Senior Associate Director, Donor Relations, Schools and Units

Company: The University Of Chicago
Location: Chicago
Posted on: June 1, 2025

Job Description:

DepartmentARD Donor Relations
About the DepartmentAlumni 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 Alumni Relations and Development Donor Relations team manages and promotes best practices in donor stewardship to enhance relationships with and increase the engagement of the University's alumni, donors, and friends.
Job SummaryThis role develops and implements programs with senior leadership and colleagues to lead a comprehensive University-wide donor relations program to enrich the relationship between donors and the University. Plans, organizes, and leads the donor program to recognize, steward, and cultivate individuals in meaningful ways and at different giving levels.Responsibilities

• Oversees stewardship programs with senior leadership and other colleagues to engage, steward, and create universal, meaningful experiences for donors across the University at all giving levels.
• Creates and refines stewardship and engagement policies and best practices for the central units.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with colleagues within ARD and across the University. Closely partners on stewardship projects to convey donor impact.
• Contributes to team meetings and presentations on stewardship best practices.
• Becomes proficient in the University's relationship database (Phoenix) by maintaining thorough and timely records and utilizing the data to efficiently produce large-scale stewardship reports and communications.
• Develops and manages communication strategies for donor and volunteer stewardship and engagement through events, reports, and individual planning.
• Serves as representative and voice of donor, participating in the planning and execution of events and experiences that are donor-centric, strategic, advance overall fundraising goals, and are consistent and coordinated across the University.
• Educates and trains colleagues on policies and best practices through a variety of communication tools and vehicles including written information, meetings, presentations, and staff training.
• Acts as a key partner and strategist for naming opportunities and donor recognition events such as building dedications.
• 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.
• Guides the creation of University-wide standards on appropriate ways to recognize and steward donors. Uses deep understanding in donor programs to develop policies and quality control guidelines for donor relations programs.
• Has a deep understanding within the areas of recognition, stewardship, acknowledgement, and proposal writing. Sets activity goals and develops the annual operating budget for donor related programs.
• Performs other related work as needed.
  Minimum QualificationsEducation: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 QualificationsEducation:
  • Bachelor's or advanced degree.Experience:
    • Minimum five years of professional experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales or similar work.
    • Minimum one year leading a project team or managing staff.
    • Minimum one year experience developing and monitoring budgets.
    • Background with 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 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.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.Application Documents
            • Resume/CV (required)
            • Cover Letter addressed to the Hiring Committee (preferred)
              When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
              Job FamilyAlumni Relations & Development
              Role ImpactIndividual Contributor
              Scheduled Weekly Hours37.5
              Drug Test RequiredNo
              Health Screen RequiredNo
              Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry RequiredNo
              Pay Rate TypeSalary
              FLSA StatusExempt
              Pay Range$80,750.00 - $95,000.00The 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 EligibleYesThe 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 StatementThe 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.
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Keywords: The University Of Chicago, Crystal Lake , Senior Associate Director, Donor Relations, Schools and Units, Executive , Chicago, Illinois