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.
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, colleagues, faculty, campus leadership, and other internal and external partners
Associate Level (35%), all of the above and:
Manages a major gift portfolio with accountability for strategy, progress, and results
Inspires benefactors to increased levels of giving, including renewal asks, asks under threshold, and pipeline-building asks, with a focus on gift conversations at $15,000+
Independently develops and executes solicitation plans, stewardship touchpoints, and long-term cultivation strategies toward larger gifts
Completes proposals, pledges, agreements, and follow-up activities accurately and timely
Uses fundraising systems and metrics to prioritize work and evaluate portfolio health
Documents benefactor strategies, contact reports, and next steps to support continuity, collaboration, and effective customer service with colleagues
Analyzes fundraising activity, portfolio performance, and benefactor engagement metrics to identify trends, assess progress toward goals, and inform future cultivation and solicitation strategies
Develops and implements long-term strategies for benefactor cultivation, stewardship, and pipeline growth, aligning individual and departmental fundraising efforts with institutional priorities
Evaluates fundraising effectiveness and benefactor engagement outcomes
Strategic Collaboration and Engagement with Internal and External Constituents (Associate – 25%)
Works closely with our Faculty Hospital Relations team to develop and maintain strong internal partnerships with faculty, campus leadership, and advancement colleagues to advance philanthropic priorities and benefactor relationships
Serves as a trusted liaison with benefactors ensuring values‑aligned engagement
Builds partnerships with Advancement teams including Communications, Stewardship, Events, and Alumni Relations
Partners closely with CU Anschutz external development officers to continue growth, learning and professional development
Contributes to a collaborative fundraising culture by sharing insights, supporting team strategy discussions, and aligning efforts across campus and central partners
Represents the University professionally in benefactor meetings, campus engagements, and select events, exercising sound judgment and discretion
Exercises sound judgment in managing donor conversations, including independently resolving issues when appropriate and engaging leadership or partners thoughtfully when needed
May informally mentor ADODs by modeling effective fundraising practices and contributing to a supportive learning environment
Other Duties (5%)
Represents the University at events to support the University and meet, cultivate, and steward benefactors
Performs various other duties or tasks as assigned and/or needed
