Foundation Relations Officer

The mission of the Research Development Office is to grow the volume and visibility of UMD’s research enterprise. We provide customized services to help faculty and faculty-led groups across the university turn ideas into action.

About the role

The Foundation Relations Officer is a key member of the Research Development team within the Office of the Vice President for Research. This role is responsible for developing university-wide strategies to engage foundations and secure philanthropic support for institutional priorities and signature initiatives. The Office of Foundation Relations is jointly supported by the Division of Research and the Division of University Relations.

The incumbent will collaborate with faculty and staff across the university to build a strong and diverse pipeline, resulting in an increase in competitive proposals and substantive relationships with foundations and other philanthropic entities. The position provides foundation relations expertise, strategic guidance, and hands-on support for fundraising efforts and manages a portfolio of up to twenty-five foundations. The incumbent will secure support for Forward: The University of Maryland Campaign for the Fearless, a $2.5 billion initiative—the largest in its history. Over the next three years, this role will increase annual support from foundations and philanthropic organizations by $7-10 million.

Working with the Director, the Foundation Relations Officer will develop university-wide collaborations; play a leading role in multi-disciplinary and large-scale proposals; identify new funding sources for institutional areas of excellence; and help raise the university’s profile among private foundations.

Responsibilities

• Develop university-wide strategies to engage foundations and secure philanthropic support for institutional priorities and signature initiatives.
• Build and maintain a strong, diverse pipeline of foundation relationships, increasing competitive proposals and substantive partnerships.
• Provide foundation relations expertise, strategic guidance, and hands-on support for fundraising efforts.
• Manage a portfolio of up to twenty-five foundations.
• Lead university-wide collaborations and multi-disciplinary, large-scale proposals.
• Identify new funding sources for institutional areas of excellence.
• Raise the university’s profile among private foundations.
• Translate high-level strategy into clear programmatic goals.
• Work with faculty across disciplines to communicate complex concepts in accessible terms.
• Develop and steward meaningful relationships between the university and foundations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Five (5) years of professional development, fundraising, or external relations experience.
• Demonstrated success establishing and stewarding relationships with foundation partners.
• Proven fundraising track record, including securing six- and seven-figure awards.
• Experience in foundation relations within higher education (preferred).
• Advanced degree (preferred).

Skills

• Proven ability to establish, cultivate, and steward meaningful relationships between universities and foundations.
• Strategic visioning and planning experience, including landscape analysis and generating institutional buy-in.
• Ability to translate high-level strategy into clear programmatic goals.
• Strong interpersonal awareness and ability to build positive relationships and collaborate as part of cross-functional teams.
• Exceptional listening and interpretive skills.
• Ability to navigate complex organizations and support others in doing so; solutions-oriented mindset.
• Creativity, sound judgment, and strong attention to detail.
• Outstanding interpersonal and customer service skills; poised and professional communication style across formats and audiences.
• Ability to work independently, set priorities, take initiative, and manage multiple projects efficiently.
• Commitment to organizational values and responsibility for meeting goals and deadlines.
• Ability to make informed decisions in fast-paced, dynamic, and deadline-driven environments.
• Superior writing skills, including experience with proposal development.
• Knowledge of foundation prospect research.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Suite products.
• Skill in problem solving and strategic planning.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Ability to develop and administer new policies and procedures.
• Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, regulations, and laws.
• Ability to interact with donors and senior-level executives and administrators.
• Strong adherence to deadlines.

Physical Demands

Sedentary work performed in a normal office environment, occasionally at irregular hours to meet proposal deadlines. Exerts up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible force frequently. Ability to attend meetings both on and off campus. Ability to work some evenings and weekends as necessary. Spending long hours in front of a computer screen.

Pay

$137,280 to $164,736

Benefits

For more information on Regular Exempt benefits, select this link.