Job Description

Location: Chicago, IL

Job Description:

• Serves as the key frontline planned gift officer for an assigned region(s) in the United States, working with high-level donors and with other University development staff members to secure planned gifts from alumni and friends of the University. Uses a deep understanding in donor programs to identify planned giving prospects and plans strategies and the solicitations of planned and deferred gifts from individual donors while proactively identifying new prospects.
• This role will be expected to travel regularly to meet with potential donors.  
• Expertly and strategically manages a portfolio of 80-100 planned gift prospects and donors, building relationships and optimizing philanthropy that benefits a wide range of the Universityâ™s units, schools, and Divisions.
• Builds and manages a prospect pipeline that meets individual fundraising goals. This role could yield up to 25 $100k+ solicitations and $5+ million in booked gift commitments at steady state.
• Motivates individuals and groups, fosters collaboration with colleagues and engenders loyal relationships with donors. Invests in the success of the team, the goals of ARD, and the best interests of the University.
• Supports the Executive Director in advancing the strategic mission and growth of the gift planning program by administering and developing programs and special projects that will leverage planned gifts to achieve ARD and University goals.    
• Oversees and helps maintain gift planning resources for ARD, including, but not limited to, internal website, gift planning blog, hosting professional development and webinar opportunities, producing video content and continually refreshing gift planning content for colleagues.
• Provides interna/external constituents a high level of gift planning expertise. This may include serving frequently as team lead for gift planning training and orientation for ARD staff; mentoring ARD colleagues and networking to diversify and expand the reach of the Office of Gift Planning; and more.
• Designs and implements strategies for increasing planned gift activity in assigned units across campus, including prospect pool or portfolio analysis, strategy sessions, training, planned gift reporting, goal-setting and partnering directly with other gift officers on individual prospects.
• Develops and maintains content expertise in gift planning vehicles, estate and tax planning, investing, financial planning, philanthropic planning, and economic climate. As assigned by Executive Director, OGP, serves as the point person on select topics and techniques.
• Develops and participates in seminars for donors. Attends conferences and seminars on gift planning topics. Keeps current with tax law changes affecting charitable giving and state laws regulating charitable giving. Acts as a resource for donors and answers questions about existing life-income gifts.
• Produces high level and sophisticated communications, written and verbal, including planned gift illustrations, tax and financial calculations, and personalized consultations.
• Qualifies and cultivates prospects who respond to marketing materials or other portals through diligent and systematic follow-up.
• Develops and maintains expertise on University initiatives, current events and history.
• 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.
• Works with high-level donors and with other University development staff members to secure planned gifts from alumni and friends of the University. Designs a marketing program and implements it through staff members. Maintains communication across the University.
• Develops and participates in seminars for donors. Attends conferences and seminars on gift planning topics. Keeps current with tax law changes affecting charitable giving and state laws regulating charitable giving. Acts as a resource for donors and answers questions about existing life-income gifts.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelorâ™s degree or advanced degree.

Experience:

• A minimum five years of professional work experience in gift, estate, or financial planning, fundraising, sales, trust administration, or similar professional work.
• A minimum two years of management experience, including supervision of staff.
• A minimum of one year of experience developing and monitoring budgets.
• Background managing a portfolio of donors or clients.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University, gift planning and tax software, as well as the technology tools available to the Office of Alumni Relations and Development, including the University's donor relationship management system and the Microsoft Office Suite, including Teams.
• Skilled at working with charitable gift planning vehicles and non-cash assets .

Preferred Competencies

• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
• Self-motivated and take initiative.

Working Conditions

• This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence.
• Standard office environment.
• Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
• Work evenings and weekends as needed .
• This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (preferred)

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

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: 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.

About University of Chicago (UC)

One of the world's premier academic and research institutions, the University of Chicago has driven new ways of thinking since our 1890 founding. Today, UChicago is an intellectual destination that draws inspired scholars to our Hyde Park and international campuses, keeping UChicago at the nexus of ideas that challenge and change the world.

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Job Tags

Work experience placement, Weekend work, Afternoon shift,

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