Development Lead, Corporate & Foundation Relations

Stanford University; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Tuition assistance

Flexible work options

403(b) plan

Commute support

Job summary

Stanford Law School in Stanford, CA is seeking an Associate Director of Development for Corporate & Foundation Relations to plan and implement fundraising strategies for key funders. You will manage relationships, coordinate with university colleagues, and align donor interests with university needs in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree with several years of relevant experience and offers a hybrid schedule, competitive compensation, and opportunities to

Qualifications

• Demonstrated effectiveness in corporate/foundation fundraising and prospecting.
• Strong ability to build relationships with faculty, donors and staff.
• Excellent written and oral communication with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Develop solicitation goals, objectives and strategies for corporate/foundation funders.
• Manage an active portfolio of corporate/foundation prospects and steward their support.
• Collaborate with faculty, volunteers, and university staff to raise funds and align donor interests with university needs.
• Prepare background information and follow up with faculty to advance actions.
• Coordinate internal support activities and proposals with university offices.

Skills

Prospect identification

Relationship building

Donor solicitation

Proposal development

Education

Bachelor's degree + experience

Job description

Associate Director of Development, Corporate & Foundation Relations, Stanford Law School

Stanford, CA, United States (Hybrid)

Job Description

*NOTE: This position has been deemed critical/has specific funding, has been approved by the Law School for posting, and is exempt from the hiring freeze.

Schedule: Hybrid (3 or more days per week on site)

Note: Not all unique aspects of the job are covered by this job description

Stanford Law School offers the intimacy of a small intellectual community combined with the breadth of a great research university. Students work closely with world-class faculty, pursue joint degrees across Stanford's schools of business, engineering, medicine, humanities and sciences, and engage directly with the legal challenges of the moment through eleven clinics and the Stanford Law-and-Policy Labs. That real-world orientation runs deep. Stanford Law faculty and students are not just studying the law as it is — they are helping to shape the future of legal institutions. From AI's implications for legal doctrine and access to justice, to the future of courts, elections, and democratic governance, Stanford Law works at the frontier of the most consequential legal questions of our time. Its small size is its strength: a tightly knit community that thinks ambitiously and creatively, and translates ideas into action.

The Office of External Relations is a collaborative and entrepreneurial team, committed to creating and encouraging opportunities for alumni and friends of SLS to serve and support the school, and one another. External Relations is composed of a fundraising group, an alumni relations group, and Advancement Marketing. Stanford Law School is hiring an Associate Director of Development, Corporate & Foundation Relations. Reporting to the Director of Development, the Associate Director will play a key role in managing corporate and foundation fundraising efforts. The Associate Director also works routinely with University Corporate and Foundation Relations colleagues on issues related to corporate and foundation support. If you enjoy building and maintaining relationships, have exceptional attention to detail, are intellectually curious, and enjoy working with university faculty and staff, this may be the right opportunity for you.

JOB PURPOSE:
In coordination with the Director of Development, plan and implement fundraising strategies for a portfolio of corporate and foundation funders. Operate independently in assigned areas and take responsibility for corporate and foundation prospect identification and solicitation. This role’s responsibilities also include proposal development and coordination of internal support activities.

CORE DUTIES*:

• Develop solicitation goals, objectives, and strategies for corporate and foundation funders. Cultivate and solicit gifts to the school.
• Manage an active portfolio of some of the school’s most important corporate and/or foundation prospects to cultivate, solicit, and steward their support, which may include gifts, sponsored research, and/or in-kind donations.
• Work with faculty, corporate and foundation representatives, volunteers, and university staff to raise financial support from corporations and foundations. Balance faculty and funder goals while complying with university research and development policies; advocate for policy changes when warranted.
• Develop, maintain and enhance relationships with corporate and foundation funders. Create strategies and proposals. Identify and respond to opportunities for support from corporations and foundations, seeking alignment between donor interests and university needs.
• Responsible for a wide range of fundraising activities, including maintaining an active level of contacts, coordinating campus visits, leading outreach to institutional prospects, providing stewardship, identifying new prospective donors, and facilitating relationships between potential and current donors and faculty and students.
• Prioritize prospects, prepare background information and follow up with faculty to ensure completion of agreed upon actions.
• Work closely with other university offices (e.g., University Corporate and Foundation Relations, Agreements & Policies in the Office of Development, sponsored research, industrial contracts, general counsel), in order to collaborate effectively with external funders and ensure proposals and agreements comply with university policy.
• Demonstrate a commitment to promoting and supporting an environment of diversity and inclusion.
  * - Other duties may also be assigned
  

*NOTE: This position has been deemed critical/has specific funding, has been approved by the Law School for posting, and is exempt from the hiring freeze.

Schedule: Hybrid (3 or more days per week on site)

Note: Not all unique aspects of the job are covered by this job description

Stanford Law School offers the intimacy of a small intellectual community combined with the breadth of a great research university. Students work closely with world-class faculty, pursue joint degrees across Stanford's schools of business, engineering, medicine, humanities and sciences, and engage directly with the legal challenges of the moment through eleven clinics and the Stanford Law-and-Policy Labs. That real-world orientation runs deep. Stanford Law faculty and students are not just studying the law as it is — they are helping to shape the future of legal institutions. From AI's implications for legal doctrine and access to justice, to the future of courts, elections, and democratic governance, Stanford Law works at the frontier of the most consequential legal questions of our time. Its small size is its strength: a tightly knit community that thinks ambitiously and creatively, and translates ideas into action.

The Office of External Relations is a collaborative and entrepreneurial team, committed to creating and encouraging opportunities for alumni and friends of SLS to serve and support the school, and one another. External Relations is composed of a fundraising group, an alumni relations group, and Advancement Marketing. Stanford Law School is hiring an Associate Director of Development, Corporate & Foundation Relations. Reporting to the Director of Development, the Associate Director will play a key role in managing corporate and foundation fundraising efforts. The Associate Director also works routinely with University Corporate and Foundation Relations colleagues on issues related to corporate and foundation support. If you enjoy building and maintaining relationships, have exceptional attention to detail, are intellectually curious, and enjoy working with university faculty and staff, this may be the right opportunity for you.

JOB PURPOSE:
In coordination with the Director of Development, plan and implement fundraising strategies for a portfolio of corporate and foundation funders. Operate independently in assigned areas and take responsibility for corporate and foundation prospect identification and solicitation. This role’s responsibilities also include proposal development and coordination of internal support activities.

CORE DUTIES*:

• Develop solicitation goals, objectives, and strategies for corporate and foundation funders. Cultivate and solicit gifts to the school.
• Manage an active portfolio of some of the school’s most important corporate and/or foundation prospects to cultivate, solicit, and steward their support, which may include gifts, sponsored research, and/or in-kind donations.
• Work with faculty, corporate and foundation representatives, volunteers, and university staff to raise financial support from corporations and foundations. Balance faculty and funder goals while complying with university research and development policies; advocate for policy changes when warranted.
• Develop, maintain and enhance relationships with corporate and foundation funders. Create strategies and proposals. Identify and respond to opportunities for support from corporations and foundations, seeking alignment between donor interests and university needs.
• Responsible for a wide range of fundraising activities, including maintaining an active level of contacts, coordinating campus visits, leading outreach to institutional prospects, providing stewardship, identifying new prospective donors, and facilitating relationships between potential and current donors and faculty and students.
• Prioritize prospects, prepare background information and follow up with faculty to ensure completion of agreed upon actions.
• Work closely with other university offices (e.g., University Corporate and Foundation Relations, Agreements & Policies in the Office of Development, sponsored research, industrial contracts, general counsel), in order to collaborate effectively with external funders and ensure proposals and agreements comply with university policy.
• Demonstrate a commitment to promoting and supporting an environment of diversity and inclusion.
  * - Other duties may also be assigned
  

Qualifications:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree and five years of relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrated effectiveness in corporate and/or foundation prospect identification, relationship building, and solicitation.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring and working with volunteers, faculty, and staff.
• Demonstrated ability to work within a complex environment with competing university and funder agendas.
• Superior written and oral communication skills, with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to articulate a compelling case for philanthropic support programs.
• Ability to translate complex concepts into compelling development proposals.
• Ability to work effectively with faculty, top executives, and community leaders.
• Advanced ability with Microsoft Office suite.
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory skills including conflict resolution.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*:

• Frequently perform desk-based computer tasks, sit, and use a telephone, stand/walk.
• Occasionally light/fine grasping, lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh up to 10 pounds, writing by hand.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a California Non-commercial Class driver’s license

* - Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• May require working flexible hours, including nights and weekends. Regular travel may be required.

WORK STANDARDS:

• When conducting university business, must comply with the California Vehicle Code and Stanford University driving requirements.
• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrate commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including, but not limited to, the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu .

The expected pay range for this position is $159,995 to $184,775 per annum.
Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website ( https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards ) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

• Fixed Term N
• Stanford Schools and Units Law School
• Full time or Part time Full Time
• Regular or Temporary Regular
• Job Category Development
• Posting Date 06/22/2026, 05:57 PM
• Grade K
• Job Identification 108746

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Benefits that support you, and your future

18+ PTO days per year

Health benefits start when you start

Flexible work options

$6000+ annual tuition and training assistance

403(b) plan

Mental health and wellness programs

Free and discounted commuter transportation

Applies to regular full-time positions.

Notice to Applicants

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classifications and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of their job.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Stanford University provides job pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a particular job. The specific pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on a wide range of factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to geographic work location, relevant knowledge, skills and abilities, relevant education, years of relevant experience, depth and breadth of relevant experience, and performance; further including but not limited to other business and organization needs such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, the minimum qualifications, departmental budget availability, and market and internal equity across the university, school/ unit, department, as well as job reporting relations hips.

Why work at Stanford

World-changing work in a culture of continuous learning

An inspiring community that values collaboration

High-quality health and wellness benefits that put you and your family first

Access to world-class education and career development, with tuition reimbursement, training assistance, and more