About DU Advancement

In preparation for the most ambitious philanthropic campaign in the University’s history, the University of Denver (DU) is building an advancement enterprise that mirrors the excellence and innovation of our great institution. Inclusive of alumni relations, development, and student and alumni career services, DU Advancement is building and fostering a culture of deep engagement and philanthropy in support of our bold 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. As a part of that effort, we are continuing to grow a team of inclusive, collaborative, inquisitive, innovative, ethical, and transparent advancement professionals who possess deep mutual respect for one another and for our shared profession.

About the Daniels College of Business

Founded in 1908, the Daniels College of Business is the eighth-oldest business school in the country and the most recognized college in the Rocky Mountain West. The College is ranked among the best of the world’s top business schools. Daniels has long-served as a training-ground for numerous, distinguished professionals and has assembled extraordinary resources – an innovative curriculum, a business-savvy faculty, a global network of alumni, and offers degrees with specialized courses and comprehensive learning experiences. Daniels faculty and staff are driven by the College’s foundation in ethical leadership and vision – “Pioneering business for the public good.”

The Daniels College of Business is one of the largest degree-granting colleges at the University of Denver. Daniels enrolls approximately 2,300 students and includes several schools and departments ranging from finance, real estate and construction management, accountancy, and hospitality management to business information and analytics, management, marketing, and business ethics and legal studies. The College is also home to several innovative centers and programs including Entrepreneurship@DU, the Sales Leadership Center (SLC), the Bailey Program for Family Enterprise, and the Consumer Insights and Business Innovation Center (CiBiC), among others.

Position Summary

The University of Denver is seeking an experienced, driven, and intuitive fundraiser to join our Advancement team as the Senior Director of Development. Reporting directly to the Executive Director for Development within the Daniels College of Business and partnering closely with academic leaders, colleagues and peers, the Senior Director is a key fundraising professional for the University of Denver. Joining a team of six established advancement professionals in the College (the Executive Director, two major gifts officers, one leadership annual giving officer, a coordinator, and one alumni engagement officer), the Senior Director will be part of a dynamic, collaborative, and seasoned team working toward an ambitious campaign goal.

The Senior Director will leverage a strong focus on qualification, engagement, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual donors with capacity to make gifts and commitments of $50,000+. While the focus of this role is working with individual donors, the Senior Director will develop and mature their assigned portfolio in pursuit of solicitations from foundations and corporations, as well. Key performance indicators for this position include: major gift qualifications, visits, solicitations, and dollars raised.

This role will serve in a highly outbound capacity with an expectation to be out of the office 50% of the time engaging with donors and prospects. The successful candidate will be a motivated fundraising professional who will be deeply involved in the strategic annual fundraising efforts for the College, with an emphasis on partnering with a campus-wide network of academic leaders, fundraising professionals, and other key partners to advance the University’s top priorities.

Essential Functions

Fundraising

• In support of the priorities of the Daniels College of Business, manage a portfolio of major gift-rated prospects who have the capacity to give at the major gift level ($50,000) through strategic cultivation and stewardship, as measured by efficient and fast-paced moves management techniques.
• Achieve an annual fundraising goal of $1-3M from personal portfolio of prospects and in collaboration with other development professionals.
• In coordination with the Daniels College of Business Advancement team and Prospect Development, identify and qualify major gift prospects for Daniels and the University of Denver to strategically assess their philanthropic capacity and inclination.
• Collaborate with other development professionals across campus including regional and centrally based fundraisers to effectively design, execute gift strategies, and solicit prospects and donors.
• Travel regularly to meet with donors and stakeholders in key markets (to be identified) across the country and attend periodic evening and weekend events to engage with donors and prospects.

Leadership

• In partnership with the Executive Director of Development and incoming Dean in the Daniels College of Business, help to identify and establish fundraising priorities based on DU’s strategic priorities with a focus on those aligned to Daniels.
• Provide mentorship to fellow development colleagues.
• Engage in the advancement goal-setting processes for fundraising, engagement and stewardship.
• Effectively and responsibly steward budgetary and other resources to advance the Daniels College of Business and the University of Denver.

Partnerships & University Citizenship

• Serve as an active and collaborative partner to all central and unit-based advancement functions, and other campus colleagues, to foster strategic, effective, and collaborative fundraising practices.
• Assist in the education and awareness of colleagues and peers across campus on articulated priorities.
• Model “One DU” leadership.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts from individual donors.
  Experience requesting, visiting, and following up with stakeholders with consistency and efficiency at a fast pace.
• Ability to provide fundraising strategy and support to academic/organizational leaders.
• Ability to distill complex ideas into easily understood concepts and communicate those ideas effectively.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to speak and write effectively and persuasively; draft compelling proposals and letters.
• Adept at using judgment and discretion in situations that require sensitivity and tact.
• Proven ability to work with a high level of independence, maintain confidentiality, prioritize assignments, and manage time effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to form and fully leverage cross-functional teams of colleagues, volunteers, and academic/administrative leaders toward closure of transformational gifts.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to serve as a strong coach and mentor to other advancement professionals and to foster an inclusive, collaborative, inquisitive, ethical, and transparent office culture founded on mutual respect.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• 5 years of paid fundraising experience, working within the full spectrum of development, including qualification, cultivation, gift solicitations, stewardship, and donor recognition.
• Experience and demonstrated success in securing major gifts ($50,000+) though leadership gifts ($1 million+) by strategically managing a portfolio and fostering meaningful relationships for an institution of higher education, large nonprofit or similar complex setting.
• Experience with applicable computer systems (Microsoft Word, Excel) and donor management software (Salesforce, Advance).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a University setting.
• Experience in proposal writing.
• Experience working through a major campaign.
• 5-7 years of major gift fundraising experience.

Working Environment

• Standard office environment.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.

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 weekend event attendance. Travel responsibilities to meet with donors.

In accordance with the University’s flexible work policy, this position is eligible to be considered for partial remote work. Further details regarding this plan will be determined with the hiring manager and are dependent on the division and team specific needs.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) January 6, 2024.

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 15.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $115,000 - $140,000

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. 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