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Founding Director Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Mindcolor Autism LLC

Center Director

Broomfield, CO · On-site

$95K - $105K/yr

We have four founding principles: client-centric service, best-in-class team, culture of excellence ... As a Center Director, you'll play a pivotal role in leading both the clinical and operational ...

Sodern America

Director of Operations

Englewood, CO · On-site

$165 - $195/hr

This is a founding-team role, you will help build SAM's operations, quality, and production infrastructure. Overview As Director of Operations, you will build and lead the operational backbone of ...

Sodern America

Director of Operations

Englewood, CO · On-site

$165K - $195K/yr

S. market. This is a founding-team role, you'll help build SAM's operations, quality, and production infrastructure. Overview As Director of Operations, you will build and lead the operational ...

Baxter

Director ECG Solutions

Denver, CO · On-site

$208K - $286K/yr

It was our founding belief in 1931 and continues to be our guiding principle. We are redefining ... The Director, Cardiology and Connectivity Solutions provide strategic and operational leadership ...

CEO Life

Chapter Director, Denver, CO

Denver, CO · On-site +1

$126K/yr

The Founding Denver Chapter Starts With You We're selecting four Directors for Denver who understand that the strongest communities aren't sold, they're felt. If you've spent your career bringing ...

CEO Life

Chapter Director, Denver, CO

Denver, CO · On-site

$126K/yr

The Founding Denver Chapter Starts With You We're selecting four Directors for Denver who understand that the strongest communities aren't sold, they're felt. If you've spent your career bringing ...

SugarAI

Director, Revenue Operations

Denver, CO · On-site

More than two decades after our founding, we're entering a new chapter with clarity and momentum ... Where You Fit In As Director, Revenue Operations at SugarAI, you will report to the VP, Revenue ...

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Founding Director information

What is the difference between Founding Director vs Program Manager?

AspectFounding DirectorProgram Manager
Required CredentialsTypically advanced degrees, leadership experience, industry knowledgeRelevant bachelor’s or master’s degree, project management certifications often preferred
Work EnvironmentLeadership role in startup or new organization, strategic planningOversees specific projects within organizations, operational focus
Employer & Industry UsageFounding organizations, startups, nonprofitsVarious industries, including nonprofits, corporate sectors, government

The Founding Director is a high-level leadership role responsible for establishing and guiding a new organization or initiative, often requiring strategic vision and industry expertise. In contrast, a Program Manager focuses on managing specific projects within an organization, ensuring they meet goals and deadlines. While both roles require strong organizational skills, the Founding Director has broader responsibilities related to organizational development and leadership.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a founding director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Founding Director, you need strong leadership skills, strategic vision, and a solid background in business development or a relevant industry, often supported by advanced degrees or entrepreneurial experience. Familiarity with budgeting software, project management tools, and legal compliance systems is typically required. Exceptional communication, resilience, and the ability to inspire and motivate teams are standout soft skills in this role. These capabilities are crucial for setting organizational direction, driving growth, and establishing a strong foundation for long-term success.

What are some of the unique challenges a founding director faces when building and leading a new organization?

As a Founding Director, one of the main challenges is balancing strategic vision with hands-on operational duties, since you are often responsible for both setting long-term goals and managing daily operations. Building a strong team from the ground up and establishing a positive organizational culture require significant effort and adaptability. Additionally, securing funding and cultivating stakeholder relationships are crucial in the early stages, often demanding persistent networking and resourcefulness. Founding Directors also need to be comfortable adapting quickly to change, as early-stage organizations frequently pivot in response to market feedback or unforeseen obstacles.
What are the most commonly searched types of Founding jobs in Colorado? The most popular types of Founding jobs in Colorado are:
What are popular job titles related to Founding Director jobs in Colorado? For Founding Director jobs in Colorado, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Founding Director jobs in Colorado look for? The top searched job categories for Founding Director jobs in Colorado are:
What cities in Colorado are hiring for Founding Director jobs? Cities in Colorado with the most Founding Director job openings:
Founding Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Founding Director job openings in Colorado as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution.

Director of Development

Colorado Dream Foundation

Denver, CO • On-site

$85K - $100K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 12 days ago

Job description

About the Colorado LiftED Foundation
The Colorado LiftED Foundation is a long-term partner to youth and families in the Denver metro area, offering academic, social, and emotional support so no one has to navigate school and life alone. Since our founding in 1988, we've leveraged proven methods to give youth equal access to the resources they need to succeed - working toward a Colorado where every young person has equal access to educational and career opportunities that ignite their innate potential.
About the Position
The Director of Development & Engagement owns CLF's individual-giving engine - donor relationships, signature events, and year-round giving campaigns that turn community belief into sustained support for youth. Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, the Director sets and executes the strategy for donor cultivation and stewardship, the Annual Gala and signature events, and CLF's giving campaigns (Colorado Gives Day, End-of-Year Giving, and beyond), and owns the revenue those efforts produce.
This is a builder's role with a growth path: in year one it is non-supervisory, with the Director carrying strategy and donor relationships directly, supported by a contracted event coordinator and volunteers, and partnering closely with the CEO, Senior Director of Development, and Development Operations & Communications Manager. The ideal candidate is a strategic relationship-builder who is equally comfortable shaping a multi-year donor plan, running a flawless gala, and reading a campaign dashboard to course-correct mid-stream - someone who treats each donor as a long-term partner whose commitment is meant to outlast any single gift.
This Role Lives All Five CLF Values
  • A Seat at the Table - Donor and volunteer experiences authentically include the voices of youth, families, and community.
  • An Inch Wide, A Mile Deep - A focused, high-quality donor portfolio beats chasing volume.
  • Once a Dreamer, Always a Dreamer - Every donor and volunteer is stewarded with the same long-term commitment CLF brings to youth.
  • Whatever It Takes - Relentless, creative follow-through on cultivation, events, and campaigns alike.
  • We Not Me - Individual giving is shared organizational infrastructure, not a department off to one side.

