Director, Foundation and Corporate Relations - 501837

SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President, Foundation, Corporate, and Government Relations, the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations is responsible for developing strategies for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of corporations and foundations to support the University of Richmond. The Director will maximize all corporate and foundation related philanthropic opportunities locally, regionally, and nationally to advance the University's research and partnership efforts. The Director is responsible for creating proposals, and assembling application packages and other materials for funding opportunities. In addition to actively managing a portfolio of prospects, the Director will collaborate with colleagues across campus to identify projects and potential funders for the University.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Planning, Strategizing, and Fundraising

• Research, identify, and cultivate corporate and foundation prospects; regularly review periodicals, RFP listings, and news updates for new funding opportunities.
• Collaborate closely with the Director of Grant Support in identifying strategic opportunities across sponsored research and traditional corporate and foundation philanthropy.
• Effectively match the needs and initiatives of corporations and foundations with faculty and University needs and critical initiatives.
• Work with faculty, and academic and senior leaders to develop program and project descriptions; write and submit proposals, concept papers, and letters of inquiry; develop grant proposal budgets; track proposals submissions.
• Develop and execute national, regional, and local strategies to engage and involve funders who can become programmatic partners with the University.
• Research, write, and submit corporate and foundation proposals in accordance with set deadlines
• In partnership with Advancement colleagues identify connections to potential donors; strategically pursue strong prospects and implement appropriate solicitation strategies.
• Responsible for ensuring that grants and gifts are properly recorded and set up Archnet CRM.

Stewardship and Relationship Building

• Develop and maintain relationships with foundation program officers and corporate contacts. Plan and make visits to corporations and foundations, often accompanied by senior leadership and/or faculty, and support on-campus site visits.
• Establish and maintain strategic relationships with alumni, community members, and campus colleagues to strengthen and increase the University's ties to corporations and foundations.
• Identify and build relationships with faculty leading research and programs that match the needs of funders.
• Meet with internal faculty and staff that work on relevant community issues to understand the University's role and future goals within the community. Gain an understanding of regional issues relevant to the University, the community, and area funders to better understand the community's needs and issues. Communicate the University's role within the community to our corporate and foundation partners.
• Meet regularly with faculty and staff from other areas on campus to discuss their current funding needs and share information on external partners.
• Provide meaningful and required stewardship for foundation and corporate donors, including site visits, small events, progress reports, and customized recognition pieces.
• Collaborate with campus partners on proposal submissions and maintain relationships to ensure proper grant implementation.
• Participate in and contribute to the ongoing maintenance of the FCGR enterprise by attending internal meetings, and professional seminars, serving on search committees and other internal team projects.

Communication

• Responsible for communications for corporate and foundation donors including the drafting of key communications between the President and foundation and corporate leaders, acknowledgment letters, and cover letters.
• Responsible for corporate and foundation presidential briefings.
• Write and prepare all outreach and stewardship reports and supporting materials for corporate and foundation funders.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Excellent communication skills ability to effectively communicate information in a clear and understandable manner, both verbally and in writing.
• Strong analytical and research skills; ability to gather, evaluate, and to develop well-reasoned conclusions and recommendations.
• Ability to proactively assess work operations and anticipate potential problems; ability to develop and implement strategies for preventing/resolving problems.
• Initiative in independently planning, organizing, and performing work assignments within broadly defined parameters.
• Ability to work with a high level of productivity and accuracy/attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to set own priorities to coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating and time-sensitive deadlines.
• Ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere in and outside the University with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to interact professionally and comfortably with individuals at all levels organization, to enlist support and advocacy for fundraising efforts
• Superb organizational and project management skills, including the ability to direct multiple high-priority projects simultaneously
• Ability to maintain the highest standard of ethics and integrity.
• A strategic thinker with the ability to develop short- and long-term plans to increase corporate and foundation support,
• Working knowledge, or ability to quickly learn, university infrastructure, policies, and procedures.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and a minimum of six years of relevant experience in fundraising, preferably in corporate and foundation work, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A proven record of success in grant writing, preferably within a higher education environment.
• Exemplary communications skills including superior proposal writing and editing skills along with exceptional verbal and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively interact and initiate relationships with the business and foundation community as well as the ability to work with deans, faculty and senior administrators on complex research and proposals.

WORK HOURS:

• Full-time, exempt position
• Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; 7.75 hrs./day; 38.75 hrs./week
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends on occasion

SALARY STRUCTURE:
Pay Grade 9 (Hiring Range $73,008.00 to $100,402.00 annually)

COVID-19:

The University of Richmond requires COVID-19 vaccinations for all students, faculty, and staff. The University allows exemptions to this requirement for religious, medical and strong personal conviction reasons. All newly hired employees must report their status within the first two weeks of employment.

ABOUT UR:

At the University of Richmond, we're creative, inclusive, and determined. We're Spiders, and our mission is to create positive change in the UR community and beyond. Located minutes from downtown Richmond, Virginia, the University of Richmond (www.richmond.edu) blends the intimacy of a small college with exceptional academic, research, and cultural opportunities usually found only at large institutions. There's only one place like Richmond.

UR is committed to developing a diverse faculty, staff and student body, and to modeling an inclusive campus community which values the expression of differences in ways that promote excellence in teaching, learning, personal development and institutional success. In keeping with this commitment, our academic community welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds and candidates who support diversity. EOE