Development Director

Overview

Since our founding in 1924, we've cut cardiovascular disease deaths in half, but there is still so much more to do. To overcome today’s biggest health challenges and accelerate this progress, we need passionate individuals like you. Join our movement, be part of the progress, and help ensure a healthier future for all. You matter, and so does the impact you can make with us.

We are currently hiring a Development Director in the Denver market. The Director will generate revenue for our Impact campaigns. This campaign includes our signature Leaders of Impact, Women of Impact & Teen of Impact campaigns.

This is a highly visible, community-facing role for someone who thrives on building authentic relationships, connecting people to purpose, and inspiring others to achieve ambitious goals. You will identify and recruit influential changemakers, business leaders, philanthropists, and emerging community leaders, helping them amplify their impact through fundraising, awareness-building, and volunteer leadership while advancing the American Heart Association's mission. 

Success in this role requires a proactive networker who enjoys meeting new people, uncovering opportunities, and creating meaningful volunteer experiences. You'll serve as a trusted coach, connector, and champion for volunteers while building a year-round pipeline of changemakers and future volunteer leaders. 

This office-based role, with a hybrid work schedule, requires approximately 75% travel within the assigned territory. In this fast-paced environment, the position plays a critical role in driving revenue to support our mission. The role is based in our Denver office.

Why You'll Love This Role

• Join a mission-driven organization where your work has a visible impact on communities across the Denver Metro area and Colorado.

• Build meaningful relationships with some of the most influential leaders and changemakers in our community.

• Help volunteers raise funds and awareness that directly support lifesaving work.

• Play a key role in developing the next generation of American Heart Association volunteers and leaders.

• Be part of a collaborative team that is advancing health and hope for everyone, everywhere.

We have a fast-paced sales environment with the primary responsibility of driving revenue in support of our mission. We offer a base salary with the potential to earn an incentive up to 25% of your base pay. The potential incentive is based on achieving certain revenue targets and triggers. The Association offers many resources to help you maintain work-life harmonization through your changing needs and life situations. To help you be successful, you will have access to Heart U, our award-winning corporate university, as well as additional training and support, locally.#TheAHALife is more than a company culture; it is our way of life. It embodies our commitment to work-life harmonization and is guided by our core values where our employees can thrive both personally and professionally. Discover why you will Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Valued at the American Heart Association by following us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, and at heart.jobs.

Responsibilities

Recruit and Inspire Community Changemakers

• Identify and engage individuals with the potential to create significant impact through fundraising, awareness-building, community influence, and long-term volunteer leadership.

• Build relationships across business, philanthropic, and community networks to continuously expand campaign reach and visibility.

• Cast a wide net to identify future nominees and develop a sustainable pipeline of high-potential volunteers and supporters.

Drive Campaign Growth and Revenue

• Lead fundraising strategies for Leaders of Impact, Woman of Impact, and Teen of Impact campaigns to achieve and exceed revenue goals.

• Conduct year-round prospecting, networking, and relationship-building activities to identify, recruit, and secure high-impact campaign participants and supporters.

• Secure financial contributions through exploratory meetings, sponsorship conversations, and revenue-generating sales calls.

• Develop and execute year-round plans that establish a strong pipeline of nominees, sponsors, and volunteers well in advance of campaign launches.

Coach and Support Volunteers

• Provide exceptional, personalized support to campaign participants throughout their fundraising journey, ensuring they are valued, celebrated, and set up for success.

• Build trust and rapport quickly, serving as an advisor, coach, and motivator.

• Deliver effective orientation, training, fundraising guidance, and ongoing support to help volunteers maximize their impact and success.

• Foster meaningful volunteer experiences that strengthen long-term engagement with the American Heart Association.

Develop Long-Term Leadership Engagement

• Cultivate relationships with volunteers beyond individual campaigns by connecting them to additional volunteer leadership opportunities.

• Create pathways for ongoing volunteer engagement across the organization.

• Recognize and celebrate volunteer contributions through meaningful stewardship and engagement activities.

Collaborate Across the Market

• Partner closely with internal colleagues across departments to identify prospective nominees, share best practices, and support overall market success.

• Work collaboratively to strengthen community engagement strategies that elevate all campaigns and organizational priorities.

• Communicate proactively with internal and external stakeholders to ensure exceptional relationship management and customer service.

Ensure Operational Excellence

• Manage campaign and donor information accurately and timely using American Heart Association systems and tools.

