Job Summary

The Alumni Relations & Development (ARD) department at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (Lab) is expanding. We are recruiting talented and energetic advancement professionals to work with our current families and alumni.


The primary focus of the Leadership Annual Giving (LAG) Officer is to increase the pool of Lab alumni and current families who give the Lab on an annual basis at/above $1000 with a strong focus on $10,000 and $25000 levelts. Reporting to the Director of Alumni Relations and Giving, the LAG Officer will have the opportunity to support alumni engagement by working with the Alumni Association Executive Board and leveraging regional programs for alumni. Additionally, the LAG Officer will have the opportunity to with our Director of Parent and Family Relations.
The LAG Officer will manage an active pool of alumni, current parents, parents of alumni, and friends of Lab who are current or recent donors. Their focus is on renewing, upgrading, and stewarding gifts ranging from $1,000 to $25,000. The LAG Officer portfolio and activities will be organized around programming for alumni and current parents to facilitate personal touchpoints and relationships with these key donors. The LAG Officer is expected to create unique engagement strategies for each individual, leveraging various forms of communication, including email, phone, social media, video conferencing, and texting. Positioned to secure foundational levels of Lab’s donor pyramid, the LAG Officer will focus on making the case to raise unrestricted funds while building the major donor pipeline. The role is crucial in managing programs designed to meet Lab’s fundraising goals and to support the upcoming campaign.
The job implements programs designed to meet fundraising goals for contributed income with moderate guidance. Helps build relationships with alumni, faculty, administrators and organizations with potential to make gifts at the instruction of others. Executes communication strategies for projects.

Responsibilities

• Support alumni and current family programming to engage and qualify as many current families and alumni prospects as possible working with the Director of Alumni Relations. 

• Develop short and long-term plans for soliciting and stewarding donors who are capable of making gifts between $1,000-$25,000.

• Support school based programming for parents/family, like leadership annual giving fundraising events, working with DFPR and Associate Director of Development Communications.

• Execute a calendar-based and program strategy to identify and solicit annual gifts for several hundred donor prospects across alumni and parents/families. Plan and execute a target of 250 prospect engagements annually.

• Identify when an alumni or current family member has interest in deeper engagement with the Laboratory Schools facilitate connections to Lab groups and/or other Lab fundraisers, as appropriate. 

• Deliver timely and effective follow-up in various forms to prospects and donors.

• Generate timely contact reports in the prospect database.

• Collaborate with staff throughout Laboratory Schools and central Alumni Relations and Development.

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

• Writes timely and strategic correspondences to advance relationships.

• Works with others to maximize prospective donor cultivation.

• 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 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced degree. 

Experience:

• Experience in independent schools, higher education, or related not for profit work.

• Experience in higher education or other highly matrixed environments is a plus.

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

• Experience in soliciting and closing gifts of $100 or more

Preferred Competencies

• Knowledge of managing gift prospects.

• 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 ARD including the University's donor relationship management system and Microsoft Windows computer environment, Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.

• Proven desire for continuing education to acquire the latest in industry best practices.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and tact.

• Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.

• Ability to 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.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

• Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (preferred)

• Three professional references (preferred)

About The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools

The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools provide one of the world's most outstanding pre-collegiate educational experiences. Because Lab is part of the University of Chicago, the importance of intellectual life—of thought and exploration—infuses all aspects of our curriculum, and students in every grade benefit from outstanding UChicago academicians and access to unmatched resources. John Dewey—one of the great minds in education—established the Schools in 1896 as a place to explore and implement his theories on childhood education. Today’s students still benefit from his vision, and today’s Lab faculty are recognized as experienced leaders in their field. Families who choose Lab care deeply about curiosity, inquiry, and creativity. Approximately 60 percent of Lab families are affiliated with the University, half live in Hyde Park, and the rest come from across Chicago, the suburbs, and northern Indiana. Lab’s student body reflects the diversity that is deeply valued by the Schools and its community; approximately half of our 2,000 students are people of color and families report speaking nearly 40 different languages in their homes. The Laboratory Schools seek the fine...st employees—people who wish to inspire a love of learning in our students and join a vibrant learning community. We employ people with a wide range of skills and training, in many different disciplines. At Lab, we value learning experientially, exhibiting kindness, and honoring diversity. We seek employees who share a similar commitment to these values. Lab people are engaged and excited by our mission of igniting and nurturing an enduring spirit of scholarship, curiosity, creativity, and confidence in the youngest members of the University of Chicago’s academic community. The Laboratory Schools is a great place to work and our connection to the University provides our faculty and staff with opportunities that would be nearly impossible to match in any other environment. Interested candidates should apply via our website at: http://www.ucls.uchicago.edu/about-lab/employment AA/EOE Statement: 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 773-834-1841 or by email talentacquisition@uchicago.edu with their request.

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Connections working at The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools