Assistant Director of Foundation Relations

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, retirement plans

Tuition assistance for you and depend.

Relocation assistance

Job summary

University of Colorado Boulder is seeking an Assistant Director of Foundation Relations to coordinate and implement development activities for industry and foundation relations. The role builds a portfolio of foundation partners, secures grants typically starting at $25K+, and grows a robust funding pipeline aligned with institutional priorities.

Key duties include identifying prospects, managing proposals from engagement to award, and occasional travel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 1+ years of professional fundraising experience.
• Knowledge of fundraising techniques, especially in higher education/nonprofit.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of 50–70 foundation prospects with gifts of $25K+.
• Conduct discovery meetings and site visits; document contact reports.
• Lead annual/cyclical grant applications; monitor RFPs and coordinate proposals.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to align funding with goals.
• Steward foundation awards and report on funding outcomes.
• Develop annual development goals with leadership.

Skills

Fundraising techniques

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Salesforce

Zoom

Teams

LinkedIn

FoundationDirectory

Job description

Job Summary

Advancement at CU Boulder encourages applications for AssistantDirector of Foundation Relations! The Assistant Director usesknowledge of fundraising techniques to coordinate and implementdevelopment activities for the Industry and Foundation Relationsadvancement team and has a strong desire to work towards becomingan expert level fundraiser.

This position is responsible for building and managing a portfolioof private foundation partners to increase philanthropic supportfor the University. The Assistant Director will secure foundationgrants, typically starting at $25K+, while developing andsustaining a pipeline of opportunities that evolves overtime inalignment with funder priorities and portfolio composition.

Key responsibilities include identifying and qualifying prospects,aligning funding opportunities with institutional priorities, andadvancing proposals from initial engagement through award andstewardship. Occasional travel is required to support relationshipdevelopment, conduct discovery meetings, and move prospects towardfunding decisions.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with allapplicable federal, state, and local laws governingnondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating aworkplace where all individuals are treated with respect anddignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds toapply, including protected veterans and individuals withdisabilities.

Who We Are

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

We are committed to fostering an environment where everyonematters, and all can thrive. This dedication is rooted in our corevalues and our mission to drive impactful fundraising andengagement. Our team actively engages in learning, reflection, andthe transformation of systems, policies, and practices thatperpetuate oppressive ideologies—including racism, sexism, ableism,and heterosexism. We recognize our responsibility to lead byexample in building a supportive and inclusive culture for bothinternal colleagues and external partners. We hold ourselvesaccountable through individual and divisional goals thatcontinuously assess our progress, growth, and outcomes—ensuringalignment 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 capableofmaking gifts of $25,000+. Build and cultivate strategicrelationships with foundation staff and program officers to buildinstitutional partnerships.
• Conduct discovery meetings and lead effective site visits withfoundations, university faculty, staff, and leadership. Initiateappropriate and timely follow-up communication and activities anddocument contact reports.
• Manage annual/cyclical grant applications for assignedfoundations. Monitor Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and identifyaligned faculty and support proposal development and submission.Partner with the Research and Innovation Office, and Office ofContracts and Grants on limited proposal submission process whenapplicable.
• Partner with faculty and staff to research and identify fundingopportunities that align with their research, projects, andinstitutional 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 managethe follow-up process. Collaborate with the Office of Contracts andGrants and CU Foundation on proposal submissions and grantagreements where appropriate.
• Steward foundation awards, including supporting requiredreporting on foundation funding outcomes.
• In partnership with the Managing Senior Director, developannual goals around development work (face to face meetings,proposals, and dollars raised).

Other Development Duties as Assigned

• Grow philanthropic totals by deepening collaboration withadvancement and other campus colleagues for enhanced donorengagement. This involves participating in regular internalmeetings and engagement opportunities (task forces, frontlinefundraiser meetings, etc.).
• Embrace a self-learner/self-starter approach and continuouslylook for opportunities to match donor interests with leadershipinitiatives in pursuit of meeting established goals andobjectives.
• Facilitate productive relationships daily between donors and CUadministrators, faculty and staff to ensure effectiveness ofprograms.
• Represent the University at events to support CU and cultivatedonors.
• Other duties as assigned.

What You Should Know

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

What We Can Offer

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

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder , we arecommitted to supporting the holistic health and well-being of ouremployees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical,dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuitionassistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for localtransit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulderoffers an inspiring academic community and access to world-classoutdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of Forbes' America's BestLarge Employers , ranking #4 among large employers in Coloradoand #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks andprograms through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be authentic. Be engaged. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, or acombination of education and experience may substitute.
• Experience: 1+ years of professional, job-relatedexperience.
• Software Used: Microsoft Office products, donor trackingsoftware (Salesforce), Zoom, Teams, LinkedIn, FoundationDirectory.

What You Will Need

• Knowledge of fundraising techniques, especially in a highereducation/nonprofit environment.
• Desire to learn about major gift solicitation techniques.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to interact withnew people on a regular basis.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and adapt tochanging priorities; able to appropriately manage time and meet settimelines.
• Ability to take constructive feedback from leadership andcampus partners.
• Ability to champion the shared values of the Office ofAdvancement.
• Ability to exercise a high degree of tact, discretion, andcollaboration in working with a diverse range of constituentsincluding employees, students, volunteers, alumni, donors, andcampus colleagues.
• Phenomenal relationship building skills.
• Growth mindset, resilience and perseverance.
• Ability to travel regularly and practice fiscal management andresponsibility.
• Active listening skills.

What We Would Like You to Have

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