Assistant Director, Leadership Annual Giving

About the Department

The University of Chicago Advancement team cultivates lifelong connections with more than 220,000 alumni, current students, parents, and friends worldwide, building community through intellectual, professional, and other meaningful experiences on campus, around the world, and online. Advancement empowers every division, school, department, and institute to thrive, generating support for esteemed faculty, pioneering researchers, visionary practitioners, and ambitious students. During the Chicago Minds campaign, Advancement seeks to raise over $1 billion annually. This unprecedented philanthropic effort is designed to stretch the boundaries of what is possible, fueling bold discovery and amplifying the University’s global impact.

Our work is rooted in the belief that meaningful connection and lasting experiences inspire ambassadorship and enduring commitment. We champion a culture of innovation and excellence, inviting every member of our community to participate in a future defined by creativity, intellectual rigor, and shared purpose. Through collaborative partnerships, strategic stewardship, and investment in talent, Advancement is reimagining alumni and donor engagement while ensuring UChicago remains a catalyst of impact for generations to come.

The College Development team raises over $100M annually, advancing philanthropic partnerships with key alumni, parents, and friends of the College to support the educational goals of its undergraduates. This includes support for financial aid, teaching and research, career development, international study, athletics, and housing.

About the Role

The Assistant Director of Leadership Annual Giving will play a crucial role in advancing the College’s fundraising goals by managing strategic outreach aimed at securing philanthropic support from alumni around the country. This position involves outreach that fosters alumni engagement and philanthropic support among graduates of the College. The Assistant Director will create and execute targeted fundraising strategies to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward alumni, ensuring a robust pipeline of future donors and leaders. This role implements programs designed to meet fundraising goals for contributed income with moderate guidance, builds relationships with alumni, faculty, administrators, and organizations with potential to make gifts, and executes communication strategies for projects.

The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills, a track record of successful fundraising, and the ability to build and maintain meaningful relationships with donors. This role offers an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on The College's mission through effective leadership and innovative fundraising strategies.

Responsibilities

• Plans and implements a coordinated fundraising strategy for The College alumni and leadership gift prospects.
• Manages a portfolio to achieve annual goals of 110 prospect visits, 75 solicitations ($1M in total asks), 40 proposals booked, $350K raised, and 20 new prospect qualifications.
• Develops and executes short- and long-term cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for donors capable of making gifts between $2,500–$100K over a four-to-five-year pledge period.
• Partners with colleagues across Advancement to support the planning and execution of Leadership Annual Giving outreach, engagement, and solicitation efforts.
• Executes follow-up communications with prospects and donors within established departmental timelines, including customized proposals and stewardship materials.
• Records prospect activity and completes contact reports in the prospect database in accordance with Advancement reporting standards.
• Maintains thorough knowledge of the College giving priorities and annual fund initiatives to effectively represent funding opportunities to prospects.
• Participates in Advancement meetings, prospect strategy sessions, and College events as required to support fundraising efforts.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
• Identifies and qualifies prospects by aiding in expanding the pool of potential donors and participating in outreach events. Manages a portfolio of prospective donors.
• Builds relationships with a variety of individuals within the University in assigned divisions and departments of those who make charitable gifts.
• Writes timely and strategic correspondences to advance relationships.
• Works with others to maximize prospective donor cultivation.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Requirements

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in a related field.
• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• A minimum of two years of professional work experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales, or a similar field.
• Knowledge of managing gift prospects.
• Background in soliciting and closing gifts.
• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to Advancement, including Phoenix, the University's Donor Relationship Management Salesforce System.
• Proficient in a Microsoft Windows computer environment, especially with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.

Skills

• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
• Ability to 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.

Pay

$63,750.00 - $75,000.00

Benefits

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.