Senior Associate Director Foundation Relations

Serves as the University’s primary representative for charitable foundations, advancing institutional priorities through strategic engagement and partnership. Advises leadership on philanthropic trends and funding opportunities, and collaborates with foundation partners to align support with interdisciplinary initiatives. Works across academic and administrative units to develop and implement proposals for major and principal-level gifts.

• Leads strategic engagement with charitable foundations and advises University leadership on philanthropic trends and funding opportunities to support sustainability initiatives.
• Collaborates with faculty and staff to develop high-impact proposals aligned with institutional priorities, with a focus on securing major foundation support.
• Serves as the University’s primary liaison to charitable foundations, managing a portfolio of prospects and cultivating long-term relationships to support sustained funding partnerships and strategic initiatives.
• Partners with deans, faculty, and administrators to coordinate interdisciplinary proposals that reflect university-wide goals and strategic initiatives that align with charitable foundation's guidelines and funding priorities.
• Maintains accurate records of foundation engagement in the University’s customer relationship management system. Tracks proposal outcomes and develops performance metrics to evaluate strategy and impact.
• Oversees stewardship plans and impact reporting for foundation gifts, ensuring timely, personalized, and meaningful communication with funders.
• Supports WMed local foundation engagement by partnering with WMed leadership to manage relationships, proposal development, impact reporting, and stewardship.
• Represents the University at foundation events and sector convenings to build relationships and stay informed on philanthropic trends, best practices, and emerging opportunities.

Minimum qualifications based upon job documentation and industry best practices. Any current employees not meeting these qualifications will be grandfathered until they move to a different job.

• Bachelor's degree in related field from an accredited institution.

• Two years' relevant experience.
• Demonstrated skill in writing and editing proposals that meet requirements of foundation funders.
• Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work as a team member in a complex organization.
• Demonstrated interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to articulate the importance of higher education and the critical role and priorities of the University and Advancement office. Demonstrated experience using relational databases.
• Experience with office software, including word processing, spreadsheets and presentation software.
• Experience with grant and research tools.

• Ability to work irregular shifts and extended hours, including evenings and weekends.

Office or other indoor work with minimal physical demands such as occasionally lifting or moving materials less than 25 pounds.

Work is generally performed in a well-lit, temperature-controlled indoor environment with occasional exposure to the outdoors or any number of elements.

Revised: 2025-11-19