Director of Development

University of Colorado; Aurora (CO); On-site; USD 103,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plans

Dental plans

Retirement plan 401(a)

Paid Time Off

Job summary

University of Colorado Anschutz is seeking a Director of Development to lead philanthropic strategy and major gift fundraising for the College of Nursing. The role partners with the Dean, faculty, alumni and community leaders to cultivate annual, major and principal gifts and to translate institutional priorities into compelling funding opportunities.

The position reports to the Executive Strategist of Institutional Engagement, with responsibilities spanning strategy development, donor

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of 3 years of professional fundraising experience or related fields (nonprofit, public affairs, business development).
• A combination of education and related experience may substitute for a bachelor's degree on a year-for-year basis.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic plans for engaging communities and stakeholders in philanthropic support.
• Lead major and principal gifts, working with leadership to ensure positive donor experiences.
• Direct development of annual giving campaigns, including messaging and marketing strategies.
• Grow partnerships with faculty, staff, alumni and donors to align with College priorities.
• Monitor and analyze fundraising data to inform strategy and measure success.
• Collaborate with Office of Advancement and College of Nursing to ensure effective outreach.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Relationship building

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Director of Development

Description

University of Colorado Anschutz

Department: Office of Advancement

Job Title: Director of Development

Position #: 00725102 - Requisition #: 40689

Job Summary

The Director of Development is a strategic leader responsible for cultivating and strengthening philanthropic relationships to advance the organization’s mission. This position will focus on the College of Nursing. This person will be a thought partner for the Dean of the College for all fundraising. This person will work with faculty, staff, alumni, board members, community leaders, and third‑party organizations to create experiences that will cultivate annual, major, and principal gifts.

Supervision

• Received: Reports to 00669735 - Executive Strategist of Institutional Engagement
• Exercised: No direct reports

Key Responsibilities

Philanthropic Strategy: 30%

• In partnership with the Executive Strategist for Institutional Engagement:
• Develop and implement strategic plans for engaging the community and stakeholders in philanthropic support of the College of Nursing, including strategy on individual donor cultivation, expanding the College's donor base, foundation relations, and corporate partnerships.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Dean of the College of Nursing in developing a robust community of potential supporters.
• Serve as a partner to faculty to increase philanthropic support to the programs and centers of the College.
• Develop a multi-year fundraising operating plan to establish fundraising goals built on portfolio projections, historical fundraising, and prospective donor analysis.
• Develop and maintain a deep understanding of institutional priorities, academic programs, and centers of excellence in order to translate these assets into compelling funding.

Fundraising: 50%

Major and Principal Gift Fundraising: 30%

• Lead all major and principal gifts, working closely with organizational leadership to ensure a positive philanthropic experience for current and potential benefactors. Cultivate and maintain relationships with key philanthropic partners, ensuring their alignment with the organization's vision.
• Direct the development of event concepts, messaging, and marketing strategies to maximize attendance and donor engagement.
• Engage high‑profile individuals and community leaders to serve as event hosts, chairs, and ambassadors, leveraging their networks for fundraising success.
• Analyze event outcomes and campaign performance, using insights to inform future strategies and initiatives.
• Facilitate productive relationships between benefactors and ColoradoSPH administrators, faculty and staff to ensure effectiveness of outreach and alignment with the College's needs and priorities.

Annual Giving Fundraising: 20%

• Maximize annual giving donations to the College and support effective pathways of the future of major and principal gifts to the College.
• Direct the development of annual giving campaigns, including messaging, and marketing strategies to maximize attendance and donor engagement.
• Analyze the effectiveness of annual giving efforts.

Development Operations: 20%

• Expand upon and maintain expertise on philanthropic opportunities at the College of Nursing.
• Serve as a solutions oriented main point of contact between the College of Nursing and the Office of Advancement, providing a high level of customer service to the College on development related inquiries.
• Manage process and issues around accurate reporting, gift stewardship, faculty support on development efforts.
• Manage projects from conception to completion, including continuous evaluation and improvement of strategies.
• Monitor and analyze fundraising data to identify areas of improvement and to support strategy development.
• Work closely with and support generalist gift officers on opportunities within the College.

Work Location

Hybrid

Why Join Us

Why work for the University?

• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
• Holiday Days: 15/year
• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum of 3 years of professional fundraising experience or experience in related fields like nonprofit administration, public affairs, or business development, including managing funding relationships with individuals, corporations or foundations.
• A combination of education and related technical/military/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for a bachelor's degree on a year for year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• 4 years of leadership experience in community engagement, development, or a related field, with a proven track record in board development, strategic partnerships, and major and principal fundraising success.
• Minimum of 5 years of successful professional fundraising experience, or experience in related fields like nonprofit administration, public affairs, or business development.
• Master's degree in business administration, public relations, management, communications, or similar fields.

Conditions of Employment

• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship. We are unable to provide work visa sponsorship or employment authorization for this position now or in the future.
• National travel may be required for partnership development, fundraising events, and conferences.
• This position requires flexibility in hours, including evenings and weekends for events and meetings.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution.
• Outstanding customer service skills.
• Demonstrated experience in fostering a community that values a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
• Project Management: Personal computer proficiency required, especially as related to Microsoft Office Products; MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; and donor tracking software.
• Exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and mobilize diverse groups towards common goals.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical skills and the ability to envision and implement high-impact engagement strategies.
• Excellent negotiation and presentation skills, with experience in high-level partnership development.
• Knowledge of the latest trends in community engagement, fundraising, and non-profit management.
• Strong development skills including comfort with cold calling, leading effective one‑on‑one visits, and utilizing multiple modes of communication to achieve results.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to be both proactive and responsive in a metrics driven environment.
• Ability to handle sensitive information discreetly and maintain confidentiality.
• Solid ability to organize and manage multiple projects/tasks simultaneously; must have ability to work independently and collaboratively and adapt to changing priorities.
• Flexibility and adaptability to evolve in an emerging and changing environment.
• Proven ability to foster and build relationships internally and externally.

Anticipated Pay Range

$103,497 - $108,000

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line. The University of Colorado Anschutz is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.

The University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, pregnancy, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation, or political philosophy. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.