Associate Director, Major Gifts - Medill

Job Overview

Department: Alumni Relations & Development

Salary/Grade: EXS/10

Location: Evanston, Illinois

For full consideration, please submit a cover letter with your resume.

The Associate Director of Development, Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, is responsible for identifying, qualifying, cultivating and soliciting major gift support from a portfolio of Medill alumni, parents, and friends. The Associate Director will build and manage a balanced portfolio of prospects through face-to-face visits, develop individualized strategies that align prospects  interests with Medill s priorities, secure major gifts, and steward current donors to deepen their engagement over time.

This role works closely with colleagues across Medill—including the dean, associate deans, faculty, program directors and staff, to prepare them for prospect meetings, translate academic priorities into compelling cases for support, and strengthen alumni and donor engagement with the school. The Associate Director will also provide targeted support for Medill s Board of Advisers, including select outreach, stewardship and meeting preparation.

The Associate Director also collaborates with colleagues across Alumni Relations and Development (e.g., leadership and annual giving, reunions, donor relations, marketing and communications, planned giving) to coordinate outreach and maximize philanthropic support for Medill. The position requires frequent travel to visit alumni and donors in assigned regions within the United States.

• Strategic Planning:
  Gathers data, assesses leads, and develops strategies designed to realize the current and lifetime giving potential of individual prospects.
• Maintains consistent and appropriate contact with prospects.
• Develops and executes strategies to secure major gifts, typically in the six-figure range or higher.
• Ensures effective stewardship of donors.
• Develops, plans, and implements strategies and approaches to identify, personally solicit, and consistently close major gifts of six-figures or more.

• Collaboration:
  
  Involves moderate- to high-level collaboration with internal department partners and broader University partners to identify & integrate resources to accomplish strategic goals & objectives.

• Prospects & Gifts:
  Partners with other areas of development to coordinate contacts; builds and manages a portfolio of approximately 45 prospects annually by moving them through the major gift pipeline; prepares donor proposals that align with donor interests and capacity; oversees stewardship activities and maintains best practices; travel as required.

• Administration:
  Gathers, records and retrieves information about prospects and donors; prepares contact reports on meetings and interactions with alumni.

• Supervisory:
  Provides oversight and support to staff within the department.

• Miscellaneous:
  Performs other duties as assigned.

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 4 years development, marketing, sales or the equivalent experience is required.

• Relationship Building & Donor Engagement:
  Cultivates trust and long-term relationships with diverse stakeholders by listening carefully, understanding their interests, and staying consistently engaged.
• Strategic Fundraising & Gift Solicitation:
  Designs and executes thoughtful strategies to move prospects through the pipeline and secure significant major gifts or comparable high-value commitments.
• Collaboration Across Complex Organizations:
  Partners effectively with faculty, staff, and central development teams to align on priorities and present clear, compelling cases for support.
• Communication & Influence:
  Communicates clearly and persuasively in writing and in person, preparing colleagues for donor interactions and crafting donor-facing narratives and proposals.
• Planning & Execution:
  Manages a prospect portfolio with strong organization and data-informed strategy, tracking…