Project Development Assistant Jobs in Chicago, IL

Department
ISAC: Development
About the Department
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.
Job Summary
The Senior Assistant Director of Development will support ISAC's immediate and long-term growth and success. This position provides professional-level support for ISAC's development and membership activities, working with a moderate level of guidance and direction from the Director of Development. It executes fundraising cultivation programs for prospective donors and contributes to annual giving, stewardship, and event efforts. In addition, this position is an important revenue driver for capital gifts, annual giving, and other priorities, particularly regarding the current University capital campaign.
This role will support the Development & Membership team's efforts to cultivate and steward donors, maintain accurate donor records, and assist with the execution of fundraising projects designed by senior team members.
Responsibilities

• Secures, renews, upgrades, and stewards annual $10,000+ gifts through personal outreach and visits with individuals that have the capacity and interest to make five and six-figure gift commitments.
• Leads the stewarding and solicitation of major donor and campaign prospects.
• Manages major donor and campaign activities; maintains related calendar.
• Achieves personal fundraising activity goals monthly, quarterly, and annually.
• Helps ensure meeting goals and timeframes for effective acknowledgement process and general donor relations and stewardship.
• Collaborates with Development team, senior leadership, and volunteers to plan, produce, implement and attend donor-related ISAC events.
• Creates, manages, and delivers important development projects with complex budgets, such as travel events.
• Recruits members and provides guidance and support to leadership activities.
• Supports the cultivation, qualification, solicitation, and stewardship of annual gifts, in collaboration with the Development & Membership team.
• Maintains an active personal prospect portfolio focused on annual giving, under moderate guidance and direction from the Director of Development.
• Assists with donor relations communications and helps maintain the cultivation matrix, providing regular updates to the team.
• Supports the planning, production, and execution of donor-related ISAC events, including logistics and attendee coordination.
• Helps ensure timely completion of the acknowledgement process and supports general donor relations and stewardship.
• Utilizes development technologies and tools (e.g., Claude, DonorBox, Thankview, video conferencing, collaborative documents) to support development activities.
• Has a moderate/solid understanding of fundraising operations for a school or department of the University. Identifies budget requirements and staffing needs on a project or event basis.
• Has a moderate/high level of authority in drafting informational and marketing materials for review for assigned programs. Assists in developing support materials for specific fundraising activities.
• Cultivates and maintains relationships with donors and volunteers. Establishes and maintains donor records and accounts.
• 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
Experience:

• Experience supporting donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
• Experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales, or similar professional work experience.
• Experience assisting volunteer leadership and/or committees.

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 through the UChicago Office of Advancement, including the University's donor relationship management system and the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Demonstrated ability to use Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent organizational and task-management skills.

Preferred Competencies

• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Work collaboratively in a team setting.
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
• High self-motivation and the ability to take initiative.
• Knowledge of and affinity for history, archaeology, and museums.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid work schedule.
• Standard office environment.
• Occasional travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
• May require occasional domestic and/or foreign travel (less than 5%).
• Occasional evening and weekend work required.
• This position is located at 1155 E. 58th St. in Hyde Park.

Application Documents

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

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
40
Drug Test Required
No
Health Screen Required
No
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
No
Pay Rate Type
Salary
FLSA Status
Exempt
Pay Range
$77,000.00 - $87,000.00
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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