Director of Corporate and Foundation Engagement

Saint Peters University•Jersey City, NJ

About The Position

Saint Peter’s University seeks a strategic, relationship-oriented, and results-driven Director of Corporate and Foundation Engagement to secure philanthropic support from corporations and private foundations. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Leadership and Planned Giving, the Director develops and implements strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward funders whose interests align with the University’s mission, strategic priorities, and commitment to Jesuit Catholic higher education. The Director manages a portfolio of corporate and foundation prospects, leads the development of funding proposals, and builds partnerships that advance student success, academic excellence, experiential learning, research, and community engagement. In collaboration with University leadership, faculty, and administrative departments, the Director translates institutional priorities into competitive funding opportunities and sustainable philanthropic relationships. The position includes donor and funder engagement, proposal development and grant coordination, corporate partnerships and sponsorships, stewardship, and advancement database recordkeeping. It requires travel for business-related engagement and occasional evening and weekend availability.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Five to eight years of progressively responsible experience in institutional advancement, corporate and foundation relations, fundraising, grant development, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience preparing successful grant proposals, philanthropic solicitations, or corporate sponsorship requests.
Experience cultivating relationships with corporate partners, foundation representatives, institutional donors, or other external stakeholders.
Experience managing multiple projects, funding opportunities, and competing deadlines.
Organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Excellent writing, editing, research, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
Strong relationship-building, negotiation, and project management abilities.
Ability to connect funder interests with institutional priorities through compelling proposals and measurable outcomes.
Strong organizational and analytical skills, including the ability to manage a prospect portfolio and fundraising pipeline.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively, exercise sound judgment, and meet established goals and deadlines.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and familiarity with advancement databases, prospect management systems, and grant research tools.
Commitment to ethical fundraising, donor confidentiality, and responsible stewardship of philanthropic resources.
Commitment to the mission and values of Saint Peter’s University and appreciation for Jesuit Catholic higher education.
Commitment to community engagement, service, leadership development, or related work.
Willingness to travel for donor meetings, funder engagement, and University events.
Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends as required.
Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation as needed for business-related travel.
Experience developing and maintaining community partnerships.
Experience working directly with community-based organizations.
Familiarity with service-learning, civic engagement, volunteer management, or leadership development programs.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a relevant field.
Experience in higher education, capital campaigns, or securing major and multi-year philanthropic commitments.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement strategies to increase corporate and private foundation philanthropic support in alignment with University priorities.
Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospective and existing corporate and foundation donors.
Manage a prospect and donor portfolio, including individualized cultivation plans, solicitation strategies, and stewardship activities.
Conduct approximately 60 substantive prospect and donor visits annually, through in-person and virtual meetings.
Establish annual fundraising goals, monitor progress, and report on solicitation activity, proposal pipelines, and philanthropic results.
Identify opportunities for multi-year, programmatic, scholarship, and other philanthropic support.
Collaborate with the Director of Prospect Management and Research to identify and prioritize prospective funders and strengthen prospect development strategies.
Research and assess corporate and foundation funding opportunities aligned with academic, student success, research, and community engagement priorities.
Lead the preparation, writing, editing, and submission of letters of inquiry, grant proposals, sponsorship requests, and grant reports.
Partner with faculty, academic leadership, and administrative departments to develop competitive proposals with clear objectives, budgets, outcomes, and impact measures.
Coordinate proposal timelines, internal approvals, submission requirements, and supporting documentation to ensure timely and accurate submissions.
Maintain a tracking system for funding opportunities, deadlines, decisions, award requirements, and reporting obligations.
Coordinate with the Office of Faculty Research and Sponsored Programs on appropriate government funding opportunities supporting institutional priorities.
Work with relevant University offices on grant reporting, compliance, recognition, and stewardship.
Build and expand relationships with corporations and employers at local, regional, and national levels.
Collaborate with Academic Affairs, the Center for Career Engagement and Experiential Learning, Admissions, faculty, and other departments to develop student-benefiting partnerships that advance institutional priorities.
Identify corporate support opportunities for scholarships, internships, experiential learning, workforce development, academic programs, research, and community engagement.
Develop and secure corporate sponsorships for signature University events, including the Hearts & Minds Scholarship Gala, and other assigned initiatives.
Represent the University at corporate, foundation, professional, and community events to cultivate relationships and identify funding opportunities.
Coordinate fundraising strategies with Advancement leadership and colleagues to maximize philanthropic support.
Work with University leadership, faculty, and administrative departments to identify funding priorities and develop compelling cases for support.
Develop stewardship strategies that demonstrate the impact of philanthropic investments and strengthen donor relationships.
Prepare proposals, briefings, presentations, and reports for University leadership, prospective funders, and donors.
Maintain accurate and timely records of prospect interactions, solicitations, proposals, gifts, and stewardship activities in the University’s advancement database.
Perform other related duties assigned by the Assistant Vice President of Leadership and Planned Giving and/or Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Strategic Engagement, as well as other duties assigned by the supervisor.