Our Organization

IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, is a nonpartisan, nonprofit research institution at the University of Denver that is committed to increasing fairness, efficiency, accessibility, and the public's faith in the civil justice system.

People look to our justice system for relief in matters that affect their rights, their businesses, and the most intimate aspects of their lives; however, barriers and inefficiencies are effectively denying them real access. IAALS empowers judges, lawyers, businesspeople, and everyday users to put the best ideas into practice. Relying on real-time data to inform real-world solutions, IAALS is changing how our system serves people today while anticipating future needs—working tirelessly to increase access to justice.

Our Work

IAALS works on solving problems within the legal system: both in the courts and in the delivery of legal services more broadly. We conduct comprehensive analysis and work with stakeholders to design models, empower decision-makers, and measure outcomes and impacts to advance a trusted American legal system.

A trusted and trustworthy legal system is essential to our democracy, our economy, and our freedom. But, the American legal system is in a state of unprecedented change and challenge. Some 80 percent of Americans have legal needs that go unmet. Some 76 percent of state civil cases have a litigant on at least one side without lawyer representation. Businesses routinely choose arbitration rather than using the courts, jury trials are disappearing, and public confidence in our legal system is low.

Justice, the courts, and legal services must be accessible—and they are not. But IAALS is changing that. The problems are complex and multi-dimensional, and we are committed to comprehensive, balanced, and inclusive solutions across the American legal system. IAALS has ongoing projects in the areas of judicial reform, civil justice reform, family justice reform, legal education, and the reregulation of the legal profession. We encourage applicants to learn more about our work at iaals.du.edu.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Senior Director of Operations and with a dotted line to the CEO, the Director of Development (DoD) plays a crucial role in developing and enhancing relationships with major and principal gift prospects, discovering their philanthropic passions, and aligning them with the funding priorities emerging from our programs and vision. This position establishes and manages a fundraising infrastructure within the organization that engages various departments, board members, and advisors. The position also develops and implements fundraising strategies by identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding various sources of philanthropic support. In addition, the employee ensures that fund development activities align with IAALS' mission and strategic vision.

Essential Functions

• Create and implement fundraising strategies for annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, events, sponsorship opportunities, and foundation grants.
• Collaborate with IAALS leadership and program directors to understand the critical and evolving needs of the institute and its mission and adjust development strategies accordingly.
• Identify and qualify an expanding pool of individual, government, foundations, funders, and corporate sponsors.
• Develop and manage a fundraising infrastructure that supports various giving strategies, stewardship, and donor data management activities.
• Communicate with DU Advancement staff.
• Work with Communications staff to create messaging for fundraising collateral, social media, video, and print communications to expand both local and national awareness of IAALS.
• Establish and encourage an internal fundraising culture among staff, board members, and advisors through board and committee reporting and offering meaningful engagement.
• Create and facilitate naming, sponsorship, membership, and fee-for-service opportunities to attract and retain members, partners, donors, funders, and supporters.
• Manage support staff and contract labor.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to represent IAALS and the University in a variety of capacities through excellent spoken and written communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to prioritize, negotiate, influence, and motivate groups and individuals.
• Maturity, sound judgment, sensitivity to others, and high ethical standards with the ability to build productive relationships with philanthropic individuals, corporations, and foundations, as well as the University's leadership.
• Ability to balance short-term project deliverables with long-term strategic goal achievement and progress.
• Ability to empower and motivate team members to deliver on agreed-upon performance metrics.
• Responsibility to remain informed on issues and concerns impacting IAALS and the legal community it serves and share those data through relevant channels.
• Responsibility to remain informed on economic, tax, and philanthropic issues impacting fundraising strategies.
• Ability to effectively identify and pursue new revenue opportunities and fundraising relationships locally and nationally.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree.
• Demonstrated ability to secure major gifts ($50,000+) and principal gifts of $1 million+ by strategically managing a portfolio and fostering meaningful relationships.
• Demonstrated experience in cultivating and stewarding relationships with diverse individuals, organizations, corporations, and communities.
• Experienced working with and advising a CEO, leadership, and staff to facilitate the implementation of fundraising strategies.
• Understanding of the development budget process, revenue forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Experienced with donor data management software and experienced at data mining to identify potential philanthropic support.
• Proven ability to work with a high level of independence, maintain confidentiality, prioritize duties, and manage time effectively.
• Knowledge and understanding of gift acceptance policies and procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters Degree – Field of Study: Nonprofit Management or related field.
• 7-10 years of paid fundraising experience.
• Fundraising experience in both large, well-resourced shops and small organizations with limited numbers of staff and small budgets at senior leadership levels.
• Minimum of eight years of fundraising experience with broad involvement working with major donors, annual giving, events, planned giving, memberships, and foundation grants.
• Experience working with communications staff to collaborate on creating fundraising collaterals, social media, videos, and other forms of fundraising tools.
• Demonstrated track record in working collaboratively across organizational departments, as well as with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience reporting to and working with a board and other governing bodies.
• Proficiency in two or more languages.

Working Environment

Standard office environment.
Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period of time.
Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 40 hours a week.

Application Deadline

For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) March 24, 2023. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.

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 16.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $120,000-$140,000.

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. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans 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; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; 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; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university's complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non‑discrimination‑statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.