Executive Director, Development

Overview

About The Department

Booth Advancement. The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is the second-oldest business school in the U.S. and is known for influencing business education and practice. Booth emphasizes a rigorous, discipline-based approach to business education, developing leaders prepared to face challenging problems. Chicago Booth has multiple campuses (two in Chicago, one in London, one in Hong Kong) with state-of-the-art learning environments.

Chicago Booth is part of the University of Chicago and shares its core values, including a culture of questioning and testing ideas. Seven Booth faculty members have won Nobel Prizes for their ideas. For more information about the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, visit: http://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./

Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer, the Executive Director, Development is a senior leader responsible for shaping and driving the strategic direction of Booth’s Major Gifts and Annual Giving programs. This role guides the vision, strategy, and execution needed to strengthen donor engagement, grow the pipeline, and increase philanthropic investment in support of Booth’s mission and the University’s comprehensive campaign.

The Executive Director serves as a key partner to the CAO and supports Advancement’s work with the Dean, Deputy Deans, faculty, and Centers, helping articulate priorities and preparing academic leadership for donor meetings and solicitations. As a member of the senior leadership team and a contributing member of the Principal Gifts team, the Executive Director helps ensure alignment, coordination, and momentum across Booth’s fundraising efforts.

This leader manages a select portfolio of major and principal gift prospects capable of $1M+ gifts while overseeing a high-performing frontline fundraising team and annual fund team. The Executive Director is responsible for developing coordinated annual and multi-year fundraising plans, fostering a collaborative, data-informed culture that empowers staff at all levels to succeed, and, in partnership with the Senior Director of Alumni Engagement, market planning in primary and secondary markets.

• Lead the strategy, planning, and execution of Major Gifts and Annual Giving programs, focusing on gifts below $10 million, aligned with Booth priorities.
• Support Booth Advancement and the CAO’s relationships with the Dean and faculty in developing fundraising priorities and donor engagements.
• Expand Chicago Booth’s donor pipeline in partnership with Alumni Engagement, Communications, Donor Relations, Prospect Management and Research, Events, and other internal teams; leverage volunteer leadership, reunion giving, and milestone-based engagement strategies.
• Set ambitious goals for leadership annual giving, including the Dean’s Society, reunion giving, and major gift programs; include gift officer activity to support fundraising targets.
• Strengthen a culture of philanthropy for new and existing donors at all levels, including those giving below $2,500.
• Manage a select portfolio of major and principal gift prospects capable of $1M+ gifts.
• Serve as a member of the Principal Gifts team, contributing to coordinated cultivation strategies for Booth’s highest-level prospects.
• Oversee strategic market plans in primary and secondary regions with Alumni Engagement to deepen engagement and expand cultivation opportunities.
• Develop annual and campaign-aligned fundraising plans for Major Gifts and Annual Giving.
• Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing fundraising team with a culture of collaboration, accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to strategic planning as a member of the senior leadership team and support the Council on Chicago Booth (led by Alumni Engagement).
• Oversee development of department strategies and plans to achieve fundraising goals; provide leadership and assessment of staff.
• Perform other related work as needed.

Education
Minimum qualifications include a college or university degree in a related field.
Work Experience
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 10+ years of…