Department

ARD Stewardship & Events

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.

The Stewardship and Events team oversees and promotes the University of Chicago’s best practices in outstanding donor stewardship and events. The University’s Donor Relations and Stewardship program is committed to providing exemplary stewardship experiences, which enhance relationships with and increase the engagement of the University's alumni, donors, and friends.

Job Summary

The Director, Principal Gifts Stewardship, manages a team of professionals responsible for the University-wide donor relations program to enrich the relationship between donors and the University. Develops communication strategies for publications related to donors and volunteers.

This role serves as a strategist of efforts to secure gifts and build relationships with individuals with potential to make principal gifts at and above $10M. Manages a team of professionals responsible for the central principal gifts stewardship program to enrich the relationship between principal gift donors and the University.

Responsibilities

Leads the University’s best-in-class stewardship program for principal gifts donors and serves as the University-wide liaison to colleagues for creative, meaningful, and personalized engagement practices.Working with relationship managers, creates and executes customized stewardship plans for individuals in portfolio informed by requirements detailed in existing gift agreements and donor preferences.Provides strategic direction for, and project manage the development and delivery, of high-impact, customized, timely stewardship reports and other relevant stewardship touches. Explores creative ways to share impact beyond written reports.Conceives and develops recognition events and other activities such as gift events, luncheons/dinners, faculty and student meet-and-greets, and other engagement opportunities to communicate gift impact and honor, thank, and inspire donors.Leads, inspires and motivates the principal gifts stewardship team, including through active mentoring and by promoting professional growth opportunities that adhere to programmatic needs.Serves as the central authority, creating and implementing stewardship policies, procedures, and programs for principal gift levels of donor recognition.As part of the University’s campaign readiness, serves as the University principal gifts stewardship thought leader, aligning the program with ARD’s core values and the University’s mission, vision, and values.Partners closely with units including Booth, Law, and Medicine and Biological Sciences Development (MBSD). Actively contributes within key University working groups, meetings, and events, providing knowledge and guidance in order to advance principal gifts stewardship programming and best practices.Works with senior leadership, officers and deans to design strategic objectives and action steps that will lead to the successful realization of principal gifts stewardship project work.Plans and manages the central principal gifts stewardship budget.Sets priorities for short-term and long-term projects, based on departmental goals.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.Develops stewardship plans for special projects that require coordination with other development professionals from across the University. Manages a team of professionals responsible for University-wide stewardship endeavors, including donor recognition activities and other types of stewardship activities. Identifies cues from donors that indicate the most effective way to steward them.Ensures that gifts are reported on accurately. Prepares detailed narratives and financial portfolios, which describe in non-technical terms complicated scientific and technical research being carried out at the University for the highest-level donors. Coordinate materials with applicable development staff.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 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Coursework in project management, business, finance, economics, communications, analytics, library and information science, or non-profit management.

Experience:

Minimum of seven years of professional experience in nonprofit management, donor relations, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales or similar professional work.Minimum of three years leading a project team or managing staff.Minimum of one year developing and monitoring budgets.

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).Proficient in 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. Sound judgement and persuasiveness necessary to establish a balance between the fundraising priorities and the interest of donors, faculty, and other campus partners.Excellent organizational skills, and a high degree of flexibility and initiative. Prioritize and manage multiple projects independently with a high attention to detail.Think strategically and holistically to solve complex problems and formulate innovative solutions.

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.  Attend evening and weekend functions when necessary.This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court. 

Application Documents

Resume/CV (required)Cover Letter (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

People Manager

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$97,750.00 - $115,000.00

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 Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, 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.

 

Staff 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.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

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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