What are the responsibilities and job description for the Development Officer position at Colorado Christian University?
About the Job
The Development Officer is a full-time position within University Advancement at Colorado Christian University (CCU). Supervised by the Senior Director of Major Gifts and working collegially with the members of the Advancement Team, the Development Officer serves primarily as a gift officer on the Major Gift Team focused on mid-level donors and prospects to develop them into highly engaged major donors.
This position is responsible for building and managing a portfolio of 150 donors, researching and cultivating prospective donors, developing donor proposals and presentations, conducting face-to-face donor meetings and calls related to the cultivating, tracking and soliciting of donations of $10,000 or more. The Development Officer will work to cumulatively raise $500,000 to $1,000,000 annually. The Development Officer will also serve as the lead for the Advancement Office to develop resources and assist with donor communications for complex charitable gifts and partners who can assist donors with estate and planned giving options.
About CCU
Colorado Christian University is the premier interdenominational Christian university in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region, delivering world-class education to thousands of students. The fully accredited, nonprofit University is located in Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb of Denver.
Colorado Christian University was founded in 1914. CCU’s motto is--grace and truth. This motto comes from John 1.14: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (ESV)
CCU's mission is Christ-centered higher education transforming students to impact the world with grace and truth.
Colorado Christian University cultivates knowledge and love of God in a Christ-centered community of learners and scholars, with an enduring commitment to the integration of exemplary academics, spiritual formation, and engagement with the world. We envision graduates who think critically and creatively, lead with high ethical and professional standards, embody the character and compassion of Jesus Christ, treasure the gospel, and who thereby are prepared to impact the world in their callings.
CCU embraces an educational model that was present at the foundation of many of the great western and American universities. It is made up of three pillars—competence, character and Christ-centered faith. Secular universities have abandoned two of those pillars. We think this is a major oversight that eventually undermines education. Furthermore, we believe this classical educational model is both life-giving and greatly needed in our time.
A leader in higher education, CCU has been consistently ranked in the top 2 percent of colleges and universities nationwide for its core curriculum by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. CCU has had ten consecutive years of enrollment growth and has been named one of the five fastest-growing master’s granting universities by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
CCU offers more than 200 degree program options for traditional and adult students through its two colleges--the College of Undergraduate Studies and College of Adult and Graduate Studies. More than 9,000 students attend the University on the main campus, throughout Colorado, and online.
What is most appealing about working at CCU?
Faith-friendly: CCU’s culture is unique to higher education. Where else can you pursue academic excellence yet read the Holy Bible, pray with teammates and students at work, and work to impact our culture in support of Christian values?
Convictionally Christian: As a university, we have an enduring commitment to Christ, his kingdom and the truth of God’s Word.
Live out your calling: We are a traditional evangelical university where you can invest your God-given talents and abilities alongside coworkers and teammates, while having a profound influence on students as they deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ.
Equip students for kingdom work: You can be a part of helping students discover their callings and preparing them for positions of significant leadership in the church, business, government, education, and other professions, as a key part of our University's Strategic Priorities.
We're looking for candidates who have:
- A bachelor’s degree in business administration, communications, nonprofit leadership , or philanthropy from an accredited institution. Professional certification or master’s level work is preferred.
- Five years of fundraising experience.
- Experience working with senior-level executives and managing sensitive issues.
- Knowledge of higher education organizational culture, policies, and processes is preferred.
- Proven knowledge of a variety of business software applications, specifically Microsoft 365 products.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution.
- Outstanding customer service skills and a donor-centric philosophy.
- Excellent organizational skills and the ability to effectively prioritize projects.
- Able to work independently and successfully with reliable, professional judgment, often under time pressure.
- Ability to handle confidential matters with extreme discretion.
- Collaborative team player.
- Able to balance many priorities, sometimes with tight deadlines.
Key Job Duties
Mission Contribution
Christ-centered higher education, transforming students to impact the world with grace and truth. In this role, the Development Officer plays a key role in advancing CCU’s mission by building strong relationships with donors and securing charitable contributions to support the University.
Gift Officer & Donor Relations
- Direct efforts to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward current and prospective mid-level donors and major donors, including planned and legacy giving opportunities.
- Manage and expand a portfolio of 150 donors by building relationships through in-person meetings, research, and other methods. Focus on retaining donors and increasing their contributions through strategic engagement and personalized stewardship.
- Ensure that each donor portfolio is actively giving at $10,000 annually, with an annual projection to raise $500,000 to $1,000,000.
- Attend to all prescribed database practices and established systems, including contact reports, weekly donor reports, data entry, and Raiser’s Edge access and operation(s).
Prospecting & Development - Mid-Tier to Major
- Research, qualify, cultivate, and engage donor prospects to help grow CCU’s donor base and the Development Officer’s portfolio.
- Use proven Moves Management and similar development planning to identify donors with potential for increased giving, use donor-centric strategies to engage those donors, and grow the comprehensive giving of those donors toward becoming highly engaged major donors.
- Plan regional donor travel, appointments, and relationship-building opportunities with existing donors and prospects, as approved by the Senior Director of Major Gifts.
Philanthropic Resources, Relationships, and Advising
- Serve as a team leader to develop and manage philanthropic resources and relationships to strengthen and expand the institution’s planned giving efforts and promotion of asset-based giving strategies with organizations like the National Christian Foundation, Waterstone, The Signatry, Generous Giving, and others.
- Represent CCU and actively participate in the Christian philanthropic community and generous giving movement.
- Attend and participate in assigned University Advancement events, meetings, and strategic opportunities.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Nature of Work Environment
While performing the duties of this job, you may be required to walk, stand, sit, reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, speak with clarity, and have appropriate vision and hearing capabilities. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Colorado Christian University expects all faculty and staff to become a part of the University community by participating in activities and events that occur on the campus throughout the year, which may occur during evenings and weekends. Supporting CCU Executive Leadership, and particularly the Office of University Advancement, requires a very high level of professionalism, confidentiality, decorum, and protocol.
What we offer our employees:
We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages to all employees. Our benefit package includes: a tuition waiver program, excellent healthcare, generous paid time off, matching 403(b) retirement plan, and additional organizational paid benefits and voluntary benefit offerings. Pay and benefits will be discussed in more detail as candidates progress through the interview process. Colorado Christian University’s pay philosophy is based on internal and external data for pay equity; along with budgetary considerations for effective stewardship.
Pay will be assigned based on relevant experience at a range of $70,000 - $85,000. We reserve the right to pay an equitable rate that we believe is within our salary structure or that may fit a candidate’s qualifications or experience for the job. A wage range posted is not a guarantee of a specific wage range for a job offer. CCU reserves the right to make pay decisions based on economic and equity considerations to attract the best possible talent. CCU does not determine pay based on sex or any other protected status.
Application Deadline: This position will remain open until filled.
Salary : $500,000 - $1,000,000
