Job Description:

• Primarily focusing on UChicago Urban, Economics, Policy, and Society, assists faculty seeking foundation and corporate support for projects as needed by identifying projects and providing guidance on approaches to potential funders.

• Collaborates with the FCR team to analyze foundation interests, assess opportunities, and pursue foundation support for selected university programs.

• Develops and monitors strategies for a portfolio of assigned foundations.

• Works with others to manage requests for support, prepare required reports, and develop and implement ways to promote, cultivate, and steward foundation activities across campus.

• Defines and coordinates opportunities for inclusion of foundation representatives in campus activities and special programs, both as cultivation for new grants and as stewardship for existing grants.

• Collaborates with faculty leaders, program directors and senior administrators to conceptualize research programs.

• Assists faculty in defining programs and budgetary needs for presentation to foundations. Prepares correspondence and other materials for senior leaders and faculty.

• Develops relationships with faculty, administration, and fundraisers throughout UChicago Urban, Economics, Policy, and Society for the purposes of increasing funding from foundations and corporations for individual/defined projects and funding needs.

• Drafts and/or edits proposal narratives, assembles proposal packets, and manages submissions for institutional funding.

• Advises on strategies and potential next steps to secure funding.

• Represents the University and serves as a liaison to foundation leaders and program staff.

• Works with multiple databases. Uses best practices and a moderate/high level of knowledge of donor programs to create and maintain reports.

• Seek opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance including attending webinars, seminars, building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.

• Works with faculty, deans, administrators, trustees, and other development staff to define projects and develop and present proposals to foundations or to call on prospective donor companies in the Chicago metropolitan area and the United States.

• Plans tactics to meet individual and group goals. Monitors and develops initial strategies for assigned foundations or corporations. Identifies emerging program areas with funding promise and assists in the development of new projects. Uses various technologies to help to develop new strategies and to assess foundation relations programs.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelorâ™s degree.

• Advanced degree.

Experience:

• Minimum two years of professional work experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales, or similar professional work experience.

• Experience or coursework in policy, economics, or social sciences, development, nonprofit management, marketing, public relations, sales or similar professional work experience.

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 the University's donor relationship management system and the Microsoft Office Suite.

• Experience with development systems, database management or data cleanup a plus.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong verbal and writing skills, high attention to detail and follow-up, and excellent organizational skills.

• Plan, organize and manage a wide range of activities involving extensive coordination with individuals in and outside of the university.

• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, to speak, and to write effectively. 

• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.

• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.

• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.

• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.

• Self-motivation and the ability to 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.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)

• Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (preferred)

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.

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About University of Chicago (UC)

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