Sr. Corporate & Foundation Engagement Officer

University of Minnesota; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 105,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive wages

Paid holidays

Tuition benefits

Retirement plan

Job summary

University of Minnesota seeks a Sr. Corporate and Foundation Engagement Officer to advance philanthropic investments for the Carlson School of Management.

You will collaborate with the Dean and key partners to shape corporate and foundation engagement strategies and secure major investments. The role manages a portfolio of corporate and private foundations, guiding donor conversations and translating academic priorities into fundable initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and at least 6 years of fundraising or related experience.
• Entrepreneurial spirit with problem-solving focus.
• Accountability paired with empathetic mentorship.
• Understanding of goal-setting frameworks and performance metrics.
• Growth mindset across deliverables.
• Willingness to travel occasionally and work evenings/weekends. Ability to maintain a valid Minnesota driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Fundraising & Donor Engagement: cultivate major gifts and manage a balanced portfolio.
• Prospect management: identify, solicit, and steward major gift prospects.
• Serve as philanthropic advisor to corporate partners, translating priorities into fundable initiatives.
• Develop a blended portfolio across departments and create big-idea opportunities.
• Oversee fundraising projects and align with Foundation standards and vision.
• Collaborate with teams and maintain timely reports and information.

Skills

Fundraising

Leadership

Strategic donor engagement

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

The Carlson School of Management (Minnesota Carlson) development team is a high-performing, mission-driven fundraising enterprise that consistently secures more than $24 million in philanthropic support annually. This dynamic team is composed of skilled, strategic development professionals who advance both college-wide priorities and department-level initiatives. With a proven record of cultivating meaningful donor relationships, the team plays a pivotal role in driving philanthropic investments that fuel the College's academic excellence, research innovation, and student success.

Minnesota Carlson is consistently ranked among the top business schools nationally and globally, with highly ranked undergraduate and graduate programs. The college averages more than $5M annually in corporate and foundation support, benefiting from Minnesota's strong corporate presence, including 17 Fortune 500 companies and many large private corporations.

Operating within the University of Minnesota Foundation's fundraising model designed to create and ensure the most gratifying gift experience, the CSOM team embraces a culture of partnership, collaboration, and shared purpose in pursuit of exceptional outcomes for donors, the University, and the broader community.

Position Focus

The University of Minnesota, a top 3 institution in the Big 10 for philanthropic corporate production, is a national model in corporate engagement, and is uniquely comprehensive among R1 universities. This position will support Minnesota Carlson's corporate and foundation partnerships and is part of the central Corporate and Foundation Engagement team at the University of Minnesota Foundation with meaningful and frequent partnership with the Dean of Minnesota Carlson.

The Sr. Corporate and Foundation Engagement Officer is a high performing fundraiser and strategic partner responsible for driving investment growth and securing major investments for the Carlson School of Management, with a focus on corporate and foundation partners. Working closely with the Dean of Minnesota Carlson, key school partners, and other internal stakeholders, the role will be a partner in the development and execution of the corporate and foundation engagement strategy for the Carlson School of Management. The officer will manage a portfolio of corporate and private foundations to drive investments into the school and partner with the Dean and leadership to identify opportunities to advance philanthropic and/or sponsorship discussions.

The Sr. Corporate and Foundation Engagement Officer will represent Minnesota Carlson on the Corporate Engagement Center Leadership Council and lead and/or participate on university-wide strategy teams to drive campus collaboration around corporate engagement and investment.

Responsibilities

Fundraising & Donor Engagement (75%)

• Focus on engaging in face-to-face meaningful donor work that advances gift conversations and supports the University of Minnesota ensuring a gratifying gift experience for all donors.
• Prospect Management: Actively identify and cultivate, solicit, and steward a balanced, healthy portfolio of major gift prospects through consistent outreach and relationship building.
• Serve as the philanthropic advisor/thought partner to corporate partners, helping translate academic priorities into compelling, fundable initiatives.
• Under the direction of leadership, develop a blended portfolio, breaking down departmental silos to allow for "big idea" gift opportunities in addition to core unit priorities.
• Assist with the operational framework for specific fundraising initiatives ensuring alignment with University of Minnesota Foundation standards and strategic vision.
• Serve as a member of the overall development team by collaborating with colleagues across disciplines on donor strategies, maintaining timely, accurate reports and information.
• Perform one's work within a framework of commitment to production, collaboration, innovation and purpose.
• Develop and maintain a thorough working knowledge of unit priorities.
• Manage and lead specific fundraising projects as assigned.

Team & Talent Development (15%)

• Build and lead a high-performing team by aligning individual performance with the Foundation's strategic priorities.
• Direct unit operations and resource allocation to ensure maximum efficiency and the successful execution of fundraising initiatives.
• Oversee the recruitment, selection, and integration of top-tier development talent, fostering a diverse and inclusive professional environment.
• Actively coach and mentor staff, using data-driven performance metrics to identify and fuel growth opportunities. Provide leadership with each team member to establish individual goals and metrics.
• Ensure a safe, healthy, and policy-compliant work environment that upholds the reputation of the University and UMF.

Other Duties as Assigned (10%)

• Collaborate in the planning and production of fundraising activities to define philanthropic goals, donor engagement targets, and logistical frameworks.
• Participate in ongoing professional development and training to stay current on philanthropic trends and advanced fundraising methodologies.
• Document all donor interactions and touchpoints by entering detailed contact reports to ensure accurate relationship tracking and seamless team-wide communication.
• Impact Reporting: Review and provide input on specialized impact reports for donors, showing exactly how their funds supported a specific unit or initiative.

Performance Metrics

UMFway Guidelines FY27

Qualifications

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and at least 6 years of fundraising or related experience.
• Ability to lead with an entrepreneurial spirit, constantly pursuing solutions and effective/efficient enhancements.
• Skills in high-standard accountability paired with empathetic mentorship.
• Deep understanding of goal-setting frameworks and performance metrics.
• Ability to maintain a growth mindset in all deliverables.
• Willingness to travel occasionally and work occasional evenings and weekends. Ability to maintain a valid Minnesota driver's license.

Preferred qualifications

• 8 or more years of fundraising experience.
• Experience in higher education advancement and nonprofit fundraising.
• Proven success in donor cultivation and donor management systems.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $105,000-120,000, depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.