Senior Development Associate, Individual Giving

About the Department

The Department BSD DEV - Individual Giving - Project Management is part of Medicine and Biological Sciences Development, which aims to inspire and facilitate philanthropy at the University of Chicago Medicine.

The role implements programs to meet fundraising goals with moderate guidance, builds relationships with alumni, faculty, administrators and organizations, executes communication strategies for projects, and is ideal for learning key cultivation skills of a fundraiser.

• Perform complex and diverse responsibilities to support fundraising goals for Medicine & Biological Sciences Development.
• Act as a Secondary Moves Manager: facilitate, organize, and execute fundraising activities primarily for two or more Director level frontline fundraisers.
• Coordinate logistics and prepare strategic interactions aimed at qualifying, soliciting, and stewarding Major and Principal Gift prospects.
• Drive strategy and next steps following visits.
• Facilitate internal meetings and fundraiser visits with current and prospective donors to advance prospect strategy.
• Stay current on institutional priorities, programs, events, engagement opportunities and the diverse research priorities of the University and UC Medicine.
• Prepare briefing documents for cultivation, solicitation, and recognition visits.
• Draft acknowledgements, special greetings, and letters for cultivation purposes.
• Act as a project manager for proposals and other written documents, coordinating with the Marketing and Communications team.
• Assist with managing a portfolio of faculty members to advance prospect relationships and identify funding opportunities.
• Support management of portfolios of donors in stewardship for existing major and principal gifts.
• Help fundraisers advance giving strategies.
• Coordinate recognition and stewardship with the Donor Relations team.
• Perform basic prospect research that informs briefings, strategy, proposals, and solicitations.
• Collaborate with the Strategic Research and Analysis team on defining the need for in‑depth research and negotiating research timelines.
• Maintain an up‑to‑date donor database.
• Contribute agenda items in team meetings to advance strategy and ensure outcomes.
• Assist in developing proposals and fundraising materials for specific audiences such as donors, family foundations, corporations, or volunteer solicitors.
• Establish, monitor, and execute a timeline, integrating influential facts or statistics.
• Assist key positions in raising $10M+ across the teams in new gifts and pledges.
• Support qualification of 25+ prospects each year.
• Maintain productive relationships with faculty and build relationships within university divisions and departments.
• Write timely and strategic correspondence to advance relationships.
• Perform other related work as needed.

• Education:
  
  A college or university degree in a related field.
• Work Experience:
  
  2–5 years of experience in a related discipline.
• Certifications:
  
  None required.

• 2+ years of work experience in development or a related field such as public relations, sales, marketing, or a not‑for‑profit organization.
• Familiarity with personal computers and database applications.
• Experience in a university setting or a similarly complex institution strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with the University of Chicago’s technology tools, including Salesforce.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to listen, speak, and write well.
• Excellent organizational skills and a high degree of flexibility and initiative.
• Exceptional work ethic and a track record of personal initiative.
• Ability to work collegially and collaboratively with a motivated team.

Office Environment (hybrid schedule).

$65,000.00 – $80,000.00 per year.

Eligible. The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off.

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.