Director of Donor Relations
University of Colorado
Denver, Colorado (flexible/hybrid locations included)
Anticipated Start Date: 05/15/2022
Description
The Director of Donor Relations leads donor engagement and stewardship efforts for System Advancement promoting consistent and thoughtful recognition of donors in alignment with campus-based strategies and industry best practices, This role ensures high-quality implementation of donor relations programs that foster interaction with donors at all levels across the CU system.
The Director is provides functional and operational leadership over donor relations efforts and manages fiscal and human resources of the Front-Line Support Services team, including, but not limited to:
Baseline acknowledgement, receipting, and endowment financial reporting
System funds stewardship, including support of Treasury managed donor funds
Multi-campus stewardship plans for select donors
Two system-wide giving societies, partnering with the Principal Gifts team on presidential engagement strategies
System Donor Events, including activities that advance the university’s strategy, image and reputation
Technology leveraged and standards lead for System-wide donor relations excellence
The Director serves as a trusted partner of advancement leadership from across the CU system, including the President of the university, members of the President’s leadership team, members of the Board of Regents, campus Chancellors and CU Foundation leadership, Board of Directors and Trustees by providing strategic collaboration and support for the achievement of donor engagement and fundraising goals. The Director is on the front lines of communicating and interacting with the University of Colorado’s top donors and key constituents, including community members, alumni, grateful patients, vendors and volunteers.
The Director develops and implements annual strategic and operating plans and monitors and evaluates progress and metrics. The Director provides oversight into the team’s day-to-day activities and guides the overall strategy for the team’s work. This position is a lead and/or active member of the CU System Advancement Directors group, the President’s Events and Engagement Committee, the CU campuses’ senior donor relations/stewardship liaisons, the CU System Stewardship Community of Practice, and participates in task forces, boards and planning committees to further CU Advancement’s mission and strategy. Three FTE’s report to the Director.
This position reports to the Assistant Vice President of Philanthropic Strategy in the Central Advancement division and is exempt from the State of Colorado Classified Staff System.
Where You Will Work
The CU System Office of Advancement follows a “flexibility first” approach to our work that defines how we manage and make use of in-person time. As a hybrid role, this position will work both in-office at our 1800 Grant Street location and remotely as directed by this roles manager.
Responsibilities
Strategic Management
Develop and lead a comprehensive donor relations program in collaboration with campuses and System Advancement teams to ensure consistent stewardship and communication.
Create and manage annual strategic and operational plans aligned with System Advancement goals; supervise progress and ensure accountability.
Apply Agile project management methodologies to carry out donor relations initiatives effectively.
Conduct annual audits of donor relations activities to align with industry trends and university standards.
Collaborate with campus partners to assess stewardship efforts across the donor pyramid, identifying gaps and duplications.
Serve as a strategic advisor by providing input and recommendations to advancement leadership, supporting fundraising and engagement goals.
Stay informed of campus priorities and System initiatives to ensure donor relations efforts are appropriately aligned and responsive.
Management & Operations
Supervise the donor relations team and oversee the day-to-day operations that support stewardship, reporting, and donor engagement activities.
Coach and develop team members, conduct performance reviews, and develop a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
Monitor progress toward team goals and key performance indicators related to donor relations effectiveness.
Lead and partner across the CU Foundation and campus exceptional acknowledgement, receipting, and philanthropic reporting standards.
Manage and augment System funds stewardship, including support of Treasury managed donor funds
Run two system-wide giving societies:
Provide the strategic vision and management of the Benson Society, CU’s giving society honoring donors who have committed over $1 million to the university. This includes developing and being responsible for an annual communication and stewardship plan, planning and implementing the annual gala, and inducting new members.
Steward members of the Heritage Society, which recognizes donors who have included CU in their estate plans, in partnership with the Office of Gift Planning, including leading the execution of the Heritage Society luncheon and providing best-practice guidance and support for additional stewardship opportunities for Heritage Society members.
Collaborate with the Assistant Vice President of Philanthropic Strategy to strategically use the President in appropriate stewardship engagement and activities.
Handle the execution of an average of 10-12 signature events annually, including the Benson Society gala, Heritage Society Luncheon, President’s Gift Planning Advisory Council, CU Foundation Trustees receptions and President and Chancellor’s football suite.
Responsible for the deployment and management of tools and processes that support stewardship activities across the CU system.
