Senior Director, Foundation Relations - University Advancement

Washington University in St Louis • Clayton, MO

8d

About The Position

The Senior Director is responsible for securing major gift level support from foundations whose charitable objectives are consistent with those of Washington University. The position raises funds for a diverse range of purposes including but not limited to research, facilities, programs, scholarship, and endowment with primary focus on the STEM departments, centers and initiatives. The successful candidate will be strategic, thoughtful and experienced in the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of gifts and grants.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Relevant Experience (6 Years)

Nice To Haves

• Experience in foundation relations or in development work that includes significant work with foundations and funding organizations.
• Direct experience and personal interaction with foundation officers in the exploratory, cultivation and solicitation stages.
• Demonstrated success in playing a lead or highly active role in securing significant grants from foundations, including at the six- and seven-figure level.
• Academic experience or degree in STEM field.
• Experience and success in foundation and/or corporate relations fundraising for higher education.
• Facility in relaying detailed instructions and providing feedback.
• Understanding of, appreciation for, and ability to successfully navigate a complex academic environment.
• Master's degree
• Analyze Information
• Collaboration
• Confidentiality
• Contract Development
• Deadline Management
• Decision Making
• Detail-Oriented
• Donor Communications
• Donor Development
• Donor Engagement
• Donor Management
• Fundraising Development
• Interpersonal Communication
• Microsoft Office
• Multitasking
• Oral Communications
• Philanthropic Fundraising
• Private Foundations
• Relationship Building
• Salesforce (Software)
• Self-Starter
• Sound Judgment
• Synthesize Information
• Workload Prioritization
• Written Communication

Responsibilities

• Fundraising: Identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of foundations and philanthropic organizations.
• Engage in qualification, strategy, relationship building, and proposal development for gifts or grants at the $250,000-level and above.
• Work with faculty and fundraising colleagues to develop effective fundraising strategies that translate into successful proposals. May include being the primary writer on a grant or gift.
• Develop and implement innovative plans for enhancing stewardship of foundation donors.
• Provide timely reports of grants from foundations that have made philanthropic gifts to the University.
• University Knowledge and Partnerships. Develop and maintain a deep understanding of the programs and research being conducted by faculty within the schools, departments, and units for which he/she is the staff liaison, including the STEM departments, centers and institutes of the Danforth Campus.
• Conduct regular meetings with faculty and academic staff to identify research and programs at the university that align with foundations’ funding interests.
• Serve as the department’s liaison to the Internal Selections Committee.
• Conduct regular meetings with UA colleagues in the philanthropic strategy vertical whose roles align with liaison responsibilities.
• Identify, secure, and attend meetings for leadership and faculty with foundation staff.
• Host campus visits by foundation representatives.
• Attend professional Corporate and Foundation Relations conferences.
• With the Assistant Director, oversee annual benchmarking of peer institutions’ funding from foundations.
• Responsibly document all work with prospects and funders into the constituent relationship management tracking system in a timely manner in accordance with the policies and procedures of University Advancement.
• Provide other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
• Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.
• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!
• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.
• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees