Assistant Director Research and Prospect Mgmt

For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers, and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on-campus galleries, and state-of-the-art facilities.

About The Department

The Advancement Office at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) plays a vital role in supporting the school’s mission to educate and empower the world’s most influential artists, designers, and scholars. Advancement partners strategically with internal and external stakeholders to build enduring relationships, secure philanthropic support, and steward resources that enhance the student experience, fuel academic excellence, and strengthen SAIC’s impact locally and globally. The team leads a broad range of activities including fundraising, major and planned giving, advancement services and operations, alumni engagement, and donor relations.

Responsibilities

• Produces a comprehensive suite of research products that support the various fundraising initiatives undertaken by the President's Office and Development Team.
• Proactively identifies prospective donors through: data screenings, information from admissions office, registrar, news alerts, "best of" lists, and internal data mining projects.
• Partners with the Director to present these prospects at regular prospect meetings.
• Works with the Development and Advancement teams to conduct portfolio reviews, pipeline reviews, and other prospect management duties, under the purview of the Executive Director of Development.
• Supports Annual Giving, Alumni Relations, Donor Relations, and Events as needed.
• Uses identification and research to engage and inform frontline fundraising staff, and to monitor their efforts in maximizing the use of that data in their fundraising efforts; i.e., identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Assists Advancement Operations Specialist in maintaining current and accurate biographical and prospect information in donor database.
• Manages the weekly news digest to support stewardship and cultivation outreach from gift officers for organizational leaders, top donors, and key prospects.
• Provides internal client support and training on the utilization of the donor database.
• Maintains trusted relations with vendors; manage subscriptions with the Museum, and coordinate electronic capacity screening projects and data clean-up.
• Evaluates tools and emerging technologies, and keep abreast of trends in the field of prospect research.
• Serves as a backup gift processor.
• Other duties as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
• 1-2 years of prospect research experience or comparable experience.
• Experience managing projects and working across teams to accomplish a shared objective.
• Experience with CRM database(s) in a development capacity.
• Knowledge of data management skills including proficiency with spreadsheets and using Raiser’s Edge CRM or other similar databases/relational database software.
• Ability to work several events, including evenings and weekends, per year.
• Detail-oriented, organized, self-motivated worker who takes initiative.
• Strong writing and editing skills, with good attention to detail.
• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Familiarity with research resource materials consistent with APRA Advanced Skills Set.
• Understanding of Advancement operations as a functional area.
• Strong financial analysis skills to identify and interpret assets, individual wealth indicators, relationships among individuals, corporations and foundations, and philanthropic patterns.

Pay

The expected hiring range is an estimated amount for positions based on the grade. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, qualifications, and other job-related reasons.

Benefits

Please visit our career page at saic/artic.edu/employment for complete information on our competitive, comprehensive benefits package.

Schedule

• Job Classification: Exempt
• Employment Category: Full time staff

This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31.