Associate Director, Foundation and Corporate Relations

Cato Institute•Washington, DC

5d•$80,000 - $115,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Cato seeks an Associate Director, Foundation and Corporate Relations to help grow philanthropic support from a portfolio of corporate and foundation partners. The ideal candidate will have at least five years of fundraising experience with the ability to manage relationships independently and contribute at a high level to proposal and grant strategy. Reporting to the Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations, they will own a portfolio of these relationships, working closely with the Director on strategy and helping to manage the pipeline as a whole. The position is based at Cato’s headquarters in Washington, DC, and requires occasional travel and work on weekends and evenings. Exceptional candidates may be considered for a virtual position. The projected salary range for this role is $80,000–$115,000 per year. Compensation is based on the successful candidate’s educational background, experience, and skills. TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION, YOU MUST COMPLETE THE TALENT MARKET APPLICATION!

Requirements

At least five years of experience in fundraising, with demonstrated success securing and growing philanthropic support
Demonstrated grant or proposal writing experience
Strong written and verbal communication skills
High level of interpersonal and relationship-building skills; excellent judgment in donor-facing situations
Comfort engaging with complex public policy issues, and the ability to translate Cato’s research into language that resonates with institutional partners’ specific interests
Ability to manage multiple relationships and deadlines simultaneously
A four-year undergraduate degree or equivalent experience
A belief in Cato’s mission and vision and the ability to articulate that mission to others
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. This position does not offer visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

The successful candidate will be entrepreneurial, able to work independently, and passionate about Cato’s mission.

Responsibilities

Steward and grow a portfolio of corporate and foundation supporters through regular, substantive engagement that strengthens relationships and increases philanthropic support
Stay closely informed on Cato’s research, policy work, and events to proactively connect partners with content aligned with their interests and priorities
Apply a sophisticated understanding of which policy areas are most relevant to each partner to guide outreach, engagement, and proposal strategy
Coordinate meetings, briefings, and events connecting supporters with Cato scholars
Work with teams across the Institute to craft compelling proposals and reports that accurately communicate Cato’s work and impact
Identify, qualify, and research prospective foundation and corporate partners
Represent Cato at networking events, following up with new contacts to advance relationships
Help manage the foundation and corporate pipeline as a whole, in partnership with the Director, including building and executing moves-management plans, soliciting gifts, and maintaining a comprehensive calendar of proposal and reporting deadlines and accurate records in Salesforce