Department
ADV Schools & Units
About the Department
The Advancement Office engages alumni (~220k), current students, parents, and friends of the University through intellectual, professional and social activities on campus, around the world and online. Advancement 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.
Inspired by our namesakes, Nobel Laureates Gary Becker and Milton Friedman, who believed that economic research could help improve the world, the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics aims to foster frontier research and apply those findings to achieve global impact. BFI brings together researchers from the Booth School of Business, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the Harris School of Public Policy, the Law School, and the entire University of Chicago Economics Community to leverage robust data, apply cutting-edge analytical tools, and uncover novel insights on the world’s most difficult economic problems. BFI then bridges the divide between academic researchers and relevant policy makers by translating and packaging rigorous research into accessible formats and proactively sharing those findings with decision-makers and thought leaders in business, government and nonprofit institutions. In this way, BFI has the potential to play a significant role in meeting the most difficult challenges facing the global community.
Job Summary
This role has deep knowledge and expertise in leading programs designed to meet 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. The ideal candidate will be entrepreneurial, curious, and enthusiastic, and will build a broad understanding of BFI and its affiliated schools so that s/he can represent the Institute and University to donors and prospective donors.
Responsibilities
- Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Advancement, Schools and Units, leads all activity related to seeking philanthropic support for the BFI. Staffs and serves as advisor to BFI’s leadership in developing fundraising plans and cases for support for Institute priorities, and effectively works with faculty and institutional leaders to advance priorities, execute advancement plans, and meet fundraising goals.
- Raises $5M-10M+ annually from individuals and organizations, and supports the Faculty Director in raising an aggregate $15M-$20M annually. Builds and manages a personal portfolio of 80-100 major and principal individual and organizational gift prospects, conducts 100+ visits per year, and manages and assists in 20-24 $100K+ solicitations per year.
- Develops cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans tailored to specific donors and prospects.
- Conceptualizes, prepares, and presents funding proposals and other materials necessary to solicit and close gifts, including those that require careful negotiations and complex strategies.
- Staffs and provides an elevated level of leadership and partnership to the BFI Director, and Executive Director.
- Staffs and meets regularly with faculty and program directors to develop a sophisticated, up-to-date understanding of institutional research, programs, and resource needs. Advises and involves academic leaders in fundraising strategies and development of fundraising opportunities consistent with BFI and University priorities.
- Monitors, analyzes and reports on overall results to internal and external constituencies.
- Works closely and collaboratively with gift officers University-wide (principal gifts, regional major gifts, gift planning, annual fund, foundation and corporate relations) to monitor and facilitate growth of the BFI prospect pool, and contributes to strategy and solicitation plans for multiple-interest prospects that incorporate BFI priorities.
- Investigates new fundraising ideas and builds consensus among stakeholders to advance those ideas with the most potential.
- Serves as the chief staff liaison to the BFI Council.
- Works closely with BFI and University development communications, donor relations and dedicated events to conceive, direct, monitor, and evaluate a comprehensive BFI fundraising communications and outreach plan for donor cultivation and recognition.
- Manages an annual budget.
- Assists in specific fundraising activity for other Provost priorities.
- Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
- Works closely with Senior Leadership, Officers and Deans to design strategic objectives and action steps that will lead to the successful realization of these projects.
- May brief senior level administrators in preparation for contact with prospects.
- 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 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Certifications:
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Preferred Qualifications
Experience:
- Minimum four years of leading a project team or managing staff.
- Minimum three years of soliciting and closing major gifts experience.
- Minimum two years developing and monitoring budgets.
- Expertise managing complex prospects and donor pipeline.
- Background working closely and collaboratively with senior leadership, trustees, and board members.
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 System.
- Proficient in a Microsoft Windows computer environment, especially Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.
Preferred Competencies
- Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
- Demonstrated success of meeting or exceeding goals.
- Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
- Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
- Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
- Demonstrated effective decision-making, while working autonomously and exercising good judgement.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a matrixed organization and identify and utilize resources efficiently and effectively.
- Tactful exercise of judgment and discretion with sensitive and highly confidential information.
- An exceptional work ethic and record of personal initiative.
- Flexible and adaptable to latest programs in an emerging and changing environment.
- 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 (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
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
$150,000.00 - $160,000.00
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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