Department

Crown Alumni Relations and Development

About the Department

As one of the first schools of social work in the United States, the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice has shaped the field for more than 100 years. As part of the University of Chicago, the Crown Family School shares the University's core values and distinctive intellectual culture. Crown Family School faculty, staff and students focus on identifying solutions to complex problems through the integration of research, training, and direct community engagement. Guided by an interdisciplinary tradition, Crown Family School scholars conduct innovative research to address interconnected social challenges such as educational inequality, health disparities, crime and violence, poverty, and child and family welfare—working at multiple scales, from individual to policy-level interventions. More than 8,000 Crown Family School graduates in the US and globally hold leadership positions in academia, at nonprofits, and at governmental agencies The Crown Family School is the home of several academic centers. These include the Susan and Richard Kiphart Center for Global Health and Social Development, the Urban Education Institute (UEI), the Center for Climate, Health and Society, the Smart Decarceration Project, and the Employment Instability, Family Well-being, and Social Policy Network (EINet). More information may be found at https://crownschool.uchicago.edu/.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Associate Dean of Development, the Assistant Director of Development is an integral member of the Crown Family School Alumni Relations and Development (ARD) team. This position is responsible for cultivating and managing a pipeline of major giving prospects, soliciting gifts ranging from $50,000 - $500,000, executing a comprehensive stewardship program, and fostering donor relationships to advance the school’s fundraising goals, all while embodying exceptional customer service, strong communications skills and effective strategic planning to promote a culture of philanthropy. Extensive local/regional travel and occasional evening/weekend hours are required. The ideal candidate leverages prior experiences to build long-term relationships; demonstrates a proven ability to secure gifts; displays excellent interpersonal skills.

Job responsibilities are categorized as follows:

Prospect Management and Solicitation (70%)
Stewardship (25%)
Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

Specific, additional job responsibilities are detailed below.

Responsibilities

Cultivate and solicit prospects and existing donors with the capacity to make significant gifts, focusing on discovery visits and building a robust portfolio of major giving prospects. Success in this area will be assessed based on annual performance metrics established by Central Alumni Relations & Development.Manage a comprehensive stewardship program in collaboration with Associate Dean, focusing on meaningful engagement and recognition across all giving levels to enhance donor relationships and experiences.Cultivate and manage a robust portfolio of 120-160 major giving prospects to actively meet annual fundraising goals and contribute to school’s overall campaign resultsCreate and cultivate a pipeline of new major giving prospects through research to data analysis to realize giving opportunities, including upgrading gifts from current donors.Develop and execute short- and long-term strategic solicitation plans to maximize donor contribution and sustain a continuous stream of donors capable of making gifts of $50,000 or moreIdentify and expand unique opportunities for donors and prospect engagement with the school. These includes events on campus, managing regional activities and signature institutional events.Manage a comprehensive stewardship program that cultivates and maintains lasting relationships with donors, alumni, and other stakeholders to enhance donor engagement and satisfactionBuilds expertise in the University’s relationship database (Salesforce) by ensuring accurate and timely record maintenance and utilizing reporting tools to support donor engagement and fundraising strategiesMay supervise temporary/work study employees and internsSpecial projects and administrative support as assigned by the Dean or supervisorCultivates and maintains relationships with donors and volunteers. Establishes and maintains donor records and accounts.Has a moderate/high level of authority in drafting informational and marketing materials for review for assigned programs. Assists in developing support materials for specific fundraising activities.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 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Competencies

Possess strong organizational and time-management capabilities, ensuring accuracy and attention to detail.Superior writing and editing skills, interpersonal, communication, and listening skills.Customer-service orientation with the ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with absolute discretion.Ability to effectively work on multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining a high-level of quality and keen attention to detail.Skilled at working independently and as a team member in a dynamic, team-oriented environmentDemonstrated 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 Salesforce and Microsoft productsCommit to promoting a culture of gratitude and philanthropic-centered engagement.Flexibility and adaptability to new programs in an emerging and changing environment.Demonstrate responsiveness to feedback and openness to continuous learning and professional development.Willingness and ability to travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.Willingness and ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.Familiarity with University of Chicago and the field of social work is a plus.

Working Conditions

Hybrid work schedule, on-site at the Hyde Park campus in ChicagoRegular travel locally and regionally for donor meetings, nationally as needed

Application Documents

Resume (required)Cover letter (required)References (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

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

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

$64,000.00 - $72,000.00

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.

 

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