Strategic Development Director: Donor Engagement & Gala

Colorado "I Have A Dream" Foundation; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Colorado LiftED Foundation is seeking a Director of Development & Engagement to lead its individual-giving engine, foster donor relationships, and drive signature events and campaigns in the Denver metro area.

This growth-oriented role starts non-supervisory, with a plan to expand the team as donor revenue matures, and requires strategic relationship-building, flawless gala execution, and data-driven campaign management to ensure sustained support for youth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience in development, nonprofit management, communications is required.
• Five to seven years of progressive development experience with ownership of donor cultivation, events, and campaigns.
• Experience with donor management systems (Virtuous, Salesforce, Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, or similar).
• Excellent written and verbal communication with donor-facing language and relationship-building skills.
• Experience directing contractors and volunteers and ability to grow a small team.
• Comfort with spreadsheets, email marketing platforms, and reporting dashboards.

Responsibilities

• Own the individual-giving strategy and pipeline, developing multi-year plans for donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Maintain a personal portfolio by cultivating and stewarding donors with high-touch stewardship.
• Prepare the CEO and Senior Director of Development with briefing materials and engagement opportunities.
• Own the Gala and signature events end-to-end, including strategy, budget, execution, and post-event reconciliation.
• Direct contracted and volunteer event capacity and manage a calendar of cultivation moments.
• Own campaign strategy and revenue for Colorado Gives Day, End-of-Year Giving, and new campaigns.

Skills

Donor cultivation

Signature events

Giving campaigns

Budgeting

Donor management systems

Relationship building

Data-driven decisions

Equity & DEI

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Virtuous

Salesforce

Bloomerang

DonorPerfect

Job description

Colorado LiftED Foundation is seeking a Director of Development & Engagement to lead its individual-giving engine, foster donor relationships, and drive signature events and campaigns in the Denver metro area.

This growth-oriented role starts non-supervisory, with a plan to expand the team as donor revenue matures, and requires strategic relationship-building, flawless gala execution, and data-driven campaign management to ensure sustained support for youth.