Program Manager, Donor Communications and Relations, Arts and Sciences, Graduate School and

University of Colorado Boulder; Boulder (CO); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

CU Boulder benefits package

Job summary

University of Colorado Boulder is seeking a Program Manager for Donor Communications and Relations to support Arts and Sciences, Graduate School and Libraries. You will craft donor-centered narratives, manage content assets, and coordinate stewardship touchpoints for major gifts and ongoing donor engagement.

You will work with internal teams to translate complex programs into accessible materials, develop templates, and ensure messaging consistency across departments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• 1 year of professional, job-related experience minimum.
• Experience in higher education fundraising or donor communications is a plus.
• Proven written communication and storytelling abilities for donor audiences.

Responsibilities

• Write and develop donor-focused communications, reports, case statements, and proposals.
• Coordinate stewardship touchpoints, acknowledgments, reports, and donor recognitions.
• Manage content assets: program summaries, impact statistics, and priority narratives.
• Oversee project coordination for proposals, timelines, and stakeholder feedback.

Skills

Writing

Content development

Project coordination

Public speaking

Stakeholder engagement

Editing

Volunteer coordination

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Salesforce

Zoom

Teams

MarketingCloud

Canva

DocuSign

Qualtrics

Cvent

Graduway

Google Docs/Sheets

Workfront

Job description

Job Summary

Advancement at CU Boulder encourages applications for a ProgramManager for Donor Communications and Relations! This role isresponsible for contributing to the planning and execution ofimpactful donor and alumni engagement and stewardship efforts forthe Arts and Sciences, Graduate School and Libraries and joins ateam that focuses on donor relations and stewardship. This roleserves as a dedicated communications and content resource for theArts and Sciences, Graduate School and Libraries

The Advancement team is responsible for translating complex fundingpriorities and programmatic impact into compelling, donor-centerednarratives. This position advances philanthropic relationshipsthrough high-quality writing, tailored collateral, and theownership of a robust content infrastructure that supports the fulldonor lifecycle.

This position operates with a high degree of autonomy,self-directing their workflow to meet team priorities, manageconcurrent projects, and deliver polished communications on settimelines. This is a support-service function providing writing,content, and program management support to internal advancementpartners rather than engaging independently with donors, keyfaculty, or university administration leadership.

Under the guidance of the Director, Alumni Engagement and DonorRelations, this position is tasked with supporting the programmaticplanning and execution that achieves the unit’s goals incultivating and stewarding donors, engaging alumni and otherconstituents, promoting the reputation of the Arts and Sciences,Graduate School and Libraries and increasing overall philanthropicsupport for the school and CU Boulder.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with allapplicable federal, state, and local laws governingnondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating aworkplace where all individuals are treated with respect anddignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds toapply, including protected veterans and individuals withdisabilities.

Who We Are

CU Boulder Advancement is committed to a culture of joy,motivated by collaboration, passionate about excellence and drivenby impact. These four values define the culture and driveengagement and fundraising success.

We are committed to fostering an environment where everyonematters, and all can thrive. This dedication is rooted in our corevalues and our mission to drive impactful fundraising andengagement. Our team actively engages in learning, reflection, andthe transformation of systems, policies, and practices thatperpetuate oppressive ideologies—including racism, sexism, ableism,and heterosexism. We recognize our responsibility to lead byexample in building a supportive and inclusive culture for bothinternal colleagues and external partners. We hold ourselvesaccountable through individual and divisional goals thatcontinuously assess our progress, growth, and outcomes—ensuringalignment with our mission and values every step of the way.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Advancement Communications and Content Development

• Serve as a primary writing and content resource for the Artsand Sciences, Graduate School and Libraries advancement team. Witha focus on the frontline fundraising team and donor relations team,this position will produce tailored communications that advancedonor conversations across the giving continuum.
• Draft, edit, and refine a broad range of donor-facing andinternal collateral including impact reports, case statements,one-pagers, and gift proposals.
• Translate complex academic programs, research initiatives, andstudent outcomes into accessible, compelling narratives alignedwith donor interests and Arts and Sciences, Graduate School, andLibraries funding priorities.
• Under the direction of the Director, Alumni Engagement andDonor Relations and in partnership with the Assistant Director ofDonor Relations, develop and manage a suite of versatile collateraltemplates and content assets that can be adapted by advancementstaff for varied donor audiences and giving levels.
• Collaborate with Advancement Marketing and Communications touse the impact of philanthropic messages.
• Collaborate with the college's communications team to amplifycontent that can assist with engagement and philanthropyefforts.

