Associate Director, Gift Planning Administration

Internal Notice Identified Candidate
This position is being posted in accordance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The University is currently considering an internal candidate Caitlin Sturgis for this role. This notice is provided to inform all employees of the opportunity prior to any employment decision.

About the University of Denver
The University of Denver (DU) a private university is the oldest independent university in the Rocky Mountain region with approximately 12000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. DU is classified as an R1: Doctoral University.

At the University of Denver were doing higher education our way: authentic to the Rocky Mountain Wests confident optimism and pragmatic independence. It sets us apart. Were preparing young people to be 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. And were true to our mission as a top-tier private R-1 institution dedicated to making the world a better place contributing to our communities and making positive change in the world.

About DU Advancement
The Denver Difference campaign is our most ambitious campaign yet. It marks a dramatic shift in conventional thinking about what the university experience can and should be. DU is setting the bar with our approach to higher education developing and preparing students to be successful in life in every way. The University of Denver is building an advancement enterprise that mirrors the excellence and innovation of our great institution. Inclusive of alumni engagement development operations and campaign leadership DU Advancement is building and fostering a culture of deep engagement and philanthropy in support of our bold vision.

Position Summary

The University of Denver is seeking a talented professional to join our development team as the Associate Director of Gift Planning Administration. This is a unique opportunity to join a dynamic growing and purposeful enterprise united around a compelling vision charted by Chancellor Jeremy Haefner and Senior Vice Chancellor of Advancement Val Otten.

The Associate Director reports directly to the Executive Director of Gift Planning. They must be an effective professional and diplomatic liaison to a variety of audiences including University leadership legal professionals development staff donors alumni external vendors and other constituents. The Associate Director is responsible for managing the administration of all outstanding estate gifts to the University. This includes maintaining accurate recordkeeping of all documentation (digital and hard files) related to past current and future estate gifts as well as serving as the main point of contact for estate attorneys and personal representatives related to pending estates. They also oversee our gift planning marketing program including implementing our annual marketing strategy managing all incoming leads from our website and print marketing and serving as the primary point of contact with our external marketing vendors. The Associate Director manages our life-income gift program serving as liaison to our life-income vendor processing new life-income gifts and sending reports to our existing life-income gift donors. Finally the Associate Director oversees stewardship of our Pioneer Legacy Society donors through various events and communications throughout the year as well as manages a portfolio of donors in perpetual stewardship.

This employee must be able to multi-task and prioritize many competing deadlines and timelines. Attention to detail and accuracy is essential to success in this position.

Essential Functions

• Coordinate the activities of the Office of Gift Planning by maintaining bequest expectancy lists and donor files scanning and digitizing closed estate files facilitating new gift expectancy processes coding/data entry coordinating team meetings and events monitoring periodic reports and managing the offices general email and telephone inquiries.
• Oversee the administration of both outright gifts and deferred gifts. Manage and track external life insurance policies (including coordinating insurance policy premium letters and payments).
• Partner with the Office of Donor Relations & Stewardship to coordinate stewardship activities for Pioneer Legacy Society donors.
• Manage a portfolio of 75 planned giving donors by maintaining contact and stewarding them in various ways throughout the year.
• Manage approximately $10 million annually in estate administration including preparing letters and other correspondence for sophisticated audiences; requesting information and following up as necessary; updating constituent database and internal tracking systems; and liaising with gift processing the Controllers Office budget officers and other colleagues as necessary.
• Serve as the point of contact for internal questions regarding open estates and planned gifts keep fundraising directors informed of funding implications steward donor families and connect with faculty and staff to ensure estate income is distributed as directed by the donor for the best interest of the University.
• Serve as a liaison to TIAA Kaspick including providing donor information updates; coordinating the process to create new life income gifts; stewarding existing life-income donors; and assisting with the termination of life income gifts.
• Serve as a liaison to Stelter including overseeing gift planning marketing providing content for our gift planning newsletters and e-newsletters managing incoming marketing leads and effectively managing production timelines.
• Serve as an active and collaborative partner to all central and unit-based advancement functions and campus colleagues to foster strategic effective and collaborative marketing practices.
• Model One DU leadership.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Outstanding attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including verbal written and organizational skills.
• An understanding and attitude of customer service; ability to be very flexible and adapt to change.
• Must be able to manage time well particularly while managing competing priorities.
• Must be able to work independently and as a part of a group.
• Willingness to take initiative keep a positive attitude and maintain a professional demeanor.
• Adept at problem-solving critical thinking and using judgment in situations that require sensitivity and tact.

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).
• 5 years of professional administrative experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of fundraising and/or estate planning principals.
• Experience working in a University non-profit legal or financial firm or similar complex setting.

Working Environment

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

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 nights and weekends as accordance with the Universitys 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) February 13 2026.

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 12.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $75000-$85000

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.