Montessori School of Denver (MSD) is seeking a dynamic, detail-oriented professional to join our fundraising team as a Development Manager. Reporting to the Director of Development, this role works closely with donors, volunteers, board members, and staff across the school community.

Job Overview: The Development Manager plays a central role in advancing MSD’s fundraising strategy by managing donor relationships, overseeing development operations, and supporting major initiatives. Key responsibilities include donor stewardship, database management, grant support, and event coordination, as well as contributing to the planning and execution of annual, major gifts, and campaign efforts.

As the department grows, this position will take on additional projects and expanded responsibilities. The ideal candidate is organized, proactive, and relationship-driven, with strong communication skills and a commitment to MSD’s mission and values.

This is a full-time position based on our Denver, CO campus. The position is set to begin in Summer 2026.

About Our School: MSD provides an engaging, empowering, and sound Montessori educational program for students ages 2-14. Our school is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS), and the American Montessori Society (AMS)[1]. Founded in 1964, MSD is the oldest Montessori school in the Denver metro area.

In 2015, MSD completed a comprehensive multi-million-dollar expansion plan to complement its existing facilities. A new Arts and Athletics Center, enhanced outdoor learning and play environments, a new Toddler Village, updated Middle School space, a thriving Urban Farm and one-of-a-kind Vertical Farm, and a state-of-the-art Science and Innovation Tower were added to provide an exceptional, experiential educational environment for all of our students.

Today, MSD is building on that strong foundation through our current capital campaign, an ambitious investment in the future of our campus and community. This next phase will strengthen and expand our Lower Elementary program, enhance learning environments, and ensure that our facilities continue to reflect the innovation, excellence, and authenticity of a Montessori education. Through this campaign, we are deepening our commitment to preparing students not only for academic success, but for meaningful, engaged lives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Donor Relations & Stewardship

• Manage a portfolio of mid-level donors and assist in cultivating and stewarding major gift prospects.
• Draft personalized donor correspondence, impact reports, and stewardship materials.
• Conduct donor and prospect research to support cultivation strategies.
• Partner with senior leadership to prepare for donor meetings and follow-up.

Fundraising Strategy & Campaigns

• Support the development and execution of annual giving campaigns and targeted fundraising initiatives.
• Assist with major gifts strategy, including prospect tracking and meeting coordination.
• Help create fundraising materials, presentations, and proposals.

Development Operations

• Oversee donor database accuracy, gift entry, and acknowledgment processes.
• Develop and maintain regular development dashboards and reports.
• Manage list segmentation and analytics to support donor engagement strategies.
• Ensure compliance with data privacy, gift processing, and development policies.
• Collaborate with communications, finance, and program teams to align messaging and reporting.
• Manage development calendars, budgets, and department workflows.
• Support special projects and strategic initiatives as assigned.

Annual Fund Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and manage the Annual Fund strategy to meet yearly fundraising goals.
• Coordinate multi-channel giving campaigns (email, direct mail, social media, phone outreach, peer-to-peer).
• Create compelling donor communications, appeals, and impact updates.
• Manage donor segmentation and personalized outreach for parents, faculty/staff, grandparents, and community supporters.
• Track Annual Fund metrics, analyze performance, and prepare reports for leadership.
• Oversee stewardship efforts, including timely gift acknowledgments and donor recognition.
• Partner with marketing/communications to align messaging and campaign branding.
• Engage and support volunteer fundraisers, including parent ambassadors and Family Association leadership.
• Maintain database accuracy for all Annual Fund gifts and pledges.

Events & Community Engagement

• Plan, execute, and attend donor events, stewardship gatherings, and fundraising functions.
• Coordinate event logistics, communications, timelines, and post-event follow-up.
• Serve as an ambassador for the organization at community and donor events.

Grant Support

• Research grant opportunities.
• Contribute to writing and editing grant proposals, LOIs, and reports.
• Track grant deadlines, submissions, and reporting requirements.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 3–5 years of professional experience in fundraising, development, or nonprofit management.
• Strong writing, relationship-building, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 core applications and services
• Proficiency with office technology and donor information systems/CRMs (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, Bloomerang).
• High level of organization, accuracy, and project management ability.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Commitment to and enthusiasm for the values and mission of the Montessori School of Denver.

Preferred

• Experience supporting major gifts programs and fundraising campaigns.
• Grant writing and reporting experience.
• Event planning experience, with the ability to support logistics and execution.
• Strong analytical skills; proficient with spreadsheets and reporting tools.
• Experience supervising staff or volunteers (as applicable to the role).
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks and maintain high-quality work.
• Demonstrated reliability, professionalism, and consistent on-site presence; strong follow-through on assigned responsibilities.
• Ability to work independently and stay focused in a dynamic school environment.
• Strong relationship-building skills with a wide range of donors, vendors, faculty, staff, and volunteers.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and approach problem-solving with creativity.
• Ability to set clear goals, track progress, and collaborate effectively in a team setting.
• Proven leadership skills, with the ability to develop and motivate staff and volunteers.
• Flexibility and comfort navigating change and ambiguity.
• Ability to assist with event set-up and breakdown, including lifting up to 25 lbs.
• Comfortable engaging in warm, respectful interactions with families and students.                                                                                                                           

Reports to: Director of Development
Department: Development
Supervises: N/A
FLSA Status: Exempt Employee[2], Number of Days Paid – 260
Compensation: Salary range $70,000-$82,000

Montessori School of Denver offers an excellent compensation package for employees working 25+ hours/week including paid time off, health, dental, vision, 403(b) with matching and more; wide-ranging opportunities for professional development; and a talented and dedicated staff of teaching professionals and supportive administrators. Successful candidates will join a dynamic, supportive, and forward-thinking teaching community of over 90 individuals.

Montessori School of Denver does not discriminate based on race, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability.

Applicants are invited to visit Montessori School of Denver’s website (montessoridenver.org) to learn more about the school and its programs.

To Apply: Please complete our application and upload your resume here. We look forward to hearing from you! Applications will be accepted through March 27, 2026. Qualified applicants will be contacted starting