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Sr. Manager, Donor Development

National Western | Denver, CO

About National Western

We are National Western—an organization rooted in more than 120 years of history and driven by a mission to strengthen American agriculture through education, youth development, and community connection. We are stewards of the Western way of life, grounded in the values of courage, pride, integrity, grit, and loyalty. Each January, we bring this mission to life through the legendary National Western Stock Show—one of the world’s premier Western lifestyle, rodeo, and livestock entertainment events—welcoming hundreds of thousands of guests from across the globe. Beyond the Stock Show, we operate The Legacy, a world-class, year-round destination for events, experiences, and cultural connections in the heart of Denver. We are more than an event—we are a brand that lives at the intersection of heritage and culture, shaping how Western lifestyle shows up in the modern world.

Department Overview

NWSS Donor Development Department is being established as an organizational strategy following the completion of the successful Honoring the Legacy Capital Campaign. This department is being created to cultivate, implement and execute engagement and fundraising strategies with existing donors as well as develop programs and opportunities to enhance and grow revenue from prospective donors, in support of the National Western Stock Show’s mission.

Position Summary

The Sr. Manager, Donor Development is responsible for cultivating, implementing and executing engagement and fundraising strategies to enhance and grow revenue from current and prospective donors, in support of the National Western Stock Show’s mission. The Donor Development Sr. Manager will focus on the administrative execution of the department with a focus on fundraising, database management, and reporting, as well as event logistics, donor relations, and stewardship efforts. The goal of the department is to connect new and existing supporters to the organization’s impact across livestock, horse, youth education, and Western heritage and cultural programs.

The ideal candidate possesses a background in donor development/fundraising, administrative management, and customer service, with strong written and verbal communication skills. This individual will be a self-starter, detail-oriented, and a proven multi-tasker while delivering the highest level of customer service.

Reports to: Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships

What You'll Do

These duties include, but are not limited to:

• Collaborate with the Executive Director to develop and modify the goals and objectives of this new department at the National Western Stock Show.
• Developing and maintaining a calendar and timeline for annual donor activation to include communication strategy and event dates.
• Create a system of reporting and tracking data, creating and tracking invoices, reconciling monthly statements, preparing financing reports, and the preparation of tax documents for donors.
• Overseeing all aspects of all communication, including electronic, direct, and other means of communication.
• Maintaining and managing donor lists, processing individual gifts, corporate donations, and grant awards.
• Manages and maintains the website and information flow to prospective and current donors looking for information. Maintain a presence on social media.
• Create a strategy for researching new prospective donors and a communication strategy to approach prospective donors.
• Stewardship, including preparation of thank-you letters and acknowledgement letters in accordance with IRS reporting requirements and NWSS procedures.
• Interacting with donors, including solicitations, questions, recognition, and cultivation activities.
• Maintaining relationships with outside contractors for upkeep of current donor recognition (signage) and understanding of opportunities for new donor recognition strategies.
• Serving an integral role in meetings, with emphasis on reporting impact, reviewing the annual plan and recapping the prior year’s success.
• During the National Western Stock Show, plan events to engage with donors of a variety of levels – expect to be present and available for all 16 days in a variety of capacities
• Executing donor deliverables during the National Western Stock Show (tickets, memberships, events)

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent training in Business Management, Liberal Arts, Communications, or related field
• Two (2) to five (5) years of donor development or relevant experience
• Familiarity with fundraising activities and event planning
• Understanding of the estate/legacy giving process

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Self-starter who is willing to assist in developing the details of this department alongside the management team
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and interest in interacting with current and potential donors
• Excellent organizational, time management, and prioritization skills
• Ability to travel on occasion for training, meetings, fundraising events, and outreach events
• Attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines
• Excellent time management with an ability to prioritize and manage competing priorities.
• Experience with Microsoft Office and CRM software
• Develop innovative solutions as the department evolves over time. Allow for strategic development of the department and donor involvement in the National Western Stock Show
• Cultivate constructive relationships
• Model stewardship
• Exhibit leadership skills and initiative

Scheduling Requirements

While this position will have some set hours, schedules are likely to change on a regular basis based on the needs of upcoming shows. Early mornings, late nights, and weekends are all to be expected. Candidates must have open availability and be willing to work at various hours to complete the primary functions of this role. Like almost all NWSS team members, this position will need to be on-site every day during Stock Show, typically for 12-16 hours at a time.

Physical Demands

National Western Complex is a multi-purpose indoor and outdoor commercial and agricultural complex where dusty conditions and animals may exist. While performing the duties of this job, work is performed both indoors and outside in all weather conditions, including extreme cold, snow, wind, and rain, on varied surfaces. In this role, individuals will experience prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Incumbent must be able to occasionally lift 25 pounds and access/navigate the National Western Complex in its entirety, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time salaried/exempt position.

• Compensation for this position will start at $75,000 annually, depending on experience.
• Full-time employees qualify for partial paid Medical, Dental, Vision, and life insurance for the employee; family coverage is available at group rates.
• Voluntary benefits, including Accident, Critical Illness, Short-Term Disability, and Hospital Indemnity.
• 100% paid Long-Term Disability.
• Paid sick leave and vacation time.
• Upon meeting plan qualifications, a competitive 401(k) retirement plan is available.

WSSA/NWSS is a drug & alcohol-free employer with a zero-tolerance drug policy, including marijuana.

WSSA/NWSS is an equal-opportunity employer and values diversity.

All offers are contingent on the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Job Posting Close Date

06/26/2026; open until filled