Assistant or Associate Director of Development

Job Summary:

This is an open-rank position. We are seeking to fill one Development Officer position, with the appointment made at either the Assistant Director or Associate Director level based on the selected candidate's experience, qualifications, and demonstrated skills.

Position Emphasis:

The University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus is a leading public research university serving more than 28,000 students across the Denver metro area and online. With 13 schools and colleges, 119 degree programs, and more than $400 million in annual research funding, CU Denver | Anschutz is recognized for academic excellence, healthcare innovation, and impactful research.

The Office of Advancement connects benefactor interests with university priorities to support education, research, and clinical care. Through fundraising, stewardship, and engagement, the office advances the mission of CU Anschutz and helps shape the future of healthcare.

We are a collaborative team of more than 60 fundraising, benefactor relations, and administrative professionals committed to advancing CU Anschutz and serving our benefactors.

Assistant Directors of Development build and maintain key relationships while providing fundraising and benefactor support to physician leaders, faculty, and staff. These positions recommend strategy and provide professional support to External Directors of Development and Advancement leadership.

• Supervision Received: Reports to the Managing Director of Development

• Supervision Exercised: No direct reports.

Key Responsibilities:

Training and Fundamental Skill Development (50%)

In close partnership with the Managing Director of Development:

• Participates in fundraising training focused on benefactor engagement, discovery, stewardship, portfolio management, and development operations

• Learns and practices the "art of fundraising," including discovery conversations, thank-you calls, trust-building, and engagement strategies

• Learns and practices the "science of fundraising," including consistent outreach, timely follow-up, documentation standards, use of fundraising systems, prioritization of work, and related development operations

• Builds working knowledge of CU Anschutz Medical Campus priorities, academic programs, fundraising processes, campus initiatives, talking points, faculty and hospital relations, fund agreements, gift processing, and related Advancement operations through guided learning, shadowing, and coaching

• Develops comfort and confidence in fundraising language, outreach techniques, and benefactor conversations through supported practice

Thank-You Calls, Discovery Work, and Stewardship (Assistant - 30%)

• Conducts timely thankyou calls, personalized emails, and stewardship outreach to supporters to express appreciation, reinforce connection to CU Anschutz, and identify interest in further engagement

• Completes discovery outreach, primarily through phone, to learn about benefactors' interests and motivations

• Initiates in-person visits with benefactors and collaborates with the Managing Director and senior development officers to strengthen relationships

• Completes timely follow-up, schedules future engagement, and shares relevant information

• Documents contact reports, discovery notes, and next steps accurately and promptly to support benefactor continuity and team strategy

• Assists with proactive stewardship of leadership annual giving and mid-level benefactors with a focus on retention and engagement

• Practices and implements proactive strategies and tools to move relationships and conversations forward

Associate Level (35%), all of the above and:

• Independently leads benefactor conversations, including discovery, solicitation, and stewardship, with support from a senior gift officer when appropriate

• Provides proactive cultivation and stewardship to retain and grow leadership-level and major gift benefactors year over year through independently developed plans and strategies

• Creates individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies

• Shares research updates, impact stories, and funding opportunities with benefactors

• Serves as a trusted liaison to support productive benefactor engagement

Gift Conversations and Portfolio Work (Assistant - 15%)

• Manages a portfolio of approximately 120-140 benefactors focused primarily on leadership annual gifts in the $500-$10,000 range, with goals co-created with and approved by leadership

• Practices leadership-level and renewal gift solicitations with increasing independence

• Participates in gift conversations led by senior development officers to gain exposure to benefactor strategy and proposal work

• Identifies benefactors for continued cultivation and larger gift opportunities

• Demonstrates professionalism in interactions with benefactors, colleagues, faculty, campus leadership, and other internal and external partners

Associate Level (35%), all of the above and:

• Manages a major gift portfolio with accountability for strategy, progress, and results

• Inspires benefactors to increased levels of giving, including renewal asks, asks under threshold, and pipeline-building asks, with a focus on gift conversations at $15,000

• Independently develops and executes solicitation plans, stewardship touchpoints, and long-term cultivation strategies toward larger gifts

• Completes proposals, pledges, agreements, and follow-up activities accurately and timely

• Uses fundraising systems and metrics to prioritize work and evaluate portfolio health

• Documents benefactor strategies, contact reports, and next steps to support continuity, collaboration, and effective customer service with colleagues

