Director of Development

Director Of Development

The Craig Hospital Foundation is at an exciting time in its history of supporting patients, programs, and research at the nation's best independent spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation hospital. We are embarking on a strategic plan to serve our patients and families by expanding and enhancing our campus, programs and research to continue to lead the neuro-rehabilitation industry.

As the Director of Development, you will join our growing Foundation team to help advance the mission of Craig Hospital. Reporting to and working directly with the Sr. Director of Donor Engagement & Operations, you will play a vital role in maintaining a base of donors and growing philanthropic revenue for a mission-driven Foundation. You will be a strategic partner to and lead a team to meet/exceed the annual fund goals, create strategies for digital presence and promotion, steward and cultivate donors of all levels, and execute peer-to-peer fundraising, recurring donor, and corporate sponsorship/engagement programs. You will also engage with an active portfolio of donors with the potential to give up to $25,000 that you will utilize your one-on-one relationship building skills as well as your ability to work with donors via group strategies based on segmentation. Successful candidates will have prior experience in management and fundraising, specifically in pipeline development and mid-level/leadership annual giving in a nonprofit organization.

Location: 3425 S Clarkson St, Englewood, CO 80113 (in the Foundation Building on the Craig Hospital Campus)

Shift: Monday-Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm, with flexibility as needed

Compensation: $66,352.00 - $95,555.20 annually; Exempt

Application Deadline: August 3, 2026, 11:59 pm MST

Position Requirements

• Licensure/Certification/Registrations: Colorado Driver's License in good standing required
• Education: Associates degree in related field or equivalent experience required
• Experience: Minimum 3+ experience in philanthropy, sales, communications, or nonprofit organizations. Experience developing one-on-one relationships as well as applying strategies to grouping of people. Experience managing a team required.
• Skills & Abilities: Proven success in identifying and soliciting funds from individuals, corporations, and foundations from a variety of sources and in developing relationships with donors. A record of measurable results in organizing and implementing activities such as major and mid-level gifts, annual gifts, direct mail, stewardship, and digital philanthropy. Understanding of business implications of decisions and ability to align work with strategic goals. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills required; demonstrated ability to write clear and persuasive proposals. Excellent time management skills and a high degree of organization, careful attention to detail, ability to multitask and to prioritize and manage multiple projects and deadlines. Demonstrated experience in building strategy, managing people and budgets, and an ability to work in a hands-on environment. Well-disciplined, self-motivated and goal-driven. Desire to make data/research-informed decisions and integrate best practices, considered alongside vision and market trends. Able to work with a high degree of independence as well as part of a team; ability to collaborate internally and externally for success. Ability to relate to people of all ages and diverse backgrounds, skills and abilities. Ability to appropriately handle confidential matters and information and abide by HIPAA regulations. Flexibility and willingness to assume new tasks and special projects. Ability to participate in cross-departmental projects, using tact and diplomacy. Ability to effectively identify, analyze and solve problems. Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite; Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Solid knowledge of fundraising databases; experience in Raiser's Edge is helpful.

Essential Functions

• Develop and implement fundraising strategies based on data analysis and proven tactics designed to maximize revenue and donor participation to nurture and grow the donor pipeline.
• Lead the strategy and effectiveness of leadership annual giving donors by cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of prospects and donors with the capacity to give up to $25,000.
• Participate in individual portfolio reviews and group sessions related to prospect management and strategy; promptly submit contact reports, initiate move management updates, and other essential follow-up to donor interactions.
• Work creatively, thoughtfully, and strategically to assess giving societies and grow membership in the President's Circle, the leadership annual giving society. Move donors through the pipeline to the highest levels of annual giving.
• Conduct discovery and qualification visits with annual giving donors, generating referrals for volunteer leadership, major gifts, and planned gifts as appropriate.
• Apply strategies for various segmentations of donors, related to loyalty, retention, renewal, and upgrades. Implement planned giving strategies across donor levels and communications.
• Oversee, and in collaboration with the Annual Giving colleague, create short and long-term strategies for maintaining and growing the Foundation's annual giving program (direct mail, in-kind donations, workplace giving, giving days, recurring gift program, and more).
• Solicit donors as part of targeted annual giving initiatives aimed at increasing participation, e.g., LYBUNT renewal, recurring gift renewal and upgrades, year-end giving, and securing challenge donors for fundraising challenges. Meet with current and returning patients and design ways to usher them into philanthropy.
• Oversee, lead, and manage the team responsible for: the strategy and execution of digital philanthropy and social media giving campaigns, corporate sponsorship and engagement, planning and implementation of annual philanthropy days, and stewardship, engagement, and hospital relations.
• Accountable for goal setting, strategy and tactic development, and outcome reporting.
• Oversee design, implementation, and evaluation of hospital liaison/grateful patient program. Partner with direct reports for execution.
• Oversee, in collaboration with Director of Sponsorship & Engagement, a corporate sponsorship and group engagement program that will achieve sponsorship philanthropy goals and engage people through volunteering, committees, and connecting more deeply with the Craig mission.
• Manage volunteer fundraising committees as requested, and work with volunteers to achieve committee goals. Strengthen volunteer teams through training, management, and communication.
• Oversee and design, in collaboration with the Stewardship manager, donor stewardship initiatives for all levels of giving based on data, best practices, and donor personas.
• Explore new donor outreach initiatives and revenue streams as business needs, strategy, and best practices dictate.
• Act as a spokesperson for the organization as needed to bring in funding, volunteers, etc.
• Prepare department reports and present findings to Foundation leadership, committees, and board as requested.

Degree Of Supervision And Supervisory Responsibility

This position reports to the Sr. Director of Donor Engagement & Operations. Employees in this position will be expected to perform most job duties and responsibilities independently and in accordance with established departmental and hospital policies and procedures.

This position is responsible for the supervision of the Annual Giving Manager, Director of Sponsorship & Engagement, Digital Philanthropy Specialist, and the Donor & Stewardship Manager.

*This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties. The employee may perform other related duties as assigned.