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School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Senior Development Coordinator

School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290

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Lakeview Building -SAIC 116 S Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60603, USA

Lakeview Building -SAIC 116 S Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60603, USA

For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world‑class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on‑campus galleries and state‑of‑the‑art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate and post‑baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world—as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.

Please click on the links below to view our competitive, comprehensive benefits package:

Hiring Range:

$50,000-$60,913

The expected hiring range is an estimated amount for positions based on the grade. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, qualifications and other job‑related reasons.

The Advancement Office at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) plays a vital role in supporting the school’s mission to educate and empower the world’s most influential artists, designers, and scholars. Advancement partners strategically with internal and external stakeholders to build enduring relationships, secure philanthropic support, and steward resources that enhance the student experience, fuel academic excellence, and strengthen SAIC’s impact locally and globally.

The team leads a broad range of activities including fundraising, major and planned giving, advancement services and operations, alumni engagement, and donor relations. By leveraging best‑in‑class systems, data insights, and creative engagement strategies, Advancement ensures that SAIC can continue to provide world‑class resources — from faculty support and scholarship funding to state‑of‑the‑art facilities and innovative programs. Collaboration across departments, thoughtful stewardship, and a commitment to community and creativity are at the heart of the office’s work.

Position Summary The Senior Development Coordinator supports the Office of Advancement in fundraising and engagement activities, reporting to the Vice President of Advancement. Facilitates alignment of leadership priorities in service of advancement initiatives with a focus on developing meeting strategies, donor interactions, and operational support. Manages VP's schedule, communication, and liaison duties while ensuring efficient office operations. The role will interact closely with the Office of the President, Office of the Provost and Office of Marketing and Communications to coordinate donor strategies and support special projects and events. This role plays a pivotal part in advancing the Office of Advancement's goals by ensuring streamlined operations, effective communication, and strategic support for the VP and department efforts.

Responsibilities

Collaborates with the Advancement Leadership Team to develop presidential strategies, preparing agendas, engagement materials, and comprehensive reports for the Vice President, President, and leadership team to support effective meetings.

Drafts, edits, and proofreads correspondence at the direction of the vice president.

Serves as the liaison between the office of the president and the office of advancement on presidential priorities, as well as strategic advancement projects.

Coordinates VP travel arrangements, expenses, and briefings for donor visits, managing both internal and external follow‑up.

Coordinates presidential travel itineraries in alignment with VP and leadership team, ensuring streamlined strategy.

Coordinates regular meetings between the president's office and office of advancement.

Assists VP's fundraising endeavors by tracking portfolio, proposals, and activity using the Raiser's Edge database.

Maintains VP's calendar, organizes meetings, and oversees logistical arrangements. Independently makes schedule changes in the vice president's calendar as needed to facilitate a more efficient flow of work.

Acts as on‑site coordinator for freelance grant writer.

Schedules and runs Office of Advancement meetings, organizing strategy around agenda, takes meeting notes.

Maintains office wiki page ensuring documentation of processes from all areas of the department.

Manages orders for office supplies in the OA department, addresses operational inquiries, and manages work orders.

Oversee payments of invoices, approval of contracts, and management of professional memberships.

Monitors OA budget to ensure financial compliance and effective resource allocation.

Reviews budget numbers and alerts the VP to any anomalies.

Serves as the primary point of contact for VP-related inquiries, demonstrating sound judgment and discretion.

Manages OA staff paid time off tracking and reporting to ensure accurate records.

Performs additional duties as assigned to contribute to the overall team success.

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree, or equivalent experience

Minimum of three years’ experience in an administrative role. Experience in administrative support within a dynamic professional environment, preferably in a fundraising/development office.

Ability to interface with executives within the organization, clearly articulate the needs and initiatives of the office of advancement, and partner effectively with senior leadership to advance projects.

Exceptional organizational and problem‑solving skills and the ability to prioritize and manage several projects efficiently.

Professional written and interpersonal skills are required.

High level of professionalism and confidentiality.

Proficiency in office software and databases; prior experience with Raiser's Edge or another fundraising database preferred.

Ability to anticipate needs and offer effective solutions.

Capacity to think strategically as well as creatively.

Experience managing finances/budget preferred, and working collaboratively and efficiently toward financial objectives.

Application Instructions Please submit your resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.

Union This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31.

Accessibility If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you will find the contact information to request the appropriate accommodation by visiting the following page:

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals compliant with federal and state laws. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at apply_help@artic.edu.

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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