University Relations Program Manager Jobs in Colorado

Requisition Number: 74419

Location: Boulder, Colorado

City: Boulder

State: Colorado

Employment Type: University Staff

Schedule: Full-Time

Posting Close Date: 20-Sep-2026

Date Posted: 08-Sep-2026

Job Summary

Advancement at CU Boulder encourages applications for a Program Manager for Donor Communications and Relations! This role is responsible for contributing to the planning and execution of impactful donor and alumni engagement and stewardship efforts for the Arts and Sciences, Graduate School and Libraries and joins a team that focuses on donor relations and stewardship. This role serves as a dedicated communications and content resource for the Arts and Sciences, Graduate School and Libraries

The Advancement team is responsible for translating complex funding priorities and programmatic impact into compelling, donor-centered narratives. This position advances philanthropic relationships through high-quality writing, tailored collateral, and the ownership of a robust content infrastructure that supports the full donor lifecycle.

This position operates with a high degree of autonomy, self-directing their workflow to meet team priorities, manage concurrent projects, and deliver polished communications on set timelines. This is a support-service function providing writing, content, and program management support to internal advancement partners rather than engaging independently with donors, key faculty, or university administration leadership.

Under the guidance of the Director, Alumni Engagement and Donor Relations, this position is tasked with supporting the programmatic planning and execution that achieves the unit's goals in cultivating and stewarding donors, engaging alumni and other constituents, promoting the reputation of the Arts and Sciences, Graduate School and Libraries and increasing overall philanthropic support for the school and CU Boulder.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

CU Boulder Advancement is committed to a culture of joy, motivated by collaboration, passionate about excellence and driven by impact. These four values define the culture and drive engagement and fundraising success.

We are committed to fostering an environment where everyone matters, and all can thrive. This dedication is rooted in our core values and our mission to drive impactful fundraising and engagement. Our team actively engages in learning, reflection, and the transformation of systems, policies, and practices that perpetuate oppressive ideologies-including racism, sexism, ableism, and heterosexism. We recognize our responsibility to lead by example in building a supportive and inclusive culture for both internal colleagues and external partners. We hold ourselves accountable through individual and divisional goals that continuously assess our progress, growth, and outcomes-ensuring alignment with our mission and values every step of the way.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will BeAdvancement Communications and Content Development

• Serve as a primary writing and content resource for the Arts and Sciences, Graduate School and Libraries advancement team. With a focus on the frontline fundraising team and donor relations team, this position will produce tailored communications that advance donor conversations across the giving continuum.
• Draft, edit, and refine a broad range of donor-facing and internal collateral including impact reports, case statements, one-pagers, and gift proposals.
• Translate complex academic programs, research initiatives, and student outcomes into accessible, compelling narratives aligned with donor interests and Arts and Sciences, Graduate School and Libraries funding priorities.
• Under the direction of the Director, Alumni Engagement and Donor Relations and in partnership with the Assistant Director of Donor Relations, develop and manage a suite of versatile collateral templates and content assets that can be adapted by advancement staff for varied donor audiences and giving levels.
• Collaborate with Advancement Marketing and Communications to use the impact of philanthropic messages.
• Collaborate with the college's communications team to amplify content that can assist with engagement and philanthropy efforts.

Stewardship and Donor Relations Support

• Partner with the Assistant Director of Donor Relations to implement customized stewardship touchpoints, to include written acknowledgments, broad based impact updates, and recognition content for major gift donors to the Arts and Sciences, Graduate School and Libraries.
• Support the development and documentation of stewardship program frameworks, ensuring consistent and meaningful recognition that reinforces donor loyalty and continued engagement.
• Coordinate the creation of gift reporting materials, drawing on data and programmatic updates to communicate fund impact with clarity and credibility.
• Collaborate with Advancement Donor Relations to ensure the best experience for donors and efficient use of resources.

Content Management

• Build and maintain an organized library of content assets including template language, program summaries, impact statistics, and funding priority narratives for use across the Arts and Sciences, Graduate School and Libraries advancement team.
• Supervise and synthesize information about Arts and Sciences, Graduate School and Libraries academic programs, school priorities, and institutional landmarks to ensure advancement content reflects current and accurate messaging.
• Develop and maintain internal processes and documentation that support content consistency, version control, and efficient content retrieval across the team.
• Provide ongoing content support and guidance to frontline and donor relations staff, helping them select and adapt existing materials to meet specific donor engagement needs.
• Create engaging graphics, and short video assets for donor facing communications.

Project Coordination and Administrative Support

• Project-manage proposal development for major gift asks through the coordination of data gathering, writing collaboration, review cycles, and final production.
• Incorporate feedback from multiple reviewers with sound editorial judgment, managing timelines and revision processes to ensure materials are delivered accurately and on schedule.
• Take on special projects as needed, serve on internal task forces, and perform related duties as assigned by the Director, Alumni Engagement, and Donor Relations.
• Represent the team at cross-divisional engagements and Arts and Sciences, Graduate School and Libraries events.

What You Should Know

• This position may require local, regional, and out-of-state travel to engage with university constituents.
• This position has the ability to work a hybrid schedule with some days on campus and some days remote.
• This position will occasionally be required to work evenings/weekends.

What We Can Offer

The salary range is $65,000 - $78,000 annually. Relocation assistance is available within Advancement guidelines.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be engaged. Be visionary. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, or a combination of education and experience.
• Experience: 1 year of professional, job-related experience.

What You Will Need

• Ability to establish and enhance interpersonal relationships, including the ability to coordinate and manage volunteers.
• Strong communication skills include the ability to participate in public events and represent Advancement and the university in a professional manner.
• Ability to analyze information/situations and solve problems.
• Ability to exercise a high degree of tact, discretion, and collaboration in working with a diverse range of constituents including employees, students, volunteers, alumni, donors, and campus colleagues.
• Ability to organize and manage multiple projects/tasks simultaneously; the ability to work independently and on a team and adapt to changing priorities.
• Strong attention to detail and visual appeal of presentation materials.
• Growth mindset, resilience, and perseverance.
• Ability to champion the shared values of the Office of Advancement.
• Public speaking skills.
• Ability to embrace a self-starter/self-learning approach.
• Strong data/database management and manipulation skills.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Software Used: Microsoft Office products, database management and data manipulation, Salesforce, Zoom, Teams, LinkedIn, Marketing Cloud, Marketplace, Google docs/sheets, Cvent (or other RSVP system), Graduway, Qualtrics, Workfront, Canva, DocuSign.
• 3+ years of experience in a higher education fundraising environment.
• Experience in tactical execution of communications, writing and marketing collateral.
• Experience working in a project management role.