Job Summary
Advancement at CU Boulder encourages applications for an Assistant
Director of Development to join the Music, Arts, Performing Arts,
and Education team! Under the guidance of the Senior Director of
Development and other senior members of the team, the Assistant
Director uses knowledge of fundraising techniques to coordinate and
implement development activities for the Music, Performing Arts,
and Education advancement team and has a strong desire to work
towards becoming an expert level fundraiser. This is an entry- to
mid-level role meant to provide a pathway for a successful career
in fundraising and relationship management.
This position demonstrates strong relationship-building skills and
is responsible for cultivating new and existing donors and
increasing philanthropic support for the University through
planning, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding leadership gifts
of $5,000 and above. While the main focus of the Assistant Director
is to secure gifts in the $5K-$25K range, this position will also
be tasked with securing gifts at $25K+ and $100K+ depending on
their portfolio and tenure. This position will travel as needed to
meet with current and prospective donors, to build relationships,
and to conduct discovery meetings.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all
applicable federal, state, and local laws governing
nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a
workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and
dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to
apply, including protected veterans and individuals with
disabilities.
Who We Are
CU Boulder Advancement is committed to a culture of joy,
motivated by collaboration, passionate about excellence and driven
by impact. These four values define the culture and drive
engagement and fundraising success.
We are committed to fostering an environment where everyone
matters, and all can thrive. This dedication is rooted in our core
values and our mission to drive impactful fundraising and
engagement. Our team actively engages in learning, reflection, and
the transformation of systems, policies, and practices that
perpetuate oppressive ideologies—including racism, sexism, ableism,
and heterosexism. We recognize our responsibility to lead by
example in building a supportive and inclusive culture for both
internal colleagues and external partners. We hold ourselves
accountable through individual and divisional goals that
continuously assess our progress, growth, and outcomes—ensuring
alignment with our mission and values every step of the way.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
Portfolio Management and Donor Engagement
• Develop and manage a portfolio of up to 100 individual
prospects capable of making gifts of $5,000+.
• In partnership with the Senior Director of Development, develop
annual goals around development work (face to face meetings,
proposals, dollars raised, and assists).
• Collaborate with Senior Director of Development to develop plan
for cultivating, soliciting and stewarding each donor as
appropriate, collaborating with the system’s gift planning team,
colleagues and academic partners when appropriate.
• Conduct regular visits with donors in pursuit of achieving
established goals and metrics.
• Document prospect strategies and contact reports, evaluate new
prospects and generate stewardship reports and general
correspondence.
Other Development Duties as Assigned
• Identify and develop prospective donors by analyzing ticket
buying behaviors to CSF, Artist Series, and other performing arts
events at CU Boulder.
• Identify and develop prospective donors by analyzing donor
lists at cultural institutions in the Denver/Boulder area who could
be interested in engaging further with CU Boulder.
• Grow philanthropic totals by deepening collaboration with
advancement and other campus colleagues for enhanced donor
engagement. This involves participating in regular internal
meetings and engagement opportunities (task forces, frontline
fundraiser meetings, etc.).
• Embrace a self-learner/self-starter approach and continuously
look for opportunities to match donor interests with leadership
initiatives in pursuit of meeting established goals and
objectives.
• Facilitate productive relationships daily between donors and CU
administrators, faculty and staff to ensure effectiveness of
programs.
• Represent the University at events to support CU and cultivate
donors.
• Other duties as assigned.
What You Should Know
• This position will require local, regional, and out-of-state
travel to meet with donors.
• This position has the ability to work a hybrid schedule with
some days on campus and some days remote.
• This position will occasionally be required to work
evenings/weekends.
What We Can Offer
The salary range for this position is $70,000 – $80,000 annually.
Relocation assistance is available within Advancement
guidelines.
Benefits
At the University of Colorado Boulder , we are
committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our
employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical,
dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition
assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local
transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder
offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class
outdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of
Forbes’ America’s Best
Large Employers , ranking #4 among large employers in Colorado
and #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks and
programs through the CU Advantage program.
Be Statements
Be dynamic. Be successful. Be Boulder.
What We Require
• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, or a
combination of education and experience may substitute.
• Experience: 1+ years of professional, job-related
experience.
What You Will Need
• Knowledge of fundraising techniques, especially in a higher
education/nonprofit environment.
• Desire to learn about major gift solicitation techniques.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to interact with
new people on a regular basis.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and adapt to
changing priorities; able to appropriately manage time and meet set
timelines.
• Ability to take constructive feedback from leadership and
campus partners.
• Ability to champion the shared values of the Office of
Advancement.
• Ability to exercise a high degree of tact, discretion, and
collaboration in working with a diverse range of constituents
including employees, students, volunteers, alumni, donors, and
campus colleagues.
• Phenomenal relationship building skills.
• Growth mindset, resilience and perseverance.
• Ability to travel regularly and practice fiscal management and
responsibility.
• Active listening skills.
What We Would Like You to Have
• Experience working in a non-profit or higher education
environment.
• Background in arts or education.
• Experience with public speaking.
• Software Used: Microsoft Office products, donor tracking
software (Salesforce), Zoom, Teams, LinkedIn, Tessitura.
Special Instructions
To apply, please submit the following materials:
• A current resume.
• A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background
and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and
responsibilities of the position.
We may request references at a later time.
Please apply by November 1, 2026 for consideration.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For
consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs .
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in
any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying
information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school
attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting
or removing this information.
Posting Contact Information
Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources
Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu
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