Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations

Summary

Position Title

Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations

Department

University Advancement

Status

Full Time/Exempt

Position Summary

• Identify, cultivate, solicit and steward individual prospects, alumni, corporations, corporate foundations, and private foundations.
• Serve as the major gift fundraising liaison for the Davis College of Business, Aviation, Student Life and the Library.
• Actively engage in working to establish long-term partnerships and strengthen existing relationships with the corporate and foundation sector, as well as other key communities, which will result in funding for the immediate and long-term goals of the University.
• Provide expertise to advance the University’s interests by researching and identifying sources of support, proactively seeking opportunities to generate new proposals based on corporate guidelines and interests, and by maintaining strong communication ties with corporate and foundation donors and prospects.
• Manage the President’s Shareholders Circle, the corporate partnership recognition program designed to increase corporate support and build JU’s brand in the corporate community.
• Increase the visibility of the University in the Jacksonville, FL area, statewide and beyond.

Organizational Relationships

• The Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations reports to the Associate Vice President of Development, who reports to the Senior Vice President, University Advancement, who reports to the President of the University.
• University Advancement encompasses all University fundraising activity, Information/Donor Services, and stewardship events, as well as a close working relationship with Alumni Relations and the Alumni Association.
• Additionally, working closely with the Director of Research and Sponsored Programs, the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations will recommend strategies and develop grant proposals to ensure that the University’s faculty and program directors are successful in pursuing and securing corporate, foundation, and governmental grants for special projects as appropriate.

Essential Job Duties

50%: Design, implement, and manage a comprehensive proactive development plan focused on expanding and enhancing corporate and foundation relationships by directing and coordinating activities related to obtaining corporate and foundation monetary support.

• Pinpoint industry trends with a special emphasis on developing high value-exchange corporate alliances.
• Identify evaluate, cultivate and solicit individual prospects, alumni and emerging business leadership focusing on philanthropic commitments of $25,000 and more to support the mission and goals of the University.
• Work closely with gift officers, University Advancement staff, Alumni Relations colleagues and other University representatives to create opportunities to build awareness among corporate and foundation constituencies in order to build and significantly expand positive fund-raising relationships. Identify key alumni within corporations/foundation and review corporate profiles that suggest potential relationships because of common interests.

20%: Initiate opportunities, in coordination with assigned UA liaisons, faculty, administrators, and deans to interact with corporate and foundation prospects and interpret corporate and foundation interests to University constituencies.

• Work directly with the campus development directors and deans/faculty to develop new approaches to individual prospects, alumni, foundations and corporations and coordinate these contacts to initiate the cultivation/fundraising process.
• Advise faculty, administrators, and staff on individual prospects, alumni, corporate and foundation areas of interest and include them with the cultivation and development of presentations, cultivation visits and proposals.

20%: Develop highly competitive proposals for individual prospects, alumni, corporate and foundation prospects, aligning their goals/preferences with the universities goals.

• Maintain a rigorous schedule of contacts with individual prospects, alumni, corporate and foundation representatives, creating moves management plans related to them, compelling presentations and comprehensive fundraising proposals. Coordination and implementation of identified metrics for prospect visits and proposals will be expected.

10%: Maintain high quality stewardship process for active donors, alumni, corporate and foundation partners. Ensure that stewardship and reporting requirements are met to sustain successful partnerships by maintaining detailed records of solicitation activities.

Responsibilities

• Guidelines:
  • The goals and objectives of the position
  • Fundraising strategies and techniques, including proposal writing
  • Sound stewardship practices
  • The goals of the University Advancement Office
  • The mission of the University.
• Supervisory Controls:
  • Incumbent must possess a high level of independence in accomplishing the responsibilities of the position.
  • Incumbent must be self-directed and able to work with minimal supervision.
  • The variety of tasks makes it necessary for the person in this position to know how to use the appropriate guideline(s) for the circumstance(s).
• Difficulty and Complexity:
  • This position requires a high degree of professionalism and an ability to interact with a variety of entities and individuals to significantly increase the visibility of the University.
  • Incumbent must be capable of conveying appropriate messages and representing the University to the corporate and foundation community to encourage and facilitate interest in and support of the University’s mission and goals.
  • This position has a significant effect on the University’s ability to engage current and future donors in a meaningful way and is responsible for enhancing the University’s ability to identify, establish, create and maintain strong relationships with corporations and foundations.
• Environmental Demands:
  • This position requires the incumbent to travel and to entertain individual, alumni, corporate and foundation donors and prospects throughout the state and region; a healthy life style and physical mobility are necessary.
  • Work venues vary from office, to social events, to presentations, to large and small meetings and interactions with individuals, involving a variety of environments.
  • Evening/weekend work is often required.
  • While limited physical exertion is involved, considerable mental and emotional pressures exist.
  • The ability to coordinate a variety of tasks simultaneously and handle tension and stress in a positive manner is required.
  • No risks or discomforts are imposed upon this position by the physical surroundings or job situation.

Special Skills

• Knowledge of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies and techniques, particularly in the area of corporate and foundation fundraising techniques required.
• Demonstrated ability in grant and proposal writing at appropriate levels for varied proposal development.
• Demonstrated knowledge of methods, practices and procedures for obtaining information about the giving programs of corporations and foundations.
• Self-motivation and discipline to regularly set and achieve work goals.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and networking skills with large groups as well as with individuals are essential.
• Ability to maintain a high level of poise and professionalism in all circumstances.
• Ability to initiate and build relationships with prospective corporate and foundation donors, and interact via telephone and in person with institutional representatives.
• Demonstrated ability to take primary responsibility for diverse number of projects and to complete them in a timely manner with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated record of success in generating significant commitments from corporations, foundations.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills in order to develop grant proposals, professional reports, strategic plans, and correspondence.

Physical Requirements

• Manual dexterity to efficiently operate a computer keyboard and other business machines
• Near vision sufficient to read written communications and computer display screens
• Adequate hearing to communicate effectively in person and by phone

Prerequisites Required for Position

Minimum Education Requirement

• A bachelor’s degree, and a minimum 5 years demonstrated successful corporate and/or foundation fundraising experience preferably in higher education (or a comparably complex organization).

Preferred Qualifications

• Preference will be given to candidates with corporate and/or foundation experience, particularly with a private college or university.
• Knowledge of Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge, preferred.
• A master’s degree, CFRM certification, and experience in higher education fundraising are preferred

Important Note

This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required for this position. The University reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs.

All Jacksonville University employees who work on campus must be vaccinated for COVID-19. Documentation will be requested during onboarding. Our full vaccination policy is available online.

To Apply

Please send your application materials to Sharon Getz at uajobs@ju.edu.