Job Details

University of Colorado System Administration

Assistant Director of Donor Relations - Events

Position Number: 6483480
Location: Denver, CO
Position Type: Development and Fund Raising

Assistant Director of Donor Relations - Events

Assistant Director of Donor Relations - Events - 37561 University Staff

Description
Join Our Team and Make a Difference in Higher Education!

At the System Administration office at the University of Colorado, we are dedicated to building a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our office is committed to fostering a culture where employees find community, a sense of belonging, and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to our mission and purpose.

By joining our team, you'll have a direct impact on shaping the future of higher education. In addition to the Office of the Board of Regents, the University of Colorado's system administration includes 19 units that provide essential services to CU's campuses in Aurora, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Denver, as well as the Office of the President. While not a part of any one campus, we are proud to serve in the centralized office for the University system. Together, we ensure CU continues to deliver outstanding education, groundbreaking research, and valuable service to our communities.

We believe in creating an environment where the unique experiences and perspectives of everyone are embraced, enriching the work we do and the strategic outcomes we pursue. If you're passionate about making a difference, contributing to a dynamic team, and supporting a mission that matters, we encourage you to apply and be part of our journey. Learn more about CU System Administration.
Position Summary:
The CU System Office of Advancement provides excellent customer service, strategy, expertise, and efficiency to our partners on CU's campuses and at the University of Colorado Foundation. We support CU's fundraising and engagement goals through advancement operations that include constituent research and development, data management, business intelligence, technical architecture, annual giving, planned giving, gift administration, marketing and communications, IT, budget and finance, and more. We believe that a healthy office culture is foundational to our success. We create this by bringing together a diverse team of colleagues and infusing our core values-Work Together, Think Big, Be Good and Have Fun-into our work every day.

The Assistant Director of Donor Relations - Events plays a key role in advancing donor engagement and stewardship efforts across the University of Colorado System. This position supports consistent, thoughtful recognition of donors in alignment with campus-specific strategies and industry best practices.

This role is responsible for the planning and execution of high-quality events and donor society engagements that foster meaningful interactions with donors across the CU system. Key responsibilities include oversight and implementation of:

System-wide giving societies and related engagement events, including a signature gala
Complex, system-wide athletics donor engagement
CU Trustee receptions hosted across all four campuses
Recognition and training events for the Advancement team

As a member of the Donor Relations team within the Front-Line Support Services group at CU System Advancement, the Assistant Director collaborates closely with the Director of Donor Relations and serves as a trusted partner to advancement leadership across the CU system. This includes working with the President of the University, members of the President's leadership team, the Board of Regents, campus Chancellors, and CU Foundation leadership, including the Board of Directors and Trustees. The Assistant Director helps deliver impactful experiences that celebrate donor contributions and fundraising achievements.

This position reports to the Director of Donor Relations within the Central Advancement division and is exempt from the State of Colorado Classified Staff System.
Where You Will Work:The CU System Office of Advancement follows a "flexibility first" approach to our work that defines how we manage and make use of in-person time. As a hybrid role, this position will work both in-office at our 1800 Grant Street location and remotely as directed by this roles manager.Equal Opportunity Statement: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. Duties & Responsibilities:
Duties:

Event Planning & Execution

Plan and manage logistics for a variety of advancement-related events, including:
- System-wide giving societies and related engagement events, including a signature gala for donors of over $1M+ lifetime to CU with the highest level of university leadership in attendance and an estate donor annual luncheon with 400 donors.
- Complex, system-wide athletics donor engagement, including organizing a season long football suite ticketing process with a ranking system, various multi-campus coordination, and direct donor communication with highly personalization and intricate instructions.
- CU Trustee receptions hosted across all four campuses with coordinating partners on each campus with unique opportunities and elements to manage for programming and physical space.
- Recognition and training events for the Advancement team, including the ~400 person All-Hands annual gathering.
Coordinate event timelines, budgets, vendor contracts, catering, A/V, and venue arrangements with diverse scopes across the portfolio of events.
Ensure events align with institutional branding, budget appropriateness, and advancement goals.

Stakeholder Engagement

Collaborate with Advancement leadership and donor relations colleagues to design events and experiences that support cultivation and stewardship strategies.
Manage complex calendars for leadership attendance.
Act as the central hub for all responsible event activities.
Serve as a liaison to campus partners and external vendors to ensure seamless execution and alignment.

Communications & Marketing

Develop and manage event invitations, registration platforms, and follow-up communications.
Work with the creative team to create promotional materials and digital content for engagements.
Align all event assets on brand.

Data & Reporting

Track attendance, engagement metrics, and post-event feedback.
Maintain accurate records in the university's donor database.
Partner with campus partners in leveraging data in meaningful ways for increased fundraising and engagement productivity.

What We Offer:
Salary: The anticipated hiring range has been established at $107,800-$125,000.

CU System Administration takes into consideration a combination of the selected candidate's education, training and experience as it relates to the position, as well as the position's scope and complexity, internal pay equity and external market value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

Benefits: With our unparalleled range of benefits, including top-notch healthcare, comprehensive wellness programs, enriching professional development, and a dynamic work-life balance, we ensure your holistic growth and happiness.

No-cost or low-cost medical & dental plan options, some inclusive of IVF assistance.
Disability, Life, Vision Insurance options.
Multiple retirement planning options including a mandatory 401(a) plan where CU contributes 10% of your gross pay, a 401k or 403b plan and a 457 deferred compensation plan.
Pre-tax savings plans, such as Health care and Dependent care flexible spending accounts.
Embrace a healthy work-life balance with ample sick and vacation leave, along with at least 12 paid holidays. This includes a dedicated week off for winter break.
6 weeks of parental leave to adjust to the joys of parenthood.
A tuition benefit program for you and/or your dependents.
Free RTD EcoPass and Free Onsite Parking at our 1800 Grant Street Office.
Many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Additional taxable fringe benefits may be available.

For more information on benefits programs, please review our Comprehensive Benefits Guide.

Access our Total Compensation Calculator to see what your total rewards could be at CU. (This position is a University Staff position)
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:

Please ensure your resume includes any and all relevant experience to be accurately assessed against these qualifications. You must meet all minimum requirements listed at the time of application to be considered for this role.

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education in communications or field of study related to the work performed, or equivalent professional experience (the educational requirement may be substituted for professional experience on a year for year basis).
Six (6) years of professional experience, which also includes:
- Three (3) years of experience in leading and executing large scale (+200 people) events
Two (2) year of experience in a lead or supervisory role, which may include assigning and reviewing the work of others, providing guidance to internal and external team members, and/or assisting management with performance reviews.

Preferred Qualifications:

Seven (7) years of professional experience, as indicated above.
Two (2) years of experience in a supervisory role, as indicated above.
Experience working in higher education or at a nonprofit.
Experience managing external vendors or internal clients.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

To be successful in this position, candidates should demonstrate the following:

Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to craft and edit professional correspondence, reports, event materials, and donor communications.
Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, including donors, executives, academic leaders, and colleagues.
Proven project and event management skills, including the ability to plan, execute, and evaluate complex, high-profile events across multiple campuses.
Strong organizational, time-management, and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to manage multiple priorities and adapt to changing demands.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team, demonstrating initiative, accountability, and flexibility in a fast-paced environment.
Attention to detail and accuracy, particularly in event planning, donor communications, and data entry.
Ability to prioritize tasks effectively, manage fluctuating workloads, and meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
Willingness and ability to work occasional evenings and weekends in support of events and donor engagement activities.
Knowledge of general office procedures, professional protocols, and administrative best practices.
Understanding of donor relations and communications principles, especially within higher education or philanthropic contexts.
Ability to develop and implement strategic donor engagement and communication plans, including consistent messaging, audience targeting, and content calendars.
Familiarity with higher education fundraising and annual giving trends, with a willingness to learn and apply data insights to engagement strategies.
Proficiency in using communication channels, such as email, websites, print materials, events, and social media.
Experience managing budgets and vendor relationships, including preparing and supervising event budgets and aligning expenditures with strategic goals.
Ability to analyze and report on financial data, including donor engagement metrics and event ROI.
Data entry and record-keeping skills, with the ability to maintain accurate and detailed files and reports.
Knowledge of compliance standards, including audit practices and confidentiality protocols.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

How to Apply:
For full consideration, please attach the following as separate documents to your application:

A cover letter identifying the job specific minimum qualifications you possess
A resume including any and all relevant experience to be accurately assessed against the qualifications listed in the posting.

Please ensure you check the "Job Specific Attachments" box next to each document on the "Required Documents" page of the application for the appropriate documents to be attached.

Per the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, you are not required to provide your date of birth, dates of school attendance, or dates of graduation on your resume or cover letter. If an application requires additional materials, such as a transcript or certification, you may redact identifying information relating to your date or birth, dates of school attendance, or dates of graduation.
When to Apply:For full consideration completed applications must be submitted by August 29th. Reference checking is a standard step in our hiring process. You may be asked to provide contact information, including email addresses, for up to five references as part of the search process for this position. *Please note: All application materials must be submitted through CU Careers; emailed materials will not be considered.*Sponsorship Statement:We are unable to sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.Background Check Statement:The University of Colorado is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial history, motor vehicle history and/or fingerprinting background check. The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires that a verification of employment eligibility be documented for all new employees by the end of the third day of work. The University of Colorado is committed to diversity and equality in education and employment.ADA Statement:We are committed to an inclusive and barrier-free search process. We provide accommodations for applicants requesting accommodation through the search process such as alternative formats of this posting. Individuals with disabilities in need of accommodations throughout the search process should contact the ADA Coordinator at: systemhr@cu.edu.

Application Materials Required: Cover Letter, Resume/CV

Job Category: Development

Primary Location: Denver Department: S0001 -- System Administration - 50206 - Advancement Operations

Schedule: Full-time

Posting Date: Aug 18, 2025

Unposting Date: Ongoing Posting Contact Name: systemhr.recruiting@cu.edu Posting Contact Email: systemhr.recruiting@cu.edu Position Number: 00838485

To apply, visit https://cu.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=37561&lang=en