Job Description

Institutional Giving Manager

Company Overview

The Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS) is a non-profit adventure-based education organization that emphasizes personal growth through challenge and experience. For over 60 years our wilderness courses have focused on inspiring responsibility, teamwork, confidence, compassion, and environmental and community stewardship. The Colorado Outward Bound School operates wilderness bases in Leadville, Colorado and Moab, Utah, delivering expeditionary learning programs across the Rocky Mountain and Southwest regions

Position Summary

The Institutional Giving Manager cultivates and stewards foundation and corporate partnerships that support the Colorado Outward Bound School's programs. This role leads institutional prospect research, cultivation strategies, and relationship management, while preparing proposals for a select group of Utah-based funders and contributing content and insights for other institutional submissions in partnership with the Development Operations Manager. The Institutional Giving Manager collaborates across departments to gather program data, support donor communications, and strengthen institutional stewardship efforts.

Roles and Responsibilities

Individual Donor Management

Cultivate and steward relationships with foundation and corporate funders. Represent COBS through funder meetings, site visits, community events, and partner convenings. Prepare briefing materials, meeting notes, and follow-up communications for institutional stakeholders. Manage the portfolio of institutional funder relationships and maintain responsibility for tracking progress, next steps, and revenue projections. Collaborate with the Development Director to advance high-priority institutional cultivation strategies.

Prospect Research & Strategy

Conduct institutional research to identify and qualify new foundation and corporate prospects. Maintain an active pipeline of institutional opportunities and recommend cultivation strategies in alignment with the Development Director. Regularly report pipeline status, progress, and risks to the Development Director. Identify regional funding trends and emerging opportunities in experiential education, outdoor programs, and youth development. Support annual planning, forecasting, and institutional giving goal-setting.

Grant Preparation & Coordination

Work with Program, Student Services, and Finance to gather accurate program descriptions, enrollment data, scholarship information, outcomes, and budgets for institutional proposals. Provide content, program information, and funder-specific insights to the Development Operations Manager, who oversees the institutional grant calendar, submission workflows, and reporting timelines. Prepare letters of inquiry, proposals, and stewardship updates for a defined portfolio of Utah-based foundation and corporate funders, in coordination with the Development Operations Manager. Collaborate with the Development Operations Manager to ensure accuracy, consistency, and timely submission of all institutional grant materials. Maintain accurate institutional records, activity notes, and deadlines in Salesforce.

Fundraising Communications & Appeals

Partner with Marketing to support donor communications, fundraising appeals, and campaigns. Gather and synthesize impact data and program information to strengthen donor-facing materials. Collaborate with the Development Operations Manager to ensure alignment on segmentation, lists, and appeal execution. Support coordinated institutional stewardship messaging across communication channels.

Events & Community Engagement

Participate in Utah-based fundraising, programmatic, or partner events that advance institutional relationships. Provide institutional giving support for COBS events as needed. Assist with institutional follow-up and stewardship after events.

Cross-Department Collaboration

Work closely with Program, Student Services, Marketing, and Finance teams to gather accurate information and ensure institutional proposals reflect current programming and impact. Partner with the Development Director to align institutional fundraising efforts with organizational priorities. Ensure coordinated stewardship and communication across the development team.

Knowledge and Skills/Who you Are - Required

Dedication to COBS's core values of compassion, integrity, inclusion and service, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Strong relationship-building skills and ability to engage external partners. Strong research, organization, and project management skills, including managing pipelines, deadlines, and reporting. Familiarity with CRM systems (Salesforce preferred). Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and adapt to evolving organizational needs

Education and Work Experience

BA or BS degree preferred. Prior nonprofit work experience is a requirement, experience in an outdoor, educational, or youth-serving organization preferred. 3-5 years of experience in institutional fundraising, prospect research, or nonprofit development.

Compensation and Benefits

Annual Salary Range: $64,000- $70,000 based on experience, education level and expertise. This is a full-time, exempt position. In alignment with our compensation philosophy, transparency, and pay equity across our team, a candidate with the minimum experience can expect to be offered in the lower third of the range. Benefits eligibility for medical, dental, and vision insurance, where COBS pays a significant amount towards health care premiums and provides employer-paid short- and long-term disability coverage and basic life insurance. PTO (approximately 20 days per year) and sick leave prorated by months worked. 401k eligibility available after one year of service. Pro-deal eligible. This position is remote in Utah only.

Application Process

Please visit our website to complete the online application and submit your cover letter and resume to Lila Todd (she/her) Development Director by December 3rd: https://www.cobs.org/connect/employment/.

Colorado Outward Bound School is an E-Verify Employer

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Colorado Outward Bound School celebrates diversity and strives to create an inclusive environment for all employees. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis covered by applicable law. All employment is based on qualifications and business needs. Outward Bound has a zero-tolerance policy for incidents of child abuse and neglect and will report any suspected abuse or neglect.





Working at the Colorado Outward Bound School means joining a growth-minded community where we are actively creating a more inclusive organizational culture. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion shows up at all levels of the organization - in our trainings, in our meetings, on our courses, and in our daily lives. This work can be challenging at times, and we are committed to navigating it together to create a supportive and inclusive environment for our staff and our students. To foster a more welcoming outdoor community for all, we are working to address barriers related to race, culture, socioeconomics, ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, geographic location, and mental health.