Associate Director, Development, Court Theatre

Department

ADV Court Theatre

About the Department

Advancement engages alumni (~220k), current students, parents, and friends of the University through intellectual, professional and social activities on campus, around the world and online. Advancement raises $600 Million annually to support faculty and researchers, practitioners and patients, and students and programs across the University. Our work supports priorities in every division, school, department, and institute.

Centrally organized within Advancement, the Arts and Culture team advances philanthropic partnerships with key alumni, parents and friends across the campus’ arts ecosystem, including new and emerging projects and established arts units: Court Theatre, Smart Museum, Arts + Public Life, Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, the Library and Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures.

Court Theatre is the professional theatre of the University of Chicago, dedicated to innovation, inquiry, intellectual engagement, and community service. Functioning as the University’s Center for Classic Theatre, Court and its artists mount theatrical productions and audience enrichment programs in collaboration with faculty. These collaborations enable a re-examination of classic texts that pose the enduring and provocative questions that define the human experience.

Court Theatre is committed to engaging, with equity and intention, the communities of which we are a part: the South Side of Chicago, the University of Chicago, and the local and national theatre community, including Court’s own staff, freelance technicians, and guest artists. For more information, visit www.courttheatre.org.

Job Summary

This role manages programs designed to meet University fundraising goals for contributed income. Serves as strategist of efforts to secure gifts and build relationships with alumni, faculty, administrators and organizations with potential to make gifts. Develops communication strategies for projects.

Responsibilities

• Secures leadership annual and planned gifts, and works closely with the Director of Development to develop and execute strategies that support engaging and growing the Court Theatre donor base.
• Serves as a frontline gift officer; managing development communications; coordinating stewardship and donor relations; and leveraging programs, events, and performances to strengthen donor engagement.
• Builds and manages a portfolio of 75-125 individual prospects and $1-$3 million in booked gifts. In addition to portfolio management, partners with fundraising colleagues on multi-interest prospects to include Court solicitations in their overall prospect solicitation plans. Monitors progress against goals, ensuring deadlines are met.
• Identifies, qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards individuals or institutions that have the capacity and interest to make five and six-figure gift commitments to Court Theatre.
• Collaborates with the Central Arts and Culture team to lead discovery and prospect engagement activity for assigned regions or prospect segments with the goals of increasing contributed revenue, expanding the prospect pool, and growing the donor base to reflect the diversity and capacity of Court Theatre’s audiences.
• Manages development communications, namely to write appeal letters, briefings, and proposals; create and oversee donor content for print and digital publications; and collaborate and liaise with Court Theatre’s marketing department and Advancement’s communications and direct response teams to implement annual appeal letters.
• Develops and implements compelling plans for stewardship and donor relations, including coordination of Court Theatre’s giving societies such as the Producers Circle and Directors Circle, and look for new, innovative ways to engage donors and prospective donors to increase fundraising.
• In collaboration with Advancement office, assists in the planning and execution of strategic events, specifically but not exclusively, annual gala, Producers Circle and Directors Circle dinners, and Opening Nights, etc., designed to advance relationships with prospects, donors, and key volunteers.
• Builds knowledge and communicates effectively, both in writing and in meetings, about a range of Court Theatre programs, priorities, productions, and initiatives; and delivers prompt and effective follow-up to prospects and donors.
• Achieves personal fundraising activity goals monthly, quarterly, and annually.
• Maintains active and regular local travel schedule to meet with donors and prospective donors as needed.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance including attending webinars, seminars, building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
• Establishes fundraising goals and priorities based on department objectives, designs strategies to meet those goals, and monitors progress against goals.
• 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.
• 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 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Advanced degree.

Experience:

• Minimum five years of professional work experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales, or similar field.
• Proven record of accomplishment in devising cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Background working with volunteer leadership and/or board members.
• Demonstrated track record of success in cultivating, soliciting, and closing significant philanthropic commitments.
• Demonstrated project management experience.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to Advancement, including Phoenix, the University's Donor Relationship Management System.
• Proficient in a Microsoft Windows computer environment, especially Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.
• Proficient in using Excel / spreadsheets.

Preferred Competencies

• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
• Self-motivated and take initiative.
• Knowledge of and affinity for the arts, theatre in particular.

Working Conditions

• This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence.
• Standard office environment.
• Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
• Work evenings and weekends as needed.
• This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (required)

Job Family

Alumni Relations & Development

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$80,750.00 - $95,000.00

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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