Job description
Office of Advancement- College of Media
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Based in Urbana-Champaign
The College of Media and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for
Institutional Advancement (OVCIA) invite applications for a
full-time Assistant Director of Advancement to engage with alumni and community
members and secure financial support for funding priorities within the College
as determined by the Senior Assistant Dean for Advancement and the Dean.
The College of Media at Illinois has a rich history. Throughout
its 98 years, the College and our alumni have had a profound impact on media.
Advertising education was born at Illinois, as was the foundation of today’s
public broadcasting system, and the Institute of Communications Research offers
the oldest doctoral program in communication and media studies in the world. Through
collaboration and innovation, the college cultivates educational experiences
that build students’ critical and creative skills. Our faculty are talented
educators, researchers, and practitioners who prepare students to meet the
evolving demands of an increasingly connected global society and to thrive
during these times of disruption and change.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a global,
preeminent research university. Since its founding in 1867, the University of
Illinois Urbana-Champaign has earned a reputation as a world-class leader in
research, teaching, and public engagement.
This position will be responsible for identifying,
cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gift prospects and donors to increase
giving in support of the College of Media and the philanthropic interests of
donors. In addition, the Assistant Director will develop, organize and
implement a comprehensive and integrated alumni engagement program that aligns
with the mission, vision, and strategic priorities of the college and supports a
culture of philanthropy that motivates alumni giving.
Duties & Responsibilities
Fundraising
- Determine and prioritize lists of donor prospects, alumni, and other stakeholders to be contacted for personal visits.
- Meet with donors and donor prospects via travel, on-campus visits, phone, and video conferencing, including some evenings and weekends, as deemed appropriate by the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO).
- Develop and maintain close collaborative partnerships with faculty and staff to gain a strong knowledge of academic and research programs in order to identify and define priorities to be funded through private support.
- Partner closely with other advancement professionals, including gift officers and corporate relations professionals.
- Develop and maintain close collaborative partnerships with campus and unit colleagues, including within advancement, corporate relations, and foundation relations, to ensure a strong baseline knowledge of campus, college, and unit programs and priorities.
- Document all activities and interactions in the alumni/donor database.
Constituent Engagement
- Develop and execute a strategic plan to increase engagement with College of Media constituents, which can include, but not limited to students, alumni, donors, faculty, staff, community organizations, corporations, and foundations.
- Assist in the preparation and execution of events surrounding the College of Media’s donor- based Centers and Events, including those of the Ebert Center and Frank Center, as well as annual activities such as the Skornia Lecture and commencement.
- Assist in the communication strategy on constituent engagement events, programs, and initiatives targeting the alumni community and donor base.
Impact in Your First
Year
We value our employees and will provide resources to help you continually
learn and grow. We foster a strong, collaborative community of people who are
driven by their ability to make a difference.
Within 3 months:
Become familiar with the
strategic vision and priorities of the College of Media
Meet your assigned
Prospect Development Analyst and begin to dig into your portfolio
Attend professional
development and networking activities for newcomers within Advancement
Be introduced to
fundraising fundamentals terminology adopted from Plus Delta Partners
Within 6 months:
Begin cultivating
relationships with key prospects/donors/alumni to create and implement
solicitation strategies
Partner with stewardship
and donor relations, events, alumni relations, and communications
colleagues on unit-wide initiatives
Be able to share multiple
meaningful impact stories of transformative gifts
By the end of the
first year:
Cooperatively set annual
goals with your supervisor and portfolio management team
Continue portfolio growth
of qualified prospects and successful solicitation strategies
Receive one-on-one
coaching from Talent Management to help your transition to your new role
Build a robust network of
colleagues across campus
Position Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor’s degree.
- A minimum of two years of successful advancement and/or alumni relations development, marketing, and special events experience, or three years of experience in a closely related field which requires strong relationship-building and outcome-driven components.
- Documented success working collaboratively in a cross-functional environment with competing priorities.
Preferred
- Experience working in higher education.
- Experience managing alumni and/or student programs and devising innovative programs to engage alumni and/or donors to support programmatic priorities.
- Experience working with academic and/or community leaders.
- Experience identifying new ways to engage individuals with high net worth who are unfamiliar with philanthropy.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Demonstrated understanding of major donor prospect qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, preferably in a higher education environment.
- Knowledge of best practices in constituent engagement and alumni relations programs.
- Exceptional attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
- Ability to manage several multifaceted projects simultaneously and independently while meeting aggressive deadlines.
- Superb oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with an emphasis on engaged, active listening.
- Demonstrated ability to represent an organization in visits with key constituents.
- Strong relationship management skills.
- Strong interpersonal communication skills and the ability to navigate varying personality types in a positive and effective manner.
- Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and with minimal supervision.
- Ability to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed.
Appointment Information
This is a 100% full-time Academic Professional position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the close of the search. Salary range for this position is $69,000-$72,000. We strive to provide a competitive salary, considering factors such as available market data, internal equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints. The final salary offer will be determined through a thorough assessment of these elements. Work authorization sponsorship is not available for this position.
Application Procedures & Deadline Information
Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on May 19, 2025. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting and upload a cover letter, resume and contact information for three professional references. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact Jennifer Steiling at [email protected]. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.
The University of Illinois offers a very competitive benefits portfolio, depending on the position. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing [email protected].
Requisition ID: 1030626
Job Category: Professional and Administrative
How to apply
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu
The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. The administration, faculty and staff embrace diversity and are committed to attracting qualified candidates who also embrace and value diversity and inclusivity.
