Assistant Director of Foundation Relations

University of Colorado System; Allenspark (CO); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

University of Colorado Boulder seeks an Assistant Director of Foundation Relations to coordinate development activities for the Industry and Foundation Relations team. The role focuses on building a portfolio of private foundation partners, securing grants starting at 25K+, and developing a robust funding pipeline aligned with institutional priorities.

Key duties include prospect qualification, coordinating proposals, and working with campus partners to advance funding decisions.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of fundraising techniques in higher education/nonprofit contexts.
• Experience building and managing donor relationships and pipelines.
• Ability to identify and qualify prospects and coordinate grant proposals.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage a portfolio of foundation prospects ($25K+).
• Lead discovery meetings and site visits with foundations and university partners.
• Coordinate annual grant applications and align with funder priorities.
• Support proposal development with faculty and grant offices.
• Steward awards and support required reporting on outcomes.
• Develop annual development goals with leadership.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor engagement

Portfolio management

Communication

Travel

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Salesforce

Zoom

Teams

LinkedIn

Foundation Directory

Job description

Job Summary

Advancement at CU Boulder encourages applications for Assistant Director of Foundation Relations! The Assistant Director uses knowledge of fundraising techniques to coordinate and implement development activities for the Industry and Foundation Relations advancement team and has a strong desire to work towards becoming an expert level fundraiser.

This position is responsible for building and managing a portfolio of private foundation partners to increase philanthropic support for the University. The Assistant Director will secure foundation grants, typically starting at $25K+, while developing and sustaining a pipeline of opportunities that evolves over time in alignment with funder priorities and portfolio composition.

Key responsibilities include identifying and qualifying prospects, aligning funding opportunities with institutional priorities, and advancing proposals from initial engagement through award and stewardship. Occasional travel is required to support relationship development, conduct discovery meetings, and move prospects toward funding decisions.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

CU Boulder Advancement is committed to a culture of joy, motivated by collaboration, passionate about excellence and driven by impact. These four values define the culture and drive engagement and fundraising success.

CU Boulder Advancement

We are committed to fostering an environment where everyone matters, and all can thrive. This dedication is rooted in our core values and our mission to drive impactful fundraising and engagement. Our team actively engages in learning, reflection, and the transformation of systems, policies, and practices that perpetuate oppressive ideologies—including racism, sexism, ableism, and heterosexism. We recognize our responsibility to lead by example in building a supportive and inclusive culture for both internal colleagues and external partners. We hold ourselves accountable through individual and divisional goals that continuously assess our progress, growth, and outcomes—ensuring alignment with our mission and values every step of the way.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Portfolio Management and Donor Engagement

• Manage a portfolio of 50-70 foundation prospects capable of making gifts of $25,000+. Build and cultivate strategic relationships with foundation staff and program officers to build institutional partnerships.
• Conduct discovery meetings and lead effective site visits with foundations, university faculty, staff, and leadership. Initiate appropriate and timely follow-up communication and activities and document contact reports.
• Manage annual/cyclical grant applications for assigned foundations. Monitor Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and identify aligned faculty and support proposal development and submission. Partner with the Research and Innovation Office, and Office of Contracts and Grants on limited proposal submission process when applicable.
• Partner with faculty and staff to research and identify funding opportunities that align with their research, projects, and institutional goals.
• Assist in preparing grant proposals, ensuring alignment with foundation funder priorities and gathering required documentation. Review and supervise the progress of submitted proposals and manage the follow-up process. Collaborate with the Office of Contracts and Grants and CU Foundation on proposal submissions and grant agreements where appropriate.
• Steward foundation awards, including supporting required reporting on foundation funding outcomes.
• In partnership with the Managing Senior Director, develop annual goals around development work (face to face meetings, proposals, and dollars raised).

Other Development Duties as Assigned

• Grow philanthropic totals by deepening collaboration with advancement and other campus colleagues for enhanced donor engagement. This involves participating in regular internal meetings and engagement opportunities (task forces, frontline fundraiser meetings, etc.).
• Embrace a self-learner/self-starter approach and continuously look for opportunities to match donor interests with leadership initiatives in pursuit of meeting established goals and objectives.
• Facilitate productive relationships daily between donors and CU administrators, faculty and staff to ensure effectiveness of programs.
• Represent the University at events to support CU and cultivate donors.
• Other duties as assigned.

What You Should Know

• This position will require local, regional, and out-of-state travel to meet with donors.
• This position has the ability to work a hybrid schedule with some days on campus and some days remote.
• This position will occasionally be required to work evenings/weekends.

What We Can Offer

The salary range for this position is $70,000 - $80,000 annually. Relocation assistance is available within Advancement guidelines.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of Forbes' America's Best Large Employers, ranking #4 among large employers in Colorado and #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be authentic. Be engaged. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, or a combination of education and experience may substitute.
• Experience: 1+ years of professional, job-related experience.
• Software Used: Microsoft Office products, donor tracking software (Salesforce), Zoom, Teams, LinkedIn, Foundation Directory.

What You Will Need

• Knowledge of fundraising techniques, especially in a higher education/nonprofit environment.
• Desire to learn about major gift solicitation techniques.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to interact with new people on a regular basis.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities; able to appropriately manage time and meet set timelines.
• Ability to take constructive feedback from leadership and campus partners.
• Ability to champion the shared values of the Office of Advancement.
• Ability to exercise a high degree of tact, discretion, and collaboration in working with a diverse range of constituents including employees, students, volunteers, alumni, donors, and campus colleagues.
• Phenomenal relationship building skills.
• Growth mindset, resilience and perseverance.
• Ability to travel regularly and practice fiscal management and responsibility.
• Active listening skills.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Experience working in a non-profit or higher education environment.
• Background in foundation relations fundraising.
• Experience with public speaking.

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources

Posting Contact Email: [e-mail]