Assistant or Associate Director of Development

Assistant or Associate Director of Development

University of Colorado Anschutz Department:
Office of Advancement

Job Title:

Assistant or Associate Director of Development Position #:  

– Requisition #: 40694

Job Summary:

This is an open-rank position. We are seeking to fill one Development Officer position, with the appointment made at either the Assistant Director or Associate Director level based on the selected candidate's experience, qualifications, and demonstrated skills. Position Emphasis:
The University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus is a leading public research university serving more than 28,000 students across the Denver metro area and online. With 13 schools and colleges, 119 degree programs, and more than $400 million in annual research funding, CU Denver | Anschutz is recognized for academic excellence, healthcare innovation, and impactful research. The Office of Advancement connects benefactor interests with university priorities to support education, research, and clinical care.

Through fundraising, stewardship, and engagement, the office advances the mission of CU Anschutz and helps shape the future of healthcare. We are a collaborative team of more than 60 fundraising, benefactor relations, and administrative professionals committed to advancing CU Anschutz and serving our benefactors. Assistant Directors of Development build and maintain key relationships while providing fundraising and benefactor support to physician leaders, faculty, and staff.

These positions recommend strategy and provide professional support to External Directors of Development and Advancement leadership. Supervision Received:
Reports to the Managing Director of Development Supervision Exercised:
No direct reports.

Key Responsibilities:

Training and Fundamental Skill Development (50%) In close partnership with the Managing Director of Development:
Participates in fundraising training focused on benefactor engagement, discovery, stewardship, portfolio management, and development operations Learns and practices the "art of fundraising," including discovery conversations, thank-you calls, trust-building, and engagement strategies Learns and practices the "science of fundraising," including consistent outreach, timely follow-up, documentation standards, use of fundraising systems, prioritization of work, and related development operations Builds working knowledge of CU Anschutz Medical Campus priorities, academic programs, fundraising processes, campus initiatives, talking points, faculty and hospital relations, fund agreements, gift processing, and related Advancement operations through guided learning, shadowing, and coaching Develops comfort and confidence in fundraising language, outreach techniques, and benefactor conversations through supported practice Thank-You Calls, Discovery Work, and Stewardship (Assistant – 30%) Conducts timely thank‑you calls, personalized emails, and stewardship outreach to supporters to express appreciation, reinforce connection to CU Anschutz, and identify interest in further engagement Completes discovery outreach, primarily through phone, to learn about benefactors' interests and motivations Initiates in-person visits with benefactors and collaborates with the Managing Director and senior development officers to strengthen relationships Completes timely follow-up, schedules future engagement, and shares relevant information Documents contact reports, discovery notes, and next steps accurately and promptly to support benefactor continuity and team strategy Assists with proactive stewardship of leadership annual giving and mid-level benefactors with a focus on retention and engagement Practices and implements proactive strategies and tools to move relationships and conversations forward Associate Level (35%), all of the above and:
Independently leads benefactor conversations, including discovery, solicitation, and stewardship, with support from a senior gift officer when appropriate Provides proactive cultivation and stewardship to retain and grow leadership-level and major gift benefactors year over year through independently developed plans and strategies Creates individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies Shares research updates, impact stories, and funding opportunities with benefactors Serves as a trusted liaison to support productive benefactor engagement Gift Conversations and Portfolio Work (Assistant – 15%) Manages a portfolio of approximately 120-140 benefactors focused primarily on leadership annual gifts in the $500-$10,000 range, with goals co-created with and approved by leadership Practices leadership-level and renewal gift solicitations with increasing independence Participates in gift conversations led by senior development officers to gain exposure to benefactor strategy and proposal work Identifies benefactors for continued cultivation and larger gift opportunities Demonstrates professionalism in interactions with benefactors,…