Jobs › University of Chicago

Associate Director, Major Gifts

University of Chicago · Chicago, IL · $76,500–$99,000 a year · Full time

Posted Jun 20, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Walk me through a major gift you closed, from first meeting to signed commitment.

What they are checking: Whether they can describe the real cultivation steps and their own role, not just the final number.

Tell me about a time a donor wanted to fund something the school did not need. How did you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they can redirect donor interest to real priorities without losing the relationship.

Tell me about a gift that fell through. What did you learn?

What they are checking: Whether they reflect honestly on losses and adjust their approach rather than blaming the donor.

What would you do

This role covers Booth alumni in the Midwest. How would you build and qualify a portfolio of major gift prospects in your first six months?

What they are checking: Whether they have a disciplined plan for discovery visits and qualification instead of waiting for warm leads.

A Booth alum takes your meetings but never moves toward a gift. When do you keep going and when do you move on?

What they are checking: Whether they manage a portfolio actively and do not spend years on prospects who will not give.

Booth alumni are often finance and business leaders. How do you hold a credible conversation with someone who thinks in returns and metrics?

What they are checking: Whether they can talk about impact in concrete terms that appeal to analytical, business-minded donors.

How do you work with faculty and the dean when a donor wants a meeting with leadership?

What they are checking: Whether they use leadership time carefully and prepare principals well for high-stakes donor meetings.

About the work

How do you ask for a specific amount, and how do you decide what that amount should be?

What they are checking: Whether they use capacity research and relationship cues to make a confident, well-sized ask.

How many visits a month do you think a major gift officer should make, and how did you track your own activity?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the activity metrics behind fundraising and hold themselves to them.

How do you keep contact reports and donor records accurate and useful for the next person?

What they are checking: Whether they see the database as an institutional asset, which matters when relationships outlast any one officer.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by University of Chicago.

Department Booth Advancement: Major Gifts - Midwest 2 About the Department The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is the second-oldest business school in the U.S. and second to none when it comes to influencing business education and business practices. Since 1898, the school has produced ideas and leaders that shape the world of business. Their rigorous, discipline-based approach to business education transforms students into confident, effective, respected business leaders prepared to face the toughest challenges. Chicago Booth has the finest set of facilities of any business school in the world. Each of the four campuses (two in Chicago, one in London, and one in Hong Kong) reflects the architectural traditions of its environs while offering a state-of-the-art learning environment. Chicago Booth is proud to claim: -an unmatched faculty. -degree and open enrollment programs offered on three continents. -a global body of nearly 56,000 accomplished alumni. -strong and growing corporate relationships that provide a wealth of lifelong career opportunities. As part of the world-renowned University of Chicago, Chicago Booth shares the University's core values that shape the distinctive intellectual culture. At Booth, they constantly question and test ideas, and seek proof. This extraordinarily effective approach to business leads to new ideas and innovative solutions. Seven of the Booth faculty members have won Nobel Prizes for these ideas - the first business school to achieve this accomplishment. For more information about the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, please visit: http://www.chicagobooth.edu/. Job Summary The Associate Director, Major Gifts at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business will be responsible for creating and implementing comprehensive fundraising strategies to raise major gifts in support of the mission and priorities of the School. This position will identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of current and potential donors with the capacity to make gifts in excess of $100,000. The Associate Director will travel regularly, approximately 20% of the time, within assigned regions to meet with prospects and donors. This position will be responsible for organizing select cultivation events for small groups of high-level donors. This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization. Responsibilities • Manages a portfolio of approximately 110 prospects. Develops strong relationships to build connection with and support for the school. • Meets or exceeds activity goals for prospect qualifications, solicitations, and funds raised. • Annually solicits six- and seven-figure gifts. Annually closes multiple gifts in excess of $100,000. • Supports deans, faculty, and other school leadership in the cultivation and solicitation of prospects. • In conjunction with Chicago Booth’s donor relations team, creates and administers stewardship plans. • In conjunction with Chicago Booth’s advancement events team, plans and organizes cultivation events. • Collaborates with Chicago Booth departments (Annual Fund, Alumni Relations, Career Services, Admissions, Global Initiatives, etc.) on donor and prospect cultivation activities. • Plans, executes, and attends evening and weekend functions, as necessary. • Develops and implements compelling engagement strategies to inspire high net worth individuals to maximize their philanthropic engagement with the University. • Establishes fundraising goals and priorities based on department objectives, designs strategies to meet those goals, and monitors progress against goals. • Identifies, analyzes, and qualifies donor interest to maximize giving. Helps with overall planning efforts for the University’s most important prospects. Works independently to develop communication strategies for projects, including publications and public presentations. • 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 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline. Certifications: --- Preferred Qualifications Education: • Bachelor’s degree. Experience: • A minimum of three years of front-line development or sales and marketing experience. Technical Skills or Knowledge: • Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as technology tools, including Phoenix, the University’s alumni and donor database of record. • Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook). Preferred Competencies • Proven record of accomplishment in devising cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies. • Strong organizational and analytical skills. • Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills, characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write well. • Strong commitment to customer service. • Self-motivated and work well with and through others. • Manage confidential information with discretion and tact. Working Conditions • This position is currently expected to work a minimum three days per week in the office. 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 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 $76,500.00 - $99,000.00 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. The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

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