Director of Development, Gift Planning

University of Denver•Denver, CO

51d•$100,000 - $115,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The University of Denver is seeking a driven, knowledgeable and passionate fundraiser to join our Advancement team as the Director of Development, Gift Planning. This is a unique opportunity for a talented fundraising professional to join a dynamic, growing and purposeful enterprise united around a compelling mission charted by Chancellor Jeremy Haefner and Senior Vice Chancellor for Advancement Val Otten. Reporting directly to the Executive Director of Gift Planning, the Director of Development is a key fundraising professional for the University of Denver. This position is responsible for cultivating and soliciting a full range of planned gifts from DU alumni and friends in Colorado and nationally. Such gifts include outright gifts of appreciated assets, life income gifts such as charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts, and testamentary gift plans such as bequests and life insurance gifts. The Director will manage a portfolio of gift planning donors and prospects while partnering with a campus-wide network of academic leaders, fundraising professionals, and other key partners to advance the University's top priorities. The Director of Development will develop and mature their assigned portfolio of planned gift donors. This will include managing top prospects in pursuit of individual fundraising goals set annually in collaboration with the Executive Director and the Associate Vice Chancellor for University Development. The Director will serve as a close partner and key resource for other advancement professionals to solicit and close planned gifts. The campus-wide Advancement team is highly collaborative, and the Director is expected to build and foster extensive value-added relationships with their campus partners. The successful candidate will possess a strong capacity for developing relationships with gift planning prospects and their advisors and family members to cultivate and close complex gift plans and conceive and implement customized strategic cultivation and solicitation plans for each prospect. They must possess excellent communication and relationship-building skills, a deep commitment to a rigorous, holistic educational experience, and a demonstrated ability to galvanize support to advance this cause.

Requirements

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)
7 years of professional experience, including 5 years of direct fundraising experience, working within the full spectrum of development, including cultivation, gift solicitations, stewardship, and donor recognition
Experience closing gifts with complex assets

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree in business, law, non-profit management, or a related field of study
Fundraising experience in higher education or similarly complex non-profit environment

Responsibilities

Responsible for raising $1,000,000+ annually, primarily through major gifts of $50,000 or more, once the portfolio is mature.
Contribute to annual and campaign goals by securing gifts aligned with institutional priorities and strategic initiatives.
Develop and execute complex fundraising strategies to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward planned giving prospects.
Manage a portfolio of donors with capacity to make planned gifts.
Leverage campaign priorities and university initiatives to inspire philanthropic investment.
Solicit donors for planned gifts through a variety of channels, including blended gifts and multi-year commitments.
Represent the university's breadth of academic programs and initiatives in donor conversations and proposals.
Partner with central and unit-based advancement teams and campus colleagues.
Participate in cross-functional planning and strategy sessions to support integrated advancement goals.
Provide strategic guidance and mentorship to development team members and support staff.
Lead goal-setting and performance evaluation processes for assigned fundraising initiatives.
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 programs, recognition events, 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.