Director of Development

SAIC

For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on-campus galleries and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world—as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.

We offer a competitive, comprehensive benefits package:    

• Generous paid time off
• Paid holidays (up to 14 days)
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous parental, caregiver, and medical leave benefits
• Competitive retirement plan (up to 9% matching contribution)
• Tuition remission and Tuition Exchange Program
• Great employee discounts
• Complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions
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Salary Grade 9

 

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT 

The Office of Advancement at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) works to create meaningful connections with the School’s community of stakeholders that foster advocacy, pride, and philanthropic support. We do this through strategic communications, events, alumni regional groups, philanthropic councils, volunteer opportunities, and facilitating opportunities to make an investment in SAIC. 

The SAIC Office of Advancement supports the mission of the School by strategically developing lifelong relationships with our community–including alumni, parents, friends and organizations–to strengthen engagement and philanthropy.

 

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Director of Development is a frontline fundraising position on the Development team in SAIC's Office of Advancement and is responsible for a portfolio of major and planned gift donors and prospects. They plan and execute the annual strategy of communication and engagement in order to qualify, solicit and steward donors. They plan and execute strategy and engagement for the Fashion Council.

The breadth of activity, number of internal and external partners, and fast pace of the office require an understanding of development and alumni engagement initiatives, as well as, strong process development, project management, interpersonal, business intelligence and analytical skills. The position reports directly to the Executive Director of Development and Alumni Engagement and works closely with development and alumni engagement colleagues.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

1. Manage a portfolio of 75+ prospects and donors with a focus on qualification and cultivation.
2. Identify and cultivate gift prospects and potential donors through events, visits, personalized correspondences and phone calls.
3. Develop and manage a personal pipeline of $100k+ solicitations with revenue and activity goals.
4. Monitor, evaluate and report on progress and outcomes against goals.
5. Develop and implement philanthropic strategy and fundraising activities for Fashion Council, including peer-to-peer outreach and coordination with Fashion department partners.
6. Maintain relationships with volunteer/donor leaders and departmental staff/faculty partners to advance the School’s philanthropic priorities.
7. In partnership with the Advancement Operations team, ensure that donor records and external activity are current; maintain integrity of the system and ensure that it is being utilized in an efficient and effective manner. Track and record donor-related activity in the Office of Advancement’s CRM database, Raiser’s Edge.
8. Develop and maintain current fluency in SAIC’s institutional and philanthropic news and priorities to serve as an ambassador to donors and the external community.
9. Manages and coaches the Associate Director of Development to meet annual goa