Senior Associate Director of Foundation Relations

University Development

The University of Missouri-St. Louis is seeking candidates for the Senior Associate Director of Foundation Relations position within the Division of University Advancement. This person will report to and work in close collaboration with the Director of Corporate Engagement, creating a Corporate & Foundation Relations team, in the Office of Development.

The Senior Associate Director will lead cultivation of assigned private foundations, developing and stewarding relationships with community leaders, content experts, and decision makers. They will serve as the primary liaison between foundations and campus representatives to identify mutually beneficial partnerships that will lead to significant investment in campus priorities such as education, capital projects, community building, social mobility, and other philanthropic opportunities to advance UMSL's mission, vision, and operational plan.

The Senior Associate Director of Foundation Relations will manage a portfolio of approximately 40-50 foundation donors and prospects and be responsible for achieving established annual performance goals for donor meetings, solicitations, and dollars raised.

Responsibilities

• Proactively research local, regional, and national private foundations, identifying funding opportunities relevant to University priorities.
• Work with College/Unit-based Advancement staff and University leadership to gain understanding of specific campus and unit priorities in order to proactively research, identify, solicit, and secure private funding. Interview faculty and staff as necessary to prepare expertly written and compelling proposals.
• Prepare briefing materials for donor meetings for self, Director of Corporate Engagement, and campus leadership, including but not limited to the Chancellor, Vice Chancellors, AVC of Development, and Deans.
• Write and submit proposals seeking external funding, specifically targeting solicitation opportunities of $30,000 or more.
• Create and maintain an accurate calendar of dates important to Corporate & Foundation Relations including proposal submission and reporting deadlines, opportunities for thoughtful stewardship, campus events, etc.
• Manage electronic proposal submissions and other application/reporting processes for the Office of Development via various foundation grant portals. Maintain updated and accurate common proposal submission attachments such as 501c3 letter, audited financial statements, board membership, etc.
• Maintain relationships with foundations and organizations throughout the year or grant cycle, constantly sharing impact and potential. Keep abreast of organizational changes related to mission and priorities, staffing, and University connections.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Director of Corporate Engagement in strategizing and implementing a holistic model for corporate and foundation engagement. Serve as a representative of the Corporate & Foundation Relations team as necessary.
• Periodically assist Development colleagues with proofreading proposals.
• Develop personal business plan and meet annual performance goals established with supervisor on an annual basis including but not limited to number of prospect meetings, major gift or grant solicitations, dollars raised, and contribution to Advancement's annual fundraising goal.
• Develop stewardship/engagement plan to progress donors through giving pipeline.
• Provide effective coordination of activities such as campus visits, site visits, and professional presentations and proposals, guiding University partners' participation in these strategies.
• Report and track fundraising progress through the use contact reports, prospect and moves management plans, and other communication and planning tools in the CRM.
• Analyze data and pull reports to utilize for decision making.
• Maintain expert knowledge on gift documentation practices. Submit gift forms and agreements within established timeframes and ensure consistent accuracy.
• Other duties as assigned.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The University will not sponsor applicants for this position for employment visas.

Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm. Periodically evenings or weekends as needed. Minimal local and regional travel (10%).

A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 5 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

Candidates being considered for this position will be asked to share 2-3 writing samples to illustrate proficiency in grant or proposal writing.

• 5+ years of experience in corporate and/or foundation relations, grant writing, higher education fundraising, or related field.
• Candidate must display a proven track record of soliciting and closing major gifts in the five- and six-figure range, particularly with private foundations.
• Experience building moves management plans for donors, utilizing the standard donor lifecycle: identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Experience with common higher education gifts: scholarships, cash, charitable vs. research grants, endowments, multi-year pledges, etc.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, crafting persuasive and motivational proposals, letters of inquiry, grant applications, interim & annual reports, and stewardship materials.
• Develop and maintain a natural rapport with donors.
• Proven ability to grasp complex subjects and demonstrate attention to detail.
• Meet deadlines, solve difficult problems both collaboratively and independently, and be creative, analytical, and adaptable.
• Strong relationship management skills with both internal and external constituencies.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, good judgment, and the ability to take initiative and work in a team environment.
• Experience maintaining data management standards, including data confidentiality, activity entry requirements, and reporting tools.
• Navigate CRM tools and grant search engines such as Foundation Directory Online, Grant Station, etc.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrate and present a professional appearance and demeanor, with a commitment to customer service.
• A passion for UMSL's vision and mission.
  

Pay commensurate with education and experience.
Hiring Range: $67,746 - $77,744 annual
Grade: GGS-12
University Title: Advancement Associate Director

Application materials include a cover letter and resume. Finalists will be asked to provide references at a later date.

Applicants must combine all application materials into one PDF or Microsoft Word document and upload as a resume attachment to the UMSL Job site: http://umsl.jobs.

Limit document name to 50 characters. Maximum size limit is 11MB. Do not include special characters (e.g., /, &, %, etc.). For questions about the application process, please email employment@umsl.edu. If you are experiencing technical problems, please email umpshrsupport@umsystem.edu.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Values Commitment

We value the uniqueness of every individual and strive to ensure each person's success. Contributions from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives promote intellectual pluralism and enable us to achieve the excellence that we seek in learning, research and engagement. This commitment makes our university a better place to work, learn and innovate.

In your application materials, please discuss your experiences and expertise that support these values and enrich our missions of teaching, research, and engagement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy applies to all employment decisions including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotions, pay practices, benefits, disciplinary actions and terminations. For more information, visit https://www.umsystem.edu/ums/hr/eeo or call the Director of Employee and Labor Relations at 573-882-2146.

To request ADA accommodations, please email the Office of Human Resources at umslhr@umsl.edu.