Engaged Philanthropy Officer

Why join The Denver Foundation?

At The Denver Foundation, you'll be part of an organization dedicated to inspiring people and mobilizing resources to strengthen our community. Guided by a vision of a Metro Denver where leadership, prosperity, and culture are shaped by racial equity, we are committed to creating meaningful and lasting change.

As a proactive, collaborative, and resolute leader in reducing racial disparities, we bring together donors, community partners, and changemakers to address the region's most pressing challenges. Joining our team means contributing to impactful work that advances equity, strengthens communities, and helps build a more inclusive future for all.

For more information about The Denver Foundation, visit https://denverfoundation.org/

What We Offer:

❤️Medical, Life, and Disability Insurance

🌿Paid Time Off

💰Retirement Contributions

📚Tuition Assistance

Driving Philanthropic Impact:

As a frontline fundraising and community engagement position, the Engaged Philanthropy Officer is responsible for managing a portfolio of current and prospective donors and grantees, as well as administering the foundation’s Community Grants Program. You will work with donors and nonprofits to achieve the foundation’s annual fundraising goals, execute annual grantmaking goals, and integrate the two for optimum community impact.

Success in this position will be shaped by three key focus areas:

Fundraising and Donor Services

• Steward a portfolio of fundholders to provide excellent customer service and hands-on, personalized support in their philanthropy to drive the foundation’s fundraising, endowment, and co-investment goals. The portfolio may include donor-advised fundholders, agency funds, field of interest funds, and other types of donor funds.
• Cultivate new donors and gifts of all types to the foundation, elevating the foundation’s value proposition for engaged philanthropy through personalized services, impactful products, and donor/grantee connections. Develop and maintain meaningful donor relationships that support long-term philanthropic engagement.
• Promote giving to and through The Denver Foundation and contribute to donor communications on the importance of permanent and flexible funds with a racial equity focus that is collaborative and provides community-based solutions.
• Engage in donor support services, including but not limited to:
  • Donor research
  • Fund reviews

Grantmaking and Nonprofit Relationship Management

• Participate in funding cycles and lead administrative support for the process management of the foundation’s Community Grant Program. This may include, but is not limited to, responding to grant cycle inquiries, proposal review, providing funding recommendations, and coordinating approval and declinations
• Nonprofit/grantee relationship management. This may include, but is not limited to, maintaining relationships with grantees and assessing annual progress
• Conduct due diligence on applicants, including reviewing and analyzing grant proposals.
• Participate with Impact Group colleagues to refine protocols for grant review, including developing, documenting, and maintaining internal systems for the grants portfolio under purview.

Donor and grantee portfolio distribution will vary to align with the skills of the relationship management team.

Departmental Collaboration and Engagement

• Contribute to building and sustaining a positive departmental culture that supports commitment to team goals and core values and that fosters the development of individual leadership, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Work in collaboration with other Impact Group colleagues and communications staff to tell stories of impact for the community and for donor-specific reporting
• Participate with Impact Group colleagues to identify opportunities for co-investment and donor/nonprofit collaboration
• Work with Impact Group colleagues and communication staff to produce events, convenings, and other opportunities for donor engagement and donor/grantee connection
• Leverage grantmaking expertise and work with other Impact Group colleagues to provide content for donor research requests.

✨ Key experience and expertise you would bring to the role would include:

• Minimum of five years of experience in fundraising, donor services, donor relations, philanthropic advising, and/or relationship management.
• Knowledge and understanding of the local nonprofit sector.
• Has a learning orientation that’s focused on building a continuous improvement and learning culture through assessment of outcomes and promoting organizational change.
• Strong people-centered skills with the ability to build genuine and lasting relationships with stakeholders.
• Superb verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to balance multiple responsibilities successfully.
• Maintains strict confidentiality while exercising sound professional ethics.
• An unwavering commitment to racial equity.
• Belief in the model of community foundations.
• Commitment to the philosophy of the Impact Group, bringing together all philanthropy at the Foundation.
• Build meaningful connections with stakeholders representing diverse perspectives, cultures, and experiences.

Extra Qualifications that will strengthen your application:

• Experience in major gifts, donor-advised funds, planned gifts and/or complex assets, or management of a donor portfolio.
• Experience with grantmaking and grant administration.
• Knowledge of Foundant CommunitySuite or CSuite.and/or other CRM software for moves management.

Physical Requirements:

• Daily communication via phone and email.
• Frequent extended hours in front of a computer screen with or without accommodation.
• Regular group and public speaking engagements, and occasional activities occurring outdoors.

The Denver Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers, selection of vendors, and provision of services.

The Denver Foundation practices and champions inclusiveness in our community. We honor the diverse strengths, needs, voices, and backgrounds of all members of our community. Candidates from traditionally marginalized communities are especially encouraged to apply.

📢 Connect Donors to Purpose. Champion Equity. Strengthen Community.

Be part of an organization dedicated to reducing racial disparities and driving meaningful changes across Metro Denver. If you thrive on building authentic relationships and inspiring giving, this is your opportunity to make a difference.

What We Offer:

❤️Medical, Life, and Disability Insurance

🌿Paid Time Off

💰Retirement Contributions

📚 Tuition Assistance