understanding of data analysis and communicating complex topics to non-technical people.
• Background managing and leading cross-team projects.
• Familiar with donor reporting software and systems.

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 Advancement, including Phoenix, the University’s Donor Relationship Management System.
• Proficiency working in a Microsoft Windows computer environment, especially with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.

Preferred Competencies

• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively. Explain complex ideas clearly and simply.
• Prior donor relations or donor engagement experience.
• Knowledge of stewardship and engagement reporting.
• Comfortable working and analyzing data and spreadsheets.
• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Self-motivated and take initiative.
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.

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.
• This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter, addressed to the Hiring Committee (preferred)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

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

$80,750.00 - $95,000.00

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 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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