Senior Director of Development, Foundation Relations

Job Description Summary

The Senior Director of Development, Foundation Relations will work closely with the Senior Associate Vice President of Development in organizing and implementing strategies to increase the level of engagement and maximize the philanthropic support of Miami’s top foundation prospects and donors. In addition, this position will have its own set of metrics corresponding to strategies seeking philanthropic and partnership support from foundations.

Miami University is a public university founded in 1809 with over 200,000 alumni and 20,000 enrolled students. These students major in over 120 different fields of study.

With its close proximity to the city of Cincinnati coupled with a nationally recognized excellence in undergraduate education there is a significant opportunity to increase all measures of support from alumni, friends, corporations and foundations. Miami University is in the midst of a $1 Billion comprehensive campaign, For love. For honor. For those who will, a robust and high functioning Corporate and Foundation Relations team will play a critical role in the success of that effort.

Job Description

Essential Duties:

• Assist the Senior Associate Vice President of Development in the development of fundraising strategies for foundation partners.
• Manage foundation relations and proposal development team responsible for an extensive deadline-driven list of partner and funder relationships, grant proposals and administrative tasks, and written major gift solicitations.
• Identify, cultivate, and personally solicit foundations. Manage a portfolio of foundation prospects.
• Collaborate with campus partners to identify, cultivate, and solicit regional and national foundations to support the mission and priorities of Miami University.
• Lead and provide editorial oversight over proposal development team that works alongside campus partners and major gift officers to craft written prospect and grant proposals.
• Collaborate with campus partners, Office of Research and Innovation and development team to ensure timely completion and submission of grant applications to private and corporate foundations.
• Facilitate on campus visits with key faculty members and administrators

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of eight years of experience in fundraising in higher education advancement, business development and/or relationship management roles; demonstrated level of leadership.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree
• Project management software experience
• Experience with editorial oversight over a writing team
• Experience in researching foundations and utilizing foundation search platforms.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Outstanding oral and written communications
• Excellent organization skills and attention to detail
• Willingness to travel both regionally and nationally if needed.

Required Application Documents

To be considered for this position please upload a resume and cover letter.