Fundraising Partnerships Director

National Restaurant Association • Washington, DC

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The National Restaurant Association and National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) are proud to be part of a highly respected industry, providing hospitality, opportunity, and quality of life. Much like the industry we represent, we have a dynamic, diverse, and inclusive culture, grounded in trust, hospitality, collaboration, and innovation. These are the core values that inspire our work, and what we’re looking for in a Foundation Partnerships Director, to serve as a key liaison between the NRAEF and funders, grant makers, and social impact investors. As an integral member of our Industry Partnership Group, the Foundation Partnerships Director is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive strategy to raise funding in support of the NRAEF’s mission through private foundations and government grants. The position focuses heavily on securing funding for workforce training and development, career and technical education, and industry equity initiatives. In addition, the Foundation Partnerships Director will build and steward strong, trust‑based relationships with foundation program officers, philanthropic leaders, government grant administrators, and funding partners aligned with the restaurant and foodservice sectors. Ideal candidates bring a minimum of five to eight years of sophisticated, proven foundation fundraising experience, preferably within a nonprofit, association, or public affairs environment, including success securing competitive grants. This individual contributor position requires a highly collaborative, entrepreneurial, and creative self-starter, with the ability to shape and drive fundraising strategies that align institutional goals with long-term growth interests. You will thrive in this role if you are a charismatic and strategic leader with strong relationship-building, communication and influencing skills, and the confidence and diplomacy to engage stakeholders at all levels. Position operates out of our DC office with a required three days onsite, Monday – Wednesday, with flexibility to work remote on Thursday and Friday. T he work you will do as Foundation Partnerships Director will be pivotal to driving financial support, industry alignment, and long-term growth for the organization. We look forward to hearing from you! We are proud to offer our team members comprehensive benefits, designed to support their financial, professional, and personal well-being. In addition to outstanding healthcare coverage (medical, dental and vision), competitive salaries, generous vacation and leave time, we offer a matching 401(k) plan, a unique collection of corporate discounts and memberships, as well as programs to support career and skills development, learning and tuition assistance, and so much more.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 5-8 years of progressive experience in foundation fundraising, preferably within a nonprofit, association, or public affairs environment.
• Proven track record of securing foundation grants.
• Experience working with private foundations and government grant agencies.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient with donor management systems and grant tracking tools.
• Strategic thinker with an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Highly organized with keen attention to detail and ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Ability to translate complex programs into compelling funding proposals.
• Familiarity with issues impacting the restaurant and foodservice industry, including labor shortages, food safety, sustainability, and workforce equity.
• Available to travel up to 20% for funder meetings, conferences, and industry events.

Nice To Haves

• Fundamental restaurant and foodservice industry experience is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a multi-year strategy to grow revenue from private foundations, restaurant foundations, and public organizations.
• Identify prospective foundation funders whose priorities align with the NRA’s mission, programs, and policy initiatives.
• Lead the full grant lifecycle: research, qualification, proposal writing, submission, reporting, and stewardship.
• Collaborate with program, legal and finance staff to develop budgets, organizational alignment, logic models, and evaluation plans for proposals.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with program officers, grant managers, and foundation executives.
• Represent the NRAEF at funder meetings, conferences, and industry events.
• Maintain detailed records of all communications, deadlines, and submissions in the CRM system.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues across Workforce Development, Membership, Government Affairs, and Educational Programming to understand program goals and translate them into fundable opportunities.
• Partner with the marketing and communications teams to develop customized impact reports and donor-facing materials.
• Support the VP of Development and executive leadership in donor meetings and strategy sessions.
• Ensure compliance with foundation requirements and timely delivery of reports and updates.
• Track and report on performance metrics and revenue goals related to foundation giving.
• Stay abreast of philanthropic trends and best practices relevant to workforce, equity, job quality, government affairs, and philanthropy.

Benefits

• outstanding healthcare coverage (medical, dental and vision)
• competitive salaries
• generous vacation and leave time
• matching 401(k) plan
• a unique collection of corporate discounts and memberships
• programs to support career and skills development, learning and tuition assistance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees