Director of Development

Development Director

Animal Rescue Nonprofit – Capital Campaign Leadership (Denver)

Position Overview

The Development Director is a senior leadership role responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy to support the mission and long-term sustainability of this established Colorado-based Non-Profit organization. This position will lead a major capital campaign to support a $14 million campus improvement project while also building sustainable annual revenue through major gifts, foundations, memberships, and corporate partnerships.

• Assist in establishing the Advisory Board and work closely with the Board to support fundraising initiatives
• Assist board members in donor cultivation and introductions
• Prepare briefing materials and fundraising strategy for board engagement

Development Operations

• Maintain donor records and prospect pipelines
• Track fundraising performance and revenue targets
• Prepare reports for leadership and board meetings
• Complete required documentation for grants, sponsorships, and funding applications

Qualifications

Required Experience

• 7+ years of nonprofit fundraising or development leadership experience
• Proven success securing major gifts ($25k to $1M) and foundation grants
• Experience managing capital campaigns or major fundraising initiatives
• Strong experience cultivating high-net-worth donors and corporate partners

Preferred Experience

• Background in animal welfare, conservation, education, or mission-driven nonprofits
  • Experience designing donor recognition programs or naming campaigns
  • Experience building membership or donor society programs

Skills

• • Exceptional relationship-building and communication skills
  • Strong grant writing and proposal development ability
  • Strategic thinker with the ability to execute fundraising plans
  • Comfortable engaging philanthropists, foundations, and corporate leaders
  • Organized and able to manage multiple fundraising initiatives simultaneously
  • Create, maximize and maintain the Development Company’s Social Media Campaign

Leadership & Personal Attributes

The ideal candidate will be:

• • Passionate about animal welfare and rescue work
  • Entrepreneurial and proactive
  • Comfortable working with donors and community leaders
  • Strategic yet willing to execute day-to-day fundraising tasks
  • Skilled at inspiring philanthropic investment in mission-driven work

Compensation

Salary and comprehensive benefits are competitive and commensurate with experience. Performance incentives tied to fundraising success may be available.

Applicants:

1. Provide a current resume/CV. Focus on roles, fundraising responsibility, career trajectory
2. Please provide a brief letter describing your experience leading or contributing to major gift fundraising or capital campaigns, including specific outcomes
3. Provide salary expectations
4. Provide a writing sample of a donor-facing communication (e.g., grant proposal, donor letter, case for support, or campaign materials)