About the Program

The Institute for Leaders in Development (ILD) at the University of Denver’s College of Professional Studies cultivates Colorado’s next generation of nonprofit fundraising leaders. Through a year-long, volunteer-led program that includes monthly curriculum and instruction, a capstone project, and one-on-one mentorship, ILD equips mid-career professionals with the knowledge, skills, and connections to foster fundraising career longevity and elevate philanthropy statewide. Operating on an annual budget of under $100,000, ILD is privately fundraised and sustained by its Program Manager together with the collaborative leadership of its Executive and Steering Committees.

Position Summary

Serving as ILD’s primary leader, strategist, and administrator, the Program Manager is currently the sole paid staff member supporting the program. This position works in close partnership with the Executive and Steering Committees, whose thought leadership and volunteer support are integral to ILD’s success. The role requires a blend of expertise in fundraising, community partnership, and volunteer engagement to maintain and advance the program’s excellence.

The ideal candidate brings both the relational acumen of a seasoned fundraiser and the operational discipline of an experienced program manager. They thrive in collaborative, volunteer-driven environments and are passionate about building community, elevating philanthropy, and developing systems that foster creativity and measurable impact. As ILD strengthens its infrastructure and expands its reach, this position is well-positioned for growth—offering the opportunity to shape the program’s evolving capacity, resources, and strategic direction.

Essential Functions 

Program Leadership & Coordination

• Oversee all aspects of ILD’s annual program cycle, participant communications, and special events.
• Maintain annual timelines and track progress toward program, committee, and strategic goals.
• Serve as the central liaison among DU, the Steering Committee, participants, and volunteers.
• Support seamless logistics and a high-quality participant experience through clear communication and consistent follow-through.
• Coordinate special events, including kick-off and year-end celebrations, and alumni connection opportunities.

Volunteer & Committee Management

• Partner with the Executive Committee to recruit, orient, and retain a balanced and engaged Steering Committee.
• Support and guide all volunteer committees (Recruitment, Curriculum, Mentor, Capstone, Donor Relations, Volunteer Engagement, Communications, etc.) in developing annual goals and work plans.
• Prepare agendas, minutes, reports, and progress updates for committee and Steering meetings.
• Promote accountability, collaboration, and shared ownership across volunteer leaders.

Fundraising & Resource Development

• In partnership with the Donor Relations and broader Steering Committees, design, lead, and implement strategies to identify, cultivate, and steward individual, foundation, and corporate donors in order to expand ILD’s operational capacity and advance its mission.
• Develop and manage grant and community partnership proposals, donor communications, and annual reports to funders that articulate ILD’s impact and outcomes
• Collaborate with DU Advancement and College of Professional Studies to ensure gift processing, acknowledgment, and reporting align with university policy.
• Work closely with the Steering Committee to expand donor/community partnership prospecting, sponsorships, alumni giving, and other creative revenue streams.
• Ensure fiscal transparency by maintaining accurate income and expense records, issuing monthly reports to the Executive Committee, and presenting full financial statements at each of the five annual Steering Committee meetings.
• Serve as an ambassador for ILD in the philanthropic community—promoting its mission, outcomes, and partnership opportunities.

Community Partnerships & Outreach

• Build and maintain strong relationships with community partners, alumni, funders, and peer leadership programs.
• Represent ILD at sector events, conferences, and university functions to elevate visibility and engagement.
• Strengthen ILD’s alumni network through targeted communications, collaboration opportunities, and recognition initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Communications Committee to ensure consistent and compelling messaging across web, social media, and outreach materials.

Innovation, Growth & Continuous Improvement

• Identify new opportunities to grow ILD’s impact, such as alumni programming, professional development offerings, or collaborative learning models.
• Bring a creative, data-informed mindset to evolving ILD’s programming, funding, and volunteer engagement strategies.
• Pilot and evaluate new systems, CRM, technologies, and partnerships that enhance program efficiency and engagement.
• Maintain a forward-looking perspective to ensure ILD remains a leading voice in advancing Colorado’s philanthropic workforce, staying informed on current trends, innovations, and best practices in fundraising and nonprofit leadership.

Budgeting, Evaluation & Reporting

• Collaborate with the College of Professional Studies and the Steering Committee to develop and manage the annual ILD budget.
• Monitor expenditures and revenue in alignment with approved financial plans.
• Collect and analyze participant feedback and program metrics to inform continuous improvement and overall impact.
• Provide concise written reports, capture and maintain meeting minutes and updates for Steering Committee meetings.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in fundraising, program management, or nonprofit leadership.
• Proven success in donor cultivation, grant writing, and revenue generation.
• Demonstrated ability to manage volunteers and build community partnerships.
• Excellent organizational, time management, and communication skills.
• Deep knowledge of Colorado’s nonprofit and philanthropic landscape.
• Comfort with digital communication platforms, databases (preference for experience with SalesForce), and online learning tools.
• Flexible schedule to accommodate key events during early spring and late summer.

Ideal Candidate Attributes

• Collaborative leader with strong emotional intelligence and relationship-building skills.
• Experienced fundraiser who can align strategy with storytelling.
• Organized, proactive, and detail-oriented.
• Passionate about advancing philanthropy and developing nonprofit leaders.
• Innovative thinker who enjoys improving systems and exploring new possibilities.

Work Schedule 

This position averages approximately 16 hours per week across the 52-week calendar year, with flexibility in scheduling based on program needs. Work hours vary seasonally, with greater time commitments during the program’s peak periods in early spring and late summer. As a largely self-directed role, the successful candidate will be responsible for managing their schedule to meet deadlines, coordinate with volunteers and university partners, and ensure all program and event deliverables are met in a timely manner.

This role is primarily remote, with scheduled in-person, on-campus or community-based commitments. On-campus workspace is available.

Application Deadline

For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) December 15, 2025.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted. 

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $25,000-$30,000.

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 compensation 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 some benefits for non-benefited employees. 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. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran 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; the Americans with Disabilities Act; 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; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.