• Coordinate campaign events, volunteer gatherings, cultivation activities, kickoffs, and celebrations, both in-person and virtually.

• Ensure compliance with all American Heart Association policies, fiscal standards, and applicable regulations.

• Maintain strong attention to detail while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.

Qualifications

What Makes Someone Successful in This Role?

The ideal candidate is:

• Well-connected in the community or excited to become deeply immersed in local business and community networks.

• Energized by coaching and encouraging others, celebrating wins, and helping volunteers reach ambitious goals.

• Motivated by ambitious goals and achieving meaningful results.

• Comfortable networking, prospecting, and building relationships with people from all backgrounds and industries.

• Naturally curious and genuinely interested in learning about others.

• A skilled relationship-builder who develops trust and rapport quickly.

• Passionate about helping others discover and reach their full potential with the ability to coach, motivate, and inspire others to succeed.

• Confident engaging executives, business owners, volunteer leaders, and community influencers.

• Collaborative and team-oriented, with a mindset focused on lifting the success of the entire market.

• Strategic, forward-thinking, and always looking for opportunities to expand impact.

• Highly organized with exceptional follow-through and attention to detail.

• Compassionate, service-oriented, and committed to creating exceptional volunteer experiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

• Minimum of three (3) years of success in fundraising, sales, business development, account management, volunteer engagement, community outreach, or a related relationship-driven field. Recent graduates welcome and encouraged to apply.

• Experience motivating individuals or teams to achieve significant fundraising, sales, or business-development goals.

• Track record of building long-term partnerships and expanding community engagement through relationship-based strategies.

• Demonstrated success achieving ambitious goals through relationship-building, influence, and personal accountability.

• Ability to build trust and establish meaningful relationships across audiences.

• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.

• Ability to work independently while effectively managing multiple projects and priorities.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

• Ability to travel locally up to 75% of the time, with occasional overnight travel as needed.

• Access to reliable transportation.

• Ability to lift and/or move materials and event supplies as needed, with appropriate assistance when required.

Preferred Experience

• Experience recruiting, managing, or cultivating executive leaders, business owners, philanthropists, or influential volunteers.

• Knowledge of corporate, nonprofit, philanthropic, and community networks throughout the Denver Metro area and Colorado.

• Experience in peer-to-peer fundraising, volunteer engagement, community outreach, or consultative sales.

Application Deadline - This position will remain open until 11/20/26 . Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Compensation & Benefits

The American Heart Association invests in its people. Here are the main components of our total rewards package.  Visit Rewards & Benefits to see more details.

• Compensation – The expected pay range is $67,650 - $84,000. Our goal is to ensure you have a competitive base salary.  That’s why we regularly review the market value of jobs and make adjustments, as needed. Pay is commensurate with experience; geographic differentials to the pay range may apply.  The American Heart Association reserves the right to pay more or less than the posted range.
• Performance and Recognition – You are rewarded for achieving success through annual salary planning and incentive programs; this position is incentive eligible based on achieving certain targets.
• Benefits – We offer a wide array of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, along with a robust retirement program that includes an employer match and automatic contribution.  As a mark of our commitment to employee well-being, we also offer an employee assistance program, employee wellness program and telemedicine, and medical consultation.
• Professional Development – You can join one of our many Employee Resource Groups (ERG) or be a mentor/mentee in our professional mentoring program.  Heart U is the Association’s national online university, with more than 100,000 resources designed to meet your needs and busy schedule.
• Work-Life Harmonization – The Association offers Paid Time Off (PTO) at a minimum of 16 days per year for new employees.  The number of days will increase based on seniority level.  You will also have a total of 12 paid holidays off each year, which includes several days off at the end of the year.
• Tuition Assistance - We support the career development of all employees.  This program provides financial assistance to employees who wish to further their education and career in relation to their current duties and responsibilities, or for potential future positions in the organization.

 

The American Heart Association’s 2028 Goal: Building on over 100 years of trusted leadership in cardiovascular and brain health, by 2028 the Association will drive breakthroughs and implement proven solutions in science, policy, and care for healthier people and communities. The greatest discoveries in health must reach everyone where they are.

At American Heart Association | American Stroke Association, our mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, age, language, sexual orientation, national origin and physical or cognitive abilities.This position not a match with your skills?  Click here to see other opportunities.

In accordance with local and state laws where applicable, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment.

EOE/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities

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