The University of Denver is seeking an experienced, driven, and passionate fundraiser to join a dynamic, collaborative, and high functioning team. Reporting directly to the Executive Director for Development within the Daniels College of Business, the Director of Development, Annual Giving will serve as key member of the frontline development team. The Director will be responsible for raising philanthropic gifts in support of the Daniels College of Business and a variety of other annual and strategic initiatives. The Director will partner closely with academic leaders, faculty, and peers to help the College grow and strengthen the core of its philanthropic support.

The Director of Development will have a strong focus on soliciting gifts at the Annual Giving and Leadership Annual Giving (AG/LAG) levels, with a goal of growing support in those areas by direct mail and email. The Director will have responsibility for building and maintaining AG/LAG systems that acquire and retain donors, with the goal of growing the program to raise $1.5M – $2M annually. The Director will have individual giving metrics, including meaningful donor visits and personal solicitations.

The Director of Development will collaborate with Advancement leadership and senior university administrators to determine and implement institutional fundraising priorities, establish short- and long-term strategies, and monitor progress toward goals. The campus-wide Advancement team is highly collaborative in its work and the Director will be expected to build and foster extensive value-added relationships with their campus partners.

Essential Functions

Identification & Qualification

• Develop a working knowledge of the Daniels College of Business in general and funding priorities specifically to articulate a compelling case for support to all stakeholders.
• Build systems and processes to grow and strengthen the donor pipeline in the Daniels College of Business through focus on donor acquisition, donor retention, and gift upgrades.
• Personally upgrade high potential prospects through face-to-face meetings and calls.
• Identify potential major gift and estate gift prospects from the LAG donor pool.

Fundraising

• Develop meaningful and productive relationships with various prospects and donors including alumni, corporations, parents, faculty members, and friends.
• Focus on reactivation, renewal and upgrading gifts that are given annually, as well as acquisition of new donors, through targeted solicitations. The Director of Development will be responsible for maintaining initiatives such as the Daniels Dean’s Circle.
• Leverage key volunteer groups, including the Daniels Alumni Advisory Board and school and department advisory boards to grow the base of support through individual participation and peer-to-peer efforts.
• Raise $1.5M+ annually at the Annual Giving and Leadership Annual Giving levels.

Leadership

• In partnership with the Dean and the Executive Director of Development, establish Annual Giving and Leadership Annual Giving fundraising priorities based on DU’s strategic priorities (DU IMPACT 2025) with a focus on the Daniels College of Business.
• Serve as a prominent member of the Daniels College of Business Advancement team by participating in group strategy discussions, providing project leadership, sharing information with colleagues and contributing to the achievement of the overall goals of the College.
• Engage in Advancement goal-setting processes for fundraising, engagement, and stewardship.
• Manage program coordinator(s) and student employee(s) in support of Annual Giving efforts at Daniels.
• Manage giving and recognition societies for Daniels, as necessary.
• Effectively and responsibly steward budgetary and other resources to advance the Daniels College of Business and the University of Denver.

Partnerships & University Citizenship

• Serve as an active and collaborative partner to all central and unit-based advancement functions, and other campus colleagues, to foster strategic, effective, and collaborative fundraising practices.
• Model “One DU” leadership.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to create, maintain, and refine systems for growing the donor base at Annual Giving and Leadership Annual Giving levels.
• Demonstrated ability to close Annual Gifts and Leadership Annual Gifts, including multi-year pledges, in a relationship-based culture.
• Experience with philanthropically focused volunteer boards and councils, including goal setting, tracking, and reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, qualify, solicit, and steward gifts from individual donors.
• Demonstrated ability to form and fully leverage cross-functional teams of colleagues, volunteers, and academic/administrative leaders to represent the interests of Daniels’ donors.
• Ability to represent the University of Denver, and its major initiatives and units, in a variety of capacities.
• Proven ability to work with a high level of independence, maintain confidentiality, prioritize assignments, and manage time effectively.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills to foster and maintain effective relationships with colleagues, donors, volunteers, and University leadership.
• Ability to interact effectively with diverse groups having competing interests and priorities within the University and community.
• Strong writing, editing and verbal communication skills.
• Fluency in data management and analysis.

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 the degree qualification.)
• 5 years of paid fundraising experience, which may include organizing or campaign fundraising roles.
• Experience securing multi-year commitments from individual donors by strategically managing a portfolio and fostering meaningful relationships for an institution of higher education or similarly complex non-profit organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience planning and executing successful annual giving strategies and campaigns, including mail, phone, and digital strategies.
• Prior experience in constituent or donor management software (for example, Advance or Blackbaud).

About DU Advancement

In preparation for the most ambitious philanthropic campaign in the University’s history, the University of Denver (DU) 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 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 the Daniels College of Business

Founded in 1908, the Daniels College of Business is the eighth-oldest business school in the country and the most recognized college in the Rocky Mountain West. The College is ranked among the best of the world’s top business schools. Daniels has long served as a training ground for numerous, distinguished professionals and has assembled extraordinary resources – an innovative curriculum, a business-savvy faculty, a global network of alumni, and offers degrees with specialized courses and comprehensive learning experiences. Daniels faculty and staff are driven by the College’s foundation in ethical leadership and vision – “Pioneering business for the public good.”

The College includes nine schools and departments, ranging from finance, marketing, and accountancy to real estate, hospitality management, and business information and analytics, and is home to multiple innovative centers and programs, including Entrepreneurship@DU, the Bailey Program for Family Enterprise, the Sales Leadership Center (SLC), and the Consumer Insights and Business Innovation Center (CiBiC), among others.

Dean Vivek Choudhury came to DU in August 2019 from the George Washington University School of Business, where he had been serving as associate dean for strategic initiatives and professor of information systems and technology management. His research interests include management of offshored/outsourced IT projects, trust in electronic commerce, and knowledge management.