Associate Director of Development, Midwest Region

About the University of Denver

The University of Denver (DU) is the oldest independent private university in the Rocky Mountain region, serving approximately 12,000 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 campaign leadership, we are fostering a culture of deep engagement and philanthropy to support our bold vision for the future.

With a focus on the Midwest region outside of Colorado, where there is a high concentration of prospects, the Associate Director of Development will be dedicated to helping DU grow and expand its philanthropic base of support from major gift prospects aligned with DU’s top priorities. This position will report directly to the Senior Director of Development, Regional and will be based in Denver.

As part of a dynamic, collaborative, and innovative team supporting DU’s top priorities in the region, the Associate Director of Development will serve in a highly outbound capacity. They will have a heavy focus (90%) on identification and qualification, to confirm their philanthropic interest in DU. The ultimate goal is to grow the university’s major gift pipeline through a donor centered approach.

The Associate Director will qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects toward sustained giving at the major gift level. The key performance indicators for this position will be strategic qualifications, visits, solicitations, and dollars raised, through a collaborative execution of major gift prospect strategies. While the focus of this role is working with individual prospects and donors, the Associate Director of Development will also work in partnership with the central alumni engagement team to support (10%) regional programming.

Successful candidates will be highly collaborative, motivated, and skilled at building relationships. In addition, they will be deeply involved in the growth and expansion of DU’s donor base across the university. The University of Denver is unique in its academic portfolio, which boasts both strong undergraduate programs and experiences, as well as highly respected graduate and professional programs. Alumni identify with DU as well as with specific academic units, and the Associate Director of Development must be creative in their strategic approach with prospects to emphasize the intersection of those identities.

This position will partner closely with colleagues working within the specific schools, colleges, and units to align strategies for regional constituents.

• Pipeline Building:
  Activities focused on identifying, qualifying, and cultivating prospects to grow the donor base.
  • Build and manage a portfolio of 100-150 prospects rated at the major gift level.
  • Qualify, cultivate,…