Senior Director, Foundation and Institutional Relations

United Way of New York City • New York, NY

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Vice President, Resource Development, we are seeking a strategic, relationship-driven Senior Director of Foundation and Institutional Relations to lead our foundation and institutional fundraising efforts. This senior leader manages a high-value portfolio of foundations and institutional partners, deepens long-term relationships, and secures multi-year, six- and seven-figure gifts that power our impact across New York City.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred.
• A senior fundraising professional with seven (7) or more years of experience in institutional giving, foundation relations, philanthropy, or a related field.
• Demonstrated skills at securing major gifts and managing a sophisticated portfolio of institutional partners.
• A strong communicator who can build trust with funders, team members, and senior leaders.
• Strategic, collaborative, and able to turn complex program information into compelling funding opportunities.
• Experienced working cross-functionally to produce high-quality proposals and grant materials.
• Familiar with fundraising databases and research tools (e.g., Raiser’s edge, Salesforce, Instrumentl, Foundation Directory, iWave, Monday.com).
• Motivated by equity, community impact, and UWNYC’s mission to improve outcomes for New Yorkers.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead UWNYC’s institutional giving strategy and manage a portfolio of key foundation and institutional funders.
• Cultivate, steward, and expand long-term partnerships with private, family, and corporate foundations.
• Secure significant multi‑year funding by aligning donor interests with UWNYC’s programmatic priorities.
• Oversee the development of high‑quality proposals, concept notes, budgets, and grant reports (with writing support from other fundraising staff).
• Collaborate closely with program, finance, and communications teams to translate impact into compelling cases for support.
• Direct prospect research and identify new institutional funding opportunities.
• Prepare materials for donor meetings, including presentations, briefings, and follow‑up communication.
• Maintain oversight of the institutional grants pipeline, deadlines, and compliance requirements.
• Provide supervision, guidance, and support to staff responsible for institutional giving and grant development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees