Director of Development, Gift Planning

About the University of Denver

The University of Denver (DU) is the oldest independent private university in the Rocky Mountain region serving approximately 12000 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. Were preparing students to become the solutions in their own stories empowering them to face uncertainty with confidence and uncommon sense.

Were 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.

About DU Advancement

DU Advancement drives meaningful connections and partnerships to support DUs 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 DUs 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 campaign leadership we are fostering a culture of deep engagement and philanthropy to support our bold vision for the future.

Position Summary

The University of Denver is seeking a driven knowledgeable and passionate fundraiser to join our Advancement team as the Director of Development Gift Planning. This is a unique opportunity for a talented fundraising professional to join a dynamic growing and purposeful enterprise united around a compelling mission charted by Chancellor Jeremy Haefner and Senior Vice Chancellor for Advancement Val Otten.

Reporting directly to the Executive Director of Gift Planning the Director of Development is a key fundraising professional for the University of Denver. This position is responsible for cultivating and soliciting a full range of planned gifts from DU alumni and friends in Colorado and nationally. Such gifts include outright gifts of appreciated assets life income gifts such as charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts and testamentary gift plans such as bequests and life insurance gifts.

The Director will manage a portfolio of gift planning donors and prospects while partnering with a campus-wide network of academic leaders fundraising professionals and other key partners to advance the Universitys top priorities. The Director of Development will develop and mature their assigned portfolio of planned gift donors. This will include managing top prospects in pursuit of individual fundraising goals set annually in collaboration with the Executive Director and the Associate Vice Chancellor for University Development. The Director will serve as a close partner and key resource for other advancement professionals to solicit and close planned gifts. The campus-wide Advancement team is highly collaborative and the Director is expected to build and foster extensive value-added relationships with their campus partners.

The successful candidate will possess a strong capacity for developing relationships with gift planning prospects and their advisors and family members to cultivate and close complex gift plans and conceive and implement customized strategic cultivation and solicitation plans for each prospect. They must possess excellent communication and relationship-building skills a deep commitment to a rigorous holistic educational experience and a demonstrated ability to galvanize support to advance this cause.

Essential Functions

• Fundraising Outcomes
  • Responsible for raising $annually primarily through major gifts of $50000 or more once the portfolio is mature.
  • Contribute to annual and campaign goals by securing gifts aligned with institutional priorities and strategic initiatives.
• Fundraising Activities: Includes qualification cultivation solicitation of major gifts and strategy execution.
  • Develop and execute complex fundraising strategies to identify qualify cultivate solicit and steward planned giving prospects.
  • Manage a portfolio of donors with capacity to make planned gifts.
  • Leverage campaign priorities and university initiatives to inspire philanthropic investment.
  • Solicit donors for planned gifts through a variety of channels including blended gifts and multi-year commitments.
  • Represent the universitys breadth of academic programs and initiatives in donor conversations and proposals.
• Collaborate Across Campus
  • Partner with central and unit-based advancement teams and campus colleagues.
  • Participate in cross-functional planning and strategy sessions to support integrated advancement goals.
• Staff Leadership
  • Provide strategic guidance and mentorship to development team members and support staff.
  • Lead goal-setting and performance evaluation processes for assigned fundraising initiatives.
  • Prepare debrief and coach colleagues and academic partners for donor meetings and solicitations.
  • Steward budgetary and operational resources to support fundraising success and team efficiency.
• Programmatic & Operational Responsibilities
  • Align donor interests with institutional needs and campaign priorities.
  • Partner with academic leaders to identify fundable priorities and translate them into compelling philanthropic opportunities.
  • Develop and implement donor engagement programs recognition events and stewardship initiatives.
  • Articulate the impact of philanthropy through customized communications reports and donor experiences.
  • Ensure accurate and timely entry of contact reports and donor data in the CRM.
  • Track and report on key performance indicators such as qualifications visits solicitations and dollars raised.
  • Manage complex projects and initiatives in compliance with university policies and procedures.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Fundraising Outcomes
  • Responsible for raising $annually primarily through major gifts of $50000 or more once the portfolio is mature.
  • Contribute to annual and campaign goals by securing gifts aligned with institutional priorities and strategic initiatives.
• Fundraising Activities: Includes qualification cultivation solicitation of major gifts and strategy execution.
  • Develop and execute complex fundraising strategies to identify qualify cultivate solicit and steward planned giving prospects.
  • Manage a portfolio of donors with capacity to make planned gifts.
  • Leverage campaign priorities and university initiatives to inspire philanthropic investment.
  • Solicit donors for planned gifts through a variety of channels including blended gifts and multi-year commitments.
  • Represent the universitys breadth of academic programs and initiatives in donor conversations and proposals.
• Collaborate Across Campus
  • Partner with central and unit-based advancement teams and campus colleagues.
  • Participate in cross-functional planning and strategy sessions to support integrated advancement goals.
• Staff Leadership
  • Provide strategic guidance and mentorship to development team members and support staff.
  • Lead goal-setting and performance evaluation processes for assigned fundraising initiatives.
  • Prepare debrief and coach colleagues and academic partners for donor meetings and solicitations.
  • Steward budgetary and operational resources to support fundraising success and team efficiency.
• Programmatic & Operational Responsibilities
  • Align donor interests with institutional needs and campaign priorities.
  • Partner with academic leaders to identify fundable priorities and translate them into compelling philanthropic opportunities.
  • Develop and implement donor engagement programs recognition events and stewardship initiatives.
  • Articulate the impact of philanthropy through customized communications reports and donor experiences.
  • Ensure accurate and timely entry of contact reports and donor data in the CRM.
  • Track and report on key performance indicators such as qualifications visits solicitations and dollars raised.
  • Manage complex projects and initiatives in compliance with university policies and procedures.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience (Veterans with equivalent combination of military certification/education and experience may substitute for the degree qualification)
• 7 years of professional experience including 5 years of direct fundraising experience working within the full spectrum of development including cultivation gift solicitations stewardship and donor recognition
• Experience closing gifts with complex assets

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate degree in business law non-profit management or a related field of study
• Fundraising experience in higher education or similarly complex non-profit environment

Working Environment

• Standard open office environment.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.
• Eligible for hybrid work.
• Travel responsibilities to meet with donors approximately 4-6 times per year.

Physical Activities

• 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

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; some night and weekend event attendance

Application Deadline

For consideration please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) December 12 2025.

Special Instructions

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

Salary Grade Number

The salary grade for the position is 14.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $100000 - $115000.

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 candidates 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 Universitys 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 Workers 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 Denvers NonDiscriminationStatement.

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