Job Description:

• 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.
• Assists in creating experiences to connect with students on campus to collect video, photo, and impact content to share in reports.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with colleagues 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 Universityâ™s relationship database (Phoenix) by maintaining thorough and timely records and utilizing the data to efficiently produce large-scale stewardship communications.
• Develops and manages communication strategies for donor and volunteer stewardship and engagement.
• 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.
• Engages with donors remotely and at visits, meetings, and events for the University as needed.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Coursework in project management, marketing, communications, or non-profit management.

Experience:

• A minimum of five years of professional work experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations or similar professional work.
• A familiarity with higher education advancement.
• Background managing complex 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.
• Working knowledge of fundraising, contact management or other database software.
• Analyze, manipulate, and apply data from Excel.

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 and manage multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
• Think strategically and holistically to solve complex problems and formulate innovative solutions.
• Passionate about development work and finding creative ways to surprise and delight donors.

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)

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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