Foundation Partnerships Director - Grant Strategy

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

Job summary

University of Notre Dame is seeking a Director of Foundation Relations to grow external support for university research and programs from private foundations. You will translate complex research needs for grantmaking audiences, cultivate foundation partnerships, and oversee a portfolio of faculty and foundations with a focus on strategic alignment and stewardship.

The role requires strong writing, editing, and collaboration across engineering, data science, and other disciplines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 3–5 years of fundraising, grant writing, corporate/foundation relations, or related field.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication with track record of successful proposals/LOIs.
• Experience working with high-level stakeholders and managing a portfolio.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate across departments.

Responsibilities

• Partner with leadership and faculty to surface high-impact research for philanthropic solicitation.
• Expand foundation prospect pool and cultivate long-term partnerships.
• Draft, edit, review LOIs and full grant proposals with faculty alignment.
• Develop annual plan for proposals, meetings, foundation engagement, and stewardship.
• Coordinate campus visits for foundation representatives and faculty.

Skills

Fundraising experience

Grant writing

Relationship management

Proposal development

Written & verbal communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

University of Notre Dame is seeking a Director of Foundation Relations to grow external support for university research and programs from private foundations. You will translate complex research needs for grantmaking audiences, cultivate foundation partnerships, and oversee a portfolio of faculty and foundations with a focus on strategic alignment and stewardship.

The role requires strong writing, editing, and collaboration across engineering, data science, and other disciplines.