Program Director- Foundation Relations

Essentia Health•Duluth, MN

20h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Foundation Relations will lead and grow a comprehensive foundation fundraising program to advance Essentia Health’s mission of providing high-quality, compassionate care, especially in rural communities across the upper Midwest. This position is responsible for designing and implementing a strategic grants and foundation relations plan, cultivating relationships with private and public foundations, managing a robust grants pipeline, and partnering across departments to align philanthropic opportunities with organizational priorities. This leader will collaborate closely with program staff, the Finance team, and senior Foundation leadership to ensure successful proposal development, stewardship, and impact reporting. The Director will also play a critical role in campaign readiness and sustainability, contributing to long-term revenue growth and mission-aligned institutional investment.

Requirements

Minimum 3-5 years of experience in grant writing and institutional fundraising, with a successful track record of securing six- and seven-figure gifts
Demonstrated success cultivating and stewarding relationships with foundation program officers
Proven experience developing and executing strategic fundraising plans tied to measurable outcomes
Bachelor's degree

Nice To Haves

Deep understanding of the philanthropic landscape in healthcare, rural health, or public health preferred
Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) certification
Master’s degree in public health, Public Policy, Nonprofit Management, or related field

Responsibilities

Lead the implementation of Essentia’s Grants and Foundation Relations Plan, with clear milestones and metrics for success.
Maintain an in-depth knowledge of institutional funding priorities, needs and accomplishments, collaborating with leadership to prioritize projects and build a system-wide pipeline of fundable initiatives.
Identify, qualify, and cultivate relationships with local, regional, and national foundation funders aligned with Essentia’s mission (e.g., workforce development, rural health, behavioral health, innovation).
Build and manage a diverse portfolio of 40-60 active and high-potential foundations; ensure timely submission of letters of inquiry, proposals, and reports.
Lead the development of customized, compelling proposal content in collaboration with clinical and administrative staff.
Partner with Finance to ensure grant proposals and budgets are accurate, compliant, and aligned with financial systems.
Serve as a liaison to clinical and operational leaders to surface project needs, align funding priorities, and communicate grant expectations.
Oversee centralized tracking of grant deadlines, submissions, outcomes, and funder stewardship activities using a CRM or grant management platform.
Implement quarterly reporting on performance, grant revenue, and portfolio diversification for internal stakeholders and the Essentia Health Leadership Team (EHLT).
Ensure compliance with grant terms and timely submission of required documentation and impact reports.

Benefits

At Essentia Health, we’re committed to supporting your well-being, growth, and work-life balance.
Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, along with supplemental options to fit your needs.
We offer a 401(k) plan with employer contributions to help you plan for the future, and we invest in your professional development through training, tuition reimbursement, and educational programs.
To help you thrive both at work and at home, we provide flexible scheduling, generous time off, and wellness resources focused on your physical, mental, and emotional health.
Please note that benefit eligibility may vary.
For full details, refer to your benefit summary or contact our HR Service Center at (218) 576-0000.

Stand Out From the Crowd

Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.

Upload and Match Resume