Manager, Major Gifts

Sundance Institute; Colorado; Hybrid; USD 57,784 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, vision, and dental insurance

Paid sick, family, and medical leave

Employee Wellness initiatives

401(k) with employer contribution

Sundance Film Festival passes and benefits

Job summary

Sundance Institute is seeking a Manager, Major Gifts to lead major gift fundraising efforts. The role involves engaging with approximately 125 donors and developing effective solicitation strategies. Candidates should have a minimum of 3 years of fundraising experience, exceptional storytelling skills, and knowledge of the donor landscape.

This full-time position allows a hybrid work model, and involves collaboration with various teams to ensure donor strategies align with the Institute’s mission. A salary range of $57,784 to $70,000 is offered with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of frontline fundraising experience in a relevant nonprofit.
• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build authentic relationships.

Responsibilities

• Manage major gift fundraising and donor portfolios.
• Develop, implement, and report on fundraising strategies.
• Collaborate with teams to enhance donor engagement.

Skills

Frontline fundraising experience

Storytelling and communication skills

Relationship-building with stakeholders

Knowledge of funding landscape

Strategic fundraising development

Interpersonal and communication skills

Innovative fundraising strategies

Trust-based relationship building

Prospect research skills

Legal authorization to work in the US

Job description

The Manager, Major Gifts is responsible for the full cycle of major gift fundraising in support of the Sundance Institute. This includes managing a portfolio of approximately 125 current and prospective major gift ($25K+) donors, developing and executing solicitation strategies for major gift donors, and ensuring thoughtful stewardship. A key focus will be on building a strong donor pipeline of mid- to upper-level donors through proactive identification, cultivation, and engagement of new major gift prospects.

Working closely under the Associate Director, Individual Giving, the successful candidate will manage their time, resources, and workload effectively to stay productive and meet fundraising goals. This role requires discretion in navigating complex relationships and a proactive approach to supporting multiple fundraising campaigns. This position supports our commitment to engaging mission and values-aligned donors as a key frontline fundraiser to support our work through financial contributions and other methods of support.

This full-time position will be based within a commutable distance to Boulder, CO to operate in a hybrid environment with in-office collaboration. Extended hours will be required during key Institute events and campaigns. Travel to other Institute offices, events, and donor visits will be required throughout the year.

Top priorities include but are not limited to…

• Partnering with the Associate Director, Individual Giving to develop and implement high level major donor strategies, encompassing alumni and artist giving.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Artistic, Artist Programs, Festival, and Development teams to ensure donor engagement strategies authentically reflect the Institute’s mission, creative community, and programmatic priorities.
• Initiating, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding relationships with a portfolio of prospects and donors (including major gifts, planned giving, and support for endowment campaigns).
• Partnering with Artist Program teams to engage and solicit major and prospective donors for program-specific gifts, including the Catalyst program.
• Reporting on major gift revenue to identify and present fundraising trends.
• Deepening long-term donor investment through relationship-centered engagement, stewardship, and philanthropic partnership.
• Supporting on the ground operations and facilitating meaningful donor meetings at the annual Catalyst Forum, at labs, and at donor events as needed.
• For the Manager, Major Gifts portfolio, overseeing major donor engagement strategy at the Sundance Film Festival, including meetings with donors.
• Providing regular revenue updates to the Development and Finance teams, including ensuring accuracy in revenue projections in the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database and following up on the status of major gift opportunities.
• Representing Sundance Institute and the Development team at Institute events.

You have the following direct or transferable skill sets:

• Minimum of 3 years of frontline fundraising experience within an arts, film, media or other culturally driven nonprofit organization required.
• Exceptional storytelling and communication skills, with the ability to translate artistic impact into compelling donor engagement opportunities.
• Demonstrated ability to build authentic relationships with artists, creatives, cultural stakeholders, and philanthropists who support creative work.
• Knowledge of the independent film, arts, or creative funding landscape, including the motivations and priorities of donors who invest in artists and storytelling.
• Ability to develop and implement new fundraising strategies, and solicit and close major gifts.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of innovative fundraising strategies.
• Ability to build trust-based, authentic relationships across diverse donor, artist, and stakeholder communities. Strong organizational skills, including the ability to effectively prioritize and manage processes.
• Strong donor engagement and relationship management skills, including a proactive and thoughtful approach to donor communication and stewardship.
• Demonstrated experience working with prospect research and customer relationship management databases.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States.

You will be successful in this role if you...

• Strategically advance fundraising initiatives by creating and implementing innovative fundraising strategies that are in sync with the Institute's mission and values/interests of the donors.
• Cultivate and solicit major donors by building and executing personalized engagement plans and solicitation strategies that resonate with individual major donors.
• Maintain consistent donor engagement by actively engaging with major donors on a regular basis through meaningful interactions that advance cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Drive philanthropic support by consistently identifying and pursuing opportunities to secure increased and new contributions, as well as gifts designated for specific programs.
• Ensure effective communication and time management by clearly communicating, prioritizing tasks effectively, and consistently meeting deadlines in a timely manner.

In addition to an annual salary of $57,784.00 to $70,000.00*, this position is eligible for our comprehensive benefits package, highlights include:

• Health, vision, and dental insurance
• Paid sick, family, and medical leave
• Employee Wellness initiatives
• 401(k) with automatic 3% employer contribution after one year of employment
• Sundance Film Festival passes and benefits (varies each year)

*Final rate of pay is determined based on the applicant's geographic location, relevant experience and skills, and internal equity among similar positions within our organization.

Applications open 05/21/2026 and will be accepted for at least one week