Institutional Relations Manager

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research•Boulder, CO

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

UCAR is excited to announce the job opening for the Manager of Institutional Relations. Reporting to the Executive Director of Friends of the National Center, this position will lead corporate and foundation fundraising efforts on behalf of UCAR. This role identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards foundation and corporate funding to secure significant philanthropic support advancing UCAR's mission, while managing a portfolio of institutional donors and prospects in close collaboration with leaders across UCAR and NSF NCAR. This position is open to candidates seeking in-person or hybrid (combination of 3 days in-person and 2 days of remote), opportunities. UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

Requirements

Minimum of 5 years of successful fundraising experience, with a proven track record of securing significant gifts from corporate and foundation entities.
Experience navigating complex non-profit, academic, scientific, or highly matrixed research environments.
Demonstrated ability to "open doors," navigate institutional hierarchies, and build authentic rapport with external decision-makers.
Exceptional verbal presentation skills, including the ability to translate complex Earth system science, computational modeling, and educational concepts into accessible, compelling value propositions for diverse foundation audiences.
Exceptional emotional intelligence and a proven ability to work productively with subject matter experts, administrative leads, and development staff.
Demonstrated ability to work independently, set priorities, and manage competing tasks and deadlines with strong attention to detail and flexibility in the face of change.
Skill in identifying specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals and opportunities.
Advanced skills in word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Google suite or similar software).
Ability to use discretion in handling confidential information.
Experience with non-profit CRM databases, ideally Salesforce.
Resume
Cover Letter
Track record with significant gifts
Translating technical work into funder priorities
Navigating complex/matrixed organizations

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred
5 years of relevant program experience

Responsibilities

Initiate, build, and steward highly productive, long-term relationships with foundation program officers, foundation and corporate executives, and institutional decision-makers — designing systems to ensure donors receive exceptional reporting and impact metrics that lay the groundwork for renewed support.
Actively manage a portfolio of ~75 active corporate and foundation prospects/donors, systematically moving them through the qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship pipeline.
Coordinate customized solicitation strategies to secure six- and seven-figure gifts.
Manage the growth of the corporate event sponsorship program, bringing in unrestricted gifts through event sponsorships.
Conduct prospect research to identify new or existing relationships that align with organizational funding priorities, and consistently record and track relationship development ("Moves") and institutional prospect profiles in the Salesforce database, ensuring organizational transparency and future-proofing these relationships.
Understand UCAR and NSF NCAR's organizational capabilities and emerging initiatives well enough to connect them with aligned funders — either by matching an internal project to a target foundation, or identifying a foundation's strategic goals and working internally to surface the strongest project to move forward.
Serve as the central liaison between corporations/foundations and internal technical teams, ensuring fundraising strategies align with scientific integrity and organizational capacity.
Support the strategic framing of pitches and letters of inquiry (LOIs), determining how a project should be positioned to win corporate or foundation support.