Senior Manager, Foundation Giving

United Way Of Metropolitan Chicago • Chicago, IL

6d

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Foundation Giving, is responsible for raising funds from foundations throughout the Chicago region through strategic prospecting, high-quality grant writing, and effective project management. This role oversees the full lifecycle of foundation grant opportunities—from identifying and researching prospects to developing compelling proposals and ensuring timely reporting while stewarding funder relationships. The Senior Manager, Foundation Giving collaborates closely with resource development, community strategy, finance, and marking and communications teams to coordinate deadlines, align messaging with organizational priorities, and deliver accurate, data-informed content. This position is ideal for a detail-oriented, deadline-driven professional who thrives at the intersection of strategy, storytelling, and execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• A minimum of 5 to 7 years of foundation fundraising experience, including experience in the successful solicitation of $100,000+ gifts.
• Exceptional written communication and storytelling skills.
• Demonstrated success in managing grant proposal and reporting workflows involving multiple stakeholders and timelines.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively across departments.
• Highly organized, meticulous attention to detail, ability to multi-task, prioritize, delegate, and execute concurrent projects and day to day tasks.
• Ability to be discreet and maintain highly confidential information required.
• Possess a collaborative and entrepreneurial spirit, self-motivated, innovative, resourceful, flexible; consistently delivers a high level of service to the team and organization.

Nice To Haves

• Accepts guidance and responds well to feedback.
• Displays maturity, good judgment, enthusiasm, and personal motivation.
• Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to anticipate workload and effectively cultivate and leverage relationships with colleagues to meet deadlines.
• Collaborative entrepreneurial spirit, ability to multi-task and prioritize concurrent projects and day-to-day tasks within a high production and fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of foundation donors and prospects, including all phases of the development process—identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Collaborate with organizational leadership to build and activate relationship strategy for current and prospective funders.
• Write, edit, and finalize high quality and compelling materials including letters of inquiry, proposals, and reports.
• Create and maintain a master calendar of submission and reporting deadlines, ensuring timely delivery. Track and share deadlines, submissions, and deliverables through the CRM of record.
• Collaborate with the community strategy, programs, finance, and marketing and communications teams on data collection, program content, and program budgets.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of prospective funders; identify alignment with organizational priorities, keeping abreast of key giving trends and opportunities.
• Oversee grant reporting process for foundation funders, ensuring compliance with deliverables and effective communication of program outcomes.
• Partner with the Corporate Grants Manager on internal grant processes and content alignment.
• Produce internal dashboards and progress reports for leadership and board reporting.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Disability Leave
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Family Leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401k Plan
• Paid Time Off including: Personal Time, Sick Time & Paid Holidays

What This Job Offers

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