Senior Director, Foundation Relations

aa067; Irwindale (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Hope seeks a Senior Director of Development to drive foundation fundraising strategy, manage a robust portfolio of donors, and lead high-impact initiatives across the enterprise. You will collaborate with faculty and leadership to secure philanthropic support for research, capital, and program priorities while fostering a culture of accountability and performance excellence.

The role requires 8-10+ years in grant development, exceptional proposal writing, and a collaborative leadership

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in biological sciences strongly preferred.
• 8-10+ years of experience in grant development, foundation fundraising, or related field.
• Experience in a complex healthcare, research, or academic environment preferred.
• Deep understanding of foundation fundraising strategies, regulations, and donor engagement.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and communication skills, including proposal development.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with donors, faculty, and senior leadership.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and strategic thinking skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative leadership style with strong judgment, professionalism, and integrity.

Responsibilities

• Lead foundation fundraising strategy and execution to achieve annual revenue and activity goals.
• Manage a portfolio of foundation donors and develop strategic cultivation and solicitation plans.
• Partner with faculty, leadership, and stakeholders to advance fundraising priorities.
• Prepare and present grant proposals, letters of intent, and donor communications.
• Facilitate donor meetings, cultivation events, and strategic briefings.
• Utilize research and data to identify prospects and guide fundraising strategies.
• Collaborate with development teams to expand and strengthen foundation donor engagement.
• Serve as a team leader and subject matter expert within Foundation Relations, mentoring others and driving best practices.
• Support fundraising efforts across key markets, including major programmatic and research initiatives.
• Model accountability, professionalism, and a high-performing, mission-driven culture.

Skills

Grant writing

Donor relations

Strategic fundraising

Leadership

Proposal development

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree in biological sciences

Job description

Join the transformative team at City of Hope, where we're changing lives and making a real difference in the fight against cancer, diabetes, and other life-threatening illnesses. City of Hope’s growing national system includes its Los Angeles campus, a network of clinical care locations across Southern California, a new cancer center in Orange County, California, and treatment facilities in Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix. Our dedicated and compassionate employees are driven by a common mission: To deliver the cures of tomorrow to the people who need them today.

City of Hope’s Office of Philanthropy is a critical driver of innovation, advancing groundbreaking research, compassionate patient care, and biomedical education through strategic fundraising. The Senior Director of Development is a key leader responsible for driving foundation fundraising strategy, managing a robust portfolio of grant-making organizations, and leading high-impact initiatives across the enterprise. This role serves as a subject matter expert and team leader, partnering closely with faculty, leadership, and cross-functional teams to secure philanthropic support for research, capital, and programmatic priorities while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and performance excellence.

As a successful candidate, you will:

• Lead foundation fundraising strategy and execution to achieve annual revenue and activity goals
• Manage a portfolio of foundation donors and develop strategic cultivation and solicitation plans
• Partner with faculty, leadership, and stakeholders to advance fundraising priorities
• Prepare and present grant proposals, letters of intent, and donor communications
• Facilitate donor meetings, cultivation events, and strategic briefings
• Utilize research and data to identify prospects and guide fundraising strategies
• Collaborate with development teams to expand and strengthen foundation donor engagement
• Serve as a team leader and subject matter expert within Foundation Relations, mentoring others and driving best practices
• Support fundraising efforts across key markets, including major programmatic and research initiatives
• Model accountability, professionalism, and a high-performing, mission-driven culture

Your qualifications should include:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in biological sciences strongly preferred
• 8-10+ years of experience in grant development, foundation fundraising, or related field
• Experience in a complex healthcare, research, or academic environment preferred
• Deep understanding of foundation fundraising strategies, regulations, and donor engagement
• Exceptional writing, editing, and communication skills, including proposal development
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with donors, faculty, and senior leadership
• Strong organizational, analytical, and strategic thinking skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Collaborative leadership style with strong judgment, professionalism, and integrity

City of Hope employees’ pay is based on the following criteria: work experience, qualifications, and work location.

City of Hope is an equal opportunity employer.

To learn more about our Comprehensive Benefits, please CLICK HERE.