Department

University of Chicago Crown Family School

About the Department

As one of the first schools of social work in the United States, the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice has shaped the field for more than 100 years. As part of the University of Chicago, the Crown Family School shares the University's core values and distinctive intellectual culture. Crown Family School faculty, staff and students focus on identifying solutions to complex problems through the integration of research, training, and direct community engagement. Guided by an interdisciplinary tradition, Crown Family School scholars conduct innovative research to address interconnected social challenges such as educational inequality, health disparities, crime and violence, poverty, and child and family welfare—working at multiple scales, from individual to policy-level interventions. More than 8,000 Crown Family School graduates in the US and globally hold leadership positions in academia, at nonprofits, and at governmental agencies The Crown Family School is the home of several academic centers. These include the Susan and Richard Kiphart Center for Global Health and Social Development, the Urban Education Institute (UEI), the Center for Health Administration Studies, the Smart Decarceration Project, and the Employment Instability, Family Well-being, and Social Policy Network (EINet). More information may be found at https://crownschool.uchicago.edu/.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Dean of Crown Family School and as a member of Crown Family School’s senior leadership team, the Associate Dean, Development will provide overall strategic leadership for the Crown Family School Alumni Relations and Development team, developing and implementing a structure that will support principal gifts, major gifts, the annual fund and corporate/foundation giving strategies. The Associate Dean, Development, will have a particular focus on growing the pipeline of engaged constituents at all levels, in preparation for the University’s next comprehensive capital campaign and in support of the Crown Family School’s distinct priorities. In addition, the Associate Dean will work closely with University Alumni Relations and Development (ARD) colleagues to ensure timely communication and coordination with broader University fundraising efforts.

Responsibilities

Provide overall strategic leadership for the Crown Family School Alumni Relations and Development team, overseeing and growing a team of alumni relations and development professionals.

Provide oversight and engagement strategies for Crown Family School’s leadership council.

Develop and manage the budget for the team’s initiatives, including philanthropic revenue projections and tactics for timely gift accounting and donor stewardship.

Become a trusted resource to Crown Family School faculty, academic centers, and provide insight into and involvement in fundraising activities.

Engage with central alumni relations and development and encourage cross-team collaborations when possible.

Actively manage a portfolio of 50-75 major gift prospects.

Individually and in collaboration with the Crown Family School Dean make 12-15 solicitations of $100,000+ per year.

Develop and manage the Dean’s development-related travel schedule.

Engage and solicit donors for support at all levels, particularly at the highest level, to encourage long-term pipeline development and increase alumni annual giving participation.

Collaborate with Crown Family School affiliated centers to systematize philanthropic support and identify ongoing strategies for prospect identification, cultivation, and solicitation for continuing support.

Create individualized stewardship plans for Crown Family School’s top donors, volunteer leadership, and prospects.

Work closely with the Dean, members of the Senior Leadership team, and Central ARD to foster relationships with key community members to encourage philanthropic support to Crown Family School.

Work closely with the Dean’s office team to ensure timely follow-up and documentation of the Dean’s development activity in the University’s donor relationship database.

Prepare the Dean for ongoing development updates with University leadership (President and Provost) on top donors and help to prioritize development goals and school-wide objectives.

Develop strategies to encourage a lifelong relationship between Crown Family School alumni and the school including ongoing skills-based training, networking, and career development services.

Oversee Crown Family School Alumni Weekend in collaboration with Crown Family School alumni relations team and events and programs.

Partner with central alumni relations and development to execute Crown Family School  Giving Day programming.

Participate and encourage alumni participation in Crown Family School admitted student day, mentorship programs, and career development opportunities.

Develop new strategies for identifying and engaging new stakeholders in the Crown Family School mission.

Execute new initiatives to demonstrate the impact of philanthropy.

Manage managers and professional staff. Establish performance goals, allocate resources and assess policies for direct reports.

Develop prospects through visits, events, correspondence, and regular calls. Maintains relationships with donors, various volunteer committees, and top administrators. Solicit gifts and negotiates gift discussions.

Sets annual and long-term activity goals and short-term operating plans for alumni fundraising programs. Develops and manages the annual operating budget.

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 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

---

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor’s degree.Advanced degree strongly preferred.

Work Experience:

Ten or more years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, preferably in higher education with demonstrated ability to raise funds from graduate and professional school alumni and non-affiliated friends.

Preferred Competencies

Experience articulating academic goals, values, and mission to a variety of stakeholders while working in a complex decentralized setting.

Excellent communication skills (written and spoken) with mastery of copy editing and technical writing.

Comfort with donor relationship management systems, data management, and reporting.

Demonstrated success in building relationships with high capacity prospects and donors.

Ability to identify stakeholders and build strong collaborative relationships with them across departments and units of a large, multi-faceted university.

Intellectually curious with a passion for the education and research mission of a world-class university, particularly in improving the life prospects of disadvantaged individuals.

Ability to work both independently and as a member of a collaborative team.

Working Conditions

Hybrid work schedule possible, on-site at the Hyde Park campus in Chicago.

Travel to external stakeholder sites as needed.

Application Documents

Resume (required)

Cover letter (required)

References (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Alumni Relations & Development

Role Impact

People Manager

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

​
FLSA Status

Exempt

​
Pay Range

$175,000.00 - $215,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement
 

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or 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.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.