Director of Development, Foundation Relations

University of Denver•Denver, CO

16h•Hybrid

About The Position

The University of Denver (DU) is seeking an experienced, driven, and passionate Foundation Relations fundraiser to join its Advancement team as the Director of Development, Foundation Relations. This role reports directly to the Executive Director of Foundation Relations and will partner with administrative, academic, and Advancement colleagues to secure funding from private grant-making organizations in support of the University's highest priorities. The Director will serve as a subject matter expert in institutional giving, primarily from private foundations, and will possess the technical expertise to navigate pre- and post-award grant processes in partnership with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, unit grant administrators, budget officers, and fiscal compliance experts. The Director will manage a diverse portfolio of foundation prospects aligned with DU’s highest priorities and campus strengths, developing and maturing these relationships through qualification and management to meet annual goals. They will establish and maintain relationships with program officers and foundation leadership to advocate for university programs and funding opportunities, serving as a key resource for academic leadership. The role requires extensive collaboration across the campus Advancement team and with campus partners, building and fostering trusted relationships. The successful candidate will have a strong capacity for developing relationships with foundation leadership and program officers, and for cultivating, soliciting, and closing complex gifts and philanthropic grants from institutional funders. They will conceive and implement customized strategic cultivation and solicitation plans for each foundation prospect, demonstrating excellent communication (written and oral) and relationship-building skills, with an agile, responsive, and strategic approach to maximize foundation philanthropy for DU.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
Seven (7) years of professional experience, including at least five (5) years of direct fundraising experience.
Demonstrated experience closing gifts at major gift level ($50,000-$999,999) through strategic portfolio management and relationship building.
Experience using standard office software (Microsoft Word, Excel) and donor management systems such as Salesforce and Advance.
Demonstrated experience securing gifts and grants from professional, private foundations.
Demonstrates expertise in managing major gift and institutional giving fundraising and outcomes.
Demonstrated ability to cultivate and close gifts of $100,000+.
Writes major gift proposals and crafts compelling cases for support.
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.
Builds and manages an individual portfolio to meet personal goals.
Partners with deans/faculty to shape cases for support.
Oversees prospect strategy and metrics for themselves.
Works effectively with internal and external constituents and faculty.
Collaborates effectively with other Advancement teams.
Acts as an Advancement ambassador internally and externally.
Provides mentorship or supervision to team members.

Nice To Haves

Fundraising experience in higher education or a comparably complex nonprofit environment.

Responsibilities

Responsible for raising $1,000,000+ 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 and grants aligned with institutional priorities and strategic initiatives.
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 $50,000+.
Leverage campaign priorities and university initiatives to inspire philanthropic investment.
Solicit private foundations for major gifts and grants of $50,000+, including current use funding, endowments, and multi-year commitments.
Represent the university’s breadth of academic programs and initiatives in donor conversations and proposals.
Provide strategic guidance and mentorship to development team members and support staff.
Prepare, debrief, and coach colleagues and academic partners for donor meetings and solicitations.
Steward budgetary and operational resources to support fundraising success and team efficiency.
Align donor interests with institutional needs and campaign priorities.
Partner with academic leaders to identify fundable priorities and translate them into compelling philanthropic opportunities.
Develop and implement donor engagement and stewardship initiatives.
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.
Partner with central and unit-based advancement teams and campus colleagues.
Staff dean, academic leaders, and/or faculty to drive strategy, preparing for donor visits, and solicit and follow up.
Participate in cross-functional planning and strategy sessions to support integrated advancement goals.
Liaise closely with the Office of Research and Sponsored (ORSP) programs on grant opportunity communications, limited submission competitions and pre- and post-award grant coordination.
Intentionally and thoughtfully partner with faculty, academic leadership, grant administrators, ORSP, and unit-based Advancement colleagues to develop fundable proposals to foundations, including interdisciplinary, multi-unit campus projects.