The University of Chicago is seeking a Senior Associate Director of Development, Athletics to lead its athletics fundraising team. This role sets and implements fundraising goals and strategies in close collaboration with Athletics, Alumni Relations & Development, and the College. You will be responsible for achieving personal fundraising goals by managing a portfolio of athletic prospects and raising over $1M annually.
What You'll Do
- Create and implement comprehensive strategies to identify, cultivate, and solicit College alumni and parents capable of gifts of $100K+.
- Direct a team focused on increasing dollars and donors to the athletics program and building engagement with the Athletics Department, teams, and coaches.
- Execute on campaign fundraising and engagement goals with the Director of Athletics to help transform athletics in the coming decade.
- Achieve personal fundraising and activity goals by building and managing a portfolio of approximately 120 athletic prospects and executing 100 prospect visits per year.
- Manage the Assistant Director of Athletics Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving to execute a comprehensive engagement and annual giving solicitation strategy.
- Ensure the success of the athletics annual giving society, Friends of Maroon Athletics, and serve as development liaison for coaches and volunteer boards.
- Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy for the University’s Giving Day for Athletics.
- Arrange for prospects to meet with Department of Athletics leadership, coaches, and College and University leadership as part of cultivation.
- Maintain strong communication links with College and University colleagues to ensure a coordinated approach to strengthening prospect/donor relationships.
- Deliver timely and effective follow-up to prospects and donors, including generating customized fundraising proposals.
- Generate timely contact reports in the prospect database following visits.
- Serve as a key partner for stewardship of major gift and planned giving donors supporting athletics.
- Serve as a content expert on the College and Athletics, providing content for the Athletics Department website, publications, brochures, and collateral.
- Assist in coordinating major gifts donor activities at select athletic events and represent the Athletic Department at University and community events.
- Seek opportunities for professional development to enhance job performance.
- Establish fundraising goals and priorities, design strategies to meet them, and monitor progress.
- Identify, analyze, and qualify donor interest to maximize giving and help with overall planning efforts for the University's most important prospects.
- Work independently to develop communication strategies for projects, including publications and public presentations.
What We're Looking For
- College or university degree in a related field.
- Knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Nice to Have
- Bachelor's degree.
- Advanced degree.
- Success in major gift frontline fundraising for 3+ years prior, with experience closing gifts at the $100K+ level.
- 5 years of professional work experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales or similar.
- 1-2 years of leading a project team or managing staff.
- 1 year of experience developing and monitoring budgets.
- Athletic fundraising experience, knowledge of the higher education arena, and a strong affinity for intercollegiate athletics.
Team & Environment
You will work under the joint direction of the Director of Athletics and Recreation and the Senior Director of Development in the College. You will manage the Assistant Director of Athletics Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving.
Benefits & Compensation
- Salary: $95,000.00 - $110,000.00
- The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off.
Work Mode
This is an onsite position based in Chicago, IL.
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.
