Executive Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations - UC Irvine

Another Source • Irvine, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Another Source is partnering with the University of California, Irvine (UCI) to find their next Executive Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations. This role involves leading and elevating the Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) program at a top R1 institution. The Executive Director will develop a proactive strategy to connect research, faculty, and campus priorities with significant funding opportunities. The position is based in Irvine, CA, with a hybrid work model requiring at least 3 days onsite per week. The salary range is $185,000–$195,000. The University of California, Irvine, founded in 1965, is a top public university recognized for its research, academics, and public service. The University Advancement & Alumni Relations team works to build relationships and generate support for campus programs. The Corporate and Foundation Relations team, within Central Development, collaborates with administrators, faculty, and development officers to build effective partnerships with corporations, foundations, and associations to advance UCI's mission. The Executive Director, reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor, Strategic Philanthropy, will provide leadership for the CFR strategy, aiming to increase philanthropic and corporate support for research and university initiatives. This role involves leading and managing the CFR team, developing strategies for identifying and cultivating new philanthropists, assisting with major gifts and grants, and overseeing stewardship plans. The Executive Director is expected to directly raise $4+ million annually and contribute to a team goal of $20M+, with these goals increasing over time. The position requires expertise in fundraising, donor relations, and public relations, with a strong ability to secure seven-figure gifts and build new relationships. The role also involves managing a portfolio of foundations, assisting with proposal submissions, developing a comprehensive gifts and grants program, tracking philanthropic trends, and writing complex proposals. Collaboration with various campus units, including the Office of Research, Sponsored Projects, and Gifts Administration, is essential. The Executive Director will also oversee coordination of "limited submission" requests and participate in internal and external peer groups to stay current on CFR best practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Seven to ten years' successful professional development and/or fundraising-related experience, preferably in higher education at an R1 university, OR any equivalent combinations of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skill, and abilities have been achieved.
• Expert working knowledge of all aspects of fundraising, donor relations, and public relations concepts, principles, procedures, and techniques.
• Expert knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, etc.
• Expert written and interpersonal communication skills, including political acumen, to establish and maintain good working relationships throughout the organization and with outside constituencies.
• Expert organizational, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Expert project/program management skills, including skills in setting and meeting program/project goals and objectives within budget and time constraints.
• Expert level skills in maintaining confidentiality.
• Extensive experience in the completion of complex and detailed proposals and related materials.
• Extensive experience in working independently with both school and institutional goals in mind.
• Highly organized and able to handle multiple projects.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Salesforce or a comparable donor/prospect database system.
• Extensive demonstrable experience in stewardship plans leading to additional investments.
• Clarity of focus while juggling complex projects and/or deadlines.
• Ability to meet demanding work schedule expectations.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated ability to secure seven-figure gifts from foundations, associations, and/or corporate foundations.
• Record of proactive outreach to organizations resulting in new relationships and/or funding.
• Expert knowledge of all aspects of the location, including current issues of concern for both the campus and/or throughout higher education/healthcare, generally.
• Expert knowledge of the location, including its vision, mission, goals, objectives, achievements, and infrastructure.
• Demonstrated ability to read academic and scientific text and convey this information effectively to different audiences.
• Comfort in speaking effectively in front of large audiences.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• CFRE certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop an established CFR team.
• Build a strategic approach to moves management and foundation engagement.
• Partner across disciplines to translate complex research into compelling funding opportunities.
• Personally drive seven-figure gifts while helping grow a $20M+ team goal.
• Help shape the next chapter of corporate and foundation philanthropy at UCI.
• Develop proactive strategies to increase philanthropic and corporate support for research, university priorities, and interdisciplinary initiatives.
• Enhance and strengthen existing University relationships with corporations, corporate foundations, associations, and private foundations.
• Identify and build relationships with new philanthropists and their organizations.
• Develop strategies for major gifts and grants with both existing funders and aspirational foundations.
• Monitor stewardship plans for strategic corporate and foundation donors.
• Provide insight on corporate and foundation funding opportunities, sponsor alignment, funding competitiveness, and strategies to enhance external support.
• Manage and mentor the CFR team and assist team members in developing and implementing strategies to achieve goals.
• Oversee training of new CFR staff members.
• Manage own portfolio of foundations with existing relationships with UCI and foundations where relationships are still aspirational.
• Assist faculty, development officers, and CFR team members in submitting proposals to private and corporate foundations.
• Develop, create, write, and implement a comprehensive foundation gifts and grants program.
• Maintain relationships with foundation staff, develop strategies, track philanthropic trends, identify new potential funders, and seek connections.
• Identify and actively develop new strategies for large grants from major foundations.
• Write complex proposals for solicitation of high-value corporate and/or foundation prospects.
• Strategize and participate in visits to and from corporate and private foundations.
• Oversee preparation of materials for Deans, Provost, and Chancellor for visits.
• Analyze needs and create strategic and long-range plans for fundraising from foundations and corporations.
• Monitor national and international corporate foundation giving trends and industry research needs.
• Ensure individual and team fundraising goals are met and design and implement highly specialized program activities to achieve these goals.
• Develop strategies to direct and manage a comprehensive corporate relations program.
• Identify, assess, and prioritize funding opportunities in collaboration with Deans, department chairs, center directors, and development officers.
• Refine stewardship strategies for major corporate foundations, associations, and private foundations.
• Manage various procedures with different departments and units across campus.
• Oversee coordination of “limited submission” requests for proposals and special projects.
• Convene internal peers for discussion of best practices on policies, procedures, and industry trends for corporate and foundation philanthropy.
• Participate in external peer groups to maintain state-of-the-art knowledge on CFR.
• Attend functions and meetings and serve on internal/external committees as a representative of UC Irvine.
• Collaborate with various UA offices and functions to advance prospect strategies and use the UA prospect management and tracking system.
• Participate as a member of the UA Strategic Philanthropy Team in development activities across campus.
• Serve as a resource to unit-based development colleagues.

Benefits

• Employee benefits designed to support the health, well-being, and financial security of its employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive