Alumni Relations & Development (ARD) engages alumni (~190k), current students, parents and friends of the University through intellectual, professional and social activities on campus, around the world and online. ARD raises $550 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 Office of Gift Planning specializes in philanthropic support for the University through charitable bequests, gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, gifts of real estate, in kind gifts and gifts of complex assets. The Office of Gift Planning works closely with individual donors and their advisors to structure charitable gifts in a manner that will take advantage of tax benefits, complement financial planning and maximize the ultimate impact of a gift.
This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.

Job Summary:  

The job executes and develops marketing and stewardship for a department, program, product or business with moderate guidance and direction from others. Coordinates and supports the cultivation and management of planned gift donors and prospects identified or targeted by marketing and stewardship efforts.

Responsibilities: 

• Supports all aspects of the Office of Gift Planning program and its mission to secure planned gifts for the University.
• Supports the production and execution of gift planning marketing and communication in all forms—print, electronic mail, websites, webinars, social media and more.
• Supports qualification and tracking of new prospects identified through marketing and communication efforts.
• Supports the stewardship of planned gift donors through the Phoenix Society on an individual and collective basis.
• Provides prospect management, research and other development support to gift planning officers.
• Supports gift planning training and resources for ARD.
• Executes special projects relating to strategic planning, benchmarking, and analytics.
• Functions as a CRM power user that will help to analyze program results and track performance of all marketing, fundraising and stewardship efforts.
• Seeks opportunities to build knowledge of gift planning techniques and skills that will contribute to team expertise and career development.
• 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.
• Develops marketing communications, advertising, or publicity materials with a moderate level of guidance from others. Develops, plans, and coordinates the development and production of marketing and publicity materials and campaigns, ensuring deadlines and budgets are met.
• Performs one or more of the following marketing functions: marketing communications advertising; Web blogs or digital marketing; market research; development or review and update of the marketing infrastructure and management of external sales agency relationships.
• Monitors, analyzes, and reports on sales and circulation activity. Analyzes possible solutions using standard procedures. Conducts market research, analyzes results and develops marketing strategies based on findings. May participate in developing new products and services and determining new markets.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications: 

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Advanced degree.

Experience:

• Minimum two years of professional work experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations or similar work experience.
• Experience planning and managing programs.
• Experience developing and monitoring budgets.

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.

Preferred Competencies: 

• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, to speak, and to write effectively.
• 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)

Pay Frequency: Monthly 

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 37.5

Posting Statement:

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward.

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 Applicant Inquiry Form.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

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.