Executive Director of Foundation Relations & Institutional Giving

UMass Lowell•Lowell, MA

About The Position

The Executive Director of Foundation Relations & Institutional Giving oversees the university's foundation fundraising and institutional giving efforts. The role leads the university's foundation relations program and manages Advancement's role in corporate engagement, with a focus on philanthropic giving and sponsorships. Responsible for developing and executing strategies that secure support from private, family, community, and corporate foundations, as well as sponsorships and other corporate philanthropic investments, the Executive Director works collaboratively across campus to advance institutional fundraising priorities and support the university's strategic and campaign goals.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree preferred.
10+ years of progressively responsible experience in advancement, foundation relations, institutional giving, corporate philanthropy, sponsorship development, or related fields, preferably in a higher education setting.
Demonstrated experience in project management and use of computer software including office applications, data base management, spreadsheets, email/Outlook, Microsoft Word/Excel.
Ability to think and work strategically across reporting lines to manage projects on behalf of the Vice Chancellor.
Ability to articulate the mission and the vision of the University to a diverse group of constituents.
Ability to work collaboratively across the University
Demonstrated communication skills, both verbally and in writing.
Proven ability to determine and accomplish short and long term goals.
Demonstrated ability for relationship building and follow-up

Nice To Haves

Prior work in a University setting preferred.
Ability to handle confidential materials and information.
Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in applying and interpreting departmental policies and procedures.
Ability to respond to difficult situations diplomatically.

Responsibilities

Lead the university's foundation relations program and oversee the full foundation fundraising lifecycle, from opportunity identification and relationship cultivation through proposal development, submission, stewardship, impact reporting, and renewal.
Working collaboratively with faculty, deans, staff, and university leadership, develop and execute strategies that secure significant philanthropic investments from private, family, community, and corporate foundations in support of institutional priorities and campaign objectives.
Provide strategic oversight of grant and sponsorship fulfillment activities, including stewardship, reporting, impact communication, compliance with funding requirements, and the fulfillment of grant and sponsorship commitments.
Ensure effective engagement with foundations, corporate philanthropic funders, and sponsors to support renewal and continued investment.
Develop and manage a select portfolio of corporations with a focus on philanthropic giving and sponsorship support.
Cultivate, solicit, and steward investments that advance university priorities, student success initiatives, faculty projects, scholarships, events, and campaign objectives.
Collaborate with development colleagues, academic leadership, alumni engagement staff, the office of industry engagement, and the office of community engagement to identify and engage alumni, corporations, and foundations with the capacity and interest to deepen their philanthropic investment in UMass Lowell.
Serve as a strategic resource to faculty, deans, and university colleagues on matters related to foundation relations, corporate philanthropy, sponsorships, and organizational funding opportunities.
Represent University Advancement in selected cross-functional initiatives and lead special projects that support college, departmental, and university-wide priorities.
May manage an associate director of foundation relations & institutional giving or related position.
This position must have excellent customer relations skills in order to interact with staff, alumni and leadership donors.