Department
ISAC: Development
About the Department
The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures Museum was opened to the public in 1931. The majority of ISAC's collections are from its expeditions in West Asia and North Africa during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. A major reinstallation of the Museum, including the construction of a climate-controlled wing for housing collections and archives, took place in the 1990s and early 2000s. A complete renovation of the Museum was completed in 2019 in celebration of ISAC's centennial. The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures is a unit within the University of Chicago and the name of the corporation is 'The University of Chicago.' The corporation was originally incorporated on September 10, 1890.
Job Summary
This role will support the Development & Membership team's efforts to cultivate and steward donors, maintain accurate donor records, and assist with the execution of fundraising projects designed by senior team members.
Responsibilities
Secures, renews, upgrades, and stewards annual $10,000+ gifts through personal outreach and visits with individuals that have the capacity and interest to make five and six-figure gift commitments.
Leads the stewarding and solicitation of major donor and campaign prospects.
Manages major donor and campaign activities; maintains related calendar.
Achieves personal fundraising activity goals monthly, quarterly, and annually.
Helps ensure meeting goals and timeframes for effective acknowledgement process and general donor relations and stewardship.
Collaborates with Development team, senior leadership, and volunteers to plan, produce, implement and attend donor-related ISAC events.
Creates, manages, and delivers important development projects with complex budgets, such as travel events.
Recruits members and provides guidance and support to leadership activities.
Supports the cultivation, qualification, solicitation, and stewardship of annual gifts, in collaboration with the Development & Membership team.
Maintains an active personal prospect portfolio focused on annual giving, under moderate guidance and direction from the Director of Development.
Assists with donor relations communications and helps maintain the cultivation matrix, providing regular updates to the team.
Supports the planning, production, and execution of donor-related ISAC events, including logistics and attendee coordination.
Helps ensure timely completion of the acknowledgement process and supports general donor relations and stewardship.
Utilizes development technologies and tools (e.g., Claude, DonorBox, Thankview, video conferencing, collaborative documents) to support development activities.
Has a moderate/solid understanding of fundraising operations for a school or department of the University. Identifies budget requirements and staffing needs on a project or event basis.
Has a moderate/high level of authority in drafting informational and marketing materials for review for assigned programs. Assists in developing support materials for specific fundraising activities.
Cultivates and maintains relationships with donors and volunteers. Establishes and maintains donor records and accounts.
Performs other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Work Experience:
Certifications:
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Preferred Qualifications
Experience:
Experience supporting donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
Experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales, or similar professional work experience.
Experience assisting volunteer leadership and/or committees.
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 through the UChicago Office of Advancement, including the University's donor relationship management system and the Microsoft Office Suite.
Demonstrated ability to use Microsoft Excel.
Excellent organizational and task-management skills.
Preferred Competencies
Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
Work collaboratively in a team setting.
Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
High self-motivation and the ability to take initiative.
Knowledge of and affinity for history, archaeology, and museums.
Working Conditions
Hybrid work schedule.
Standard office environment.
Occasional travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
May require occasional domestic and/or foreign travel (less than 5%).
Occasional evening and weekend work required.
This position is located at 1155 E. 58th St. in Hyde Park.
Application Documents
Resume/CV (required)
Cover Letter (required)
The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
Job Family
Role Impact
Scheduled Weekly Hours
Drug Test Required
Health Screen Required
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
Pay Rate Type
FLSA Status
Pay Range
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
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 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. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.
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.
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.
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Skills Required
- College or university degree in a related field
- 2-5 years of related work experience
- Experience supporting donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities
- Experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, or sales
- Experience assisting volunteer leadership and/or committees
- Knowledge of the University's donor relationship management system and internal advancement tools
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Microsoft Excel
- Excellent organizational and task-management skills
- Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal)
- Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and tact
- Ability to work collaboratively and prioritize multiple projects independently
- Knowledge of and affinity for history, archaeology, and museums
What We Do
The University of Chicago is an urban research university that has driven new ways of thinking since 1890. Our commitment to rigorous inquiry and intellectual freedom draws pathbreaking scholars to our global campuses, where field-defining ideas are born that challenge and change the world. The University of Chicago has its main campus on Chicago's South Side and seven international campuses and centers throughout the world. Students can choose from 53 majors and 47 minors in the undergraduate College, with four divisions and seven professional schools for graduate study.
