Senior Associate Director, Major Gifts

Facility: National Jewish Health - Main Campus
Department: Development - Major Gifts
Schedule: Shift - Hours Full Time - Day Shift: Monday - Friday

Want to join the development team at the #1 Respiratory Hospital in the nation? National Jewish Health is where innovation, purpose, and philanthropy come together to transform lives. We are seeking a strategic, relationship-driven Senior Associate Director, Major Gifts to help advance our mission to heal, discover, and educate through visionary philanthropic partnerships and transformational giving. This is an exceptional opportunity for a high-performing fundraising professional who thrives on building meaningful donor relationships, driving ambitious philanthropic outcomes, and contributing to one of the nation’s leading academic healthcare and research institutions.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Proven success cultivating and soliciting six- and seven-figure donors and prospects.
• A demonstrated history of securing major gifts of $25,000 and above.
• Sophisticated communication, presentation, and relationship-management skills.
• Experience developing compelling proposals, comprehensive donor strategies, and stewardship plans.
• The ability to build trusted partnerships with philanthropists, community leaders, and institutional stakeholders.
• Skilled at multitasking in a fast‑paced environment.

This role manages a key fundraising territory spanning Oklahoma, Utah, North and South Dakota, and portions of Colorado including Aspen and Vail, with approximately 25% travel required.

As National Jewish Health celebrates 126 years of groundbreaking leadership in research, education, and patient care, we are entering a transformational era fueled by a bold comprehensive campaign aligned with our new 10-year Strategic Plan. This is an exciting moment to join an organization shaping the future of lung, heart, immune, and related disease treatment through pioneering advances in preventive, precision, and personalized medicine. If you are inspired by mission‑driven work, love working for a #1 hospital, and are energized by the opportunity to create lasting philanthropic impact, we invite you to be part of what’s next.

Position Summary

Identify, cultivate and solicit donors and prospects capable of giving major, planned, capital, endowment, annual or event support. Work with Trustees or other volunteers and create and implement strategies for donor cultivation and engagement. Develop a fundraising plan to meet defined revenue and activity goals.

• Partner with leadership, develop activity plans and implement overall strategies for the identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of new and existing donors.
• Assist with developing strategies to meet or exceed all budgeted revenue goals.
• Research present and prospective donors to determine philanthropic capacity. Confirm and secure donations from donors.
• Cultivate donor relationships with a high level of personal communication through telephone, electronic, written (letters, invitations, applications, proposals, etc.).
• Develop new leadership to serve on the Council of National Trustees as volunteers.
• Document all donor contacts in compliance with National Jewish Health Development procedures.
• Maintain an active portfolio according to best practices.
• Accountability: Accept full responsibility for self and contribution as a team member; display honesty and truthfulness; confront problems quickly; display a strong commitment to organizational success; inspire others to commit to goals assuring the success of National Jewish Health.
• Building Strategic Relationships: Identify opportunities and take action to build strategic relationships between teams, departments, units, or organizations to help achieve business goals.
• Collaboration/Teamwork: Cooperate with others to accomplish common goals across various departments; treat others with dignity and respect; maintain a friendly demeanor; value the contributions of others.
• Creativity and Innovation: Apply creative problem‑solving skills to develop solutions to problems; recognize and demonstrate the value in taking “smart” risks and learning from mistakes; develop multiple alternatives and understand the feasibility of each; effectively share and implement ideas.
• Drive for Results: Set high goals for self and group; use industry‑approved metrics to monitor progress; tenaciously work to meet or exceed goals while deriving satisfaction from achievement and continuous improvement.
• Energy: Consistently maintain high levels of activity or productivity; operate with vigor, effectiveness, and determination over extended periods of time.
• Initiative: Take prompt action to accomplish objectives; achieve goals beyond what is required; be proactive.
• Impact and Influence: Use appropriate interpersonal styles and techniques to gain acceptance of ideas or plans; modify one's own behavior to accommodate tasks, situations, and individuals involved; take advantage of opportunities to make a difference and have an impact; create goodwill, trust, and respect while motivating others to follow you.

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility

None

Travel

20 to 30% travel.

Core Values

• Be available to work as scheduled and report to work on time.
• Be willing to accept supervision and work well with others.
• Be well groomed, appropriately for your role, and wear ID badge visibly.
• Be in compliance with all departmental and institutional policies, the Employee Handbook, Code of Conduct, and complete NetLearning by the due date annually.
• Promote a workplace culture based on mutual respect and merit, where all individuals are treated fairly and provided with equal opportunity to contribute to the mission and goals of the institution.
• Adhere to safe working practices and, at all times, follow all institutional and departmental safety policies and procedures.
• Wear appropriate PPE as outlined by the infection control policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate compliance with all state, federal, and all other regulatory agency requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in a related field required.
• Work Experience: A minimum of five years recent and related fundraising experience required.
• Special Training, Certification or Licensure: Additional training in development and non‑profit management preferred.

Salary Range: $117,978.17 - $156,026.13

Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical Coverage: Multiple Cigna health plans for Colorado, regional office, and remote employees. Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) available to pair with some plans.
• Paid Time Off: Generous PTO accruals for vacation and sick days, and six paid holidays, all compliant with Colorado state sick leave regulations.
• Dental & Vision Plans: Coverage effective the first of the month after hire.
• Retirement Savings: 403(b) plan with employer contributions after two years.
• Wellness Incentives: Earn up to $200 annually for preventive health activities.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Up to $5,250 annually for full‑time and part‑time employees.
• Child Care Assistance: Childcare Flex Spending Account (FSA) with annual employer contribution.
• Loan Forgiveness: Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer.
• Disability & Life Insurance: Employer‑paid plans and optional buy‑up choices.
• Voluntary Benefits: Full suite of coverage options such as Accident, Hospital Indemnity, and Legal Plan.
• Exclusive Discounts: Savings on local services, insurance, and RTD bus passes.

Anticipated Application Deadline: 2026-06-12

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National Jewish Health
Human Resources
1400 Jackson St
Denver, CO 80206
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National Jewish Health is a non‑profit, non‑sectarian institution and is a longstanding cornerstone in the Denver healthcare community. National Jewish Health seeks to attract the best‑qualified candidates who support the mission, vision and values of the institution. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, physical or mental disability, marital, familial or parental status, genetic information, military status, veteran status or any other legally protected classification. We are a tobacco and fragrance‑free environment.