Job Summary
Advancement at CU Boulder encourages applications for a Program
Manager for Donor Communications and Relations! This role is
responsible for contributing to the planning and execution of
impactful donor and alumni engagement and stewardship efforts for
the Arts and Sciences, Graduate School and Libraries and joins a
team that focuses on donor relations and stewardship. This role
serves as a dedicated communications and content resource for the
Arts and Sciences, Graduate School and Libraries
The Advancement team is responsible for translating complex funding
priorities and programmatic impact into compelling, donor-centered
narratives. This position advances philanthropic relationships
through high-quality writing, tailored collateral, and the
ownership of a robust content infrastructure that supports the full
donor lifecycle.
This position operates with a high degree of autonomy,
self-directing their workflow to meet team priorities, manage
concurrent projects, and deliver polished communications on set
timelines. This is a support-service function providing writing,
content, and program management support to internal advancement
partners rather than engaging independently with donors, key
faculty, or university administration leadership.
Under the guidance of the Director, Alumni Engagement and Donor
Relations, this position is tasked with supporting the programmatic
planning and execution that achieves the unit’s goals in
cultivating and stewarding donors, engaging alumni and other
constituents, promoting the reputation of the Arts and Sciences,
Graduate School and Libraries and increasing overall philanthropic
support for the school and CU Boulder.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all
applicable federal, state, and local laws governing
nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a
workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and
dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to
apply, including protected veterans and individuals with
disabilities.
Who We Are
CU Boulder Advancement is committed to a culture of joy,
motivated by collaboration, passionate about excellence and driven
by impact. These four values define the culture and drive
engagement and fundraising success.
We are committed to fostering an environment where everyone
matters, and all can thrive. This dedication is rooted in our core
values and our mission to drive impactful fundraising and
engagement. Our team actively engages in learning, reflection, and
the transformation of systems, policies, and practices that
perpetuate oppressive ideologies—including racism, sexism, ableism,
and heterosexism. We recognize our responsibility to lead by
example in building a supportive and inclusive culture for both
internal colleagues and external partners. We hold ourselves
accountable through individual and divisional goals that
continuously assess our progress, growth, and outcomes—ensuring
alignment with our mission and values every step of the way.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
Advancement Communications and Content Development
- Serve as a primary writing and content resource for the Arts
and Sciences, Graduate School and Libraries advancement team. With
a focus on the frontline fundraising team and donor relations team,
this position will produce tailored communications that advance
donor conversations across the giving continuum.
Draft, edit, and refine a broad range of donor-facing and
internal collateral including impact reports, case statements,
one-pagers, and gift proposals.
Translate complex academic programs, research initiatives, and
student outcomes into accessible, compelling narratives aligned
with donor interests and Arts and Sciences, Graduate School and
Libraries funding priorities.
Under the direction of the Director, Alumni Engagement and
Donor Relations and in partnership with the Assistant Director of
Donor Relations, develop and manage a suite of versatile collateral
templates and content assets that can be adapted by advancement
staff for varied donor audiences and giving levels.
Collaborate with Advancement Marketing and Communications to
use the impact of philanthropic messages.
Collaborate with the college's communications team to amplify
content that can assist with engagement and philanthropy
efforts.
Stewardship and Donor Relations Support
- Partner with the Assistant Director of Donor Relations to
implement customized stewardship touchpoints, to include written
acknowledgments, broad based impact updates, and recognition
content for major gift donors to the Arts and Sciences, Graduate
School and Libraries.
- Support the development and documentation of stewardship
program frameworks, ensuring consistent and meaningful recognition
that reinforces donor loyalty and continued engagement.
- Coordinate the creation of gift reporting materials, drawing on
data and programmatic updates to communicate fund impact with
clarity and credibility.
- Collaborate with Advancement Donor Relations to ensure the best
experience for donors and efficient use of resources.
Content Management
- Build and maintain an organized library of content assets
including template language, program summaries, impact statistics,
and funding priority narratives for use across the Arts and
Sciences, Graduate School and Libraries advancement team.
- Supervise and synthesize information about Arts and Sciences,
Graduate School and Libraries academic programs, school priorities,
and institutional landmarks to ensure advancement content reflects
current and accurate messaging.
- Develop and maintain internal processes and documentation that
support content consistency, version control, and efficient content
retrieval across the team.
- Provide ongoing content support and guidance to frontline and
donor relations staff, helping them select and adapt existing
materials to meet specific donor engagement needs.
- Create engaging graphics, and short video assets for donor
facing communications.
Project Coordination and Administrative Support
- Project-manage proposal development for major gift asks through
the coordination of data gathering, writing collaboration, review
cycles, and final production.
- Incorporate feedback from multiple reviewers with sound
editorial judgment, managing timelines and revision processes to
ensure materials are delivered accurately and on schedule.
- Take on special projects as needed, serve on internal task
forces, and perform related duties as assigned by the Director,
Alumni Engagement, and Donor Relations.
- Represent the team at cross-divisional engagements and Arts and
Sciences, Graduate School and Libraries events.
What You Should Know
- This position may require local, regional, and out-of-state
travel to engage with university constituents.
- This position has the ability to work a hybrid schedule with
some days on campus and some days remote.
- This position will occasionally be required to work
evenings/weekends.
What We Can Offer
The salary range is $65,000 - $78,000 annually. Relocation
assistance is available within Advancement guidelines.
Benefits
At the
University of Colorado Boulder , we are
committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our
employees. Our comprehensive
benefits package includes medical,
dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition
assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local
transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder
offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class
outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through
the
CU Advantage program.
Be Statements
Be engaged. Be visionary. Be Boulder.
What We Require
- Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, or a
combination of education and experience.
- Experience: 1 year of professional, job-related
experience.
What You Will Need
- Ability to establish and enhance interpersonal relationships,
including the ability to coordinate and manage volunteers.
- Strong communication skills include the ability to participate
in public events and represent Advancement and the university in a
professional manner.
- Ability to analyze information/situations and solve
problems.
- Ability to exercise a high degree of tact, discretion, and
collaboration in working with a diverse range of constituents
including employees, students, volunteers, alumni, donors, and
campus colleagues.
- Ability to organize and manage multiple projects/tasks
simultaneously; the ability to work independently and on a team and
adapt to changing priorities.
- Strong attention to detail and visual appeal of presentation
materials.
- Growth mindset, resilience, and perseverance.
- Ability to champion the shared values of the Office of
Advancement.
- Public speaking skills.
- Ability to embrace a self-starter/self-learning approach.
- Strong data/database management and manipulation skills.
What We Would Like You to Have
- Software Used: Microsoft Office products, database management
and data manipulation, Salesforce, Zoom, Teams, LinkedIn, Marketing
Cloud, Marketplace, Google docs/sheets, Cvent (or other RSVP
system), Graduway, Qualtrics, Workfront, Canva, DocuSign.
- 3+ years of experience in a higher education fundraising
environment.
- Experience in tactical execution of communications, writing and
marketing collateral.
- Experience working in a project management role.
Special Instructions
To apply, please submit the following materials:
- A current resume.
- A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background
and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and
responsibilities of the position.
We may request references at a later time.
Please apply by
September 20, 2026 for consideration.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For
consideration, please apply through
CU Boulder Jobs .
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in
any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying
information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school
attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting
or removing this information.
Posting Contact Information
Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources
Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu