Assistant Director of Development, Leadership Annual Giving, Athletics

About the University of Denver

The University of Denver (DU) is the oldest independent private university in the Rocky Mountain region, serving approximately 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students. DU is classified as an R1: Doctoral University, a designation recognizing the highest level of research activity among U.S. institutions.

At DU, we approach higher education with the confident optimism and pragmatic independence that define the Rocky Mountain West. It sets us apart. We’re preparing students to become the solutions in their own stories, empowering them to face uncertainty with confidence and uncommon sense.

We’re fiercely ambitious and forward-thinking, surpassing all expectations to redefine success and how to achieve it. As a top-tier private R-1 institution, we are dedicated to making the world a better place –contributing to our communities and making positive change in the world.

About DU Advancement

DU Advancement drives meaningful connections and partnerships to support DU’s mission of advancing the public good. By championing philanthropy, engaging alumni, and fostering collaborative initiatives, we empower innovation, inspire transformation, and showcase what DU can do to create positive change in the world.

This spirit is at the heart of The Denver Difference campaign. As DU’s most ambitious campaign yet, we are reimagining what the university experience can and should be. By preparing students for success in all aspects of life, DU is setting a new standard for higher education.

DU Advancement reflects the excellence and innovation of the university itself. Through alumni engagement, development, operations, and communications leadership, we are fostering a culture of deep engagement and philanthropy to support our bold vision for the future.

About DU Athletics

The University of Denver is annually one of the top NCAA Division I-AAA athletic departments in the country, boasting 36 team NCAA Championships in Men’s Ice Hockey, Skiing, and Men’s Lacrosse while sustaining elite-level academic success. The Pioneers have tremendous philanthropic opportunities for annual fund, capital, and endowment fundraising. This position will play a major role contributing to the athletics development team and shaping the future of DU Athletics.

About the Opportunity

As a member of the Athletics Advancement team, this position reports directly to the Executive Director of Development for Athletics (Deputy Athletics Director for Development). This frontline fundraiser plays a key role in the athletics annual fund growth, specifically focused on growing the annual giving and leadership annual giving bands for a more robust pipeline of major gift donors.

The Assistant Director will manage a portfolio of leadership annual giving and major gift-rated prospects, with an emphasis on qualifying new donors, securing gifts of $1,000–$49,999 and developing a pipeline for future major gifts. The position will use email, phone, events and visits to deepen relationships and connect donor interests with philanthropic priorities across DU Athletics’ 18 varsity sport programs, capital projects, endowments and scholarships.

Success will require persistence, strong judgment and comfort working at significant volume. Performance will be measured primarily through donor qualifications, visits, leadership annual giving upgrades and acquisition, and pipeline growth. The Assistant Director will also identify major and planned giving opportunities and partner with colleagues to develop and execute strategies and proposals for these prospects.

Position Summary

As a member of the Athletics Advancement team, this position reports directly to the Executive Director of Development for Athletics (Deputy Athletics Director for Development). This frontline fundraiser plays a key role in the athletics annual fund growth, specifically focused on growing the annual giving and leadership annual giving bands for a more robust pipeline of major gift donors.

The Assistant Director will manage a portfolio of leadership annual giving and major gift-rated prospects, with an emphasis on qualifying new donors, securing gifts of $1,000–$49,999 and developing a pipeline for future major gifts. The position will use email, phone, events and visits to deepen relationships and connect donor interests with philanthropic priorities across DU Athletics’ 18 varsity sport programs, capital projects, endowments and scholarships.

Success will require persistence, strong judgment and comfort working at significant volume. Performance will be measured primarily through donor qualifications, visits, leadership annual giving upgrades and acquisition, and pipeline growth. The Assistant Director will also identify major and planned giving opportunities and partner with colleagues to develop and execute strategies and proposals for these prospects.

Essential Functions

Frontline Fundraising and Pipeline Development 

• Partner with colleagues to design and implement strategies to identify, qualify and cultivate donors and prospects.
• Manage a portfolio of 100-200 leadership annual giving and major gift-rated prospects to build the donor pipeline.
• Qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward prospects in support of leadership annual giving and future major gifts.
• Solicit leadership annual gifts ranging from $1,000 to $49,999 through personalized and multichannel approaches.
• Identify opportunities for major and planned gifts and partner with major gift and planned giving colleagues to develop and execute strategies and proposals.
• Serve as a development liaison to assigned sport programs and key initiatives, helping connect priorities with donor interests and fundraising opportunities.

Athletics Annual Giving Program 

• Oversee the strategy of the Athletics annual giving program, including coordinating closely with University Advancement colleagues and athletics ticket office
• Develop annual fund strategy and calendar in conjunction with the Executive Director of Development for Athletics that includes direct mail solicitations, online campaigns and any other annual campaign activities.

Operational Excellence 

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of donor interactions and contact reports in the CRM system.
• Track and report on qualifications, visits, solicitations and dollars raised.
• Manage projects and initiatives in alignment with University policies and advancement best practices.
• Travel the front range and nationally to deepen DU connections with prospects in partnership with colleagues, when appropriate.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Basic knowledge of fundraising principles and donor-engagement practices.
• Ability to build rapport with entry- to mid-level donors.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to prepare donor correspondence and mass solicitations.
• Ability to adjust to shifting priorities and incorporate feedback.
• Sound judgment and the ability to consider the impact of decisions on donors, colleagues and institutional priorities.
• Ability to work closely with a supervisor to develop effective portfolio-outreach and prospect-management strategies.
• Understanding of the institution’s mission, programs and priorities.
• Ability to coordinate small annual-giving campaigns or events.
• Ability to analyze data for mass solicitations and use research to prepare for internal and external meetings.
• Ability to work effectively with internal and external constituents and collaborate across Advancement and Athletics teams.
• Ability to serve as a positive ambassador for the team and Advancement.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience (Veterans with equivalent combination of military certification/education and experience may substitute for this qualification).
• 3 years of professional experience including at least 1 year of donor, constituent relations, or relationship-based sales experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience closing annual gifts of up to $5,000
• Fundraising experience in higher education or similarly complex non-profit or for-profit environment

Working Environment

• Standard open office environment
• Noise level is quiet to moderate
• Eligible for hybrid work
• Ability to travel to meet with donors regularly
• Ability and willingness to work evenings and weekends

Physical Activities

• Ability to use a computer for an extended period
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs. with assistance

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) October 5, 2026.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 10.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $62,000 - $72,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history and National Sex Offender Registry background check.