Director of Development, Foundation Relations, College of Engineering

Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association•Madison, WI

20h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA), the private fundraising and alumni relations organization for the University of Wisconsin–Madison, is seeking a relationship-driven and strategic Director of Development, Foundation Relations to support the College of Engineering. This role is ideal for a collaborative fundraiser who enjoys connecting innovative academic and research priorities with philanthropic foundations that want to make a meaningful impact. In this role, you will build, manage, and steward strategic relationships with philanthropic foundations to advance the academic, research, and engagement priorities of the College of Engineering. You will work closely with college leadership, faculty, staff, and WFAA colleagues to identify funding opportunities, develop compelling proposals, and communicate the impact of foundation support. This position will be a combination of remote, in-office, and on-site work environments.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional work experience
Experience working in a university setting and an understanding of research/programs engineering fields
3 + years of experience in fundraising from philanthropic foundations
Advanced oral and written communication skills, including grant writing skills
Ability to create and deliver concise informational presentations is required
Ability to meet travel requirements (25%)

Nice To Haves

Intellectual curiosity paired with an advanced ability to think creatively and independently about concepts requiring advanced analytical skills
Advanced interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse groups to achieve results
Must be self-motivated, take initiative, and lead work independently

Responsibilities

Identifying and cultivating new relationships with foundations that support the programming and research goals of the College and its constituent departments and schools
Coordinating, managing and advancing existing relationships with external foundation funding partners
Developing strong collaborative partnerships with internal and external stakeholders and leveraging those relationships to result in successful funding opportunities
Working with the dean, associate deans, department chairs, faculty, and staff to identify, develop, and submit funding proposals
Facilitating stewardship of awarded funds, including required reporting by funding partners and communicating research and programming impact to internal and external stakeholders
Creating and presenting concise, readily understood presentations of complex materials
Maintaining knowledge of current best practices and trends in foundation-based philanthropy
Successfully articulating department and College research and programming priorities to internal and external stakeholders
Understanding and accessing resources within WFAA to support the fund development process