Key Responsibilities
Individual-Giving Strategy & Donor Portfolio
  • Own the individual-giving strategy and pipeline. Design and execute a multi-year plan for donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship - partnering with the CEO and Senior Director of Development to set cultivation stages and ensure every high-value donor has a clear next step.
  • Carry a personal portfolio. Cultivate and steward individual and donor-advised-fund (DAF) donors with high-touch stewardship; standard acknowledgments are generated centrally.
  • Make leadership effective in donor moments. Prepare the CEO and Senior Director of Development with briefing materials and deeper-engagement opportunities like site visits and program showcases.

Signature Events & Donor Experience
  • Own the Gala and signature events end-to-end. Hold the strategy, budget, and execution - from concept through vendor and venue management and run-of-show, to post-event reconciliation and debrief, so each event outperforms the last.
  • Lead contracted and volunteer event capacity. Direct a contracted event coordinator and volunteers, setting scope and holding accountability for execution.
  • Design a year-round engagement calendar of cultivation moments - receptions, showcases, board touchpoints - between major events.

Giving Campaigns & Revenue Growth
  • Own campaign strategy and revenue. Hold the strategy, segmentation, timeline, and revenue goals for Colorado Gives Day, End-of-Year Giving, and new campaigns you design - tracking performance in real time and adjusting tactics to meet or exceed targets.
  • Keep storytelling true. Ensure campaign storytelling authentically reflects the youth, families, and communities CLF serves.

Coaching, Feedback & Growth
  • Report up with rigor. Meet weekly with the Senior Director of Development to align priorities and surface risks; engage in quarterly coaching and an annual review.
  • Coach down to the capacity you lead. Set clear scope and give growth-oriented feedback to the contracted event coordinator and volunteers.

Growth Path
This role begins as a non-supervisory builder position: the Director carries individual-giving strategy and relationships directly, supported by a contracted event coordinator and volunteers. As individual giving matures into a proven, dependable revenue stream, CLF expects to add development capacity reporting to this role.
Skills & Qualifications
  • Five to seven or more years of progressive development experience, with demonstrated ownership of donor cultivation, signature events, and giving campaigns, and a track record of growing individual or annual giving.
  • Demonstrated ability to set and meet revenue targets and to own budgets for events and campaigns.
  • Proficiency with donor management systems (Virtuous, Salesforce, Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, or similar); direct Virtuous experience preferred.
  • Excellent relationship and written-communication skills, with an ear for donor-facing language that is warm, specific, and anchored in mission.
  • Experience directing contractors and/or volunteers, with the judgment to build and eventually supervise a small team.
  • Comfort with spreadsheets, email-marketing platforms, and reporting dashboards, and the analytical habit of using data to course-correct.
  • Deep commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging, and CLF's five core values.

Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience in development, nonprofit management, communications, or a related field.
  • Availability for evening and weekend work tied to the Gala, cultivation events, and campaign deadlines.
  • Valid Colorado driver's license and reliable transportation for donor meetings and site visits.
  • Must pass a background check consistent with CLF's youth-serving organizational standards.
  • Alignment: Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging, and CLF's core values (A Seat at the Table, We Not Me, An Inch Wide A Mile Deep, Once a Dreamer Always a Dreamer, Whatever It Takes).

Compensation & Benefits
  • Employment Status: Full-Time (1.0 FTE), Salaried/Exempt.
  • Salary Range: $85,000-$100,000, commensurate with experience.
  • Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance; employer-sponsored retirement plan; paid time off; paid holidays; professional development support.
  • Location: Hybrid (Denver metro), with in-person presence required for the Gala, cultivation events, and team collaboration.

AI Disclosure
At CLF, we use tools like Claude.ai as part of how we think, draft, and work. AI can be a genuine asset for organizing your thoughts, working through writer's block, or strengthening how you communicate your ideas. That said, what we're looking for in your application is you - your voice, your reflection, and your real connection to this work. When responses feel like they were generated rather than considered, we lose the very thing we're trying to understand: how you think about relationships, complexity, and mission.
So as you prepare your materials, we ask that AI supplement your thinking, not replace it. If you used AI assistance in drafting your application, we simply ask that you briefly note how in your submission. There's no wrong answer - honesty here is itself a signal of the self-awareness we value in our team.
Additional Information
This description illustrates the job functions and basic duties, including "other duties as assigned"; supervisors may assign additional responsibilities as appropriate. Colorado LiftED Foundation is committed to equal employment opportunity and a non-discriminatory workplace, and welcomes all qualified candidates who share our mission to apply.

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