Donor Growth Leader: Foundations & Major Gifts

Ultipro; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 96,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Vision coverage

Dental coverage

403(b) Retirement Plan

Vacation, sick leave, personal days, &

Discounted DZCA membership

Discounts & free parking

Job summary

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance seeks a Director of Foundations & Major Gifts to lead institutional giving, manage a portfolio of funders, and develop compelling grant proposals to advance the organization's mission.

You will cultivate relationships with foundations, corporations, government agencies, and major donors, coordinating across teams to build sustainable funding pipelines and report on outcomes.

Qualifications

• 4-year degree in a related field preferred.
• Minimum five years in grant writing/management, institutional giving, and/or major gifts, with at least three years leading a grants or institutional giving program within a complex nonprofit or equivalent organization strongly preferred.
• An equivalent combination of professional experience, lived experience, education, and/or specialized skills will also be considered.

Responsibilities

• Lead institutional giving program and secure support from private, corporate, and government funders.
• Develop and submit grant proposals, funding requests, and reports aligned with organizational priorities.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with funders through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Identify and evaluate new funding opportunities and maintain a robust institutional giving pipeline.
• Oversee the full grant lifecycle, including proposal development, compliance, reporting, renewals, and stewardship.
• Partner with internal teams to develop budgets, outcomes, and accurate reporting for funded programs.
• Maintain grant records, deadlines, and performance metrics to ensure achievement of annual revenue goals.
• Manage a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects, executing strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward philanthropic investments.
• Develop donor-centered proposals and engagement opportunities that advance giving and long‑term relationships.
• Collaborate with organizational leadership, Trustees, and volunteers to strengthen donor engagement and fundraising outcomes.
• Serve as a strategic fundraising partner, providing recommendations on funding opportunities, trends, and revenue strategies.
• Partner across departments to align philanthropic funding with DZCA priorities and mission impact.

Skills

CRM systems

Microsoft Office

Tessitura

Communication skills

Relationship building

Negotiation

Education

4-year degree

Job description

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance seeks a Director of Foundations & Major Gifts to lead institutional giving, manage a portfolio of funders, and develop compelling grant proposals to advance the organization's mission.

You will cultivate relationships with foundations, corporations, government agencies, and major donors, coordinating across teams to build sustainable funding pipelines and report on outcomes.