Senior Director, Foundation Relations

Worcester Polytechnic Institute • Worcester, MA

21h

About The Position

The Senior Director, Foundation Relations leads WPI's strategic engagement with private foundations and institutional funders, expanding philanthropic support for the university's academic programs, research initiatives, capital projects, and strategic priorities. This senior fundraiser cultivates and solicits foundation prospects, manages a portfolio of established foundation relationships, and develops comprehensive strategies to diversify and grow WPI's foundation funding base. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Advancement, the Senior Director supervises foundation relations staff, partners closely with faculty and academic leadership to identify fundable projects, and ensures WPI maximizes opportunities within the foundation funding landscape. This role is critical to leveraging WPI's new R1 research designation, completing the Beyond These Towers campaign, and building sustainable institutional support from foundations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree; Master's or terminal degree in relevant field preferred
• 8-12 years of progressive foundation relations or institutional fundraising experience
• Demonstrated success cultivating and securing foundation grants of $100,000+
• Exceptional grant writing skills with portfolio of successful proposals
• Deep understanding of foundation funding landscape, trends, and decision-making processes
• Experience building relationships with foundation program officers and trustees
• Strong research and prospect identification skills
• Ability to understand and articulate complex academic programs and research in accessible language
• Experience partnering with faculty and academic leadership on proposal development
• Supervisory experience managing and developing professional staff
• Strategic thinker who identifies opportunities and develops comprehensive funding plans
• Excellent project management and organizational skills
• Proficiency with foundation research databases (Foundation Directory, Candid/GuideStar, etc.)
• Experience with CRM systems (Blackbaud/Raiser's Edge preferred)
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work independently with strong initiative and follow-through
• Willingness to travel regionally and nationally for foundation meetings (20-25%)

Nice To Haves

• Experience in higher education advancement, preferably at research universities
• Knowledge of STEM research funding landscape and federal/foundation research ecosystems
• Familiarity with R1 research universities and academic funding structures
• Experience securing foundation support for capital projects, endowments, and institutional priorities beyond research grants
• Understanding of private vs. family vs. community vs. corporate foundations and their distinct approaches
• Track record building foundation programs from modest baseline to significant revenue stream

Responsibilities

• Foundation Fundraising & Portfolio Management Manage a personal portfolio of 40-60 foundation prospects and donors with giving capacity of $50,000 to $2 million+
• Conduct 60-80 meaningful interactions annually including foundation visits, proposal presentations, site visits, and relationship cultivation
• Research, identify, and qualify new foundation prospects aligned with WPI's priorities in STEM education, research, student access, and institutional advancement
• Develop comprehensive cultivation strategies for priority foundation relationships requiring multi-year engagement
• Write compelling letters of inquiry, concept papers, and grant proposals that articulate WPI's distinctive mission and demonstrate project viability
• Make solicitations for major foundation grants independently and in partnership with President, Provost, Deans, and faculty
• Close at least $2-4 million annually in new foundation commitments across portfolio
• Steward foundation donors through progress reports, impact communications, site visits, and relationship-building touchpoints
• Manage grant deliverables and reporting requirements in partnership with faculty and Advancement Operations
• Build relationships with foundation program officers, trustees, and staff to position WPI favorably
• Strategic Foundation Program Development Develop and implement comprehensive foundation relations strategy aligned with institutional priorities, campaign goals, and WPI's R1 research status
• Identify emerging funding opportunities in WPI's areas of strength including robotics, data science, cybersecurity, materials science, biomedical engineering, project-based learning, and student access
• Create strategic funding plans for major initiatives requiring foundation support (research centers, student programs, capital projects, endowed professorships)
• Build foundation funding pipelines across academic departments and research centers
• Conduct market analysis of foundation funding trends, emerging priorities, and competitive landscape
• Position WPI strategically within foundation funding ecosystem, particularly leveraging R1 designation and distinctive project-based curriculum
• Develop relationships with foundation affinity groups, regional associations, and funding collaboratives
• Represent WPI at foundation conferences and networking events
• Advise senior leadership on foundation funding opportunities and strategies
• Faculty & Campus Partnership Partner with faculty, researchers, Deans, and academic leadership to identify fundable projects and develop competitive proposals
• Translate complex research and academic programs into compelling narratives that resonate with foundation priorities
• Educate faculty on foundation funding processes, timelines, and relationship cultivation
• Coordinate proposal development across multiple campus stakeholders ensuring alignment and excellence
• Connect faculty with foundation program officers for relationship-building and project refinement
• Support faculty in understanding foundation funding landscape and identifying appropriate prospects
• Facilitate foundation site visits, connecting foundation representatives with students, faculty, and programs
• Build trust with academic leaders as strategic fundraising partner who understands research and education funding
• Team Leadership & Supervision Directly supervise Foundation Relations Coordinator, providing strategic direction, coaching, and professional development
• Delegate portfolio assignments and project responsibilities effectively
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability measures
• Conduct regular one-on-ones and provide ongoing feedback
• Build coordinator's skills in foundation research, proposal writing, and relationship management
• Create systems and processes that enable efficient foundation relations operations
• Model excellence in foundation fundraising and relationship stewardship
• Operations & Collaboration Maintain accurate records of all foundation interactions, proposals, and gifts in advancement database (Salesforce)
• Track foundation pipeline, proposal submissions, pending requests, and outcomes
• Generate reports on foundation fundraising performance and metrics
• Partner with Advancement Operations on gift processing, grant administration, and compliance
• Collaborate with Corporate Relations on foundations with corporate connections
• Work with Communications on foundation-focused content and impact stories
• Coordinate with Research Development Office (if separate) on research grant strategy
• Participate in divisional planning and cross-functional initiatives
• Performs all other duties and responsibilities as assigned or directed by the supervisor.

Benefits

• WPI offers competitive and comprehensive employee benefit programs, including paid time off, health insurance, life and long-term disability insurance, retirement savings plans, tuition assistance, flexible spending accounts, and a working environment that prioritizes mental health and well-being.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director