Donor Engagement Manager – CEO/CDO Support

Alliance For Choice in Education•Greenwood Village, CO

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

ACE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, founded in 2000 in Denver, Colorado, to provide low-income children with equal access to quality K–12 private schools through partial scholarship support. Over the past 25+ years, ACE has delivered more than 140,000 scholarships worth over $390 million. This school year, ACE is serving approximately 16,000+ children in Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming, and is actively pursuing other expansion opportunities with the support of national funding partners. ACE is actively preparing for the Federal School Choice Tax Credit Program which comes into effect January 2027. For more information visit the ACE website at www.acescholarships.org . Our Mission Our mission is to advance K–12 educational freedom, with a focus on securing financial support for families so they may access the quality education of their choice. Our Values: ACE Founding Principles: Our founding principles are the foundation of ACE and our North Star. We honor ACE’s founders by remaining committed to these principles, and we passionately advocate for the Mission and Vision these principles support. Accountability: We embrace personal responsibility by taking ownership of our work and focusing on results. We expect both to give and to receive honest feedback. Innovation: We know ideas matter. We prefer the risks and rewards that come with creativity to the certainty that attends stagnation. Adaptability: We position ourselves to take advantage of opportunities, embracing strategic and operational change when it makes our work more impactful. Optimism: We believe our best days are ahead, and we embrace a forward-thinking mindset. We will make mistakes, but we will remain cheerful in the face of adversity and give people the benefit of the doubt. Kindness: We value everyone on our team, respect differences, and trust one another. This requires courage and strength, as it involves celebrating and giving our undivided attention to others. Our Founding Principles: Free enterprise and democracy work Parents know the best education environment for their kids Private schools offer great value and have open seats All people are created equal and deserve an equal chance to pursue the American Dream Position Overview The Donor Engagement Manager is a highly organized, proactive, and warm professional providing high-level support to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Development Officer (CDO) . The ideal candidate aligns closely with the organization’s values and leadership, communicates effectively, and thrives in a fast-paced environment. They are responsive, solution-oriented, and willing to support time-sensitive needs, including occasional evenings and weekends. This is a dynamic opportunity for someone eager to grow as a leader. This position also includes occasional travel opportunities to support the CEO and CDO at donor events and strategic engagements. This role is critical in supporting donor relations, maintaining internal alignment with the Marketing and Development teams, and managing executive-level logistics with discretion and professionalism.

Requirements

Unwavering belief in the mission of ACE Scholarships
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and an excellent professional appearance and presentation
Warm, personable and professional demeanor
Highly organized, detailed oriented and proven ability to manage shifting priorities and complex logistics
Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
Eagerness to learn, grown, and develop within the field of development and nonprofit leadership
Experience supporting executives or working in donor-focused roles preferred
Ability to convey the mission and vision of ACE Scholarships to internal and external stakeholders
Bachelor's degree in business administration, non-profit management or other related field desired; or equivalent related experience of 4+ years in executive support, development, sales, business administration, hospitality, or other related fields.
Personal and professional integrity
Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite; familiar with Raisers Edge (or other similar CRM system) for managing donor communications and record donor moves and communications in Raiser’s Edge
On occasion, ability to travel, willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings or weekends when needed

Responsibilities

Coordinate donor meetings, major gift planning, and fundraising events
Maximize follow-up opportunities from fundraising events by: Conducting follow-up phone calls to schedule one on one donor meetings, Draft and send thoughtful, professional, and personalized follow-up notes, emails, and other ACE overview materials, Draft pre-meeting notes and meeting confirmations
Maintain warm, articulate, and professional donor communication
Help the CEO and CDO stand out by strengthening donor relationships and managing key details
Send board communications on behalf of the CEO and CDO
Collaborate with the CEO and CDO to track and fulfill responsibilities tied to annual goals
Schedule and support weekly prospect meetings with relevant staff
Coordinate and support webinars and meetings with major gift officers
Coordinate and support webinars and meetings with major donor prospect, national board and other stakeholders as required
Create detailed trip agendas, including donor bios, giving history, and meeting notes
Prepare briefing documents and materials for donor meetings
Identify influential and wealthy prospects nationally to support diversity of donors across the nation
Help coordinate meetings, zoom calls with prospects
Coordinate travel arrangements (flights, accommodations, transportation)
Book restaurants and manage logistics for donor visits and team travel
Provide direct support to the CEO and CDO for important, time-sensitive, and occasional last-minute requests, including projects that require immediate response
Ensure a calm, efficient, and responsive executive environment
Understanding that this is a fast-paced environment, and while we seek to plan as much in advance, circumstances do not always allow for such planning
Managing CEO and CDO expense reports and monthly review of CEO and CDO budget
Partner closely with the President and Marketing Leaders to align on development strategy and execution
Help CEO and CDO maintain relations with national school choice partners to enhance ACE’s work
Collaborate with the communications team on speechwriting, media interviews, and major projects (e.g., organizational magazine)
Serve as backup for the communications team in drafting CEO communications when needed
Manage consistency and clarity on messaging to align with communications team
Support or lead execution of media projects when the communications team is unavailable
CEO bookings for podcasts, interviews, and public appearances in collaboration with Mar/Comms
Supporting CEO and CDO in school choice market research, reading newspapers and articles daily
Work with Social Media Manager to coordinate CEO posts Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn
Assist Social Media Manager with CEO in growing his national social media presence
Work with President to help schedule guest speakers for internal staff meetings
Work with CDO to help coordinate and prepare materials for monthly development team meetings
Draft internal notes and updates to staff on behalf of the CEO

Benefits

Medical Insurance (with generous employer contribution)
Dental Insurance (with generous employer contribution)
Vision Insurance
Voluntary Life Insurance
HSA, FSA, Limited FSA, and Dependent Care FSA pre-tax spending accounts
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Free, Employer-paid Short-term, Long-term, and AD&D insurance
401(k) with 6% employer match with immediate vesting
Monthly cellphone stipend
Scholarships for employee’s children actively enrolled in a K–12 private school ($3,500 per child, up to $10,500 per year)
On-site amenities at Colorado home office
Employer-paid parking (in-office)
Gym, café, and building security (in-office)
In-office coffee, snack bar, and walking treadmill (in-office)