Senior Director of Foundation Giving

Santa Clara University•Santa Clara, CA

1d•$129,000 - $161,265•Remote

About The Position

The Senior Director of Foundation Giving will be a senior contributing member of the Institutional Giving team, supporting the faculty, staff, and leadership of Santa Clara University to create lasting and mutually beneficial relationships and funded partnerships with private, community, and corporate foundations. Institutional Giving works closely with academic schools and colleges, interdisciplinary centers, academic leadership, and select non-academic divisions to secure philanthropic gifts, grants, and sponsorships for projects and programs identified as University priorities. This role emphasizes the development of complex proposals supporting research, academic programming, and community partnerships for submission to major private and corporate foundations, often with multiple internal stakeholders and external partners. The successful candidate will be a professional with excellent verbal and written communication, a strategic thinker, and a problem solver capable of helping teams hone and communicate structured project plans, compelling impact propositions, and competitive measurement and evaluation strategies. A successful candidate must possess strong relationship management skills and consistently support high-level proposal submissions on behalf of the Institutional Giving team. Familiarity working with faculty, top corporate and foundation executives, and community leaders is desired. Applicants should be accustomed to and comfortable with receiving and applying feedback and advice to improve performance. Additionally, applicants should demonstrate a history of success in their prior field/position and an ability to lead and manage interdisciplinary project teams and workflows to successfully achieve goals. The primary focus is on funding proposals above $100,000. This position is eligible for a remote work schedule in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois

Requirements

Possesses knowledge of the leading institutional philanthropy trends in the Institutional Giving industry and experience utilizing these approaches effectively to secure funding.
Understands how to develop and communicate institutional value and impact propositions, including formal logic models with compelling measurement and evaluation plans.
Proficient fundraising database management experience (with Blackbaud CRM is ideal)
Demonstrated knowledge of communication media: virtual and print.
Knowledge and experience using technology to enhance communications and operational efficiencies in the office.
Working knowledge of developing programmatic budgets.
Understanding and appreciation of the mission of Santa Clara University and the vision and values of a Jesuit Catholic educational institution.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, written and oral.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong research and analytical skills.
Proficiency in database administration and reporting.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow-through.
Excellent computer skills; proficiency in using advanced functions of word processing, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint, database, and web resources.
Practices a high level of integrity and honesty in maintaining confidentiality.
Self-starter, capable of working independently and/or collaboratively, as appropriate.
Able to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritizing and completing according to importance and impact.
Ability to work effectively with various audiences, including senior internal and external program and grantmaking leaders.
Demonstrated sound judgment in situations requiring independent decision-making and in handling highly confidential and sensitive material.
Bachelor's degree, Master's degree preferred.
8+ years of related professional experience required.
Minimum Field of Expertise: 3-5 years of progressive and measured fundraising experience in higher education, with preference given to candidates with foundation development experience with nationally recognized institutional donors.
Valid driver's license required.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience working as part of a collaborative team in Institutional Giving or Corporate and Foundation Relations at other higher-education institutions.
Experience leading multi-year institutional funding proposals across disciplinary topics and themes, including arts, humanities, social sciences, and technical areas, is preferred.

Responsibilities

Consistently achieve fundraising performance metrics in support of priority initiatives set forth by university leadership.
Develop, implement, and manage a comprehensive portfolio of fundraising prospects, including regularly reviewing, evaluating, and responding to requests for proposals (RFPs), funding announcements, and information on limited submission opportunities
Manage the proposal generation process for all prospects under management. This includes advising on alignment and strategic positioning with funder priorities, reviewing and revising proposals to maximize appeal, and providing documentation for applications and agreements
Coordinate stewardship and reporting requirements for all managed prospects, collaborating with the Assistant Director of Institutional Gifts and Stewardship.
Work closely with university administrators, faculty, and other development personnel to build awareness and expand positive fund-raising relationships with foundations.
Partner with Sponsored Projects Office to support effective collaboration and provide resources to faculty on common work, promoting a culture of grant seeking at SCU and strengthening the capacity of the faculty to compete favorably for regional, national, and international research grants.
Develop relationships with foundation directors, program officers, and executives on behalf of the University, arranging opportunities for foundation and corporate administrators to visit the campus.
Personally manage a portfolio of top foundation prospects and maintain a personal fundraising performance goal of $2-$3M annually.
Represent Institutional Giving at various cultivation and fundraising events, working with University Advancement.
Ensure Santa Clara University Advancement protocols are followed in all aspects of the donor process, including gift processing and acknowledgment, prospecting, soliciting, and stewarding.
Track progress and results, following SCU’s prospect management guidelines.
Other duties as assigned.