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Associate Director, Principal Gifts Stewardship, Reporting

University of Chicago
United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 10 Dec 2025
💰 $87,500/yr($74,375/yr$87,500/yr)

About the role

Department

ADV Principal Gifts Stewardship


About the Department

The Advancement Office engages alumni (~220k), current students, parents, and friends of the University through intellectual, professional and social activities on campus, around the world and online. Advancement raises $600 Million annually to support faculty and researchers, practitioners and patients, and students and programs across the University. Our work supports priorities in every division, school, department, and institute.

The Stewardship and Events team within the Office of Advancement oversees and implements best practices in outstanding donor engagement, stewardship, and events, creating exemplary experiences that cultivate lasting relationships with our alumni, donors, and friends.


Job Summary

This role develops and implements programs with senior leadership and colleagues to lead a comprehensive University-wide donor relations program to enrich the relationship between donors and the University. Plans, organizes, and leads the donor program to recognize, steward, and cultivate individuals in meaningful ways and at different giving levels. This position develops and implements programs to support central principal gifts stewardship and engagement to enrich the relationship between principal gift donors, donors who have cumulatively given $10M and above, and the University.

Responsibilities

  • Contributes to the overall success of the comprehensive stewardship program to recognize, steward, and develop meaningful experiences for principal gift donors across the University.
  • Contributes to the development and creation of annual narrative and financial reports, demonstrating donor impact through informative and engaging stewardship reports.
  • Develops, writes, and manages ad hoc donor reporting or writing projects.
  • Maintains thorough and timely records and tracks stewardship activity through proficient use of the University’s relationship database (Salesforce).
  • Cultivates and maintains strong relationships with colleagues across the University, particularly with University partners, Communications, Finance, and relationship managers to closely partner on stewardship projects.
  • Represents the donor voice, participating in the planning and execution of stewardship events and experiences that are donor-centric, advancing overall fundraising goals, and are consistent and coordinated across the University.
  • Engages with donors remotely and at visits, meetings, and events as needed.
  • Demonstrates a sophisticated understanding within the areas of recognition, acknowledgements, donor engagement, and stewardship reporting.
  • Assists in guiding the creation of University-wide standards on appropriate ways to recognize and steward the University’s most generous donors. Uses expertise in donor relations to develop policies and quality control guidelines.
  • Educates and trains colleagues on policies and best practices through a variety of communication tools and vehicles, including written information, presentations, and staff training.
  • Attends and participates in team, departmental, and all-staff meetings.
  • Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance including attending webinars, seminars, building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
  • Guides the creation of University-wide standards on appropriate ways to recognize and steward donors. Uses deep understanding in donor programs to develop policies and quality control guidelines for donor relations programs.
  • Has full authority to develop communication strategies for publications related to donors and volunteers.
  • 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 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.


Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

  • Bachelor’s or advanced degree in non-profit management, business, project management, or communications.

Experience:

  • A minimum of five years of professional work experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, or similar field.
  • Familiarity with higher education advancement.
  • Background managing cross-team projects.

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 ava

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Company

University of Chicago

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