Summary
Description
Who We Are
Downtown Partnership ensures that Downtown Colorado Springs serves as the economic, civic, and cultural heart of the Pikes Peak region. A 501c4 organization, Downtown Partnership manages the contracts for service with the Greater Downtown Colorado Springs Business Improvement District and the Downtown Development Authority, and manages the 501c3 nonprofit Downtown Ventures.
The Opportunity
To build toward Downtown Partnership’s next chapter, we are highlighting the importance of our members and sponsors by creating this new role to fully focus on building the systems for cultivating, stewarding, and retaining members and donors. The Membership & Engagement Manager will lead the organization’s fundraising initiatives, seek sponsorship for key events, maintain strong relationships with partners and funders, and create and implement strategies that deepen community engagement in a meaningful way.
The goal of this position is to design and implement an effective engagement process and system that fosters a culture of appreciation, recognition, accountability, and ongoing engagement of Downtown Partnership’s members and donors, which ultimately strengthens the overall work of the organization to create a vibrant Downtown Colorado Springs.
This is a great opportunity for someone with fundraising or member relations experience who loves building the systems to make this work sustainable and effective.
Ideal Candidate Profile
Key aspects of the ideal candidate include:
Loves nurturing relationships – and using systems to facilitate that. This person is passionate about listening to diverse stakeholders, understanding their needs, and guiding them to the right place in supporting the mission. The right candidate has built this experience through 3+ years in fundraising – especially donor relations, stewardship, or sponsorship-oriented roles – or in similar client or member engagement positions.
A natural builder – this person has gravitated toward roles that didn’t exist before, coming in to add structure and direction to their function, always leaving the team or department in a place of stability and sustainability. This person has a start-up mentality, creates things with minimal resources, handles their own administrative tasks with ease, and truly enjoys getting their hands dirty while figuring out the next critical steps.
Sees things from multiple angles at once: Can move easily between creating a vision (why), identifying a strategy (how), and outlining the smallest details (what) to make things happen.
Organized systems thinker. This person LOVES handling details, and has a near obsession with creating and managing systems (and nudging others to use them). They are highly experienced with CRMs or donor management systems, including some experience helping their team maximize these tools, and regularly use data and reporting to manage the work.
A great communicator – both in writing and in person in a variety of settings, especially including engagement that prompts people to take action. This person would much rather pick up the phone or visit in person than email all day.
Someone who thrives on a small team and recognizes the importance of deepening the team’s values and norms. They are happy to roll up their sleeves to handle details and are aware of how their actions will support a healthy culture.
A passion for urbanism, community-building, and the mission of Downtown Partnership. Familiarity with the Colorado Springs environment is beneficial though not required; this is someone who understands how to navigate multiple groups of stakeholders and can see (or facilitate) links between them, and with the larger vision.
Role Expectations and Responsibilities
The Manager reports to the Director of Communications, and ensures a cohesive, mission-aligned approach to revenue generation, with a strong emphasis on cultivating and enhancing the experience of the organization’s supporters. At a high level, about 70% of their time will be spent on the stewardship of existing relationships, and the remaining 30% on attracting new members and sponsors. Their overall responsibilities fall into these major categories:
Membership Growth & Engagement
• Develop and execute strategies to grow membership, with a focus on recruiting new members and retaining existing ones to include providing personalized Downtown orientations to new businesses.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with members, ensuring high satisfaction and strong engagement with Downtown initiatives.
• In coordination with leadership, implement programs and communications that highlight the value of membership and promote active participation.
• Monitor membership trends and metrics, using data to inform strategies and improve retention and growth.
Sponsorship Development & Donor Relations
• Identify, solicit, and secure sponsorships for Downtown events, programs, and initiatives. Key events include State of Downtown, Art on the Streets, Annual Breakfast, Revel, and Skate in the Park.
• Build long-term relationships with corporate partners, local businesses, and philanthropic donors to maximize support for Downtown projects.
• Steward sponsors and donors through personalized communications, recognition, and reporting on impact.
• Develop and maintain tracking systems to monitor sponsorship commitments, renewal rates, and overall revenue growth.
Event Planning & Community Engagement
• Plan, coordinate, and execute fundraising, membership, and sponsorship-related events (e.g., Annual Breakfast, member mixer, member exclusive tours, etc.).
• Represent the organization at community events, meetings, and public forums, strengthening the visibility and reputation of Downtown Colorado Springs.
• Collaborate with local businesses, civic leaders, and community partners to ensure events and programs align with Downtown development goals.
Strategic Planning & Reporting
• Work with leadership to set annual membership and sponsorship goals, aligning strategies with organizational priorities.
• Analyze data and generate reports on membership, sponsorship, and donor metrics to guide decisions and demonstrate impact.
• Continuously identify opportunities for innovation and improvement in engagement, fundraising, and event strategies.
Collaboration & Team Leadership
• Partner with colleagues to ensure consistent messaging, branding, and experience across all touchpoints.
• Mentor and guide staff, board members, and volunteers involved in membership, sponsorship, and event initiatives.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and mission-driven engagement.
Location and Travel
This role is expected to maintain a substantial presence in the Downtown area to build and nurture relationships, and identify ways to strengthen engagement with our various partners. An ability to travel by car within Colorado Springs is required, as well as the flexibility to work some evenings and weekends as needed.
Benefits
The annual salary starts at $70,000 – $85,000, with final compensation to be determined based on qualifications and experience. Benefits include:
• Medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance – 100% of premiums covered
• 11 paid holidays plus two personal days
• 3 percent company match into SIMPLE IRA
• Three weeks’ vacation accrual (increases based on tenure)
• Paid parking and bike share membership
• Fitness center access
How to Apply
If you're excited about this role and feel a passion for our mission, we encourage you to apply, even if you’re not sure whether you meet all the requirements. Email your resume and a brief paragraph about your interest to our consulting partner with Membership in the subject.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until May 24, 2026; the ideal start date for the role is mid- to late June 2026.
Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
