Assistant Director of Foundation Relations

University Industry Demonstration Partnership; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in Virginia is seeking an experienced Assistant Director of Foundation Relations to manage fundraising from private foundations. You will collaborate with faculty on proposals, oversee the grant lifecycle, and support internal partnerships. Ideal candidates should be detail-oriented, possess strong strategic and writing skills, and be able to navigate complex subjects effectively.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to grasp complex subjects.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Motivated self-starter with strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Build pipeline opportunities with private foundations.
• Collaborate with faculty and administrators for proposals.
• Manage the full grant lifecycle.
• Stay updated on foundation funding landscape.
• Support in preparing meeting briefing documents.

Skills

Strong strategic skills

Writing skills

Relationship-management skills

Organizational skills

Analytical skills

Job description

External Relations at the University of Virginia (UVA) is seeking a highly qualified candidate to fill the role of Assistant Director of Foundation Relations. The University of Virginia has a strong and reputable advancement community, boasting effective, results-oriented, and resourceful professionals. Our community comprises a robust central advancement organization, 12 University schools, and more than 25 University-related programs. We offer a wide variety of career opportunities, as well as an outstanding environment for professional growth and development.

Position Summary

The Assistant Director of Foundation Relations is responsible for building pipeline opportunities with private foundations to secure philanthropic support for university priorities. This position works closely with faculty, research administrators, and advancement colleagues to identify funding opportunities, craft compelling proposals, and steward existing foundation partners. The role will also support special collaborative projects that benefit the overall foundation relations program, which will provide valuable opportunities to build hands-on experience to further one’s career. The role requires strong strategic, writing, and relationship-management skills.

Foundation Fundraising

Serve as lead fundraiser for foundation funding opportunities of $150,000 and below.
Identify, cultivate, and solicit foundation prospects aligned with the university’s mission and funding priorities.
Collaborate with faculty and administrators to develop high-quality proposals for research, academic programs, scholarships, and institutional initiatives.
Manage the full grant lifecycle, from concept development and proposal submission to reporting and stewardship.
Ensure proposals and stewardship reports are tailored to each foundation’s interests and guidelines.
Stay abreast of the foundation funding landscape, including trends and announcements; synthesize and disseminate Requests for Proposals and key headlines to internal stakeholders.
Maintain accurate records in the university’s advancement database.

Strategic Collaboration & Internal Partnerships

Partner with faculty, development colleagues, and research offices to identify projects with strong funding potential.
Provide support, guidance, and resources to faculty and staff on foundation fundraising strategies.
Develop familiarity and working knowledge of UVA’s policies that govern foundation funding (gift vs. grant policies, etc.).

Team Collaboration on Large Proposals and Prospect Research Needs

When warranted, serve as a team contributor on proposals that are complex and in need of significant support.
Create funder prospect lists for faculty and development colleagues, in concert with the CFR Research Strategist.
Support more in-depth prospect research projects, such as preparing meeting briefing documents for leadership, co-author memos for Limited Submission Opportunities, and other projects.

CFR Stewardship

Review acknowledgement letters for private foundations and companies to ensure content is accurate and appropriate for stewardship.
Staff and support corporate and foundation visits in partnership with CFR team members.

The ideal candidate will be organized, analytical, and detail-oriented. They will have a proven ability to grasp complex subjects, meet deadlines, and be a motivated self-starter with strong communication skills.