Director of Philanthropy

Colorado Community College System (CCCS); Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 116,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid-remote work

Job summary

The Colorado Community College System Foundation seeks a Director of Philanthropy. This entrepreneurial leader will grow and manage a portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation donors, aiming to double the number of active $1,000+ donors in 2–3 years and to meet annual fundraising goals through major gifts and strategic engagement.

Three days per week in the Lowry office are required for meetings, with extensive travel within Colorado.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Three years of successful fundraising, major gifts, or related work.
• Experience cultivating relationships and securing five-figure gifts and above.
• Experience building and managing a donor portfolio through the full lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Manage full donor pipeline from identification to renewal.
• Design and manage strategies for major gifts and annual fund gifts.
• Prepare CCCS leadership for donor meetings and solicitations.
• Advance donor relationships and stewardship of assigned donors.
• Identify and engage new donor prospects with entrepreneurial approaches.
• Personally solicit and close five-figure gifts and above.

Skills

Fundraising goals

Donor relationships

Portfolio management

CRM systems

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

CRM/donor management software

Job description

Title: Director of Philanthropy

Position Type: Professional Tech Full time

College: System Office

Division: Foundation

Department: CCCS Foundation

Campus: Lowry Campus

Location: Denver

Salary Range:$115,500 - $121,000

Who We Are

The Colorado Community College System is the state’s largest provider of higher education and workforce training, consisting of 13 colleges and over 35 locations across the state, educating approximately 130,000 postsecondary students annually. In addition, we train more than 4,000 Coloradans each year through customized employer training programs and coordinate delivery of career and technical education (CTE) programs to over 165,000 K-12 learners annually. Our mission is to provide accessible, responsive learning environments where students can achieve their educational, professional and personal goals in an atmosphere that embraces academic excellence, diversity and innovation. We are an organization that encourages individuals to bring their whole selves to work.
Founded in 1987, the Foundation for Colorado Community Colleges advances the mission, vision, goals, and objectives of the Colorado Community College System. Specifically, the Foundation actively seeks contributions from public and private sources to make scholarships available statewide, advance key programmatic initiatives, provide training and support for CCCS college foundations, and develop partnerships to implement state‑of‑the‑art programs that meet the workforce needs of the 21st century.

Job Summary

The Director of Philanthropy serves in the Foundation for Colorado Community Colleges (CCCS Foundation). This entrepreneurial leader is responsible for growing and managing a dynamic portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation, including national foundations, donors with a mandate to double the number of active donors at the $1,000+ level within the next 2–3 years. You will be accountable for meeting and exceeding annual fundraising goals. At its core, this role is responsible for major and transformation gifts, but also oversees donor engagement strategies, including stewardship initiatives, mailings, e‑solicitations, and special convenings, with no reliance on fundraising events.
Note: Three days per week in our Lowry office is required for meetings with other System Office staff. Extensive travel, primarily within Colorado, will also be required.
This position is currently funded through 12/31/2028.
This recruitment is being posted until filled, with a priority deadline of November 3, 2026.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Responsible for the full donor pipeline—from identification and acquisition to stewardship and renewal.
• Design, implement, and manage comprehensive fundraising strategies to secure major gifts and lead annual fund gifts from individuals, corporations, and national foundations.
• Advise and prepare CCCS leadership, including the Chancellor, Chief Development Officer, and Executive Director, for donor meetings and solicitations.
• Work closely with constituents to advance donor relationships, drive new/renewed giving, coordinate gift arrangements and documentation, and oversee stewardship of assigned donors.
• Cultivate and steward relationships through one‑on‑one meetings, personalized outreach, and strategic communications.
• Proactively identify, research, and engage new donor prospects, leveraging entrepreneurial approaches and sales techniques to build a robust and diverse donor base.
• Personally solicit and close gifts, including major and lead annual fund gifts, with a focus on five‑figure and above commitments.

Competencies/KSAs

• Experienced in meeting or exceeding measurable fundraising, revenue, or portfolio growth goals.
• Ability to grow philanthropic support by expanding the donor pipeline, deepening existing donor relationships, and increasing the level and frequency of giving.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, presentation, negotiation, and active‑listening skills.
• Self‑directed and entrepreneurial, with the ability to build and grow a philanthropy function while working collaboratively within a small team.
• Strong judgment, discretion, and ability to manage sensitive and confidential information.
• Highly organized and results‑oriented, with strong follow‑through and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Proficiency with CRM/donor management systems and contemporary business technology.
• Ability and willingness to travel as needed and attend occasional evening and weekend events.
• Knowledge of planned giving, corporate giving, foundation giving, grants, and other philanthropic vehicles or strategies.
• Commitment to the mission of community colleges and expanding access to post‑secondary education.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree. An equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience may substitute for the degree.
• Three years of successful experience in fundraising, major gifts, sales, business development, or a comparable relationship‑driven role.
• Experience cultivating relationships and securing gifts, sales, or commitments, including at the five‑figure level and above.
• Experience building and managing a portfolio of donors or prospects across the full relationship lifecycle – from identification and cultivation through solicitation, stewardship and continued engagement.

Additional Information

Work Location/Travel Expectations

• CCCS offices at 9101 E Lowry Blvd., Denver, CO 80230.
• Approximately 50–60% travel, primarily within Colorado, with some national travel required. Must be able to travel to develop and steward relationships with funders, colleges and college foundations. While most travel will be within the state of Colorado, travel outside of the state may be required.
• Three days a week will be required in the office per week.
• Alternative work arrangements, including flexible schedules and hybrid‑remote work may be available. All work must be completed in the state of Colorado.

Note: per the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, an applicant may redact information from their resume, cover letter, and/or transcripts that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution. If your position requires us to review an official transcript, without redacting, we will request one as part of our conditional offer process. In order to evaluate work experience against established requirements for positions, we are still requesting dates of service (month and year) for positions in the applicant’s work history.

Department contact: Nikki Cimino: [e-mail]

Hiring Pay Rate

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to internal equity and directly applicable experience, education, and training.