Membership & Annual Giving Associate

Department

ISAC:
Development

The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures was founded in 1919 by James Henry Breasted with the financial support of John

D. Rockefeller Jr. and was originally envisaged as a research laboratory for the investigation of the early human career that would trace humankind’s progress from the most ancient days of West Asia and North Africa. The goal of the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures is to be the world’s leading center for the study of the ancient civilizations of West Asia and North Africa by combining innovation in theory, methodology, and significant empirical discovery with the highest standards of rigorous scholarship.

The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures Museum was opened to the public in 1931. The majority of ISAC's collections are from its expeditions in West Asia and North Africa during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. A major reinstallation of the Museum, including the construction of a climate-controlled wing for housing collections and archives, took place in the 1990s and early 2000s.

A complete renovation of the Museum was completed in 2019 in celebration of ISAC's centennial. The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures is a unit within the University of Chicago and the name of the corporation is 'The University of Chicago.' The corporation was originally incorporated on September 10, 1890.

The Membership & Annual Giving Associate will be a key member of ISAC’s Development & Membership team, supporting ISAC’s immediate and long-term growth and success. This position will play an important role in support of capital gift campaigns, annual giving and other priorities.

The job provides professional support for assigned development activities with instruction from others. Executes fundraising projects, cultivation programs for prospective donors and for visiting committees.

This position will collaborate closely with the Director of Development, senior ISAC leadership, and volunteer leadership to develop and achieve ambitious yet achievable annual fundraising, proposal/solicitation and visit goals.

• Processes donor gifts and membership fees, including daily/weekly acceptance and review of revenue and contributions via various platforms.
• Manages donor recognition and stewardship, including management of the acknowledgement process for all gifts, and other recognition such as physical signage and print/online/social media publications, etc. Helps ensure meeting goals and time frames for effective acknowledgement process and general donor relations and stewardship.
• Manages Membership program activities, communications and activity calendars – including regular renewal cycles, Membership records and accounts, and produces recurring communications to Breasted Society members, donors, and others in an established cadence.
• Supports high-touch valued donor relations communications and cultivation matrix, with weekly updates for the Team and senior leadership.
• Works with the Director of Development and Assistant Director of Development, executes Development and Membership direct mailings, including giving society programs, and ISAC fundraising campaigns for Giving Tuesday and UChicago Giving Day.
• Supports Development’s relationships with annual donors and Advisory Council members across all annual giving levels.
• Coordinates team and program/project calendars, aligning key events with ISAC leadership and stakeholder calendars.
• Collaborates with Development & Membership team, creates fundraising communications: writes appeal letters, develop briefings, and contributes to proposals; creates and oversees content for print and digital publications; ISAC website; and related projects.