In preparation for the most ambitious philanthropic campaign in the University’s history, the University of Denver is building an advancement enterprise that mirrors the excellence of our great institution. Advancement efforts at DU have a tremendous impact through our relationships with DU’s remarkable students, dedicated donors, inspiring alumni, engaged families, and wonderful friends. DU is committed to building and fostering a culture of deep engagement and philanthropy in support of our institution as we implement the DU IMPACT 2025 vision and prepare for a fundraising campaign with a bold and courageous goal.

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. You can learn more about inclusive excellence at the University of Denver by visiting the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. 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 Annual Giving

The Annual Giving Program is central to Advancement at the University of Denver, reports up to the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Development, and is part of the university-wide Development team.  The efforts of Annual Giving provide critical support to DU and the community we serve, developing and maintaining a sustainable and predictable source of annual funding while enhancing the major and principal gift pipeline to help progress the mission of the University.   In partnership with Advancement colleagues, we aspire to aggressively impact the culture of giving at DU, reflecting in increased alumni participation and donor loyalty and retention.

About the Team

This position’s peer group consists of two other Associate Directors within Annual Giving including Associate Director, Crimson Call Center and Associate Director, Annual Giving Signature Campaigns, with whom this position will work closely. All Associate Directors report into the Senior Director, Annual Giving. There is shared supervisory responsibility for a Development Coordinator.

About the Opportunity

The Associate Director reports directly to the Senior Director, Annual Giving. This position participates in crucial strategy development for a multi-channel, donor-centric communications program, including Direct Mail, Phonathon, E-mail, Crowdfunding and other digital strategies to achieve a shared goal of $1.5M. The Associate Director collaborates directly with academic units, centers and institutes across the University, in addition to the broader Advancement team and Division of Marketing & Communications, to develop and inform high ROI strategies that engage and re-engage DU’s donor base.

Successful candidates will be highly collaborative, motivated, and skilled at creating and executing compelling annual giving strategies.  They will be deeply involved in the growth and expansion of DU’s donor base across the university.  The University of Denver is unique in its academic portfolio, which boasts both strong undergraduate programs and experiences, as well as highly respected graduate and professional programs. Alumni identify with both the institution, as well as their specific academic units within it, and the Associate Director must ensure that messaging is tailored to the specific audiences outlined above.

This role is eligible for hybrid work under DU’s Remote Work Policy.

Essential Functions

Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives:

The Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives (ADSI) will design, manage and lead collaborative, complex, and diversified projects, coordinating with other advancement colleagues, managing budget, and ensuring accountability. The ADSI will conceptualize, implement, direct and manage projects and initiatives that enhance and support fundraising efforts and campaign priorities; serve as the strategic partner to Annual Giving leadership by providing updates and recommendations on critical initiatives or projects that drive pipeline growth; assist stakeholders in driving projects through to completion; collaborate to produce and examine reports related to fundraising performance and core development metrics to effectively measure fundraising progress, and establish metrics and measures to evaluate campaign goal completion.

Strategic Initiatives and Projects include, but are not limited to: segment-specific outreach including generational communications/solicitations; academic unit or programmatic-focused multi-channel communications/solicitations; targeted and themed communications/solicitations around national days or months of recognition for instance, Black History Month, Earth Day, and Women’s History Month. The ADSI will oversee the launch of a Young Alumni fundraising program in partnership with colleagues in Alumni Engagement, Development and Donor Relations and Stewardship teams. They may also assist with strategic preparations and execution of campaign priorities including data analysis, inter-team coordination and ensuring continuity.

University Citizenship:  Serve as an active and collaborative partner to all central and unit-based advancement functions and campus colleagues to foster strategic, effective, and collaborative fundraising practices. Contribute to team success and model “One DU” leadership.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including verbal, written and organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Exceptionally high level of customer service skills
• Adept at using judgment and discretion in situations that that require sensitivity and tact
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and use data to optimize strategies

Required Qualifications

• 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)
• 3 years of paid fundraising experience, which could include community organizing or campaign roles
• Management experience (to include direct management of projects or personnel)
• Experience planning and executing successful annual giving strategies and campaigns, including mail, phone, and digital strategies
• Experience raising annual gifts for an institution of higher education or similarly complex non-profit environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a University setting or similarly complex non-profit environment

Work Schedule
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., some nights and weekends as required

Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) February 20, 2023.

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 11.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $65,000-$72,000.

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:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans 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; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; 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; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university’s complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non‑discrimination‑statement.