VP, Foundation Relations

Covenant House International•New York, NY

14h•$160,000 - $175,000

About The Position

The Vice President, Foundation Relations is a strategic frontline fundraising professional responsible for securing transformational philanthropic investments from international, national, regional, family, and private foundations. Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Foundation Relations, the Vice President will play a critical role in expanding Covenant House International's institutional funding portfolio by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding foundation partners capable of making seven- and eight-figure commitments. The Vice President will manage a portfolio consisting of both high-potential new foundation prospects and current foundation funders with significant capacity for growth. The successful candidate will develop and execute strategies that lead to substantial new revenue while deepening existing foundation partnerships through upgraded annual, multi-year, and strategic investments. This position requires a highly entrepreneurial fundraiser with a demonstrated record of securing multiple multi-million-dollar grants and commitments from foundations. The Vice President must be a self-starter who is comfortable operating independently, managing complex donor strategies, and consistently achieving ambitious fundraising goals with minimal supervision. As a key member of the broader revenue organization, the Vice President will help advance Covenant House's mission by building meaningful partnerships that generate transformative support for youth experiencing homelessness and human trafficking throughout the Americas.

Requirements

Demonstrated expertise in foundation relations and institutional fundraising
Proven ability to secure multi-million-dollar grants and commitments from private foundations
Strong understanding of international, national, regional, family, and independent foundation landscapes
Exceptional relationship-building skills with foundation executives, trustees, family office representatives, and program officers
Strong understanding of proposal development, grant budgeting, stewardship, and reporting requirements
Ability to navigate complex foundation decision-making processes and multi-stakeholder funding opportunities
Excellent strategic thinking and donor management skills
Strong proposal development, writing, editing, and presentation abilities
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
Ability to manage multiple complex fundraising strategies simultaneously
Strong project management, organizational, and analytical capabilities
High degree of initiative, self-motivation, and personal accountability
Ability to work independently and drive results with minimal oversight
Strong collaboration and relationship management skills across organizational functions
Sound judgment, professionalism, discretion, and attention to detail
Passion for Covenant House's mission and a commitment to serving vulnerable youth
Minimum of 7-10 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including significant experience in foundation relations and institutional giving
Demonstrated track record of securing multiple grants and commitments of $1 million or more from private foundations
Proven success managing and growing portfolios of foundation prospects and funders
Experience securing both new foundation funding and expanded investments from existing partners
Experience developing and executing complex cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies
Experience identifying and developing new foundation funding opportunities
Demonstrated success generating substantial new revenue from foundations
Experience collaborating effectively with executive leaders, board members, program staff, and cross-functional fundraising teams
Demonstrated ability to work independently, proactively identify opportunities, and consistently achieve ambitious fundraising goals with minimal management
Willingness and ability to travel as needed

Nice To Haves

Foundation Relations Expertise
New Business Development
Executive Presence
Revenue Growth Mindset
Talent Development and Coaching
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Innovation and Opportunity Creation
Influence and Relationship Building
Results Orientation
Accountability and Ownership
Financial Stewardship
Sound Judgment and Decision-Making

Responsibilities

Develop and implement individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for a portfolio of foundations capable of making seven- and eight-figure commitments
Identify and secure significant new foundation partnerships that align with Covenant House's mission, strategic priorities, and programmatic objectives
Grow and upgrade an existing portfolio of foundation funders through expanded grants, multi-year commitments, and increased institutional investment
Personally manage complex foundation relationships from qualification through solicitation and stewardship
Develop and maintain a robust pipeline of high-capacity institutional prospects
Lead foundation solicitations and funding discussions for major initiatives, strategic priorities, capital needs, research efforts, advocacy initiatives, and international programs
Consistently meet or exceed annual fundraising goals for revenue, proposals submitted, proposals funded, and foundation engagement activities
Monitor foundation funding trends and proactively identify opportunities to secure new support
Build strong relationships with foundation presidents, executive directors, trustees, family office representatives, program officers, and philanthropic advisors
Develop customized engagement plans designed to deepen foundation investment and long-term commitment
Coordinate site visits, funder briefings, impact discussions, and executive engagement opportunities
Deliver exceptional stewardship that demonstrates impact, accountability, and alignment with funder priorities
Position Covenant House as a trusted and high-impact philanthropic partner
Partner with grant writing colleagues to develop compelling proposals, letters of inquiry, reports, and other institutional fundraising materials
Collaborate with program, finance, research, and affiliate leaders to gather information needed for competitive proposals and thoughtful stewardship reporting
Translate complex organizational priorities into persuasive funding opportunities that resonate with foundation audiences
Ensure proposals and reports are submitted accurately and on schedule
Help develop funding frameworks, cases for support, and strategic investment opportunities tailored to foundation interests
Work closely with colleagues across Donor Relations, Corporate Partnerships, Marketing and Communications, Strategy, Programs, and Finance to maximize funding opportunities
Partner with corporate fundraising colleagues when opportunities involve corporate foundations or family foundations connected to corporate leaders
Collaborate with senior leaders and subject matter experts to strengthen cultivation and solicitation efforts
Coordinate involvement of executive leadership and board members when appropriate to advance foundation relationships
Serve as a key contributor to Covenant House's institutional fundraising strategy
Share knowledge of philanthropy trends, foundation interests, and emerging funding opportunities
Support efforts to strengthen systems, processes, and best practices within the Foundation Relations function
Represent Covenant House professionally and effectively in external settings
Demonstrate accountability, initiative, and ownership for fundraising outcomes