About DU Advancement

The Denver Difference campaign is our most ambitious campaign yet. It marks a dramatic shift in conventional thinking about what the university experience can and should be. DU is setting the bar with our approach to higher education, developing and preparing students to be successful in life in every way. The University of Denver is building an advancement enterprise that mirrors the excellence and innovation of our great institution. Inclusive of alumni relations, development, and student and alumni career services, DU Advancement is building and fostering a culture of deep engagement and philanthropy in support of our bold vision.

The University of Denver and DU Advancement deeply value inclusive excellence, recognizing that its success depends on how well it values, engages, and includes the rich diversity of constituents. As a part of that effort, we are continuing to grow a team of inclusive, collaborative, inquisitive, innovative, ethical, and transparent advancement professionals who possess deep mutual respect for one another and for our shared profession

Position Summary

This is a unique opportunity for a highly experienced, driven, and passionate leader to join a dynamic, growing and purposeful enterprise committed to serving students and creating scholarship that serves the public good and contributes to human knowledge.

Reporting directly to the senior vice chancellor for advancement, this position is responsible for advancing the philanthropic and engagement culture of the University of Denver. This position strategically drives the University of Denver’s engagement and fundraising programs and will have the opportunity to create the overall strategy for the continuum of constituent engagement, annual giving, leadership annual giving, major gifts, leadership gifts, and principal gifts. This includes campus-wide programs, as well as college- and school and college-based development and alumni engagement teams. The Associate Vice Chancellor must be a dynamic, thoughtful, and diplomatic partner to deans, administrators, advancement professionals, and other partners across campus.

They will also play a key role in developing and enhancing relationships with key alumni, major and principal gift prospects, discovering their philanthropic passions, and aligning them with the funding priorities identified in The Denver Difference Campaign. The Associate Vice Chancellor will develop and mature a targeted portfolio of major and principal gift donors in pursuit of individual fundraising goals. They will lead engagement and fundraising efforts executing The Denver Difference Campaign.

Essential Functions

Leadership

• Provide comprehensive leadership of the University’s development and alumni engagement operation. This includes supporting the day-to-day functionality of a large and complex team of fundraising professionals and leading the team’s recruitment, hiring, training, mentoring, evaluating, and professional development activities. The Associate Vice Chancellor directly supervises 6-10 senior-level Development professionals and indirectly supervises an additional 70-73 FTE
• Provide strategy, guidance, and direction in support of the mission, vision, values, and goals of DU Advancement and the University of Denver
• Lead the annual goal-setting process for campus-wide engagement and fundraising activity, including setting individual and team goals for alumni engagement and development team members
• The Associate Vice Chancellor is also responsible for effectively managing their operating budget and the associated budgets under their purview. This includes monitoring transactions and participating in budget modeling and forecasting processes

Fundraising

• This position is responsible for engaging philanthropic support for the campus’ top priorities as articulated in The Denver Difference Campaign
• The Associate Vice Chancellor will develop meaningful and productive relationships with a small, targeted portfolio of major and principal gift donors, including alumni, friends, and parents
• This position is accountable to annual fundraising goals, which are established each year in consultation with the Senior Vice Chancellor
• This position is also accountable for annual goals related to the number of successful major gift closures, proposals, and meaningful in-person contacts. Such goals will be established annually in consultation with the Senior Vice Chancellor

Alumni Engagement

• Build and execute a cohesive strategy for campus-wide engagement strategies in alignment with the DU’s strategic vision, ensuring alumni and constituents are meaningfully involved through advisory boards, events, and volunteer opportunities that support the college’s mission and advancement goals.

Partnerships & University Citizenship

• Serves as an active and collaborative partner to all central and unit-based Advancement staff and other campus colleagues, to foster strategic, effective, and collaborative career and professional development practices.
• Models “One DU” leadership.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to close major gifts ($50,000+) and principal gifts ($1 million+) in a relationship- based culture
• Demonstrated ability to form and fully leverage cross-functional teams of colleagues, volunteers, and academic/administrative leaders toward closure of transformational gifts
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills to foster and maintain effective relationships with colleagues, donors, volunteers, and University Officials. Ability to interact effectively with diverse groups having competing interests and priorities within the University and community
• Demonstrated success in accomplishing a capital campaign
• Experience directly staffing a Dean or academic leader in a fundraising capacity
• Experience closing gifts with complex assets
• Ability to represent the University of Denver and its major initiatives and units in a variety of capacities. Strong written and oral communication skills
• Cultural competency: ability to understand and appreciate cultural differences and to communicate effectively across cultures
• Proven ability to work with a high level of independence, maintain confidentiality, prioritize assignments, and manage time effectively

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience (Veterans with equivalent combination of military certification/education and experience may substitute for the degree qualification).
• 10 years of paid fundraising experience, working within the full spectrum of development, including cultivation, gift solicitations, stewardship, and donor recognition
• 7 years of experience managing personnel, including managing other fundraising professionals

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a University setting or similarly complex non-profit environment

Working Environment

• Standard open office environment.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.
• Some nights and weekend event attendance.
• Travel responsibilities to meet with donors.
• Eligible for hybrid work.

Physical Activities

• Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs. with assistance.
• Ability to travel periodically within Denver and nationally.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Application Deadline

For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) July 23, 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 18.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $200,000-$253,000.

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.