The Managing Director of Development is a founding leader in its individual giving and major gifts work. This newly created position will build the strategy, systems, and relationships needed to grow major individual and corporate giving, strengthen donor stewardship, develop planned giving and capital campaign infrastructure, and will help establish and lead a future KIPP Colorado Foundation. The Managing Director of Development will begin as a highly visible senior leader, responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive development strategy from the ground up and supervising the Development Director. Over time, this leader will play a central role in the development of a new foundation, the KIPP Colorado Future Fund, with a goal of launching the foundation by July 1, 2027. The MD,D is ideal for an experienced fundraiser who is energized by building, not simply inheriting, a major gifts function. This full-time position is a part of our Home Office Team and is a key member of KIPP Colorado’s leadership team. About KIPP: Together with families and communities, KIPP creates joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose - college, career, and beyond - so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world. KIPP is a national network of tuition-free, public charter schools open to all students. There are 255 college-preparatory KIPP schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia, serving more than 100,000 students. Nationally, KIPP students are graduating four-year colleges at three times the national average for low-income students. Who we are: KIPP Colorado Public Schools is a network of six free college-preparatory public charter schools open to all students. Our 350-person staff educates 2,600 students from ECE to 12th grade. At KIPP Colorado, we partner with our KIPPsters, educators, families and communities to ensure that we are all united around the goal of a choice-filled future for our KIPPsters. Our KIPP Forward Team supports our 1,000+ high school Alumni as they create their own paths. Our core values of excellence, belonging, belief, advocacy and courage are central to who we are and how we operate at all levels of our organization. What we do: We believe in the unique gifts and brilliance of every student. We believe in setting a high bar for joy and academic excellence to ensure the infinite possibilities our students have before them become a reality. We aspire to create and reinforce a culture of achievement, belonging and support. We know that every student is different and we personalize learning based on a student's needs, skills, and interests Professional Responsibilities
- Believe deeply in the mission, values, and Race, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (RIDE) commitments of KIPP Colorado Schools and that all children can and will learn
- Assume personal responsibility for student achievement
- Read, internalize, and adhere to the KIPP Colorado Policies and Procedures manual and guidelines
- Provide an active presence, strategic supervision, and intentional monitoring to ensure student safety and engagement in rigorous learning (regardless of my role and its proximity to students)
- Take ownership for the development of your craft and engage actively in coaching sessions (meet 1-2 times every 1 or 2 weeks (depending on need and role) with a manager, receive coaching, implement all provided feedback, engage in active practice, etc.)
- Commit to being prepared. Such as: internalizing and preparing for lessons, preparing for O3s/coaching, preparing for meetings, coaching, PD, reading and internalizing written communication, etc.
- Meet professional obligations including and not limited to meeting deadlines and honoring schedules
- Consistently leverage existing professional tools, including but not limited to Google Suite (google documents, etc.) and Microsoft Suite (including but not limited to your KIPP Colorado email, Teams chat / meetings, Teams phone, and Microsoft Outlook calendar)
- Maintain strong attendance each day and be on time to all responsibilities
- Collaborate with colleagues and seek feedback in the spirit of continuous improvement
- Reflect on professional practices to meet individual professional development goals
- Actively participate in professional development, grade level, and department meetings
- Actively engage and implement in all school-wide and Org wide professional development
- Serve as a positive, contributing member of a grade team or functional team, collaborating with colleagues to tackle common challenges and implement org and grade-wide initiatives
- Share candid, solutions-oriented feedback with peers and leadership on a regular basis, assuring that feedback is shared directly with the intended recipient. Ensure that feedback is focused on improving outcomes and experiences for students
- Assist with both student and staff recruitment and engagement- including events, home visits, calls home, and other determined and related requirements
- Know that your role, professional development, org wide meetings, etc. may require you to travel around Denver to other KIPP Campuses, our Home Office, or other KIPP or PD events
- Assist with other duties as assigned (such as but not limited to, lunch duty, arrival/dismissal duty, bathroom duty, hallway duty, school support duties, etc.)
Development Strategy, External Affairs & Long-Term Growth
- Develop and lead a comprehensive development strategy that grows individual and corporate philanthropy for KIPP Colorado and advances the organization’s external affairs priorities.
- Advance KIPP Colorado’s external affairs efforts by cultivating strategic relationships with community, philanthropic, corporate, and civic partners; elevating the organization’s visibility; and identifying opportunities that strengthen its mission, reputation, and fundraising goals.
- Build planned giving and capital campaign infrastructure in alignment with KIPP Colorado’s long-term philanthropic goals.
- Support the development of a long-term endowment strategy, with an ultimate goal of building an endowment of approximately $15 million to $20 million.
- Help position the organization to transition major gifts work into a future KIPP Colorado Foundation once sufficient endowment or fund balance has been achieved.
- Contribute to the planning and execution of fundraising events, both generally and connected to KIPP Colorado’s 25th anniversary in Denver.
Major Gifts Program & Donor Engagement
- Build the infrastructure, processes, and systems necessary to launch and sustain a high-performing major gifts program.
- Identify, research, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of high-capacity individual and corporate donors.
- Establish and grow a robust donor pipeline, with particular attention to deepening relationships over time in the Denver and broader Colorado philanthropic community.
- Create thoughtful cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and engagement strategies that build donor confidence, commitment, and long-term partnership.
Board & Senior Leadership Partnership
- Partner with senior leaders, Board members, and Board committee members to prepare for and facilitate donor engagement, relationship building, and solicitation activity.
- Help bring Board members along in fundraising by equipping them with clear strategies, materials, messaging, and relationship management support.