Manage and maintain budget adherence while continually looking for efficiencies and partnerships. Ensure events meet university accounting and audit standards, negotiate all contracts and work closely with finance and budget partners and the Procurement Service Center to execute events.
System-wide Collaboration & Partnership
Provide strategic donor relations guidance and mentorship to campus partners, including campaign-related support.
Partner with campus donor relations leadership to identify and prioritize select technology enhancements and create standards for system-wide donor recognition excellence. Sponsor those enhancements through the technology request process to launch and promote utilization.
Partner with campus donor relations and prospect managers (frontline fundraisers) to enhance opportunities for System Advancement activities to be part of individual donor cultivation/stewardship strategic plans and day-to-day interactions. Leverage areas such as Benson Society attendee communications, Heritage Society attendee communications, event invitation list review, bios and briefing packets for attendees at events, providing opportunities for relationship managers to attend events and engage with donors.
Serve as a liaison to principal gift donors to the University by engaging with them in a variety of ways and being an accessible CU representative in partnership with relationship managers.
Support Principal Gift Officers in developing personalized stewardship plans for high-level donors.
Additional Responsibilities
Participate in committees, task forces, and employee engagement initiatives.
Represent Central Advancement’s mission, vision, and values.
Assist with special projects and other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Minimum Qualifications
Please ensure your resume includes any and all relevant experience to be accurately assessed against these qualifications. You must meet all minimum requirements listed at the time of application to be considered for this role.
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education, or equivalent professional experience
Six (6) years’ progressively responsible experience related to donor relations, sales/fundraising, project management, and/or event management
Three (3) years’ experience in a managerial or supervisory role, which includes managing personnel, developing/mentoring direct reports, and completing performance reviews to ensure continuous improvement, high performance, and employee retention
Ability to work nights and weekends; periodic travel
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s or post-baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education
Nine (9) years’ professional experience, as indicated above
Four (4) years’ experience in a managerial or supervisory role, as indicated above
Experience using Salesforce and data analysis tools and methods
Experience working within large, complex organizations
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
To be successful in this position, candidates will need the following:
Communication & Interpersonal Skills
Exceptional verbal and written communication abilities.
Strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain effective relationships with leadership, colleagues, and external key partners.
Ability to engage professionally with individuals across a range of personalities, including complex situations.
Leadership & Team Development
Proven leadership skills, including managing diverse personalities and influencing others toward shared goals.
Experience in team empowerment, supervision, coaching, conflict resolution, and fostering accountability.
Demonstrated integrity, sound judgment, critical thinking, and resourcefulness in collaborative environments.
Strategic Relationship Building
Ability to cultivate and sustain partnerships with internal and external collaborators.
Skilled in navigating complex organizational structures to align efforts and build consensus.
Advancement & Program Knowledge
In-depth understanding of university advancement principles, donor relations, stewardship, and event management.
Familiarity with standard methodologies in sales, customer service, and service-oriented organizational management.
Ability to design and evaluate high-quality donor engagement strategies.
Project & Operational Management
Strong project management skills, including data organization, problem-solving, negotiation, and deadline management.
Ability to interpret and apply sophisticated policies and procedures in collaboration with university partners.
Analytical attitude with attention to detail and logical reasoning.
Financial & Administrative Acumen
Experience managing operating budgets and vendor relationships.
Ability to develop, implement, and analyze financial systems and reports.
Skilled in preparing and supervising event budgets, anticipating costs, and aligning with strategic goals.
Knowledge of audit compliance and adherence to ethical and confidentiality standards.
Technical Proficiency
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
Familiarity with constituent relationship management systems, particularly Salesforce.
Demonstrated ability to use data insights and emerging technologies to enhance management practices and optimize deployment processes. Skilled in aligning data strategy with operational goals to drive efficiency, scalability, and innovation.
Willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies and systems.
Salary Range and Employee Benefits
Salary: The anticipated hiring range has been established at $135,000-$145,000.
Benefits: With our unparalleled range of benefits, including top-notch healthcare, comprehensive wellness programs, enriching professional development, and a dynamic work-life balance, we ensure your holistic growth and happiness.
How to Apply for this Job
About the Organization
The University of Colorado plays a profound role in the lives of individuals, businesses and communities throughout Colorado, across the country and around the world. More than a half million alumni are leaders in business, science, the arts, health care and their communities, and they’re joined by some 15,000 more each year. In Aurora, Boulder, Colorado Springs and Denver, all four campuses are all for Colorado.
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