The University of Chicago Logo

The University of Chicago

Associate Director, Major Gifts

Posted Yesterday
Be an Early Applicant
In-Office
Chicago, IL, USA
77K-100K Annually
Senior level
In-Office
Chicago, IL, USA
77K-100K Annually
Senior level
Manage a portfolio of ~110 major-gift prospects, build relationships, qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward donors to secure six- and seven-figure gifts. Plan and attend cultivation events, collaborate with faculty and campus teams, travel ~20%, meet activity and fundraising goals, and support stewardship and engagement strategies.
The summary above was generated by AI

Department

Booth Advancement: Major Gifts - Midwest 2


About the Department

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is the second-oldest business school in the U.S. and second to none when it comes to influencing business education and business practices. Since 1898, the school has produced ideas and leaders that shape the world of business. Their rigorous, discipline-based approach to business education transforms students into confident, effective, respected business leaders prepared to face the toughest challenges.
Chicago Booth has the finest set of facilities of any business school in the world. Each of the four campuses (two in Chicago, one in London, and one in Hong Kong) reflects the architectural traditions of its environs while offering a state-of-the-art learning environment.
Chicago Booth is proud to claim:
-an unmatched faculty.
-degree and open enrollment programs offered on three continents.
-a global body of nearly 56,000 accomplished alumni.
-strong and growing corporate relationships that provide a wealth of lifelong career opportunities.
As part of the world-renowned University of Chicago, Chicago Booth shares the University's core values that shape the distinctive intellectual culture. At Booth, they constantly question and test ideas, and seek proof. This extraordinarily effective approach to business leads to new ideas and innovative solutions. Seven of the Booth faculty members have won Nobel Prizes for these ideas - the first business school to achieve this accomplishment. For more information about the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, please visit: http://www.chicagobooth.edu/.


Job Summary

The Associate Director, Major Gifts at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business will be responsible for creating and implementing comprehensive fundraising strategies to raise major gifts in support of the mission and priorities of the School. This position will identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of current and potential donors with the capacity to make gifts in excess of $100,000. The Associate Director will travel regularly, approximately 20% of the time, within assigned regions to meet with prospects and donors. This position will be responsible for organizing select cultivation events for small groups of high-level donors.
This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization.

Responsibilities

  • Manages a portfolio of approximately 110 prospects. Develops strong relationships to build connection with and support for the school.
  • Meets or exceeds activity goals for prospect qualifications, solicitations, and funds raised.
  • Annually solicits six- and seven-figure gifts. Annually closes multiple gifts in excess of $100,000.
  • Supports deans, faculty, and other school leadership in the cultivation and solicitation of prospects.
  • In conjunction with Chicago Booth’s donor relations team, creates and administers stewardship plans.
  • In conjunction with Chicago Booth’s advancement events team, plans and organizes cultivation events.
  • Collaborates with Chicago Booth departments (Annual Fund, Alumni Relations, Career Services, Admissions, Global Initiatives, etc.) on donor and prospect cultivation activities.
  • Plans, executes, and attends evening and weekend functions, as necessary.
  • Develops and implements compelling engagement strategies to inspire high net worth individuals to maximize their philanthropic engagement with the University.
  • 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.


Minimum Qualifications

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 degree.

Experience:

  • A minimum of three years of front-line development or sales and marketing experience.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

  • Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as technology tools, including Phoenix, the University’s alumni and donor database of record.
  • Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).

Preferred Competencies

  • Proven record of accomplishment in devising cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
  • Strong organizational and analytical skills.
  • Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills, characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write well.
  • Strong commitment to customer service.
  • Self-motivated and work well with and through others.
  • Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.

Working Conditions

  • This position is currently expected to work a minimum three days per week in the office.

Application Documents

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

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

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

$76,500.00 - $99,000.00

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.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

The University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois, USA Office

Chicago, IL, United States

Similar Jobs

16 Days Ago
In-Office
60611, Chicago, IL, USA
90K-95K Annually
Senior level
90K-95K Annually
Senior level
News + Entertainment • Social Impact
The Associate Director of Major Gifts manages major donor relationships, leading fundraising efforts and strategies to secure significant contributions for Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
Top Skills: Tessitura
8 Hours Ago
In-Office
110K-164K Annually
Junior
110K-164K Annually
Junior
Artificial Intelligence • Big Data • Healthtech • Information Technology • Machine Learning • Software • Analytics
As a Nurse Practitioner, you will conduct in-home assessments, educate patients, and collaborate with primary care providers to improve health outcomes.
Top Skills: Electronic Medical RecordsTechnology
8 Hours Ago
In-Office
92K-164K Annually
Entry level
92K-164K Annually
Entry level
Artificial Intelligence • Big Data • Healthtech • Information Technology • Machine Learning • Software • Analytics
Conduct in-home health assessments for Medicare Advantage members, focusing on improving health outcomes through education and collaboration with primary care providers.

What you need to know about the Chicago Tech Scene

With vibrant neighborhoods, great food and more affordable housing than either coast, Chicago might be the most liveable major tech hub. It is the birthplace of modern commodities and futures trading, a national hub for logistics and commerce, and home to the American Medical Association and the American Bar Association. This diverse blend of industry influences has helped Chicago emerge as a major player in verticals like fintech, biotechnology, legal tech, e-commerce and logistics technology. It’s also a major hiring center for tech companies on both coasts.

Key Facts About Chicago Tech

  • Number of Tech Workers: 245,800; 5.2% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
  • Major Tech Employers: McDonald’s, John Deere, Boeing, Morningstar
  • Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, fintech, software, logistics technology
  • Funding Landscape: $2.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
  • Notable Investors: Pritzker Group Venture Capital, Arch Venture Partners, MATH Venture Partners, Jump Capital, Hyde Park Venture Partners
  • Research Centers and Universities: Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Institute of Technology, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account