Associate Director, Major Gifts, Arts and Culture

University of Chicago · Chicago · $80,750–$95,000 (stated in the posting)

Department

ADV Arts 1

About the Department

The University of Chicago Advancement team cultivates lifelong connections with more than 220,000 alumni, current students, parents, and friends worldwide, building community through intellectual, professional, and other meaningful experiences on campus, around the world and online. Advancement empowers every division, school, department, and institute to thrive, generating support for esteemed faculty, pioneering researchers, visionary practitioners, and ambitious students.

During the Chicago Minds campaign, Advancement seeks to raise over $1 billion annually. This unprecedented philanthropic effort is designed to stretch the boundaries of what is possible, fueling bold discovery and amplifying the University’s global impact.

Our work is rooted in the belief that meaningful connection and lasting experiences inspire ambassadorship and enduring commitment. We champion a culture of innovation and excellence, inviting every member of our community to participate in a future defined by creativity, intellectual rigor, and shared purpose. Through collaborative partnerships, strategic stewardship, and investment in talent, Advancement is reimagining alumni and donor engagement while ensuring UChicago remains a catalyst of impact for generations to come.

Centrally organized within Advancement, Arts and Culture sits within the Division of Arts and Humanities and advances philanthropic partnerships with key alumni, parents, and friends across the campus’ arts ecosystem, including new and emerging projects and established arts units within the division.

The Division of the Arts and Humanities Development enterprise is a team of four fundraising professionals who work collaboratively to secure annual, major, and principal gift support for divisional priorities and objectives, as set by the Dean and Arts leadership, and foster increased engagement with the division. The team undertakes this work through in-person meetings, carefully curated cultivation and stewardship events, and other forms of donor engagement.

Job Summary

As the lead for promoting and fostering relationships for the Arts and Culture units within the division, the Associate Director supports the Arts and Humanities Advancement team and Arts colleagues, and provides peer leadership for the entire team by serving as a key front-line fundraiser. This role supports the study, presentation, and experience of the arts across academic departments and programs in the Division of Arts and Humanities, the College, and the Library; public-facing arts organizations, including Arts + Public Life, the Gray Center for Arts and Inquiry, the Logan Center for the Arts, and University of Chicago Presents; and student-facing initiatives, such as the Arts, Science + Culture Initiative and the Arts Labs in the Media Arts, Data, and Design Center, as well as more than 60 student arts organizations.

This position plays a key role in contributing significantly to the overall fundraising strategy, pipeline development, and fundraising activity for the division. The Associate Director also leads results-oriented projects, shapes critical engagement and fundraising events, and demonstrates exceptional resourcefulness, leadership, and service to colleagues in Advancement, the Arts and Culture units, the University, and among prospects. This role manages programs designed to meet University fundraising goals for contributed income. Serves as strategist of efforts to secure gifts and build relationships with alumni, faculty, administrators and organizations with potential to make gifts. Develops communication strategies for projects.

This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization.

Responsibilities

Participates in the qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gifts ($100K+), with a focus on the Arts and Culture units within the division and in collaboration with colleagues across Advancement, as appropriate. Solicits gifts totaling $1M–$2M+ annually.
Develops and maintains a portfolio of approximately 100 prospects.
Secures, renews, upgrades, and stewards leadership annual gifts for UChicago Arts through personal outreach and visits. Achieves personal fundraising activity goals monthly, quarterly, and annually.
Maintains an active and regular local travel schedule to meet with prospective donors as needed.
Collaborates with Arts leadership, the Dean’s Office, Alumni Experience, and Strategic Events teams to identify and spearhead impactful donor engagement opportunities for qualification, cultivation, and stewardship.
Works with Regional teams to expand UChicago Arts’ presence in key cities through visits and events.
Works with UChicago Arts colleagues to develop and hone exceptional major and leadership annual gift opportunities.
Has a deep understanding of fundraising operations for UChicago Arts and Culture units and the division. Participates in the development of fundraising goals, policies, and short- and long-term strategies. Assesses, analyzes, and evaluates fundraising programs, specialized projects, and major events.
Provides peer leadership among members of the Arts and Humanities team and other arts units, serving as a resource, advisor, and project manager for shared projects, such as data improvement, resource sharing, and shared gift opportunities.
Serves as an internal Arts and Culture representative within Advancement to maximize visibility and seek opportunities to collaborate on data strategy, discovery and prospect qualification, shared gift opportunities, travel, and more.
Establishes and maintains effective communication with Advancement colleagues, as well as colleagues on arts, culture, and related academic area development teams, UChicago Arts, and University colleagues, to ensure a coordinated approach to prospects and the implementation of fundraising best practices.
Creates, manages, and delivers important development projects with complex budgets, such as travel events.
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.
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:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor’s degree.

Experience:

Minimum of five years of professional experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, fundraising, sales, or a related field, including at least two years of frontline fundraising or comparable relationship-based sales experience.
Minimum of one year of experience developing and monitoring budgets.
Demonstrated experience managing a portfolio of donors or prospects, including developing and executing strategies for qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Demonstrated track record of cultivating, soliciting, and securing significant philanthropic commitments.
Developing and implementing donor engagement and stewardship strategies in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
Managing cross-functional projects and coordinating initiatives across multiple teams.
Background in arts administration, arts and culture fundraising, or a related field.

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 Advancement, including Phoenix, the University's Donor Relationship Management Salesforce System.
Proficient in a Microsoft Windows computer environment, especially with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.

Preferred Competencies

Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
Self-motivated and take initiative.

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.
Work evenings and weekends as needed.

This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.
This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization.

Application Documents

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

Health Screen Required

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$80,750.00 - $95,000.00

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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