The deadline to apply is July 8, 2026, and all nominations and inquiries are welcome. To ensure your application is reviewed, please apply using the Parker Executive Search website. Applications submitted through the CU Boulder Jobs website will not be considered. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supports the development and oversight of fundraising and engagement strategies and operational plans for advancement efforts within the AVC for Development alignment: parent giving and campuswide programs, chancellor initiatives, industry and foundation relations, campus institutes, and gift planning. 
  • Oversees parent giving and fundraising for campuswide programs, including support for fundraising and engagement efforts for the Division of Enrollment Management, which oversees scholarships and financial aid, Division of Student Life, and Office of Undergraduate Education, with a focus on campus fundraising priorities, revenue productivity, and effective stewardship and engagement.
  • Partners with VC for Advancement to develop and deploy fundraising strategies for select Chancellor initiatives.  
  • Oversees Advancement’s campuswide Industry and Foundation relations team leveraging the campus, community, public-private partner (P3), and government relationships to increase strategic partnerships and maximize support of CU Boulder’s key areas of research and education. 
  • Oversees the advancement teams supporting the twelve campus institutes, with a focus on campus fundraising priorities, revenue productivity, and effective stewardship and engagement. 
  • Serves as primary CU Boulder Advancement leadership liaison to CU System Advancement’s Gift Planning team to ensure alignment with CU Boulder Advancement’s fundraising and engagement goals.  
• Monitors and significantly contributes toward alignment and division-wide fundraising and engagement goals. 
• Focuses on achieving aligned outcomes by consulting with campus leadership, such as provost, vice chancellors, vice provosts, and other leadership engaged in the AVC for Development portfolio, including the Senior Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation who also serves as Dean of the Institutes, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management, Vice Chancellor for Student Life, Dean and Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Financial Services, and Director of Scholarship Services, among others.  
• Aligns campuswide campaign efforts with unit-specific efforts.
• In consultation with unit-based leaders, establishes and adheres to annual operating budgets and ensures that programs are operating in a fiscally prudent and productive way.  

• Manages a small portfolio of principal gift ($3M+) and major gift ($50K+) prospects; this new portfolio will be defined by the AVC for Development.  
• Identifies, leads, and pursues fundraising strategies aligned with institutional priorities and campaign goals.  
• Partners with Advancement and campus leadership to define annual and multi-year fundraising goals at the unit and campus level. Identifies opportunities to grow philanthropic revenue through integrated approaches.  
• Pursues innovative development strategies, monitoring and deploying industry trends to maximize revenue opportunities for the campus. 

• Manages and mentors advancement leaders overseeing units within AVC for Development alignment (4-8 direct/indirect reports). 
• Partners closely with campus and system leaders to provide direct reports, indirect reports, and liaison relationships with feedback, support annual performance review processes, identify career growth opportunities, recognize and reward productivity and alignment to campus/division/unitbased values, navigate personnel issues, etc.  

• Actively participates on the Advancement leadership team to support the evolution, improvement, and productivity of the division’s strategic priorities. Supports the effective management of division resources, understanding and advising on the use of resources to ensure the division is operating in a fiscally prudent and productive way.  
• May serve as the Advancement division’s representative for special committees/projects/searches and/or with professional organizations.  
• Works closely with the CU Boulder Advancement leadership team to increase fundraising and engagement results that are both aspirational and achievable. 
• Coordinates and leads regular meetings with campus leadership (vice chancellors, program directors, etc.) as appropriate to foster a strategic and collaborative approach focused on fundraising and engagement productivity.  
• Communicates and upholds campus and division values in support of a positive and productive culture. 

• Master’s degree, J.D., or an equivalent combination of education and experience required; advanced degree and/or relevant certifications preferred. 
• Minimum of six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in advancement, development, or a related field, including supervisory responsibility and substantive major and principal gift fundraising experience. 
• Demonstrated success developing and implementing fundraising strategies that result in measurable revenue growth. 
• Proven track record securing and managing major gifts ($50K+) and principal gifts ($3M+). 
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships and work effectively across a complex organization to achieve shared goals. 
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and staff development skills, with the ability to build, motivate, assess, and hold accountable high-performing teams. 
• Experience managing and mentoring advancement program leadership, preferably within a higher education fundraising environment. 
• Demonstrated cross-cultural competencies, emotional intelligence, and the ability to effectively engage diverse constituencies and underrepresented communities. 
• Forward-thinking and solutions-oriented approach, with the ability to navigate nuanced situations, reconcile competing interests, and build consensus on complex initiatives. 
• Strong commitment to shared equity leadership practices and advancing equitable outcomes through collaboration and accountability. 
• Exceptional written, oral, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills. 
• High level of integrity, professionalism, discretion, and trustworthiness. 
• Experience working collaboratively with executive leadership to advance institutional strategic priorities preferred. 
• Experience leading or overseeing advancement functions such as parent giving, campus-wide initiatives, chancellor priorities, industry relations, foundation relations, or campus institutes preferred. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Copilot 365 and Teams, Salesforce or comparable donor management systems, Zoom, LinkedIn, and ChatGPT.edu. 

• DeLaina Sarden, Principal - Dsarden@parkersearch.com
• Gray McGee, Associate - gmcgee@parkersearch.com
• Parker Executive Search: 770-804-1996 ext. 119