Director of Development in Avon, Colorado at Walking Mountains

Position Summary

The Director of Development is a senior member of the Walking Mountains Development Team who reports to the President and has several direct reports. The Director manages and deepens relationships across an assigned portfolio of individual donors, family foundations, and major corporate donors and is accountable for achieving fundraising goals across these portfolios, helping to strengthen the organization's overall pipeline of philanthropic support.

The Director also qualifies and cultivates existing prospects and identifies and qualifies new prospects; leads the annual giving program; helps develop strategies to expand corporate partnerships; and provides overall leadership for Development-related events, including Walking Mountains' signature gala.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and grow a portfolio of individual, family foundation, and corporate donors and prospects. For current donors in the Director of Development's portfolio, use active cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and moves management to deepen engagement, grow philanthropic support, and build the pipeline of future mid-level and major donors. Identify and qualify existing and new prospects, partnering with the Vice President of Development on prospect and portfolio strategy, assignments, and next steps.
• Lead the annual giving program, developing strategies and helping shape messaging to retain and upgrade donors, reactivate lapsed supporters, and increase philanthropic support.
• Manage select major corporate donors and prospects, pursuing opportunities to deepen relationships, grow corporate support, and expand the reach of the corporate partnership program.
• Provide overall leadership for Development-related events, including orchestration of A Taste of Nature, Walking Mountains' signature annual gala and its auctions. Working closely with the Vice President of Development and with the support of Development staff and other colleagues, the Director provides overall coordination and oversight to help ensure a successful fundraising event and a well-run, positive experience for guests, volunteers, and staff. The Vice President of Development takes the lead on fundraising efforts for the gala with major donors and table and event sponsors. Provide strategic oversight for additional donor cultivation and stewardship events, including EdVentures and the Holiday Open House.
• Manage several direct reports, providing day-to-day oversight and strategic direction in fulfilling the responsibilities of their position, including, as they (i) take the lead on planning, logistics, execution, volunteer coordination, and staff support for Development-related fundraising, stewardship, and engagement events, including the gala and its auctions; (ii) cultivate, solicit, and steward their own portfolio of entry-level individual donors; (iii) grow a portfolio of corporate donors and prospects; (iv) conduct initial high-level prospect research; and (v) provide administrative support.
• Collaborate with all members of the Development Team, including working with the President, Vice President of Development and Senior Director of Grants and Strategic Initiatives, as well as collaborating selectively with board members and committees, in helping to achieve the overall objectives of this position as well as the overall objectives of the Development Team as a whole. Create agendas for and run every other week Development Team meetings as well as contribute to four time per year Development Committee agendas and Development Reports to the Board.
• Partner with the Vice President of Development and other colleagues across the organization, including Marketing, Finance, and Programs, on fundraising strategy, donor communications, donor and prospect engagement, and other Development priorities requiring cross-department collaboration. Assume increasing responsibility over time for departmental budgeting, revenue forecasting, and monitoring financial performance.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is an experienced, relationship-driven fundraiser who enjoys engaging with donors, is comfortable asking for significant gifts, is tenacious and thoughtful in follow-up, and brings strong skills in moves management, prospect development, staff management, event oversight, and fundraising strategy. Additional qualifications are included below.

• Five or more years of progressively responsible nonprofit development or comparable fundraising experience preferred.
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, stewarding, and more deeply engaging donors to increase philanthropic support, including major donors.
• Experience planning and implementing successful annual giving campaigns and utilizing effective moves management strategies and processes to advance donor relationships and fundraising goals.
• Experience managing staff and providing leadership for fundraising initiatives and events.
• A skilled leader with experience motivating teams with effective communication, collaboration, trust, empowerment and respect.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and project-management skills.
• Proficiency with donor database systems and commonly used business technology, including Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, and Sheets) and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).
• Strategic, collaborative, self-motivated, and accountable, with enthusiasm for the mission of Walking Mountains.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse teams and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• A flexible, team-oriented approach and willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends as donor engagement, events, and other Development priorities require.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Salary $85,000-$100,000, depending on qualifications
• Employer-supplemented health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401K Plan with employer match
• 15 days of PTO (starting), 12 paid holidays, and 12 days sick leave
• Flexible Spending Account and Healthcare Savings Account options
• Life insurance and short-term disability insurance
• Discounted Ski pass
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Pro Deals

Application Deadline: October 30th 2026