Associate Director, Major Gifts, Regional Advancement West - Military Veterans

Location: California
Job Description:

• Identifies, qualifies, cultivates, solicits and stewards alumni, parents and friends who have the capacity to make financial commitments of $100K-$4.9M to the University of Chicago.
• Develops and implements compelling engagement strategies to inspire high net worth individuals to maximize their philanthropic engagement with the University.
• Develops and manages a portfolio of major gift prospects (~100-140), building philanthropic relationships benefitting a wide range of the University's units, schools and Divisions.
• Builds and manages a prospect pipeline that could yield as much as 24 major gift solicitations, and $3 million in booked gift commitments at steady state.
• Achieves personal fundraising and activity metrics around visits, qualifications, and solicitations.
• As a generalist fundraiser, builds knowledge and the ability to represent University history, programs, priorities, initiatives, and impact.
• Builds internal relationships with colleagues throughout Alumni Relations and Development and the University in support of advancement goals.
• Contributes to development and execution of regional philanthropic community building strategy. Develops regional expertise and serves as an advisor on regional engagement to internal partners. Serves as general representative of the University at alumni events and other regional activities.
• Provides scheduled and ad hoc updates to manager and senior leaders on progress and strategies and enters timely contact reports.
• 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.
• Establishes fundraising goals and priorities based on department objectives, designs strategies to meet those goals, and monitors progress against goals.
• Identifies, analyzes, and qualifies donor interest to maximize giving. Helps with overall planning efforts for the University's most important prospects. Works independently to develop communication strategies for projects, including publications and public presentations.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree.

Experience:

• Minimum five years of professional experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales or similar professional work experience; including one or more years of frontline development or sales and marketing experience.
• Proven record of accomplishment in devising cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Background providing timely and effective follow-up to prospects and donors, crafting compelling fundraising proposals, and creating clear, concise briefing materials for development and academic leadership.

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 Phoenix (the University's Donor Relationship Management System), Microsoft Windows computer environment, 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.
• 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 is based remotely.
• Remote workspace must be safe and appropriate, have access to sufficient and reliable internet capacity, and be without interruptions or distractions.
• Maintain a professional representation of the University in terms of visual backgrounds, attire, ambient sound, and phone/video etiquette.
• Work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Travel domestically. This role will require regular travel throughout the assigned geographic region, Western United States, as well as periodic travel to Chicago.
• This position is located on the West Coast.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via the Applicant Inquiry Form.

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