The University of Chicago

Department

Lab School Alumni Relations & Development

About the Department

At the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, students in Nursery through Grade 12 experience a world-class educational journey. Founded in 1896 by John Dewey as a place for educators to develop and explore novel approaches to pedagogy and curriculum, Lab continues to provide excitement and imagination in learning to this day. Academic rigor, experiential learning, and intellectual discourse are hallmarks of a Lab education. Lab educators are recognized for excellence in teaching and pride themselves on innovation in the classroom. Students in every grade have access to unparalleled resources, and all members of the Lab community benefit by partnerships and connections with the University of Chicago. Families who choose Lab care deeply about curiosity, inquiry, and creativity.

No less than scholarship, Lab’s mission prioritizes honoring diversity and exhibiting kindness. We are committed to building and supporting a teaching and learning community where young people see aspects of their backgrounds and identities reflected around them, where they feel a deep sense of belonging, and where they discover and use their voices to full effect. Today, 53-59 percent of Lab’s student body are students of color. Families report speaking nearly 40 different languages in their homes. Approximately 60 percent of Lab families are also affiliated with the University of Chicago. Half of our families live in Hyde Park, and the rest come from across Chicago, the suburbs, and northwestern Indiana. Inclusion is a fundamental value at Lab, such that we celebrate every facet of community members’ identities, and even where we disagree, we emphasize respect, civility, and maintaining a spirit of community.

Lab seeks the finest employees to join our vibrant learning community. We employ people with a wide range of skills and training in many different disciplines, who have in common a love of learning and the wish to inspire that same love of learning in young people. We seek candidates for employment who thrive in an educational environment. We provide a great professional home for those committed to collaboration, ongoing personal and professional growth, and cultivating positive relationships. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of color, LGBTQ+ identified candidates, candidates from historically marginalized or underrepresented backgrounds, and candidates with a demonstrated commitment to a deepening diversity, equity, and inclusion practice. In turn, we strive to ensure that Lab is a joyful, welcoming, and inspiring place to work. Through our connection to the University, faculty, staff, and administrators enjoy benefits and opportunities that would be nearly impossible to match in any other environment.

Job Summary

The Alumni Relations and Development (ARD) department at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (Lab) is expanding. We are recruiting talented, experienced, and energetic advancement professionals to partner with the head development and advancement officer to support/grow Lab’s ARD development by strengthening major gifts and creating a strong annual giving pipeline.

The DOD at Lab will lead key functions that support the schools’ major gifts and annual giving program. As a vital role on this team, the DOD contributes to a fundraising team that works closely with Lab’s head of schools and academic leadership team, faculty members, board members, and other senior leaders and volunteers to create curated alumni engagement opportunities and new philanthropic support to advance Lab’s priorities.

Reporting to and partnering/collaborating with the Director for Alumni Relations and Development, the DOD will manage the creation and implementation of a strategy for the identification, cultivation and solicitation of Lab alumni, parents, alumni parents, grandparents, and friends of Lab. Importantly, the DOD will support the Director with the ramp-up for a new campaign.

The DOD is a key resource officer for ARD that helps ensure that the Lab Schools’ annual and multi-year philanthropic revenue goals are accurately forecasted, met and exceeded. The DOD will supervise full and part-time gift officers and other team members as the staff expands during campaign ramp-up. They will work with individual Lab fundraisers to ensure engagement, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies are fully supported. This includes working closely and collaboratively with the Director of Alumni Engagement/Giving and the Director of Parent and Family Engagement, as well as data, events, and donor relations team members. The DOD will manage a portfolio of major gifts prospects $100K+ and participate in planning and departmental meetings, accept assignments, and perform other ARD duties as assigned.

A successful candidate for this role will have demonstrated success in major gift frontline fundraising and experience closing gifts at the $100K+ level. Campaign experience and success at the 7-figure level is preferred. The ideal candidate will be entrepreneurial, curious, enthusiastic, and will help build a broad understanding of Lab’s philanthropic value to donors and prospective donors. This position reports to the Director Alumni Relations and Development and is a member of the Lab Schools ARD team.

Responsibilities

• Provides a high level of leadership and partnership to the Director of Alumni Relations and Development, the chief development/advancement for Lab ARD.
• Manages the team that raises annual, capital and endowment support from individuals, families, and foundations.
• Builds and manages a personal portfolio of major individual gift prospects, and assists the Director with proposals, solicitations, and cross campus collaboration and planning.
• Actively manages a prospect portfolio of individuals and families; formulates annual visits, solicitations, and gifts goals.
• Develops cultivation and solicitation plans tailored to specific donors and prospects, and manages or assists gift solicitations for self, team members, and Director.
• Manages one or more frontline fundraisers as well as other advancement staff.
• Supports the Director in developing systems and refining Lab prospect management in preparation for the campaign.
• Assists Lab’s Director of ARD with regular meetings with Lab Senior Leadership, faculty and program directors to develop an up-to-date understanding of programs and resource needs.
• In partnership with Lab’s and Central ARD’s Communications teams, helps develop case statements, talking points, proposals, and briefing materials for activities; ensures fundraising dollar goals and deadlines are met; monitors, analyzes and reports on overall results to internal and external constituencies.
• Collaborates with University ARD offices to ensure shared services are tapped.
• Works collaboratively to ensure proper stewardship and donor recognition for Lab’s and the university’s generous donors.
• Participates in and is visible in the life of Lab Schools.
• Manages and/or supervises program budgets in Lab ARD.
• Recommends and implements fundraising programs and activities.
• May recruit staff volunteers and provide leadership and evaluation to staff members.
• 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:

• Advanced degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of seven years in philanthropic leadership or other comparable work in related disciplines.
• Minimum of two years in a management or supervisory position.
• Background in independent schools, higher education, or related not-for-profit work.
• Background with a fundraising campaign.
• Familiarity working with board development, management, and cultivation.
• Proficiency with data, Excel, PPT, databases and network-based environments.
• Proficiency with fundraising databases and reporting tools such as Blackbaud products or Salesforce.

Preferred Competencies

• Proven desire for continuing education to acquire the latest in industry best practices.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to analyze processes and plan improvement initiatives.
• Outstanding interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Teach and mentor.
• Work on your own initiative, develop rapport, and work well with others.
• Handle multiple tasks simultaneously and accurately under deadlines.

Working Conditions

• Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for Lab Schools and/or University business.
• Work evenings and weekends on occasion, as needed.
• This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence.
• Standard office environment.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (preferred)
• Three Professional References sourced from a colleague, supervisor/manager, and/or someone they’ve supervised (required)
• Two - Three Professional Writing Samples, such as introduction emails, gift proposal, meeting briefing, etc. (required)

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

$140,000.00 - $175,000.00

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 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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