Director, Scholarship Fund and Alumni Relations

DeVry University strives to close our society’s opportunity gap by preparing learners to thrive in careers shaped by continuous technological change. Through innovative programs, relevant partnerships, and exceptional care, we empower students to meaningfully improve their lives, communities, and workplaces.

When you apply for a DeVry University career, you become part of an institution that dates back to 1931. Our colleagues are passionate about higher education and shaping the future of today’s learners.

Opportunity

The Director of Alumni Relations and Scholarship Fund is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to engage alumni, foster relationships, and secure funding to support scholarship programs within the university. This position provides strategic direction, leadership, and best-practice knowledge for the 501(c)(3) DeVry Scholarship Fund.  This includes overseeing alumni relations initiatives, scholarship fundraising campaigns, and stewardship efforts to cultivate a vibrant and supportive alumni community.  Special emphasis of this position is to ensure compliance with all, federal, state, and internal policies, and regulations regarding the maintenance of non-profit 501(c)(3) status, and for creating/maintaining the infrastructure for providing awards and grants to continuing students who meet established criteria. 

The position closely partners with the independent Board of Directors of the DeVry Scholarship Fund, DeVry leadership, and affiliated volunteer leadership groups environment.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate and implement a strategy of donor prospect constituencies for securing financial support for the Scholarship Fund scholarships.  Constituencies of focus include (but are not limited to) Alumni, Corporate Partners, Colleagues, Affinity Partnerships, Grant Opportunities, and Major Donor candidates.
• Serve as the leadership liaison to educate external and internal stakeholders regarding the alumni constituency, the Scholarship Fund scholarship opportunities, engagement requirements, and design/implement strategies to meet those needs.
• Provide leadership guidance, support, and management for the DeVry Scholarship Fund board of directors, and facilitate as liaison their ongoing engagement, structure, and activities.
• Expand the Scholarship Fund portfolio and coordinate with external stakeholders for the proper utilization and tracking of Scholarship Fund resources to maximize growth opportunities.
• Coordinate with resources in Finance, Regulatory Compliance, Legal, and other partners to ensure the proper reporting and compliance with non-profit, tax, and institutional rules and requirements.
• Coordinate and facilitate external audit entities to ensure accurate reporting of Scholarship Fund activity and resource applications and allocations.
• Provide best-practice coaching and fundraising research regarding non-profit engagement and structure applications to the private-sector model. 
• Provide leadership to design and implement an expanded short (1 year) and long term (5 years) strategy for the engagement of alumni to support the needs of the university while also promoting a culture of alumni activity, partnership and support. 
• Cultivate alumni leadership groups to serve as engagement leaders and conduits for constituency promotion, university mentoring, and external alumni visibility.
• Develop and implement quarterly and annualized plans and associated success metrics to support designated university needs. 
• Lead efforts to expand engagement with senior and C-level alumni leaders for alumni services and awareness, external relations, and scholarship leadership giving.
• Develop and lead efforts with a direct report to create and expand the engagement of alumni and donors through enhanced communication outreach capabilities, expanded event activities, social media, driven website and blog content, and ongoing stewardship communications.
• Provide visionary leadership and guidance to direct reports, fostering a culture of trust, accountability, continuous improvement, and belonging.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required, master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 7+ years’ experience required, preferably in and educational setting with demonstrated leadership accomplishment in the areas of fundraising development, constituency fundraising cultivation, development team management, and annual fund / alumni relations engagement. 
• Previous Director of Development experience strongly preferred. Previous capital campaign experience desired.
• Outreach experience in a fundraising setting strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience cultivating and obtaining individual gifts >$100,000.
• A demonstrated ability to strategize, plan and implement constituency engagement programs and activities, motivating volunteers, and experience managing a prospect portfolio and moves-management structures. 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, together with an ability to manage mentor teams and work collaboratively with associated stakeholders.  
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office, and extensive familiarity with fundraising CRM and applications such as LGL, iModules, Salesforce Advancement Connect, and other fundraising systems.  Familiarity with Award Spring or associated award systems preferred.
• Ability to strategize and implement multi-channel campaigns, with attention to detail and prioritization.
• Ability to travel approximately 15%, as needed, and work evenings and weekends as required.