Director of Development, Parent & Family Giving and Student Experience

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.

About the Parent & Family Giving and Student Experience Team

Rooted in the Universitys mission DUs Development & Alumni Engagement team drives engagement and philanthropy that advance the University of Denvers bold aspirations. The team plays a central role in The Denver Difference campaign by building meaningful connections with constituents who find purpose and impact through their support and involvement with DU.

Within this division development professionals secure philanthropic support for initiatives that define and elevate DU. The Parent & Family Giving and Student Experience team leads relationships with high-capacity DU parents focusing on campuswide priorities including the 4D Experience the James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus and undergraduate scholarships. Through personalized cultivation and a deep understanding of the student journey the team inspires generosity that fuels DUs mission ensuring each gift makes a lasting difference in the lives of students and the future of the University.

Position Summary

The Director of Development Parent & Family Giving and Student Experience reports to the Senior Director of Development PFG&SA. The role is responsible for cultivating and soliciting major and leadership gifts in Colorado and select regions with a focus on parents and student experience priorities. The Director will develop and mature their assigned portfolio of donors while partnering with institutional leaders fundraising professionals and key stakeholders managing top prospects to meet annual fundraising goals set with the Senior Director.

This highly collaborative position requires strong relationship-building skills and the ability to design and implement tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies as well as foster extensive value-added relationships with Advancement colleagues and campus partners . The Director must effectively engage new constituents and steward early-stage gifts toward major commitments. Performance metrics include donor visits new major-gift qualifications solicitations and dollars raised.

The ideal candidate brings the strategic mindset persistence and professionalism needed to drive philanthropic outcomes in a mission-driven environment.

Required Qualifications

• 7 years of professional experience including 5 years of direct fundraising experience
• Demonstrated experience closing gifts at the leadership annual giving ($1000) and major gifts ($50000) level

Preferred Qualifications

• Fundraising experience in higher education or a similarly complex nonprofit environment

The role involves regular (e.g. 8-10 times per year) out-of-state travel occasional evening and weekend work is based in Denver and is eligible for hybrid work.

Essential Functions

Fundraising Activities & Outcomes

• Develop and execute complex fundraising strategies to identify qualify cultivate solicit and steward major gift prospects
• Manage a portfolio of donors with capacity to make gifts of $50000.
• Leverage campaign priorities and university initiatives to inspire philanthropic investment in alignment with donor priorities
• Solicit donors for gifts of $50000 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.
• Responsible for raising $annually through a combination of leadership annual gifts and major gifts once the portfolio is mature.
• Contribute to annual and campaign goals by securing gifts aligned with institutional priorities and strategic initiatives.

Programmatic & Operational Responsibilities

• Support top donor/prospect engagement via participation in development of Parent Leadership Council meetings and other experiences
• Partner with campus leaders to develop compelling philanthropic proposals in alignment with campaign priorities
• 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.
• Travel and manage regional outreach serving as market expert and partnering with colleagues when appropriate.
• Steward budgetary and operational resources to support fundraising success and team efficiency.

Collaborate Across Campus

• Collaborate with central and and unit-based advancement teams to coordinate donor engagement and strategy execution.
• Participate in cross-functional planning and strategy sessions to support integrated advancement goals.
• Serve as an advancement representative with campus partners.

Staff Leadership

• Provide strategic guidance and mentorship to development team members and support staff.
• Prepare debrief and coach colleagues and campus partners for donor meetings and solicitations.
• Develop market expertise that includes providing support for campus leadership and influencing market strategy in assigned region(s).

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Relationship building: Demonstrated ability to cultivate and close gifts of $50000 and lead targeted campaigns
• Communications: Writes major gift proposals and crafts compelling cases for support
• Strategic Thinking: Leads through uncertainty and change and develops solid solutions for varied situations. Applies sound judgment when making decisions and considering the impact on donors colleagues and institutional priorities.
• Portfolio Management: Builds and manages an individual portfolio to meet personal goals
• Higher Education Landscape: Partners with campus leaders to shape cases for support
• Campaign Experience: Leads campaign components or initiatives
• Data Analysis: Oversees prospect strategy and metrics for themselves
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Works effectively with internal and external constituents. Collaborates effectively with other Advancement teams
• Leadership/Supervision: Acts as an Advancement ambassador internally and externally. Provides mentorship to team members

Working Environment

• Standard open office environment
• Noise level is quiet to moderate
• Non-essential role. Note: essential employees are those individuals who must report to work be on call to report to work and/or work remotely if required in order to maintain the critical functions of the University during scheduled closures or an unscheduled suspension of normal operations due to emergencies events or other situations.

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
• This role is not required to operate an Automobile Passenger Van UTV/ATV or golf cart

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. some nights and weekends as role involves regular (e.g. 8-10 times per year) out-of-state travel occasional evening and weekend work is based in Denver and is eligible for hybrid work.

Application Deadline
For consideration please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) June 15 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 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.