Strategic Director, Corporate & Foundation Partnerships

Lehigh University; Bethlehem (Northampton County); On-site; USD 84,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

Lehigh University’s Development and Alumni Relations division seeks an experienced fundraising professional to manage a strategic portfolio of corporate and foundation prospects and transform relationships into lasting partnerships.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of College Development and University Initiatives, you will own the full relationship cycle from research through stewardship, collaborating with academic leaders across Lehigh’s colleges to align philanthropic priorities

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, liberal arts, STEM or business.
• 5–8 years in development or fundraising, ideally in higher education or nonprofit setting.
• Experience with major gift fundraising, writing foundation grants and capital campaigns.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Experience in event planning and project management.
• Ability to collaborate with faculty, staff, alumni and leadership.
• Proficiency in fundraising software (Blackbaud, Raiser’s Edge or similar CRM) and Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Identify potential corporate and foundation partners to build targeted, long-term strategies.
• Cultivate relationships across funder levels through visits and strategic outreach.
• Lead strategy sessions with academic leaders to drive sponsored research and philanthropic support.
• Articulate the college’s value to secure funding and provide detailed reporting and host visits for institutional partners.
• Partner with academic leaders to identify, build, and leverage relationships with corporations and foundations for gifts, grants, data agreements.
• Coordinate and facilitate campus visits, executive briefings, and follow-up strategies to secure partnerships.
• Work with faculty and deans to design and package university priority initiatives for funding opportunities.
• Participate in CFR team training and identify growth opportunities for the CFR team.
• Write complex, budgeted proposals in partnership with stakeholders to secure funding.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Communications

Project management

Event planning

Stakeholder management

Written communication

Oral communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Liberal Arts, STEM or Business field

Tools

Blackbaud

Raiser's Edge

CRM software

Job description

Lehigh University’s Development and Alumni Relations division seeks an experienced fundraising professional to manage a strategic portfolio of corporate and foundation prospects and transform relationships into lasting partnerships.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of College Development and University Initiatives, you will own the full relationship cycle from research through stewardship, collaborating with academic leaders across Lehigh’s colleges to align philanthropic priorities