New

Assistant Director of Development, Music, Arts, and Education

University of Colorado
$70000.00-$80000.00
paid time off, tuition assistance, relocation assistance
United States, Colorado, Boulder
Oct 19, 2026
Requisition Number: 75546 Location: Boulder, Colorado City Boulder State Colorado Employment Type: University Staff Schedule: Full-Time Posting Close Date: 01-Nov-2026 Date Posted: 19-Oct-2026 Close All 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.