Sr. Director of Foundation Partnerships

Alliance Defending Freedom • Dallas, AZ

4d

About The Position

The Senior Director of Foundation Partnerships leads the Foundation Partnerships team within Alliance Defending Freedom’s Development team. Reporting to the VP of Development, this role sets portfolio strategy, manages top-tier foundation relationships, creates access to funders across the organization, and coaches and leads the team while holding its pipeline accountable to the SVP of Development. The position supports ADF’s organizational growth and mission.

The role develops and executes a multi-year growth strategy, oversees foundation prospecting and qualification, maintains the team’s forecast and pipeline reporting, and works toward annual foundation revenue goals, including a team goal of more than $10 million in lead and principal gifts. The Senior Director personally stewards approximately 10–20 top-tier foundation relationships and leads six- and seven-figure fundraising conversations and closings. The position also builds internal and external partnerships, develops fundraising talent, provides spiritual encouragement and mentoring, and handles team management responsibilities.

Requirements

• At least 7 years of fundraising experience with proven success closing six- and seven-figure gifts.
• At least 5 years of management experience.
• Understanding of budgets as they relate to proposals and grants.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Salesforce.
• Strong self-motivation and initiative.
• Ability to travel up to 40 nights per year.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree.

Responsibilities

• Create and execute a multi-year growth strategy for the Foundation Partnerships team aligned with organizational revenue growth.
• Systematize the mining, screening, rating, and qualification of prospective foundations, and keep foundation tiers current as relationships develop.
• Own the foundation forecast reported to the SVP of Development, including activity and pipeline reporting and revenue forecasts.
• Meet or exceed annual foundation revenue goals, including the team’s $10M+ goal for lead and principal gifts from foundation relationships.
• Determine team KPIs and ensure accountability to those metrics.
• Personally steward a portfolio of approximately 10–20 top-tier foundation relationships.
• Lead six- and seven-figure conversations and closings within the portfolio, aligning funders’ philanthropic goals with ADF’s mission.
• Convert ADF’s institutional relationships—including principals, board members, allies, program leaders, and senior staff—into access for the Foundation Partnerships team.
• Engage organization executives and current ministry friends in peer-prospect identification, visits, and six- and seven-figure closings.
• Establish mutually beneficial relationships with alliance partners and organizations.
• Develop the team’s ability to build relationships, navigate alignment vetting, and advance foundations through the pipeline.
• Coach and develop emerging fundraising talent among ADF staff and the team, and provide spiritual encouragement and mentoring.
• Meet regularly with team members to discuss progress and complete performance reviews.
• Approve PTO requests, timecards, and expense reports.

Benefits

• 100% covered medical and dental insurance.
• Medical and dependent care reimbursement.
• Paid disability insurance.
• Long-term care insurance.
• Life insurance.
• 401(k) plan with a 4% company match.
• Paid time off.
• 12 paid holidays each year.

What This Job Offers

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