Stewardship and Donor Relations Support

• Partner with the Assistant Director of Donor Relations toimplement customized stewardship touchpoints, to include writtenacknowledgments, broad based impact updates, and recognitioncontent for major gift donors to the Arts and Sciences, GraduateSchool and Libraries.
• Support the development and documentation of stewardshipprogram frameworks, ensuring consistent and meaningful recognitionthat reinforces donor loyalty and continued engagement.
• Coordinate the creation of gift reporting materials, drawing ondata and programmatic updates to communicate fund impact withclarity and credibility.
• Collaborate with Advancement Donor Relations to ensure the bestexperience for donors and efficient use of resources.

Content Management

• Build and maintain an organized library of content assetsincluding template language, program summaries, impact statistics,and funding priority narratives for use across the Arts andSciences, Graduate School and Libraries advancement team.
• Supervise and synthesize information about Arts and Sciences,Graduate School and Libraries academic programs, school priorities,and institutional landmarks to ensure advancement content reflectscurrent and accurate messaging.
• Develop and maintain internal processes and documentation thatsupport content consistency, version control, and efficient contentretrieval across the team.
• Provide ongoing content support and guidance to frontline anddonor relations staff, helping them select and adapt existingmaterials to meet specific donor engagement needs.
• Create engaging graphics, and short video assets for donorfacing communications.

Project Coordination and Administrative Support

• Project-manage proposal development for major gift asks throughthe coordination of data gathering, writing collaboration, reviewcycles, and final production.
• Incorporate feedback from multiple reviewers with soundeditorial judgment, managing timelines and revision processes toensure materials are delivered accurately and on schedule.
• Take on special projects as needed, serve on internal taskforces, and perform related duties as assigned by the Director,Alumni Engagement, and Donor Relations.
• Represent the team at cross-divisional engagements and Arts andSciences, Graduate School and Libraries events.

What You Should Know

• This position may require local, regional, and out-of-statetravel to engage with university constituents.
• This position has the ability to work a hybrid schedule withsome days on campus and some days remote.
• This position will occasionally be required to workevenings/weekends.

What We Can Offer

The salary range is $65,000 - $78,000 annually. Relocationassistance is available within Advancement guidelines.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder , we arecommitted to supporting the holistic health and well-being of ouremployees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical,dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuitionassistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for localtransit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulderoffers an inspiring academic community and access to world-classoutdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs throughthe CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be engaged. Be visionary. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, or acombination of education and experience.
• Experience: 1 year of professional, job-relatedexperience.

What You Will Need

• Ability to establish and enhance interpersonal relationships,including the ability to coordinate and manage volunteers.
• Strong communication skills include the ability to participatein public events and represent Advancement and the university in aprofessional manner.
• Ability to analyze information/situations and solveproblems.
• Ability to exercise a high degree of tact, discretion, andcollaboration in working with a diverse range of constituentsincluding employees, students, volunteers, alumni, donors, andcampus colleagues.
• Ability to organize and manage multiple projects/taskssimultaneously; the ability to work independently and on a team andadapt to changing priorities.
• Strong attention to detail and visual appeal of presentationmaterials.
• Growth mindset, resilience, and perseverance.
• Ability to champion the shared values of the Office ofAdvancement.
• Public speaking skills.
• Ability to embrace a self-starter/self-learning approach.
• Strong data/database management and manipulation skills.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Software Used: Microsoft Office products, database managementand data manipulation, Salesforce, Zoom, Teams, LinkedIn, MarketingCloud, Marketplace, Google docs/sheets, Cvent (or other RSVPsystem), Graduway, Qualtrics, Workfront, Canva, DocuSign.
• 3+ years of experience in a higher education fundraisingenvironment.
• Experience in tactical execution of communications, writing andmarketing collateral.
• Experience working in a project management role.