Department
ADV Foundation & Corporate Relations 3
About the Department
The University of Chicago Advancement team cultivates lifelong connections with more than 220,000 alumni, current students, parents, and friends worldwide, building community through intellectual, professional, and other meaningful experiences on campus, around the world and online. Advancement empowers every division, school, department, and institute to thrive, generating support for esteemed faculty, pioneering researchers, visionary practitioners, and ambitious students.
During the Chicago Minds campaign, Advancement seeks to raise over $1 billion annually. This unprecedented philanthropic effort is designed to stretch the boundaries of what is possible, fueling bold discovery and amplifying the University’s global impact.
Our work is rooted in the belief that meaningful connection and lasting experiences inspire ambassadorship and enduring commitment. We champion a culture of innovation and excellence, inviting every member of our community to participate in a future defined by creativity, intellectual rigor, and shared purpose. Through collaborative partnerships, strategic stewardship, and investment in talent, Advancement is reimagining alumni and donor engagement while ensuring UChicago remains a catalyst of impact for generations to come.
The Foundation and Corporate Relations (FCR) team fosters strong relationships between the University and independent philanthropic organizations to secure foundation and corporate funding for faculty research, teaching, and University initiatives. FCR works closely with faculty and staff University-wide on all phases of proposal development and stewardship for grants and gifts from organizations.
Job Summary
This position conducts biographical and financial research on individuals, corporations, and/or foundations to support fundraising. Identifies prospective donors using research and analysis through use of standard procedures. Forecasts and measures the effectiveness of the fiscal year and overall campaign progress, which will help employees in the job acquire higher-level knowledge and skills.
This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization.
Responsibilities
- Coordinates entry and maintenance of organization prospect and contact data and organization records in Phoenix. Reviews and requests updates and corrections to organization giving data in Phoenix. Works closely with multiple teams in Advancement towards these ongoing efforts.
- Develops reports, actionable analysis and recommendations that improve fundraising results for FCR and for organization fundraising progress to support the University’s fundraising campaign. Leverages Phoenix Salesforce reporting, WebI Enterprise Data Hub (EDH) reporting, and additional reporting tools.
- Facilitates the coordination of grants data between University Research Administration (URA) and Gift Administration, collaborating closely with both teams. Reconciles grants data from AURA (URA’s grants system) and Orbit (Oracle financial system reporting) with Phoenix data.
- Uses grants data from AURA and University’s financial system together with Phoenix data for forecasting, reporting, and analysis. Uses AURA grants data for analysis projects aimed at increasing awarded grants.
- Works with the Assistant Director, Foundation and Corporate Relations (Research) on large scale FCR projects that combine prospect research and data analysis, providing guidance on relevant data points, pulling necessary data, and recommending optimal strategies for coding in Phoenix.
- Manages FCR’s portion of the financial report review process, working closely with post-award research administrators in URA. Manages and responds to requests from across the University for funder proposal materials and data. Assists with special foundation reporting requirements.
- Works with FCR gift officers to facilitate the annual goal setting process and execute on goals throughout the year. Provides ongoing Phoenix support to FCR gift officers.
- Shares information within Advancement to demonstrate FCR’s impact and the organizations component of University fundraising.
- Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance including attending training webinars and building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
- Conducts prospect research, prospect management, strategic planning and market research on prospects and donors.
- Develops, maintains, and updates information on new and existing prospects, solving problems as they arise.
- 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 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Certifications:
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Preferred Qualifications
Education:
Experience:
- Minimum two years of professional work experience in a fundraising environment, alumni relations, nonprofit management, or similar professional work experience.
- Background or coursework in business, finance, economics, analytics, data science, or nonprofit management.
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 Salesforce System.
- Proficient in a Microsoft Windows computer environment, especially Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Tableau.
- Background with development systems, database management or data cleanup.
Preferred Competencies
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Strong attention to detail and follow-up, and excellent organizational skills.
- Prioritize work, managing multiple, diverse, and competing priorities.
- Demonstrated ability to complete tasks with thoroughness and accuracy.
- Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
- Act with integrity and professionalism.
- Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
- Self-motivated and take initiative.
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.
- This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization.
Required Documents
- Resume/CV (required)
- Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (preferred)
The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
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
FLSA Status
Exempt
Pay Range
$61,200.00 - $72,000.00
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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