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Associate Director Annual Giving

Northwestern University
$78,482.00 - $91,415.00 / yr
United States, Illinois, Chicago
Apr 01, 2026
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Job ID
53498
Location
Chicago, Illinois
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Department: Law Development
Salary/Grade: EXS/9

Job Summary:

The Associate Director is the functional expert/manager responsible for developing & managing group (market/region) and/or broad-based strategic relationship management plans, programs & events designed to strategically identify & cultivate prospects, students & alumni in meaningful ways that transition into engaged volunteers & donors. Participates in donor relationship management. Strategically identifies activities, events &/or programs that will increase prospects, students & alumni engagement and participation and may manage activities of larger groups of volunteers. Reviews programs: analyzes responses & outcomes & recommends changes to increase goals & objectives. Serves as liaison to both University and Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA). May supervise groups of volunteers &/or support staff. The Associate Director will assist the Senior Associate Director with overall Law School Fund strategy and collaborate with fellow team members in overall fundraising strategies to increase leadership giving.

Northwestern Pritzker Law prides itself on its active and diverse community, which brings together a passionate and talented group of students, staff, and faculty. The Law School endeavors to take principled action towards ensuring that we live up to our responsibility-and our institutional values-to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community for all constituents. Law School leadership commits to working tirelessly to ensure every member feels valued, all students can study and train to be successful in their careers, all staff members can develop personally and professionally, and where our faculty can both teach and support our students and produce top quality research and scholarship.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $78,482 - $91,415 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning

  • Significant participation in developing strategic plans.
  • Primary responsibility for administering & maintaining existing strategic plans relating to specific market segments, programs, events, support teams or high-level donors to meet goals for engagement & participation.
  • Recommends changes & improvements to processes, objectives, and goals based on evaluation of completed programs to dramatically increase engagement & participation & maximize & ensure most effective & efficient use of resources.

Collaboration

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

Prospects & Gifts

  • Develops, plans, and implements strategies, goals and approach for key leadership giving prospects and proactively works to develop donor pipeline.
  • Responsible for relationship management of volunteers and donors.
  • Identifies leadership giving prospects
  • Develops and implements individual engagement plans.
  • Identifies, researches, and personally solicits gifts of $10K - $50K by managing portfolio of approximately 150 prospects annually.
  • Personally solicits 20; five-figure gifts annually
  • Creates programs &/or events that promote engagement & philanthropic opportunities.
  • Plans and/or executes stewardship.
  • Provides necessary documentation and follow-up to donors, volunteers, and internal contacts and inputs all volunteer and alumni activity into database
  • Works collaboratively with Major Gifts team to develop strategic relationships in major markets

Volunteers

  • Recruits, engages, trains, and manages Reunion volunteers
  • Coordinates volunteer strategies with other development staff, including volunteer events, programming, marketing materials and social networking efforts.
  • Manages & implements a variety of leadership training opportunities both in-person & virtually designed to meet the needs of entry level to advanced alumni leaders in locations around the world.
  • Travels extensively throughout the region or country.

Administration

  • Manages development and execution of programming and marketing related to engagement and solicitation.
  • Determines key tactics.
  • Articulates goals and timelines.
  • Provides creative direction to designers and writers.
  • Plans events (including marketing, programming, and follow-up).
  • Provides work direction to colleagues or collaborators.
  • Provides necessary documentation and follow-up to donors, volunteers & internal contacts and inputs all volunteer and alumni activity in database.
  • Monitors and analyzes program metrics, including engagement activity, gifts/pledges, etc.
  • Ensures that proper stewardship and gift pledge follow-up occurs.
  • Analyzes segment, group, program, event metrics and reports to manager.
  • Responsible for duties assigned to supervised staff.
  • Maintains up-to-date knowledge of industry best practices.
  • Optimizes the use of technology including social media for marketing, communications & data reporting & analysis.
  • Assists in the development of dashboards & metrics which provide quantitative analysis of program & event outcomes.

Budget

  • Drafts budget for smaller less-complex programs &/or events.
  • Reviews with manager, & manages approved budget ensuring to minimize expenses while maximizing return.
  • Drafts special budget requests for manager's review.
  • Supervisory
  • Supervises 1-2 staff &/or provides work direction.
  • Provides training to staff within or outside of immediate dept or division in regard to function.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • 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.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

  • Organization; analytical thinking; big-picture thinking; curiosity; independent teamwork/collaboration

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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