Development Jobs in Denver, CO

Development Manager

Adam's Camp is seeking a Development Manager who is a builder. This is not a role where you inherit a fully established portfolio of donors and simply steward an existing book of business. You will build the systems and pipeline needed to significantly expand it. You will identify prospects, open relationships, make the first asks, develop a major-gift pipeline, cultivate corporate partnerships, strengthen annual giving, and build the systems necessary to support long-term fundraising growth.

The Development Manager will serve as Adam's Camp's primary day-to-day development professional and will work directly with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to develop and execute a sustainable fundraising strategy. The position will have primary responsibility for annual giving, individual donor acquisition and cultivation, major-gift pipeline development, corporate sponsorships, donor communications, and development systems.

This position does not manage grants or fundraising events. Adam's Camp has dedicated staff and volunteers responsible for those areas. The Development Manager will collaborate with those teams when donor, sponsor, or fundraising relationships overlap, but will not have operational ownership of grants or events. This is also not a people-management position.

Adam's Camp has an opportunity to significantly grow its fundraising capacity. Historically, Adam's Camp has averaged approximately $500K annually in donations outside of grants and events, with relatively limited proactive development outreach, and we believe there is significant opportunity to grow that to a steady $1M+ annually. We are looking for someone who can help us answer an important organizational question: How do we build a development program capable of growing with Adam's Camp over the next 510 years?

Fundraising is relationship-driven, and we understand that meaningful pipelines take time to develop. We view this as a three-year build. We're looking for someone energized by that challenge, who can bring Adam's Camp to life for potential donors through storytelling. More fundraising means more campers can experience the magic of Adam's Camp!

Key responsibilities include:

• Build the Fundraising Strategy and Prospect Pipeline
• Individual Giving & Major Gifts
• Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships
• Annual Giving & Fundraising Communications
• Board Engagement
• Cross-Functional Collaboration

By the end of the first year, the successful candidate will have:

• Built a meaningful prospect pipeline
• Established a consistent relationship-development rhythm
• Strengthened annual and recurring giving
• Built new corporate relationships
• Created a sustainable development system

Required qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience
• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, nonprofit development, sales, business development, relationship management, or a related field
• Demonstrated ability to identify, cultivate, and develop new relationships, rather than solely steward an existing portfolio
• Demonstrated success securing charitable contributions, sponsorships, sales, or other contributed revenue
• Comfort initiating relationships and making direct asks
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Exceptional relationship-building and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of outcomes
• Strong organizational and project-management skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining consistent follow-through
• Proficiency with donor databases, spreadsheets, email marketing, and standard office technology

Preferred qualifications include:

• Experience building a major-gift program or prospect pipeline
• Experience with individual donor cultivation and solicitation
• Experience developing corporate partnerships and sponsorships
• Experience working with nonprofit Boards
• Experience in a nonprofit organization with a budget of $2M+
• Familiarity with Colorado philanthropy and the Colorado nonprofit community
• Experience with CRM or donor-management systems
• Experience working with children, adults, or families impacted by disability or other mission-driven human services organizations

The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial relationship builder who enjoys creating something from the ground up. You are comfortable walking into a room where there isn't already a relationship and figuring out how to start one. You can research a prospect, make the call, ask for the meeting, listen carefully, identify alignment, develop the relationship, and eventually make the ask.

You don't need to have every answer when you arrive. You need the curiosity, confidence, discipline, and relational intelligence to build the answers.

You understand that fundraising is ultimately about people. You also understand that sustainable fundraising requires systems, accountability, strategy, and patience.

Most importantly, you believe deeply in the potential of children and young adults with disabilities and are motivated by the opportunity to connect people who care about that mission with an organization creating transformational experiences.

Compensation: Salary: $70,000$80,000 annually

Adam's Camp believes in investing in the long-term success of this position. Because major-gift fundraising is relationship-driven and meaningful pipelines take time to mature, this position will be evaluated against agreed-upon goals and a three-year development strategy.

The position will include an annual performance and compensation review based on mutually established goals, responsibilities, performance, and organizational needs.

Benefits

Benefits: Medical, Dental, PTO and remote Fridays

How to Apply

To apply, please send a current resume and cover letter to justin@adamscamp.org. Your cover letter should address:

• Why you are interested in building the development program at Adam's Camp.
• Your experience creating new donor, client, sales, or relationship pipelines.
• Any personal or professional connection you have with the disability community. What drives your passion for this work.

Resumes submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.