Our Organization

IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, is a national, independent research organization that innovates and advances solutions that make our civil justice system more just.

We believe justice for all must be a reality for everyone. Every day, IAALS reexamines how the American civil justice system can better serve the needs of us all. Through purposeful collaboration, listening, and research, we jumpstart the groundbreaking and achievable solutions that will clear a path to justice for everyone. Because justice for all will never be a reality if those seeking justice cannot access the system designed to deliver it.

Our Work

IAALS’ unique approach depends on purposeful research, deep collaboration, and diversity of perspective, followed by evidence-based recommendations that take hold in courts and legal institutions across the country. IAALS works on solving problems with a broad view of the legal ecosystem, targeting changes in the courts and in the delivery of legal services. We conduct comprehensive analysis and work with stakeholders to design solutions, empower decision-makers, and measure outcomes and impacts to advance an accessible and trusted legal system.

In order to innovate our civil justice system to meet today’s challenges and opportunities, we need to better understand the problems people face.

• Nearly half of Americans experience legal problems for which they can’t find a solution.
• More than 70% of civil and family disputes in the United States include at least one side that doesn’t have an attorney.
• Incomprehensive legalese, limited legal support, and convoluted processes make fair legal resolutions increasingly unattainable.
• Businesses routinely choose arbitration rather than using the courts, jury trials are disappearing, and public confidence in our legal system is low.

Our modern society, with modern people and problems, demands the evolution of systems created hundreds of years ago. The status quo is rigid, inaccessible, slow, and costly—and doesn’t account for the people moving through it, rather than only those working within it. That is the work of IAALS.

IAALS has ongoing research projects in the areas of judicial reform, civil justice reform, family justice reform, legal education and licensure reform, and innovation in the delivery of legal services and the 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) will be charged with leading the vision and strategy of IAALS’ fundraising, implementing those fundraising strategies, and managing a fundraising infrastructure within the organization that engages various departments, board members, and advisors. This work includes 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. Responsibilities include developing a strategic and tactical plan for development; ensuring that fund development activities align with IAALS’ mission and strategic vision; and identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding various sources of philanthropic support in support. This person will oversee the Assistant Director of Development while working closely with the marketing & public relations, communications team, and programmatic directors.

Essential Functions

• Create and implement fundraising strategies for major gifts, planned giving, annual giving, events, corporate sponsorship, government grants, and private foundation support.
• 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, and corporate sponsors.
• Develop and manage a fundraising infrastructure that supports various giving strategies, stewardship, and donor data management activities.
• Liaise with the University Advancement office and 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 development and support staff as well as contract labor as needed.

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.
• Proven ability to work with a high level of independence, maintain confidentiality, prioritize duties, and manage time effectively.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree.
• 5 years of paid fundraising experience.
• Experience managing professional staff.
• 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.
• Experience with donor data management software and experienced at data mining to identify potential philanthropic support.
• Knowledge and understanding of gift acceptance policies and procedures
• Significant experience leading or playing a key role in a capital campaign or major fundraising initiative, from strategic planning through execution and stewardship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree or equivalent - Field of Study: Nonprofit Management or related field.
• 7-10 years of fundraising experience with broad involvement working with major donors, annual giving, events, planned giving, memberships, and foundation grants.
• Fundraising experience in both large, well-resourced shops and small organizations with limited numbers of staff and small budgets at senior leadership levels.
• Experienced 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.
• Experienced reporting to and working with a board and other governing bodies.
• Significant experience leading or playing a key role in a capital campaign or major fundraising initiative, from strategic planning through execution and stewardship.
• 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 work with a computer for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.

Work Schedule

Monday-Friday, 40 hours per week. The typical work schedule is Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, although specific schedules may be established with the supervisor. On occasion, there are hours required outside of the standard hours. Some travel may be required.

In accordance with the University’s and IAALS’ flexible work policies, this position is eligible to be considered for flexible work arrangements. Further details regarding this plan will be determined with the hiring manager and are dependent on the division and team-specific needs.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) August 9, 2025.

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 15.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $120,000-$150,000

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. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran 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; the Americans with Disabilities Act; 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; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

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