Director, Foundation Relations - Hybrid Leadership

Center for Nonprofit Excellence; Charlottesville (VA); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 178,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Equal Opportunity Employer

Job summary

The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) seeks a Director of Foundation Relations in Charlottesville, VA to lead a growing team and advance SELC’s philanthropic goals. You will design strategies to expand support from national, regional, and local foundations and partner with leadership to position SELC as a trusted funder partner.

This full-time, exempt role requires at least ten years of fundraising and foundation relations experience, strong leadership skills, and a deep commitment to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• Minimum ten years of professional fundraising or grantmaking experience.
• Management experience, ideally with revenue growth.
• Strategic thinking in donor/prospect actions.
• Knowledge of philanthropic trends and foundation priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; comfortable with phone and in-person outreach.
• Ability to work with diverse stakeholders and adjust to change.
• Highly organized with strong prioritization and multi-project coordination.

Responsibilities

• Lead a comprehensive foundation relations strategy to grow funding from national, regional, and local foundations.
• Manage and mentor the foundation relations team; oversee hiring and staff development.
• Build out infrastructure to scale foundation fundraising and meet long-term goals.
• Establish metrics to track progress toward annual fundraising targets.
• Partner with leadership to strengthen external engagement with funders and thought leadership.
• Oversee a portfolio of major foundation prospects and donors with tailored strategies.
• Collaborate with Chief Development Officer to set goals and ensure cross-team alignment.
• Serve as a strategic partner translating priorities into compelling foundation opportunities.
• Occasional travel required for regional donor engagement.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Donor relations

Strategic thinking

Team leadership

Stewardship & cultivation

Communication

Grantmaking

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) seeks a Director of Foundation Relations in Charlottesville, VA to lead a growing team and advance SELC’s philanthropic goals. You will design strategies to expand support from national, regional, and local foundations and partner with leadership to position SELC as a trusted funder partner.

This full-time, exempt role requires at least ten years of fundraising and foundation relations experience, strong leadership skills, and a deep commitment to