Description
GENERAL SUMMARY: The Associate Director, Major Gifts, West Coast at the University of Chicago’s Booth
School of Business implements comprehensive fundraising strategies to raise major gifts in the West Coast
region in support of the mission and priorities of the school. The Associate Director identifies, qualifies,
cultivates, solicits, and stewards a portfolio of current and potential donors with the capacity to make gifts in
excess of $100,000. The Associate Director travels regularly within assigned regions to meet with prospects
and donors. They plan and organize select cultivation events for small groups of high-level donors. The
Associate Director works effectively and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues to achieve
development goals and objectives.
This position is a remote role based in the San Francisco Bay Area, California and requires 25% travel.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Manages a portfolio of approximately 115 prospects. Develops strong relationships to build
connections with and support for the school.
2. Meets or exceeds activity goals for prospect qualifications, solicitations, and funds raised.
3. Annually closes gifts in excess of $100,000.
4. Supports deans, faculty, and other school leadership in the cultivation and solicitation of prospects.
5. Coordinates with campus partners in fundraising and non-fundraising areas. Plays a consultative role
in helping university colleagues plan and execute prospect strategies.
6. In conjunction with Chicago Booth’s Advancement Donor Relations team, creates and administers
stewardship plans.
7. In conjunction with Chicago Booth’s Advancement Global Events team, plans and organizes cultivation
events.
8. Collaborates with Chicago Booth departments and teams (Annual Fund, Alumni Engagement, Career
Services, and Admissions) on donor and prospect cultivation activities.
9. Plans, executes, and attends evening and weekend functions, as necessary.
10. Establishes fundraising goals and priorities based on department objectives, designs strategies to
meet those goals, and monitors progress against goals.
11. Identifies, analyzes, and qualifies donor interest to maximize giving. Helps with overall planning efforts
for the university’s most important prospects. Works independently to develop communication
strategies for projects, including publications and public presentations.
12. Other responsibilities as assigned.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIP: Director, Major Gifts, West Coast
The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of
duties, responsibilities or requirements. The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer. Revised: 10/2025
MEASURES OF SUCCESS:
1. Meets or exceeds activity goals for prospect qualifications, solicitations, and gift dollars raised.
2. Positive feedback from alumni, prospects, donors, deans’ office, and staff.
PAY RANGE:
$87,000.00 - $112,750.00
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 (https://mybenefits.nfp.com/UChicago/benefits-guide/)
Requirements
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
1. Bachelor’s degree or higher required.
2. Minimum of three years of front-line development or sales and marketing experience required.
3. A background related to business or professional school education is preferred.
4. Proven record of accomplishment in devising cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies
required.
5. Strong organizational and analytical skills required.
6. Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the university
as well as technology tools, including Phoenix, the university’s alumni and donor database of record (a
Salesforce platform), and a Microsoft Windows computer environment.
7. Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills required, characterized by the ability to listen, to
speak, and to write well, with a strong commitment to customer service.
8. Ability to self-motivate and work well with and through others required.
9. Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and tact required.
