Director, Corporate & Foundation Partnerships

University of Washington; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 133,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Professional development

Benefits package

Job summary

University of Washington’s UW Medicine Advancement seeks a Director for Corporate and Foundation Relations to lead fundraising strategies across corporate and foundation donors, including major gifts and private foundations. You will work with UW Medicine and campus partners to identify, solicit, and steward funders and to develop compelling grant proposals and donor communications.

The role emphasizes building relationships with faculty and leadership, managing a robust portfolio, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in any field and five or more years of progressively responsible experience in institutional advancement, including experience in corporate and foundation relations or corporate social responsibility.
• Preferred candidates will possess demonstrated skill in grant writing; developing marketing strategies, plans, collateral and proposals for advancement programs; experience working with volunteers; and experience with organizational prospect research.
• Preferred candidates will possess experience with developing and securing private gifts or grants ($1 million+) and demonstrated experience creating and leading complex, collaborative prospect strategies and relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic advancement plans for complex programs, including designing, implementing, and managing initiatives that achieve measurable fundraising results aligned with organizational priorities.
• Proven experience building, cultivating, and stewarding strong relationships with donors and volunteers, aligning their interests with institutional goals to foster long‑term engagement and philanthropic partnership.
• Self‑directed and collaborative leader who identifies opportunities, generates innovative ideas, and drives results while working effectively across teams and stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills, with the ability to communicate openly, directly, and professionally to foster dialogue and resolve differences effectively.
• Sound judgment and decision‑making skills, including the ability to navigate ambiguity and perform effectively in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams), with the willingness and ability to learn the UW donor CRM and other proprietary systems.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidence and protect confidential information; acts in a selfless manner and models ethical values of the UW.

Responsibilities

• Direct Fundraising Responsibilities—80%: Develop and implement strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate and foundation prospects, partnering with Advancement and UW Medicine colleagues to build and manage a portfolio of prospects with giving capacity of $100,000 or more.
• Manage a major gift and private foundation portfolio with progressive annual expectations of 50–100 substantive donor contacts, 5–12 major gift qualifications, and 5–10 major gift solicitations, resulting in $1.5–$3.5 million raised annually.
• Build and steward philanthropic relationships through meetings, site visits, and other engagement opportunities connecting corporate and foundation leaders with UW Medicine faculty, programs, and strategic priorities.
• Develop and manage compelling proposals, letters of inquiry, grant requests, stewardship materials, and other donor communications in collaboration with faculty, administrative leaders, Advancement colleagues, and Communications.
• Coordinate fundraising strategies across UW Medicine and University Advancement, including Gift Planning, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Principal Gifts, and Regional Gifts, to maximize donor engagement and philanthropic opportunities.
• Represent UW Medicine in donor and prospect meetings and through travel as appropriate, including presenting funding opportunities and preparing briefing and travel materials for Advancement and academic leaders.
• Maintain accurate and timely prospect, proposal, and fundraising activity in the University’s prospect management system.
• Activities in Support of Direct Fundraising—20%: Contribute to Corporate and Foundation Relations policies, procedures, marketing materials, and donor cultivation and stewardship activities.
• Provide guidance and training to faculty, staff, and volunteers on corporate and foundation fundraising strategies and relevant University policies, while pursuing ongoing professional development.
• Develop annual work plans and progress reports and evaluate progress toward established fundraising and performance goals.
• Lead or participate in special projects and strategic initiatives as assigned by the Senior Director for Corporate and Foundation Relations, and perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Grant writing

Marketing strategy

Volunteer coordination

Prospect research

Strategic planning

Donor relations

Cross-team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

UW donor CRM

Job description

University of Washington’s UW Medicine Advancement seeks a Director for Corporate and Foundation Relations to lead fundraising strategies across corporate and foundation donors, including major gifts and private foundations. You will work with UW Medicine and campus partners to identify, solicit, and steward funders and to develop compelling grant proposals and donor communications.

The role emphasizes building relationships with faculty and leadership, managing a robust portfolio, and