Senior Director, Major Gifts

Department

Booth Advancement: Major Gifts - Midwest

About the Department

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is the second-oldest business 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 set of facilities of any business school in the world. Each of the four campuses (two in Chicago, one in London, and one 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 56,000 accomplished alumni.
-strong and growing corporate relationships that provide a wealth of lifelong career opportunities.

As part of the world-renowned University of Chicago, Chicago Booth shares the University's core values that shape the distinctive intellectual culture. At Booth, they constantly question and test ideas, and seek proof. This extraordinarily effective approach to business leads to new ideas and innovative solutions. Seven of the Booth faculty members have won Nobel Prizes for these ideas - the first business school to achieve this accomplishment. For more information about the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, please visit: http://www.chicagobooth.edu/

Job Summary

The Senior Director, Major Gifts provides strategic and operational leadership for Chicago Booth’s domestic major gifts program, advancing the school’s philanthropic priorities and fundraising goals. The role oversees a team of frontline fundraisers and support staff, ensuring consistent performance, portfolio health, and accountability across regions. Working in close partnership with the Executive Director, Development, the Senior Director translates institutional strategy into executable fundraising plans and supports leadership engagement in major gift activity. This role plays a critical part in strengthening a culture of philanthropy and maximizing major gift outcomes across the U.S.

Responsibilities

• Leads the planning, execution, and evaluation of Chicago Booth’s domestic major gifts strategy in support of school and University priorities.
• Manages and mentors a team of major gifts professionals, setting clear expectations, goals, and accountability measures.
• Oversees portfolio management, forecasting, and performance metrics to ensure progress toward fundraising targets.
• Partners with the Executive Director, Development to develop multi-year fundraising plans and establish performance benchmarks.
• Provides strategic guidance on cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for high-capacity prospects.
• Collaborates with Advancement colleagues, faculty, and senior leadership to align donor interests with institutional priorities.
• Supports leadership engagement by preparing briefings, strategy recommendations, and follow-up actions for donor interactions.
• Ensures consistent use of fundraising systems, data, and best practices across regional portfolios.
• Contributes to a positive team culture that values collaboration, professional development, and continuous improvement.
• Develops department strategies and plans to achieve fundraising goals.
• Reviews and assesses staff.
• 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 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Master’s degree.

Experience:

• A minimum seven years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including experience in major gifts.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).

Preferred Competencies

• Outstanding verbal, written, and presentation skills, as well as organizational skills.
• Work independently with little supervision; possess a self-motivated disposition; identify opportunities for improvement and recommend effective changes, all while achieving key objectives resulting in desired outcomes.
• Excellent strategic planning, critical thinking, analytical, and persuasion skills.
• Handle multiple detailed tasks/projects simultaneously and meet strict deadlines with frequent interruptions.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and diplomatically with colleagues, as well as with students, faculty and corporate contacts in a multitude of communication methods, including in-person, email, and phone.
• Professional demeanor, including tact, discretion, and a customer service-oriented approach.

Working Conditions

• This position is currently expected to work a minimum three days per week in the office.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

Job Family

Alumni Relations & Development

Role Impact

People Manager

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

$145,000.00 - $185,000.00

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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