Gift Planning Fellow

University of Illinois Foundation

The University of Illinois Foundation is hiring an individual interested in higher education fundraising to participate in a twelve-to-eighteen-month job training and professional development program intended to launch frontline fundraising or gift planning careers at the University of Illinois System’s three universities in Champaign-Urbana, Chicago, and Springfield. This individual will hold the title of Gift Planning Fellow and will be full-time employees of the University of Illinois Foundation. The position will be an integral part of the Office of Gift Planning and Trust Services (GPTS). Salary and benefits will be provided during the duration of the program. The Fellow will attend the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Graduate Trainee Program, which connects participants across the nation and provides a full year of online education, mentorship, conversations with advancement leaders, and conference experiences. The fellow will also participate in a collaborative effort with the Planned Giving Initiative (PGI), Norfolk State University (NSU), and Delaware State University (DSU). More information about this ground breaking partnership can be found on the UIF website: https://uif.uillinois.edu/news/2024/university-illinois-foundation-joins-innovative-partnership-seeking-address-inequities. 

This is an in-person position located in Champaign, Illinois, with some out-of-state travel.

JOB DUTIES:

• Develops and maintains professional knowledge about fundraising practices, tax laws, regulatory changes, industry best practices, standards, and other aspects of charitable gift planning.
• Supports the design and development of donor proposals and illustrations, donor acknowledgement letters, and provides timely follow up to donors and major gift officers on charitable gift arrangements at the request of gift planners.

• Effectively and efficiently communicates with university, Gift Planning and Trust Services colleagues, and donors to advance our fundraising efforts.
• Evaluates and recommends additional methods for prospect engagement and stewardship.
• Completes special projects on behalf of the Office of Gift Planning and Trust Services as requested, particularly as a part of the Planned Giving Initiative in partnership with NSU and DSU.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree (requirements completed by June 2024)
• Demonstrated experience building relationships and collaborating effectively on a team
• Strong interest in higher education advancement as a career
• High integrity and ability to adhere to strict confidentiality standards.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and strong interpersonal skills
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and ability to synthesize data.
• Results-driven, fast learner who is self-motivated, can concurrently manage and reprioritize multiple projects, and brings experience from a variety of functional areas across an enterprise.
• Exude UIF’s Culture Code by exemplifying integrity, practicing empathy, embracing collaboration, inspiring innovation, and enabling impact during interactions and communications with internal and external audiences.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Degree in business, accounting, information science, finance, financial planning, communication, or law
• One year of experience in areas of advancement, accounting, banking/trust, data management, or data analytics

Application Details:

Candidates may create a profile and apply for this position through https://jobs.uif.uillinois.edu. For full consideration for the role, all candidates must

• Complete the online application

• Upload a resume
• Upload a cover letter explaining your interest in this role
  
  

Application Deadline: April 30, 2024

A comprehensive background check including but not limited to a criminal conviction and credit check will be conducted. For further information regarding application procedures, contact Foundation Human Resources at uifhrsearches@uif.uillinois.edu.

Note: candidates must be able to work in the United States legally, without employer-based sponsorship.

About the University of Illinois Foundation

Established in 1935, the University of Illinois Foundation is an independent not-for-profit corporation responsible for raising and administering private gifts that advance the University of Illinois, a world-class public research university system, and its excellence in teaching, research, public service, and economic development. For more information about the University of Illinois Foundation, go to https://uif.uillinois.edu/.

About CASE

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) is a professional association serving educational institutions and the advancement professionals who work on their behalf in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and allied areas. CASE helps its members build stronger relationships with their alumni and donors, raise funds for campus projects, produce recruitment materials, market their institutions to prospective students, diversify the profession, and foster public support of education. For more information about the CASE Graduate Trainee Program, go to https://www.case.org/graduate-trainee-program-us-and-canada.