ActivateWork
About ActivateWork
Mission:
Transforming lives by training, launching, and coaching the next generation of technology stars. Vision:
A vibrant tech talent ecosystem fueling opportunity, growth, and prosperity for the Rocky Mountain region. Values: Love in Action -
We lead with care and understanding. Access to Opportunity -
We believe in the power of education and perseverance to transform lives. Excellence in Delivery -
We strive for the highest standards in all that we do. Agile Like the Tech We Teach -
We embrace change and continuous improvement. Collaboration for Impact -
We partner with learners, employers, and the broader community to build a thriving tech ecosystem. Role Summary
ActivateWork seeks a strategic, hands-on Director of Development to power our next phase of growth. With $4M+ in annual contributed revenue, this leader will design and execute a multi-channel fundraising strategy to grow our budget year over year-fueling program scale, impact, and organizational capacity.
A key responsibility of this role is to serve as a strategic relationship translator: converting the CEO's founder credibility into institutional donor confidence and leveraging the President's operational leadership to strengthen donor stewardship. The Director will oversee individual and institutional giving, government grants, donor stewardship, grant development and compliance, revenue forecasting, and impact storytelling. Success in this role means building and managing the people, processes, and partnerships needed to drive ambitious fundraising outcomes with excellence. Key Responsibilities Strategy & Revenue
Develop and execute an annual, multi-channel fundraising plan (individual, major gifts, corporate, foundation, government, events, digital) with clear pipeline, segmentation, and KPIs. Lead revenue planning and monthly forecasts; drive goal attainment with data-informed course corrections. Donor Stewardship & Partnerships Own the donor lifecycle (identifycultivatesolicitsteward) to grow retention and upgrades. Equip executives and board with portfolios, briefings, and moves-management plans; staff key donor meetings. Grants & Institutional Giving Source and prioritize opportunities; oversee high-quality proposals and compliance. Manage the grant calendar to ensure 100% on-time, accurate submissions and reports; maintain strong funder relationships. Data, Reporting & Storytelling Translate program impact data into compelling narratives, dashboards, and investor-ready reports. Ensure CRM hygiene (Salesforce preferred), accurate forecasting, and campaign analytics. Process, Project & Team Leadership Build scalable development processes and playbooks; run efficient pipelines and stand-ups. Manage contractors (e.g., grant writers, event vendors); set goals and review performance. Partner cross-functionally with Programs, Finance & Ops, and Marketing to align messaging, budgets, and outcomes. Core Competencies (Must-Haves) Internal & External Customer Focus: Meets the expectations of donors, partners, and colleagues quickly and effectively. Builds Strong Relationships: Listens actively; fosters trust through respect, empathy, and open communication. Drives Continuous Improvement: Seeks feedback and enhances processes and service quality. Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Reads the room, navigates nuance, and handles sensitive situations with discretion. Verbal & Written Communication: Clear, persuasive, and donor-centric; exceptional proposal and stewardship writing. Adapting to Change & Ambiguity: Operates effectively amid shifting priorities; brings structure without rigidity. Delivering Results: Consistently meets stretch goals; accountable for $4M annual contributed revenue. Process & Project Management: Plans, sequences, and executes complex workstreams on time and on budget. Qualifications 7-10+ years of progressive fundraising experience with a track record meeting/exceeding seven-figure goals. Success in both individual giving (including major gifts) and institutional giving (grants, compliance, reporting). Demonstrated ability to convert impact data into compelling cases for support. Proficiency with CRM (Salesforce/NPSP strongly preferred), pipeline management, segmentation, and forecasting. Strong organization, attention to detail, and vendor/consultant management experience. Passion for ActivateWork's mission and alignment with our values. Success Measures (First 12-18 Months) Achieves or exceeds $4.5M in contributed revenue with healthy pipeline coverage. Year-2 coverage of salary. Drive an org-wide, team-led fundraising plan. Manage to channel-level ROI (e.g., major gifts ≥4:1; grants ≥5:1; corporate ≥3:1; digital ≥3:1; events ≥2:1) and accurate monthly forecasts. Year-over-year donor retention and average gift size growth. On-time grant submissions and reports (100% compliance). Accurate monthly forecasts (within agreed variance). Documented, repeatable development processes and team operating rhythms. Compensation & Benefits
Salary range (Colorado pay transparency): $120,000-$140,000 annually. ActivateWork does not offer a group medical plan; instead, we provide an employer-funded HRA that reimburses employees (tax-free) for individual health insurance premiums and eligible medical expenses, giving you the flexibility to choose the plan that fits your needs. Dental insurance Simple IRA with employer match Generous PTO and paid holidays Professional development stipend Hybrid work environment (Denver-based) Equal Opportunity Employer
ActivateWork is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applicants regardless of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status. We are proud to be a mission-driven, people-first workplace and encourage candidates with nontraditional backgrounds to apply.