- Work directly with the Board Committee and present fundraising strategy, progress, and opportunities to organizational leadership and Board stakeholders.
- Support the growth and effectiveness of KIPP Colorado’s Board by helping identify, assess, and cultivate prospective Board members whose networks, expertise, and commitment can advance the organization’s mission and fundraising goals.
Team Leadership, Systems & Performance Tracking
- Strengthen the use of the organization’s CRM by improving data quality, portfolio management, prospect tracking, reporting, and fundraising workflows.
- Develop clear metrics, dashboards, and reporting structures to monitor pipeline health, donor activity, revenue progress, and long-term fundraising performance.
- Provide direct supervision, coaching, goal-setting, and performance management for the Director of Development, ensuring alignment between major gifts, foundation grant work, and broader development priorities.
- Partner closely with the Development Director, who will continue to lead foundation grant work, to ensure a coordinated, complementary, and integrated development strategy.
- Develop, and lead a team to support the growth of KIPP Colorado’s major gifts and foundation efforts.
Relationship Management
- Successfully balance decision-making that is in the best interest of both the Org and the schools they oversee
- Cultivate and manage relationships with Org leaders and other critical stakeholders, especially Managing Director Team, Principals and organization leadership team members
- Ability to manage up, across, and through influence in a complex, collaborative organization.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and take initiative in an environment where structures and processes are still being built.
Role Level Specifics, Scope of Work, and Level of Responsibility
- For more about how you’ll lead at this level, please visit the KIPP Colorado Role Levels Matrix (this is an internal document, only)
About the skills and qualifications you will bring to this role:
- Bachelor's Degree (required)
- At least 8 years of professional experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, advancement, or a related field. (required)
- At least 3 years of demonstrated success securing and stewarding major gifts, including experience managing or contributing to fundraising portfolios, campaigns, or revenue goals at the $5 million level or above, and building a pipeline capable of supporting long-term philanthropic goals. (required)
- 3+ years of experience managing a team (preferred)
- Experience presenting to or managing a board of directors
- Must be based in the Denver metropolitan area and possess a strong understanding of the Denver and broader Colorado philanthropic landscape
- Proven ability to design and implement fundraising strategy, systems, and infrastructure from the ground up.
- Experience managing a portfolio of major donors and moving prospects through the full donor lifecycle, from identification and qualification through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Experience building trusted relationships with high-net-worth individuals, corporate partners, senior leaders, and other key stakeholders.
- Experience working with, presenting to, and engaging boards, Board committees, or similar governance bodies.
- Strong strategic thinking, project management, and systems-building capabilities.
- Experience using fundraising CRMs and donor data to drive strategy, prioritize activity, manage portfolios, and evaluate performance.
- A full understanding and Commitment to an Exceptional Student Experience (more about that HERE) (required)
- Previous experience developing and facilitating adult learning/training (required)
- Adept at thinking strategically, translating plans into action, and exhibiting excellent judgment
- Detail oriented with exceptionally strong follow-up and follow-through skills
- Unquestioned integrity and commitment to KIPP Colorado’s mission and values, including a strong commitment to the belief that all children can learn and deserve access to an excellent public education
- Naturally and readily assumes responsibility to fix problems and create improvements
- Ability to quickly and effectively build relationships with, motivate, and engage a diverse group of stakeholders
- Skilled at analyzing, interpreting, and using data to collaborate, identify best practices and areas for improvement, and drive results
Employee retention and satisfaction is imperative for KIPP Colorado. We seek to provide competitive compensation and benefits including the following:
- Competitive Market Salary: Starting salary for this role begins at $155,000 and is commensurate with experience
- Please submit a comprehensive resume to assure all your experience is accounted for! Tip: We don't care if your resume is more than one page, we are eager to see and compensate you for all of your experience and accomplishments
- Excellent Healthcare Plan: 100% of employee-only monthly premium paid by KIPP Colorado and options for family enrollment and coverage, through United Healthcare
- Time Off !!!: More than 6 weeks of annual vacation and Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Based on hire date, employees are eligible for up to 8 days of Paid Time Off (PTO)
- All employees receive summer break through an organization-wide closure, based on work location and position
- Access to parental and medical leave: includes 6 weeks paid and 6 weeks unpaid for a total of 12 weeks (after your first year)
- Career Trajectory: Access to opportunity to move up, across schools, and grow your career during weekly coaching sessions to refine your craft
- Mental Health Care: Immediate and ongoing access to mental health support through our Employee Assistance Program
- Technology & Access: Equipment provided: laptop & phone
- Retirement Planning: Participation in the Colorado PERA retirement program, including a PERA 401k option
- Move to Join Us: Relocation reimbursement (when applicable)
- Additional Pay: Most schools offer various stipend opportunities
- Other Insurance Options:
- Wellness reimbursement
- Voluntary employee, spousal, and child life insurance
- Voluntary long term disability insurance
- Voluntary short term disability insurance
- Optional Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
- Additional Information: For more information, you can view our benefits FAQ here KIPP Colorado Schools is dedicated to equal employment opportunities and fair labor practices. KIPP Colorado Schools, KIPP Denver Collegiate High School, KIPP Northeast Denver Middle School, KIPP Northeast Elementary, KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership Academy, KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy and KIPP Sunshine Peak Elementary provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals based on job-related qualifications, and the ability to perform a job without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religious creed, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, legally protected medical condition, veteran status, sexual orientation, or on any other basis made unlawful by federal, state or local laws. It is our policy to maintain a non-discriminatory environment free from intimidation, harassment or bias based upon these grounds.
