Foundation Partnerships Director

Notre Dame International; South Bend (IN); On-site; USD 99,000 - 121,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Notre Dame is seeking a dynamic, analytical Director of Foundation Relations to grow external support for research and programs from private foundations through alignment strategy, proposal development, and stewardship.

They will work with faculty and staff across engineering and data science to translate technical needs for grantmakers, cultivate partnerships, and manage a portfolio of faculty and foundations toward measurable outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• 3 to 5 years of professional experience in fundraising, grant writing, corporate/foundation relations, or a closely related field.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a proven track record of writing, editing, and finalizing successful proposals, LOIs, or complex reports.
• Demonstrated experience working with high-level stakeholders, managing a portfolio, or cultivating relationships that lead to successful project outcomes.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a proven ability to collaborate across diverse departments, offices, or multi-disciplinary teams.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.
• Must be willing to relocate to South Bend, Indiana, where the position is based.

Responsibilities

• Partner directly with leadership and faculty to surface, explore, and prioritize high-impact academic research for philanthropic solicitation.
• Initiate, execute, and evaluate strategies to expand the foundation prospect pool, creating connections that lead to sustained, long-term partnerships.
• Draft, edit, review, and finalize Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) and full grant proposals in close coordination with faculty, ensuring tight alignment with foundation focus areas.
• Develop and execute an annual plan for proposal submissions, institutional meetings, foundation engagement, and stewardship.
• Facilitate introductions and coordinate campus visits for foundation representatives to meet with faculty and leadership.
• Partner directly with faculty within assigned disciplines to surface, explore, and prioritize academic research for philanthropic solicitation.
• Convene and collaborate with faculty to align their research objectives with specific foundation interests.
• Partner closely with Notre Dame Research (NDR) to develop proposals and ensure administrative alignment.
• Attend faculty presentations, departmental meetings, and college events to stay integrated with the academic community.

Skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Stakeholder management

Fundraising

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

The University of Notre Dame is seeking a dynamic, analytical Director of Foundation Relations to grow external support for research and programs from private foundations through alignment strategy, proposal development, and stewardship.

They will work with faculty and staff across engineering and data science to translate technical needs for grantmakers, cultivate partnerships, and manage a portfolio of faculty and foundations toward measurable outcomes.