Associate Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations

The William Paterson University of New Jersey; Wayne (NJ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition support

Four-day summer workweek

Competitive benefits

Job summary

The William Paterson University of New Jersey seeks an Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations to advance the university's foundation funding efforts. You will manage a portfolio of grant prospects, coordinate proposals, and support strategic partnerships with institutional funders.

You will work with the Office of Sponsored Programs, faculty, and leadership to identify opportunities, develop proposals, and ensure timely reporting and stewardship for foundation grants and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is required.
• 2-4 years of experience in foundation relations, grant writing, or related fundraising work.
• Strong writing, editing, organizational, and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a collaborative environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience researching and preparing funding proposals or reports.

Responsibilities

• Support foundation relations strategy and manage a portfolio of prospects and donors.
• Collaborate with the Office of Sponsored Programs and faculty to identify funding opportunities.
• Coordinate letters of inquiry, grant proposals, budgets, reports, and stewardship communications.
• Draft compelling narratives and donor communications; assist with proposal timelines and documentation.
• Maintain prospect research records and track deadlines and outcomes.
• Support campus visits, funder meetings, and donor recognition activities.

Skills

Writing

Editing

Organization

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

CRM/database systems

Job description

Thank you for your interest in working at William Paterson University.

William Paterson University is a purpose-driven, proudly diverse community-designated as both a public Hispanic-Serving Institution and Minority-Serving Institution-committed to creating transformative academic, professional, and personal experiences as a powerhouse of progress. We foster a workplace that values growth, flexibility, and community, and we are recognized as a 2024 and 2025 Forbes' Best Employers by State, 2025 Great College to Work For, and honored with the NJBIZ Empowering Women Award .

Our 1,000 dedicated staff members enjoy competitive benefits, a four-day summer workweek, tuition support, and strong opportunities for internal promotion. Situated on a scenic suburban campus just 20 miles from New York City, WP offers a diverse, inclusive environment where your contributions fuel student success, economic and social mobility, and community engagement. Together, we empower our students through intentional, holistic support within flexible, innovative, and inclusive settings-preparing graduates to thrive professionally and personally, and to lead with a commitment to progress in New Jersey and beyond.

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations supports the university's institutional fundraising efforts by managing foundation relations activities, coordinating grant development processes, and supporting strategic partnerships with institutional funders. This position works closely with the Office of Sponsored Programs, faculty, deans, and university leadership to identify foundation funding opportunities, support proposal development, and ensure effective stewardship and reporting for foundation grants and philanthropic investments. The Associate Director plays a key role in strengthening the university's foundation fundraising pipeline and supporting collaborative funding strategies across the institution. This role reports to the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Foundation Relations & Grant Support

• Assist in implementing the university's foundation relations strategy in alignment with institutional priorities.
• Manage a portfolio of foundation prospects and donors with emphasis on cultivation, stewardship, proposal coordination, and relationship management.
• Research and identify new private and family foundation funding opportunities.
• Coordinate and support the preparation of letters of inquiry, grant proposals, reports, and stewardship communications.

Collaboration with Office of Sponsored Programs

• Serve as a primary liaison between Institutional Advancement and the Office of Sponsored Programs for foundation-related opportunities.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to identify funding opportunities that align with academic, research, and programmatic priorities.
• Assist in coordinating institutional review and submission processes for foundation proposals.
• Support compliance with proposal requirements, grant reporting deadlines, and stewardship expectations.

Proposal Development & Stewardship

• Draft and edit compelling narratives, cases for support, grant reports, and donor communications.
• Coordinate proposal timelines, supporting documentation, budgets, and submission materials.
• Assist in developing stewardship strategies to ensure continued engagement and long-term support from foundation funders.
• Support campus visits, funder meetings, and donor recognition activities.

Prospect Research & Portfolio Management

• Conduct prospect research and maintain detailed records within the university's CRM system.
• Track deadlines, proposal activity, and funding outcomes.
• Monitor trends in foundation philanthropy and share relevant opportunities with university stakeholders.

Administrative & Team Support

• Support the Manager of Corporate and Foundation Relations in achieving departmental fundraising goals and strategic priorities.
• Assist with data management, reporting, and departmental communications.
• Participate in university advancement and donor engagement activities as needed
• Perform other duties in support of advancement initiatives and institutional goals.

Education and Experience

Minimum Required

• Bachelor's degree.
• Minimum of 2-4 years of experience in foundation relations, grant writing, sponsored programs, fundraising, nonprofit development, or related work.
• Strong writing, editing, organizational, and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a collaborative environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience conducting research and preparing funding proposals or reports.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and CRM/database systems.

Preferred

• Experience working in higher education, sponsored programs, research administration, or nonprofit development.
• Familiarity with foundation grant processes and proposal development.
• Experience coordinating with faculty, researchers, or academic