About DU Advancement
The University of Denver is building an advancement enterprise that mirrors the excellence of our great institution. Advancement efforts at DU have a tremendous impact through our relationships with DU’s remarkable students, dedicated donors, inspiring alumni, engaged families, and wonderful friends. DU is committed to building and fostering a culture of deep engagement and philanthropy in support of our institution as we implement the DU IMPACT 2025 vision. The University of Denver and DU Advancement deeply value inclusive excellence, recognizing that its success is dependent on how well it values, engages, and includes the rich diversity of constituents. You can learn more about inclusive excellence at the University of Denver by visiting The Cultural Center’s digital home. As a part of that effort, we are continuing to grow a team of inclusive, collaborative, inquisitive, innovative, ethical, and transparent advancement professionals who value inclusivity and who possess a deep respect for one another and for our shared profession.
Position Summary
With a focus on the Greater Denver region, where there is a high concentration of prospects, the Associate Director of Development will be dedicated to helping DU grow and expand its philanthropic base of support. The Associate Director will serve as a university generalist but will concentrate efforts on alumni and prospects from specific academic units (including, but not limited to, the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Graduate School of Professional Psychology, Graduate School of Social Work, Morgridge College of Education, Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science, and University College.) This newly envisioned position will report directly to the Senior Director of Development, Regional and will be based in Denver.
As part of a dynamic, collaborative, and innovative team supporting DU’s top priorities in the region, the Associate Director of Development will serve in a highly outbound capacity. They will have a heavy focus on identification and qualification of major gift prospects through initial solicitations of gifts in the $1,000-$50,000 (mid-range) annually, to confirm their philanthropic interest in DU. The ultimate goal is to grow the university’s major gift pipeline through a donor centered approach. The Associate Director will qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects toward sustained giving at the major gift level. The key performance indicators for this position will be strategic qualifications, visits, solicitations, dollars raised, and shared execution of major gift prospect strategies.
Successful candidates will be highly collaborative, motivated, and skilled at building relationships. In addition, they will be deeply involved in the growth and expansion of DU’s donor base across the university. The University of Denver is unique in its academic portfolio, which boasts both strong undergraduate programs and experiences, as well as highly respected graduate and professional programs. Alumni identify with DU as well as with specific academic units, and the Associate Director of Development must be creative in their strategic approach with prospects to emphasize the intersection of those identities. This position will partner closely with colleagues working within the specific schools, colleges, and units to align strategies for regional constituents.
Essential Functions
Grow and expand the base of philanthropy:
- Plan, design, implement, and evaluate strategies to successfully identify and qualify major gift prospects.
- Utilize annual gift solicitations to determine major gift willingness and capacity, by cultivating and soliciting prospects for gifts between $1,000 – $50,000 (typically annually). Solicitations may be multichannel, as well as multi-year pledges. Metrics may include number of visits, strategic cultivations, solicitations, major gift referrals, and dollars raised.
- Build and manage a portfolio of prospects who have the capacity and affinity to contribute to DU at the major gift level during the course of the campaign.
- This position represents the breath of DU and will focus on the following colleges: the Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW), the Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP), the Morgridge College of Education (MCE), the Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science (RSECS), the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and University College (UCOL).
Campaign Readiness:
- Be knowledgeable of and leverage campaign priorities to secure gifts in support of campaign goals.
University Citizenship:
- Serve as an active and collaborative partner to all central and unit-based advancement functions and campus colleagues to foster strategic, effective, and collaborative fundraising practices. Contribute to team success and model “One DU” leadership.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Adept at using judgment and discretion in situations that require sensitivity and tact.
- Demonstrated ability to form and fully leverage cross-functional teams of colleagues, volunteers, and academic/University leaders toward closure of transformational gifts.
- Exceptionally high level of customer service skills.
- Must be able to manage time well, particularly while managing competing priorities.
- Must be able to work independently, as well as a part of a team.
- Must have strong communication skills, including the ability to speak and write effectively and persuasively; draft compelling proposals and letters.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience (Veterans with equivalent combination of military certification/education and experience may substitute for this qualification).
- 3 years of frontline fundraising or transferrable experience, including managing a prospect portfolio.
- Experience and demonstrated ability to identify, qualify, cultivate, and generate revenue from individual prospects.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience and demonstrated success in raising annual gifts in the range of $1,000-$50,000+ for an institution of higher education, a not for profit, or similar setting.
- Experience managing a major gifts portfolio
- Experience working in a university setting
Working Environment
Standard office environment
Noise level is quiet to moderate
Some nights and weekend event attendance
Significant travel responsibilities to assigned region
Eligible for hybrid work
Physical Activities
Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period
Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs. with assistance
Work Schedule
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; some nights and weekends as required
Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) September 11, 2023.
Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.
Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 11.
Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $65,000-$80,000.
The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.
Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver .
Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the university’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university’s complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non-discrimination-statement .
All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.
Advertised: August 17, 2023
Applications close: