Associate Director / Director

Associate Director/Director of Advancement - OVCIA Office of the Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Based in Chicago, IL with hybrid opportunities
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement (OVCIA) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign seeks a full-time major gift officer to join a collaborative and successful regional team of fundraising professionals to secure private funding for the University. The Associate Director/Director of Advancement's primary role is to build and sustain long-lasting relationships with alumni and friends that foster philanthropic engagement for the Urbana campus within the United States.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a global, preeminent university, and since its founding in 1867, has earned a reputation as a world-class leader in research, teaching, and public engagement. In 2022, the University successfully completed its most ambitious philanthropic campaign, "With Illinois", raising over $2.6B. But we will not stop there as we continue to demonstrate the tremendous impact of support for Illinois students, faculty, research, and infrastructure; and to continue to elevate the values that make Illinois distinctive: a sense of boundless aspiration, collaborative research, and global perspective while recognizing our generous philanthropic community of donors.
Organization Relationship The Associate Director/Director of Advancement reports to the Senior Director of Regional Advancement and will work closely with college-based chief advancement officers, major gift officers, department heads, and faculty.
Job Summary The Associate Director/Director of Advancement will develop and build a portfolio of individuals with the inclination, affinity, and capacity to philanthropically invest in the Urbana campus in a defined territory within the Midwest with a focus on Chicago and northern Illinois. This includes the qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of major gift prospects and donors. This position will assist the colleges and their departments in designing strategies to broaden and strengthen the university's philanthropic support in an assigned region. The Associate Director/Director of Advancement will be expected to represent the message and vision of the University of Illinois and its colleges and departments to alumni and friends. This position will require substantial travel of varying durations, up to 30-50%, including some evening and weekend obligations.
The Associate Director/Director of Advancement will be based at the Illini Center in Chicago, and will join a successful, dynamic team that enjoys a hybrid work schedule.
Duties & Responsibilities Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward individual major gift prospects to engage philanthropically in an assigned geographic territory. Develop and maintain a portfolio of major gift prospects to personally cultivate, solicit and steward. Document all activities and interactions in the alumni/donor database. Develop and maintain close collaborative partnerships with campus and unit colleagues to ensure a strong baseline knowledge of campus, college, and unit programs and fundraising priorities and an ability to devise and execute sound prospect strategies. Refer other prospects to college/department advancement colleagues on a case-by-case basis, when warranted by synergistic relationships and focused interests. Prepare university leadership, faculty, and volunteers to participate in cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of major gifts as needed. Identify, support, and participate in special regional events and programs as appropriate. Impact in Your First Year At Advancement at Illinois, we value our employees and provide resources to help you continually learn and grow. We foster a strong, collaborative community of people who are driven by their ability to make a difference. Within 3 months, you'll: Become familiar with the strategic vision and priorities of the institution and various colleges/units/departments across campus. Meet your assigned Prospect Development Analyst and begin to dig into your portfolio. Attend professional development and networking activities for newcomers within Advancement. Begin cultivating relationships with key prospects/donors/alumni in an effort to create and implement solicitation strategies. Partner with planned giving, stewardship and donor relations, events, and communications colleagues on department and college-wide initiatives. Effectively articulate multiple meaningful impact stories of transformative gifts, including those involving deferred/planned gifts. By the end of the first year, you'll: Cooperatively set annual goals with your supervisor. Continue portfolio growth of qualified prospects and successful solicitation strategies. Receive one-on-one coaching from People & Culture to help your transition to your new role. Build a robust network of colleagues across campus. Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree For the title of Associate Director, a minimum of three years of successful advancement and portfolio management experience or more than six years of experience in a closely related field which requires strong relationship-building and outcome driven components. For the title of Director, a minimum of five years of successful advancement and portfolio management experience or ten years of experience in a closely related field which requires strong relationship-building and outcome driven components. Experience working in a collaborative, team-oriented environment. Preferred Qualifications
Documented success as an individual major gift or principal gift fundraiser in higher education Direct experience working with faculty leaders Basic knowledge of gift planning Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Demonstrated understanding of major donor prospect qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, preferably in a higher education environment. A high degree of initiative and an ability to work independently. Strong relationship management skills. Well-versed in advancement strategies including best practices related to development at institutions of higher education. Superb oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with an emphasis on engaged, active listening. Superb time management and organizational skills. Data driven and a flawless attention to detail. Demonstrated ability to represent an organization in one-on-one visits with key constituents. Appointment Information This is a 100% full-time Academic Professional position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the close date. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. The salary range for this position starts at $75,000 for the title of Associate Director, and $85,000 for the title of Director.
Application Procedures & Deadline Information Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on May 3, 2024. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting and upload a resume, cover letter, and the names, addresses, phone numbers of three professional references. Applications not submitted through will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact Katie Walker at and/or visit our Application Tips site for helpful resources. For questions regarding the application process, please contact .
Please note: Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position. The Illinois Advancement community is committed to an ongoing, proactive process to foster and achieve diversity and inclusion in its development, alumni relations and communication activities. We will respect and encourage different voices, perspectives and ideas as we strive to represent individuals of all backgrounds and cultures which inlcudes but are not limited to the following: nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, spirituality, age and ability who represent our alumni, donors and friends of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY: The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a comprehensive and major public land-grant university (Doctoral/Research University-Extensive) that is ranked among the best in the world. Chartered in 1867, it provides undergraduate and graduate education in more than 150 fields of study, conducts theoretical and applied research, and provides public service to the state and the nation. It employs about 3,000 faculty members who serve over 33,000 undergraduates and 17,000 graduate and professional students. More information about the campus is available at
The university is located in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana (total population 226,000) in east-central Illinois, and is situated about 140 miles south of Chicago, 125 miles west of Indianapolis, and 170 northeast of St. Louis. The University and its surrounding communities offer a cultural and recreational environment ideally suited to the work of a major research institution. For more information about the community, visit: Living in Champaign-Urbana, Experience Champaign Urbana, or Champaign County Chamber of Commerce.
Health insurance is available to employees (with the option to purchase coverage for spouse and dependents), required participation in State Universities Retirement System (SURS), with several options for participation in additional retirement plans. Learn more about employee benefits at the University of Illinois. Newly hired employees are covered by the Medicare portion of Social Security and are subject to this deduction.


The University of Illinois has a strong commitment to work-life balance and family-friendly programs for faculty and staff: Work-Life Balance & Family-Friendly Programs and Other Work-Life Programs.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at , or by emailing .
Requisition ID : 1023737

Job Category : Administrative

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