Mission:
Transforming lives by training, launching, and coaching the next generation of technology stars. Vision:
A vibrant tech talent ecosystem fueling opportunity, growth, and prosperity for the Rocky Mountain region. Values: Love in Action -
We lead with care and understanding. Access to Opportunity -
We believe in the power of education and perseverance to transform lives. Excellence in Delivery -
We strive for the highest standards in all that we do. Agile Like the Tech We Teach -
We embrace change and continuous improvement. Collaboration for Impact -
We partner with learners, employers, and the broader community to build a thriving tech ecosystem. Role Summary
ActivateWork seeks a strategic, hands-on Director of Development to power our next phase of growth. With $4M+ in annual contributed revenue, this leader will design and execute a multi-channel fundraising strategy to grow our budget year over year-fueling program scale, impact, and organizational capacity.
A key responsibility of this role is to serve as a strategic relationship translator: converting the CEO's founder credibility into institutional donor confidence and leveraging the President's operational leadership to strengthen donor stewardship. The Director will oversee individual and institutional giving, government grants, donor stewardship, grant development and compliance, revenue forecasting, and impact storytelling. Success in this role means building and managing the people, processes, and partnerships needed to drive ambitious fundraising outcomes with excellence. Key Responsibilities Strategy & Revenue
Develop and execute an annual, multi-channel fundraising plan (individual, major gifts, corporate, foundation, government, events, digital) with clear pipeline, segmentation, and KPIs. Lead revenue planning and monthly forecasts; drive goal attainment with data-informed course corrections. Donor Stewardship & Partnerships Own the donor lifecycle (identifycultivatesolicitsteward) to grow retention and upgrades. Equip executives and board with portfolios, briefings, and moves-management plans; staff key donor meetings. Grants & Institutional Giving Source and prioritize opportunities; oversee high-quality proposals and compliance. Manage the grant calendar to ensure 100% on-time, accurate submissions and reports; maintain strong funder relationships. Data, Reporting & Storytelling Translate program impact data into compelling narratives, dashboards, and investor-ready reports. Ensure CRM hygiene (Salesforce preferred), accurate forecasting, and campaign analytics. Process, Project & Team Leadership Build scalable development processes and playbooks; run efficient pipelines and stand-ups. Manage contractors (e.g., grant writers, event vendors); set goals and review performance. Partner cross-functionally with Programs, Finance & Ops, and Marketing to align messaging, budgets, and outcomes. Core Competencies (Must-Haves) Internal & External Customer Focus: Meets the expectations of donors, partners, and colleagues quickly and effectively. Builds Strong Relationships: Listens actively; fosters trust through respect, empathy, and open communication. Drives Continuous Improvement: Seeks feedback and enhances processes and service quality. Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Reads the room, navigates nuance, and handles sensitive situations with discretion. Verbal & Written Communication: Clear, persuasive, and donor-centric; exceptional proposal and stewardship writing. Adapting to Change & Ambiguity: Operates effectively amid shifting priorities; brings structure without rigidity. Delivering Results: Consistently meets stretch goals; accountable for $4M annual contributed revenue. Process & Project Management: Plans, sequences, and executes complex workstreams on time and on budget. Qualifications 7-10+ years of progressive fundraising experience with a track record meeting/exceeding seven-figure goals. Success in both individual giving (including major gifts) and institutional giving (grants, compliance, reporting). Demonstrated ability to convert impact data into compelling cases for support. Proficiency with CRM (Salesforce/NPSP strongly preferred), pipeline management, segmentation, and forecasting. Strong organization, attention to detail, and vendor/consultant management experience. Passion for ActivateWork's mission and alignment with our values. Success Measures (First 12-18 Months) Achieves or exceeds $4.5M in contributed revenue with healthy pipeline coverage. Year-2 coverage of salary. Drive an org-wide, team-led fundraising plan. Manage to channel-level ROI (e.g., major gifts ≥4:1; grants ≥5:1; corporate ≥3:1; digital ≥3:1; events ≥2:1) and accurate monthly forecasts. Year-over-year donor retention and average gift size growth. On-time grant submissions and reports (100% compliance). Accurate monthly forecasts (within agreed variance). Documented, repeatable development processes and team operating rhythms. Compensation & Benefits
Salary range (Colorado pay transparency): $120,000-$140,000 annually. ActivateWork does not offer a group medical plan; instead, we provide an employer-funded HRA that reimburses employees (tax-free) for individual health insurance premiums and eligible medical expenses, giving you the flexibility to choose the plan that fits your needs. Dental insurance Simple IRA with employer match Generous PTO and paid holidays Professional development stipend Hybrid work environment (Denver-based) Equal Opportunity Employer
ActivateWork is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applicants regardless of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status. We are proud to be a mission-driven, people-first workplace and encourage candidates with nontraditional backgrounds to apply.