Foundation Relations Director

Meals on Wheels America • Arlington, VA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Meals on Wheels America is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Foundation Relations Director to lead the organization’s foundation and grant fundraising efforts. This role will focus on securing financial support from foundations and institutional donors to advance Meals on Wheels America’s mission of ensuring no senior is left hungry or isolated. The Director will manage a portfolio of institutional donors, develop and execute strategic funding initiatives, and work closely with senior leadership to meet and exceed fundraising goals. This position will also play a key role in building and maintaining relationships with funders, writing compelling proposals, and stewarding ongoing engagement with foundations to drive sustainable, long-term support for the organization’s programs and initiatives. The Foundation Relations Director will report to the Vice President, Philanthropy and is an Arlington, VA-based hybrid role.

Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years in nonprofit development, with a focus on foundation relations, grant writing, and institutional fundraising.
• Proven ability to secure significant foundation grants and manage relationships with institutional donors.
• Experience in developing and executing strategic fundraising plans, identifying new funding sources, and thinking creatively to meet revenue goals.
• Exceptional ability to write persuasive and compelling proposals, reports, and donor communications.
• Strong track record of building and maintaining relationships with foundation program officers, corporate partners, and key stakeholders.
• Experience working closely with senior leadership, program staff, and key volunteers to align donor interests with organizational needs.
• Proficiency in donor management systems, particularly EveryAction, or similar platforms.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on achieving measurable outcomes.
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Willingness to travel as needed for donor events, meetings, and site visits as needed.
• Excels in a team-based, collaborative, virtual environment working across the enterprise to advance the Association’s mission, values, and goals.
• Models the Association’s cultural attributes of Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, Empowerment and Service (C.A.R.E.S.)

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with a national nonprofit with a federated or decentralized model a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of 20 - 30 foundation and institutional donors, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding grants and multi-year funding agreements to support organizational priorities.
• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive foundation relations strategy, identifying and securing funding from public and private foundations as well as other institutional sources.
• Write compelling proposals, grant applications and reports that clearly communicate the impact of Meals on Wheels America’s work. Ensure timely and accurate submission of proposals and reports to funders.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with foundation representatives and key stakeholders. Ensure donors are regularly updated on the impact of their contributions, demonstrating clear outcomes and alignment with their funding priorities.
• Work closely with senior leadership to align funding opportunities with the organization’s strategic priorities while working closely with the corporate partnerships team to align messaging and strategy where appropriate
• Use Meals on Wheels America’s donor management software, EveryAction, to track progress toward funding goals, manage relationships, and report on key performance indicators. Identify and implement tools and information sources specific to grant seeking. Maintain an ongoing schedule of application and reporting deadlines.
• Identify and cultivate new funding opportunities with foundations, agencies, and institutional partners to sustain and grow Meals on Wheels America’s impact.
• Ensure that all foundation grants are compliant with donor privacy guidelines and that records are accurately maintained.
• Stay up-to-date on trends and practices in foundation relations and nonprofit fundraising, incorporating innovative strategies to maximize revenue generation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed