Foundation Relations Specialist

Acton-Institute; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Acton Institute, based in Grand Rapids, MI, seeks a Foundation Relations Specialist to grow private philanthropic support through foundations. You will manage donor portfolios, write proposals, and coordinate reporting while collaborating with senior leadership to advance institutional priorities.

Ideal candidates have 3–5 years of fundraising experience, strong writing skills, and proficiency with CRM and AI-assisted tools. This is a full-time, on-site role in Grand Rapids.

Qualifications

• BA/BS and 3–5 years of fundraising experience.
• Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of active foundation donors and deadlines.
• Research and cultivate foundation prospects across giving cycles.
• Draft foundation proposals and grant reports.
• Coordinate timelines to meet fundraising deadlines.
• Collaborate with leadership on donor meetings and collateral.
• Produce monthly donor & programmatic impact reports.
• Record and track activities in the CRM.
• Help with special projects and events.

Education

BA/BS in related field

Tools

Salesforce

WealthEngine

FoundationSearch

Job description

Foundation Relations Specialist

Acton Institute

Grand Rapids, MI | Full-Time | Exempt, Salaried

About the Acton Institute

For thirty-six years the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty has promoted a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles. We are an ecumenical, nonprofit research organization that promotes the benefits of free enterprise and the interdependence of moral principles and true freedom to religious communities, business leaders, students, and educators. With an international scope, Acton manages a robust publishing and events outreach that argues for a moral foundation to the market economy. Wholly independent, the nonpartisan Institute works across many faith traditions including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Our intellectual research, teaching, and popularization at the intersection of faith and economics, morality and markets, and religion and liberty are unique in the liberty movement as is our reach among the religiously minded.

About the Role

The Acton Institute seeks a confident, creative, and enthusiastic Foundation Relations Specialist to manage and foster continued growth in raising private philanthropic funds from professional and family foundations to advance their mission. This individual will expand upon existing efforts and work closely with the President, Chief Operating Officer, VP of Development, Chief Financial Officer, External Relations Officers, Directors of Research, Education and Programs, and Marketing, and the entire development team. This person will take a relationship management approach to advancing partnerships with foundation donors and prospects, with full responsibility for the preparation of all written proposals and requests, including both original writing and content gathering from other relevant institute sources. The Foundation Relations Specialist will also be responsible for fulfillment of all reports, recognition, and other benefits promised to institutional donors, and for management of a tracking system for prospective, pending, and active institutional funding transactions.

The ideal candidate will have at least three years of previous fundraising experience as well as excellent communication skills, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a clear understanding of Acton’s mission and vision. This is a full-time position located in Grand Rapids, MI.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of active foundation donors tracking all deadlines and fulfilling all proposal and reporting requirements
• Together with the External Relations Officers, research, track, and cultivate prospects in various stages of the giving cycle, including lapsed and new potential donors
• Collaborate with leadership and the External Relations Officers to strategize, identify and qualify foundation prospects, and cultivate relationships that lead to solicitation and stewardship of foundation gifts in support of institutional priorities
• Write foundation proposals and prepare reports
• Manage future foundation proposal timelines to meet deadlines
• Effective and responsible use of artificial intelligence tools across projects.
• Serve as a secondary giving officer for the President and VP of Development by helping plan, develop, and execute strategic presentations, proposals, and other collateral for donor meetings
• Produce reports following the completion of grants
• Establish metrics and use data to track, analyze, and prepare monthly reports to analyze progress and subsequently determine necessary actions to maximize productivity
• Communicate with other departments to gather data necessary for meetings and reports, with special attention to keeping the “Report & Renewal” document up to date
• Record and save actions in the CRM database
• Assist with special projects as necessary
• Participate in other events and advancement activities as needed
• Actively pursue professional development
• Together with the Donor Relations and Stewardship Manager, write and execute direct mail appeals and if time remains assist in other donor communications.

Qualifications

• Ability to understand, appreciate, and articulate the Acton Institute’s mission, philosophy, values, strategy, and programs.
• BA/BS and three to five years’ experience in fundraising, preferably in foundation relations or major gifts, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrated ability to work with significant autonomy, and collaboratively
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills, both oral and written
• Be an excellent writer capable of producing persuasive copy with ease and speed
• Proficiency in the use of AI tools such as Claude and ChatGPT.
• Have a commitment to lifelong learning and passion for the work of the Institute
• Have excellent relationship building skills and the ability to give persuasive presentations to achieve desired fundraising results
• Demonstrated analytical and strategic thinking capabilities
• Sharp attention to detail
• Exhibit professional decorum at all times
• Treat coworkers and all Acton guests and personnel with respect and work as a team player with all members of the organization
• Be flexible, forthright, ambitious, and comfortable in a fast-paced setting
• Experience with grant writing is a strong plus
• Experience with Wealth Engine, Foundation Search, Salesforce and/or other CRM’s is a plus