Description

Associate Director/Director of Advancement - College of Fine & Applied Arts

 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Based in Urbana-Champaign with hybrid opportunities

The College of Fine and Applied Arts is dedicated to the advancement, practice, and understanding of the arts. The central focus of the college is the synergy between research and the preparation of students for professional careers in the creation and interpretation of the environmental, visual, and performing arts. Deeply related to that focus is the commitment to elevate and sustain the study of the arts as both a necessary mode of understanding and a vibrant expression of human experience within the local, national, and international communities.

Organizational Relationship

The Associate Director/Director of Advancement reports to the Associate Dean for Advancement and will work closely with advancement colleagues, the Heads of the departments and members of the faculty. The primary responsibility of this role is to secure private support from the college’s alumni and patrons of its premier public presenting and exhibiting institutions, such as the Krannert Art Museum, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, and Japan House. The Associate Director/Director of Advancement will play a critical role to maximize overall support and opportunities for collaborative giving and serve as a member of the advancement team in the College.

Job Summary

This position will assist the College and its performing arts departments in designing strategies to broaden and strengthen advancement activities and fundraising with donors through digital and/or print communications, phone calls, video conferencing (Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams, FaceTime, etc.) and in-person meetings, with an emphasis on, but not limited to, the School of Music, Illinois Theatre, and Department of Dance. The position will require some travel of varying durations and locations, up to 50%, including some evenings and weekends. The successful candidate will be a collaborative team member who values inclusion and is skilled at building strong internal and external collaborative relationships.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Identify, assess, analyze, and design appropriate strategies for approaching prospects and donors and making the vitally important match between donors’ philanthropic interests and the departments’ programmatic and curricular needs. Plan and implement effective outreach and cultivation activities to enhance prospect identification and move solicitation and stewardship processes forward. Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of donors and donor prospects capable of making major gifts ($25,000 and higher), determining frequency of contact needed. Document all activities and interactions in the alumni/donor database.
• Develop and maintain close collaborative partnerships with faculty and staff to gain a strong knowledge of the academic and research programs to identify and define priorities to be funded through private support. Partner closely with other advancement professionals, including gift officers, stewardship and donor relations, alumni relations, and corporate relations professionals.
• Determine and prioritize lists of donor prospects, alumni, and other stakeholders to be contacted for meetings and solicitations.
• Prepare and educate unit volunteer leadership and advisory boards, faculty members, and other unit volunteers to participate in cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of leadership annual gifts as needed

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 FAA
• Meet your assigned Prospect Development Analyst and begin to dig into your portfolio
• Attend professional development and networking activities for newcomers within Advancement
• Be introduced to fundraising fundamentals and terminology adopted from Plus Delta Partners

Within 6 months, you’ll:

• Begin contacting and cultivating relationships with key prospects/donors/alumni to create and implement solicitation strategies
• Partner with stewardship and donor relations, events, alumni relations, and communications colleagues on department and College-wide initiatives
• Be able to share multiple meaningful impact stories of transformative gifts

By the end of the first year, you’ll:

• Cooperatively set annual goals with your supervisor and portfolio management team
• Continue portfolio growth of qualified prospects and successful solicitation strategies
• Receive one-on-one coaching from People and Culture to help transition to your new role
• Build a robust network of colleagues across campus

Travel Requirements

The position will require some travel of varying durations and locations, up to 50%, including some evenings and weekends.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Associate Director: A minimum of three years of successful advancement experience or five years of experience in a closely related field which requires strong relationship-building and outcome-driven components. Director: A minimum of five years of successful advancement experience or seven 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
• Experience or demonstrated interest in the arts

Preferred Qualifications

• Documented success as a fundraiser
• Experience fundraising in higher education or in the arts

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively and collaborate with others in a professional environment
• Ability to represent an organization in meetings with key constituents
• Strong relationship building and management skills

The Illinois Advancement community is committed to creating inclusive environments and practices that support engagement from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives. We will respect and encourage different voices, perspectives and ideas as we strive to represent individuals of all backgrounds and cultures which includes 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 www.illinois.edu.

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.

When you pursue a career with Illinois Advancement, you’ll join our tight-knit community of professionals who treat each other with as much care and respect as we treat our donors. At Illinois, we invest in you. Our leaders are eager to partner with you on the next phase of your career and have the tools and experience to help you succeed. Illinois Advancement values creativity and fosters a collaborative, flexible environment to develop new ideas that become best practices – and we’re looking for your unique skills. Learn more about what others have to say about their experiences: Opportunity Awaits.

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 closing date. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience while also considering internal equity. The budgeted salary range for the title of Associate Director is $70,000 - $80,000; for the title of Director is $80,000 - $90,000.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on May 15, 2026. 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 and email addresses for three professional references. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact Zsayla Brummett at zbrummet@illinois.edu and/or visit our How To Apply site for application tips. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

Please note: This position is not eligible for any type of sponsorship for work authorization.

At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — the state’s flagship public university and one of the world’s leading research institutions — every staff member helps shape what’s next. Founded in 1867, Illinois is home to a vibrant community of 59,000 students from all 50 states and 129 countries, supported by 15 colleges and instructional units, more than 20 research institutes, and one of the most comprehensive student service ecosystems in the nation. Whether you’re empowering first-generation students, fueling breakthrough innovation, or strengthening communities across Illinois and beyond, your work here has a far-reaching and deeply meaningful impact. The university offers a highly competitive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and financial security. Join a top 10 public university that has launched over 330 startups and continues to redefine excellence — where the Illinois Value Proposition ensures that your contributions are recognized, your potential is nurtured, and your career can thrive.