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Director, Major Gifts, West Coast (100% Remote from California)

( Illinois | Remote )

About the Organization

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is the second-oldest school in the U.S. and second to none when it comes to influencing business education and business practices. Since 1898, the school has produced ideas and leaders that shape the world of business. Their rigorous, discipline-based approach to business education transforms students into confident, effective, respected business leaders prepared to face the toughest challenges.

Chicago Booth has the finest sites of any business school in the world. Each of the four campuses (two in Chicago, one in London, and in Hong Kong) reflects the architectural traditions of its environs while offering a state-of-the-art learning environment.

Chicago Booth is proud to claim:
- An unmatched faculty.
- Degree and open enrollment programs offered on three continents.
- A global body of nearly 50,000 accomplished alumni.
- Strong and growing corporate relationships that provide a wealth of lifelong career opportunities.

Job Description

Position salary range:  130,000 - 200,000

General Summary: The Director, Major Gifts, West Coast at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business creates and implements a comprehensive regional fundraising strategy to maximize major and principal gift revenue in the West Coast region. This position leads a team of two major gift officers, and manages Booth’s Major Gifts Program in the West Coast, under the direction of the Senior Director, U.S. and Global Individual Giving. The Director identifies, qualifies, cultivates, solicits and stewards a portfolio of current and potential major and principal gift donors with gift capacity of $1M. The Director will develop and execute strategies to build a pipeline of future major gift prospects in partnership with the leadership giving and alumni engagement teams. The Director partners with University alumni relations and development to assist their fundraising activity on behalf of Chicago Booth.

This position travels frequently within the assigned region to meet with prospects and donors. The Director plans and organizes several cultivation events per year for small groups of high-level donors. The Director works effectively and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues to achieve development goals and objectives.

This position is a remote role based in California and requires 30% travel, primarily within California and Chicago.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

West Coast Regional Manager:

- Create and implement a regional strategy to maximize gift revenue at all gift levels as Chicago Booth prepares to publicly launch a new fundraising campaign.
- Manage a team of two major gift officers.
Provide systematic oversight of individual giving officer activity, coach consistently to improve donor strategies, ensure fundraising activity aligns with school priorities, and measure progress towards individual and team goals periodically.
- Manage the deployment of the dean, deputy deans, and senior academic leadership and staff in the region to maximize impact on donor acquisition and gift revenue.
- Partner with the Senior Director, Annual and Leadership Giving in driving unrestricted annual revenue in the West Coast Region. Works collaboratively with Booth Alumni Engagement and Career Services to maximize the engagement and volunteer service of major and principal gift prospects in the region.
- Work with University Regional Major Gifts Program to assure clear communication and collaboration within the region on prospects, events and programs. Assist University Major Gift Officers in closing gifts on behalf of Booth.
- Prepare and monitor Major Gift – West Coast budget and approve expenditures.

Major Gift Fundraising:

- Qualify, cultivate, and manage a portfolio of 75 major and principal gift prospects and suspects.
- Close gifts in excess of $250,000.
- Execute and assess donor engagement strategies, including events and communications, to drive qualification of prospects with major and principal gift capacity and acquire new donors.
- Record all prospect actions and activities in the University Prospect Management System.
- Assist the Senior Director, U.S. and Global Individual Giving with other projects, as needed.


Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

- Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
- Minimum seven years of front-line development experience, preferably in Major Gifts, or sales and marketing experience required.
- A background related to business or professional school education is preferred.
- Ability to work with school/organization leadership, including deans, faculty, board members, etc. required.
- Experience in formulating and implementing strategic operational plans preferred.
- Strong organizational and analytical skills as well as high attention to detail and follow-up required.
- Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills, characterized by the ability to listen, to speak, and to write well with a strong commitment to customer service required.
- Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and tact required.
- Ability to travel and attend evening functions when necessary required.
- Salary Range: $130k - $200k

Additional information  

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. Academic job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5671 or email ACOppAdministrator@uchicago.edu with their request. Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773 -834-1841 or email talentacquisition@uchicago.edu with their request.