Colorado Nonprofit Association

Philanthropy Director

One of America’s most respected and admired humanitarian dental care organizations seeks an experienced and innovative development professional to join our team. We are currently seeking applications for a Philanthropy Director. This position will advance Dental Lifeline Network’s mission by growing the organization’s philanthropic revenue across multiple donor categories and initiatives, with a specific emphasis on foundation fundraising, major gifts, individual giving, and donor communications/stewardship. 

Since 1974, Dental Lifeline Network (DLN) has arranged comprehensive dental treatment for people with disabilities or who are elderly or medically fragile. Its flagship Donated Dental Services (DDS) program involves more than 12,000 volunteer dentists and 3,400 volunteer dental laboratories who have donated over $525 million in free treatment to more than 173,000 individuals. 

Philanthropy Director

The Philanthropy Director is a key leader within DLN’s Development Team, working closely with the VP of Development to achieve annual fundraising goals and drive long-term donor engagement and growth. This strategic, entrepreneurial, and relationship-focused professional will lead foundation fundraising efforts, support corporate partnerships, and help connect institutional funders with individual giving initiatives to enhance DLN’s overall fundraising strategy. 

This position is responsible for cultivating relationships with institutional donors and overseeing funding partnerships that sustain and expand DLN’s programs. The Philanthropy Director will also support corporate fundraising efforts, assisting in sponsorship development and cause-marketing initiatives. Additionally, this role supervises the Senior Grant Writer, ensuring a strategic and high-quality approach to grant writing, stewardship, and reporting. 

To further diversify DLN’s revenue streams, this position plays an essential role in DLN’s end-of-year and spring direct mail campaigns, crafting compelling donor messaging, coordinating outreach, and analyzing campaign performance to enhance donor engagement and retention. 

Furthermore, the Philanthropy Director will serve as a strategic fundraising partner to State Boards, collaborating with the Affiliate and Government Relations team to identify funding opportunities and provide consultative support on foundation and corporate fundraising initiatives at both state and national levels. 

Key Responsibilities

Foundation Fundraising Leadership  

• Supervise the Senior Grant Writer, providing strategic direction and oversight for all grant proposals, stewardship reports, and funder communications. 
• Oversee and support foundation fundraising efforts, ensuring a strong pipeline of institutional donors aligned with DLN’s mission and programmatic priorities. 
• Manage and steward foundation relationships, ensuring timely reporting, engagement, and ongoing cultivation to foster long-term support. 
• Assist in writing and reviewing compelling grant proposals and impact reports to maintain and expand DLN’s foundation partnerships. 

Corporate Fundraising Support  

• Support corporate fundraising initiatives in collaboration with the VP of Development, including corporate sponsorships, partnerships, and
  cause-marketing opportunities. 
• Identify and cultivate corporate funders whose philanthropic goals align with DLN’s mission. 
• Collaborate with marketing and program teams to develop materials and engagement strategies that enhance corporate partnerships. 

Individual Giving & Direct Mail Campaigns  

• Lead DLN’s end-of-year and spring direct mail campaigns, ensuring effective messaging, outreach coordination, and performance analysis to optimize donor engagement. 
• Strengthening connections between institutional fundraising and individual giving, leveraging corporate and foundation donors to enhance overall donor retention and growth. 

Cross-Organizational Collaboration & Donor Engagement  

• Represent DLN in meetings with foundation leaders, corporate partners, and key external stakeholders. 
• Provide fundraising consultancy to State Boards, collaborating with the Affiliate and Government Relations team to explore corporate and foundation funding opportunities. 
• Work cross-functionally with internal teams to align funding opportunities with DLN’s priorities and communicate program impact effectively. 
• Utilize CRM systems (Donor Perfect and MS Office) to track donor engagement, grant progress, and fundraising outcomes. 

Qualifications  

• Bachelor’s Degree in English, Journalism, Communications, Business, Marketing, or a related field. 
• Minimum 5 years of philanthropy experience, with a strong track record in foundation fundraising, corporate support, and donor engagement. 
• Expertise in grant writing, proposal development, and institutional donor stewardship. 
• Experience supporting corporate partnerships, sponsorships, and cause-marketing initiatives. 
• Understanding of individual giving strategies, particularly direct mail campaigns, and how institutional funding enhances donor engagement. 
• Supervisory experience in fundraising or grant writing preferred. 
• Experience in Health, Human Services, or direct-aid nonprofit organizations is a plus. 
• Strong interpersonal skills, a gregarious and engaging personality, and the ability to build lasting relationships with institutional funders,
  corporate partners, and individual donors. 
• Excellent organizational, time management, and collaborative skills, with high attention to detail.