• Analyzes fundraising activity, portfolio performance, and benefactor engagement metrics to identify trends, assess progress toward goals, and inform future cultivation and solicitation strategies

• Develops and implements long-term strategies for benefactor cultivation, stewardship, and pipeline growth, aligning individual and departmental fundraising efforts with institutional priorities

• Evaluates fundraising effectiveness and benefactor engagement outcomes

Strategic Collaboration and Engagement with Internal and External Constituents (Associate - 25%)

• Works closely with our Faculty Hospital Relations team to develop and maintain strong internal partnerships with faculty, campus leadership, and advancement colleagues to advance philanthropic priorities and benefactor relationships

• Serves as a trusted liaison with benefactors ensuring valuesaligned engagement

• Builds partnerships with Advancement teams including Communications, Stewardship, Events, and Alumni Relations

• Partners closely with CU Anschutz external development officers to continue growth, learning and professional development

• Contributes to a collaborative fundraising culture by sharing insights, supporting team strategy discussions, and aligning efforts across campus and central partners

• Represents the University professionally in benefactor meetings, campus engagements, and select events, exercising sound judgment and discretion

• Exercises sound judgment in managing donor conversations, including independently resolving issues when appropriate and engaging leadership or partners thoughtfully when needed

• May informally mentor ADODs by modeling effective fundraising practices and contributing to a supportive learning environment

Other Duties (5%)

• Represents the University at events to support the University and meet, cultivate, and steward benefactors

• Performs various other duties or tasks as assigned and/or needed

Work Location:

Hybrid - this role is eligible for a hybrid schedule of 3 days per week on campus and as needed for in-person meetings.

Why Join Us:

Philanthropy accelerates discovery, supports students and faculty, and advances patient care. The CU Anschutz Office of Advancement partners with benefactors who want to make a lasting impact through education, research, and healthcare. Our team works collaboratively to connect supporters with meaningful opportunities to advance the university's mission.

At the Office of Advancement at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, we put our passions to work.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
• Holiday Days: 15/year
• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Assistant (Intermediate - job code 2308)

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree.

• Minimum of 1 year of professional fundraising experience or experience in related fields like nonprofit administration, public affairs, or business development, including managing funding relationships with individuals, corporations or foundations.

Associate (Senior - job code 2307)

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree.

• Minimum of 2-4 years of fundraising work

• A combination of education and related technical/military/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for a bachelor's degree on a year for year basis.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

Assistant (Intermediate - job code 2308)

• Higher education or academic medical campus experience

• 1-3 years in development or advancement

• 1-2 years phone work calling donors, constituents, and/or customers.

• 1-2 years managing donor, constituent, or customer relationships

• 1-2 years managing portfolio or large list of prospect names

Associate (Senior - job code 2307)

• Higher education or academic medical campus experience

• 2-4 years of fundraising experience

• 2-4 years phone work calling donors, constituents, and/or customers.

• 2-4 years directly managing donor, constituent, or customer relationships independantly.

• 2-4 years managing portfolio or large list of prospect names

Conditions of Employment:

• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship. We are unable to provide work visa sponsorship or employment authorization for this position now or in the future.

• National travel may be required for partnership development, fundraising events, and conferences.

• Requires flexibility in hours, including evenings and weekends for events and meetings.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships across all organizational levels

• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills

• Experience fostering an environment that values varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, donor databases, and related technology

• Strong leadership, project management, presentation, and relationship-building skills

• Strategic thinking, analytical ability, and problem-solving skills

• Knowledge of fundraising, community engagement, and nonprofit practices

• Comfort with cold calling, one-on-one visits, and multi-channel outreach

• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a metrics-driven environment

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively while adapting to changing priorities

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

1. A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position (only use if a cover letter is necessary)

2. Curriculum vitae / Resume

3. Three to five professional references, including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address

Questions should be directed to: Shannon Palombi - Shannon.Palombi@cuanschutz.edu

Screening of Applications Begins:

Applications will be accepted until finalists are identified, but preference will be given to complete applications received by August 14, 2026.

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as:

• Assistant Director of Development (2308) - $73,769 - $85,000.

• Associate Director of Development (2307) - $93,147 - $100,000

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position may be eligible for overtime compensation, depending on the level.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@cuanschutz.edu.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.