Job Description:

• Identifies, activates, and sustains institutional gifts from foundations and corporations through research, cultivation, and direct engagement with existing and potential funders. Develops comprehensive grant applications, post-award reports, and ongoing stewardship communication, working in concert with the Smart Director of Development, other Museum colleagues, and University ARD Foundation and Corporate Relations.
• Maintains a calendar of current and future institutional giving opportunities and priorities, finite grant initiatives, deadlines, budget, action plans, and strategic information to enhance revenue pull-through.
• Guides a multifaceted direct response (DR) program that helps to retain, renew, strengthen, and establish new connections with individual donors and implements multi-channel campaigns that drive annual fund gifts in collaboration with University ARD (and Smart Communication).
• Leads and activates a consistent donor stewardship program involving timely, considered gift acknowledgements in partnership with central ARD, physical signage, and print recognition of support; ongoing strategic communication that fosters increased engagement; and a series of donor events comprised of curated gallery tours, exhibition openings, and salon-style events, etc.
• As needed, cultivates relationships with existing and prospective donors through direct engagement visits and targeted communication to foster revenue and enhance growth.
• Partners with the Museumâ™s Guest Services, Curatorial, and Education departments on general and programmatic visitation, engagement, and other data capture critical for funder reporting and case statement development.
• Serves as the expert on Smart Museum/University donor database systems and yearly philanthropic giving to implement and maintain donor acknowledgments, records, lists, and reports; analyzes and synthesizes data to evaluate program performance across all gift levels, particularly germane to giving society architecture, to come in the future; identifies potential prospects in tandem with ARDâ™s Prospect Research; and liaise with Smart and University colleagues on data integrity, filing of reports, necessary research, prospect management, and analytics.
• Coordinates Smart Development departmental financials and reporting in tandem with University ARD. Maintains contributed revenue reports on a monthly basis, tracks expenses, and confirms and corrects gift allocation and attribution where appropriate.
• Other duties as assigned, including museum-wide priorities such as support of the Director of Development on special projects, donor briefings, select donor research, other information gathering, Board meeting support such as presentations and reporting, and additional writing, proofreading, etc. as well as advancing Smart Museum DEAI initiatives.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance including attending webinars, seminars, and building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
• Has a moderate/solid understanding of fundraising operations for a school or department of the University. Identifies budget requirements and staffing needs on a project or event basis.
• Cultivates and maintains relationships with donors and volunteers. Establishes and maintains donor records and accounts.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelorâ™s or advanced degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of professional experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales, or similar professional work.
• Data analysis and communicating complex topics to non-technical people.
• Managing cross-team projects.

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; Zoom, Google Drive, Box, and Adobe. Fluency and comfort with technology is essential.

Preferred Competencies

• Self-motivated and take initiative.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively. Communicate with influence.
• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
• Excellent proofreading and time management skills.
• Knowledge of Chicagoâ™s cultural life and a sense of humor.
• Enthusiasm for the mission and vision of the Smart and desire to learn.

Working Conditions

• This position has a hybrid work schedule,/CV which includes weekly in office presence at either ARD offices or the Museum.
• Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
• Work evenings and weekends as needed.
• This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court and at 5550 S. Greenwood Avenue.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter addressed to the Hiring Committee (required)

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.

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: 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.

About University of Chicago (UC)

One of the world's premier academic and research institutions, the University of Chicago has driven new ways of thinking since our 1890 founding. Today, UChicago is an intellectual destination that draws inspired scholars to our Hyde Park and international campuses, keeping UChicago at the nexus of ideas that challenge and change the world.

Connections working at University of Chicago (UC)