Associate Director of Development, Leadership Annual Giving, DCB

The University of Denver (DU) is the oldest independent private university in the Rocky Mountain region, serving approximately 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students. DU is classified as an R1: Doctoral University, a designation recognizing the highest level of research activity among U.S. institutions.  

At DU, we approach higher education with the confident optimism and pragmatic independence that define the Rocky Mountain West. It sets us apart. We’re preparing students to become the solutions in their own stories, empowering them to face uncertainty with confidence and uncommon sense. 

We’re fiercely ambitious and forward-thinking, surpassing all expectations to redefine success and how to achieve it. As a top-tier private R-1 institution, we are dedicated to making the world a better place –contributing to our communities and making positive change in the world. 

DU Advancement drives meaningful connections and partnerships to support DU’s mission of advancing the public good. By championing philanthropy, engaging alumni, and fostering collaborative initiatives, we empower innovation, inspire transformation, and showcase what DU can do to create positive change in the world. 

This spirit is at the heart of The Denver Difference campaign. As DU’s most ambitious campaign yet, we are reimagining what the university experience can and should be. By preparing students for success in all aspects of life, DU is setting a new standard for higher education.  

DU Advancement reflects the excellence and innovation of the university itself. Through alumni engagement, development, operations, and communications leadership, we are fostering a culture of deep engagement and philanthropy to support our bold vision for the future. 

Founded in 1908, the Daniels College of Business is the eighth-oldest business school in the country and one of the most recognized colleges in the Rocky Mountain West. Daniels combines an innovative curriculum, business-savvy faculty, a global alumni network, and comprehensive learning experiences grounded in ethical leadership and its vision of "Pioneering business for the public good".

Daniels is led by Dean Naomi Boyd, a visionary and entrepreneurial leader whose experience spans industry, government, and academia. Dean Boyd is advancing an ambitious, market-connected vision for business education centered on principled leadership, innovation, and meaningful engagement with industry and community partners.

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

The Associate Director of Development, Leadership Annual Giving, plays a central role in building the Daniels College of Business donor pipeline and expanding philanthropic support for the College and the University. Reporting to the Executive Director of Development and Alumni Engagement, this frontline fundraiser will engage a broad pool of alumni, donors, and prospects through proactive, high-volume outreach.

The Associate Director will manage a portfolio of approximately 100–200 prospects, with an emphasis on qualifying new donors, securing leadership annual gifts of $1,000–$49,999, renewing and upgrading donors, and developing a pipeline for future major gifts. The position will also partner with central annual giving to lead Daniels’ participation in Giving Tuesday, 1DAY4DU, other crowdfunding campaigns, and the Daniels Dean’s Circle giving society.

With a primary focus on securing current-use annual contributions, the Associate Director will encourage and document multi-year commitments and identify donors with major and planned giving potential. The position will collaborate with major gift, planned giving, alumni engagement, and other advancement colleagues to connect donor interests with University priorities. Success will require persistence, strong judgment, and comfort working at significant volume and will be measured through qualifications, visits, donor acquisition and upgrades, and dollars raised.

Frontline Fundraising 

• Build and manage a portfolio of 100–200 prospects rated at the leadership annual giving and/or major gift level.
• Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects in support of leadership annual giving and future major gifts.
• Develop and implement strategies to renew and upgrade prospects.
• Utilize multichannel engagement, including email, phone, events, and visits, to deepen relationships.
• Solicit gifts between $1,000 and $49,999, including multi-year commitments.
• Achieve an annual fundraising goal determined by portfolio capacity, typically $250,000–$500,000 once the portfolio is mature.
• Identify planned giving opportunities and partner with planned giving colleagues as appropriate.

Annual Giving and Pipeline Development 

• Partner with the central annual giving team to lead Daniels’ participation in Giving Tuesday, 1DAY4DU, and other crowdfunding campaigns.
• Lead strategy, engagement, and stewardship for the Daniels Dean’s Circle giving society.
• Implement the Daniels’ annual giving plan in partnership with the central annual giving team and the Development Coordinator; adjust and refine the approach as appropriate.

Donor Stewardship

• Partner with alumni engagement and donor relations teams to support donor engagement and stewardship.
• Develop stewardship communications tailored to donor interests.
• Support campaign volunteers, advisory boards, and donor engagement activities as needed.

Operational Excellence 

• Ensure accurate and timely entry of contact reports and donor data in the CRM.
• Track and report on qualifications, visits, solicitations, and dollars raised.
• Manage projects and initiatives in compliance with University policies and procedures.

• Proficiency in annual- and leadership-annual-giving strategies, with a basic understanding of major-gift fundraising.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate donors and solicit gifts of $10,000 or more.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to prepare donor correspondence and craft compelling cases for support.
• Ability to navigate change in donor and team dynamics.
• Sound judgment and the ability to consider the impact of decisions on donors, colleagues and institutional priorities.
• Ability to work closely with a supervisor to build and manage an individual portfolio and achieve personal fundraising goals.
• Understanding of the institution’s mission, programs and priorities.
• Ability to coordinate multichannel or concurrent fundraising efforts.
• Ability to interpret data and research to identify and prioritize prospects.
• Ability to work effectively with internal and external constituents and collaborate across Advancement teams.
• Ability to serve as a positive ambassador for the team and Advancement.

• 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).
• 5 years of professional experience including at least 3 years of donor, constituent relations, and relationship-based sales experience. 
• Demonstrated experience closing gifts or sales through direct cultivation of individual prospects.

• Fundraising experience in higher education or similarly complex non-profit environment 

Advertised: September 18, 2026
Applications close: October 05, 2026

• Standard open office environment
• Noise level is quiet to moderate
• Eligible for hybrid work
• Limited travel responsibilities to meet with donors
• Ability and willingness to work evenings and weekends

• Ability to use 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