Executive Director, Foundation Relations

Job Posting

Title:

Executive Director, Foundation Relations

Hiring Department: University Development Office

Position Open To: All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled

Hours:

40

FLSA Status: Exempt

Earliest

Start Date:

Immediately

Position Duration: Expected to Continue

Location: AUSTIN, TX

General Notes

What starts here changes the world.

The University of Texas at Austin, founded in 1883, ranks among the 40 best universities in the world with top national programs across 19 colleges and schools. By creating educational opportunities for all and leading cutting‑edge research at scale, the University fosters positive social change, technological advancement, and economic progress showing the world that change really does start here.

Following our 10‑year strategic plan, UT will become the world's highest‑impact public research university, unleashing knowledge, opportunity and innovation from the heart of Texas.

Learn more about UT's mission and values, leadership and What Starts Here strategic plan.

The University of Texas at Austin is on the front lines of the future: sparking the imagination, driving discovery and transforming lives. And it's only possible because generous supporters believe in the power and promise of our state's flagship university to change the world.

Together, through one of the largest fundraising efforts in our state's history, we will support our people, amplify the unmatched potential of our place, and lead innovation through world‑changing pursuits. With nearly $5 billion raised over the past six years, Texas Development is quickly becoming one of the best fundraising programs in higher education.

Texas Development is a dynamic community of more than 450 fundraising professionals across the Forty Acres. We strive to reach the highest levels of achievement and success in all that we do by creating meaningful and powerful experiences for our donors.

Join us and change the world.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Philanthropic Planning, the Executive Director of Foundation Relations will play a key role in the completion of the University's $6 billion What Starts Here campaign while also building the team that will support the University's next multi‑billion‑dollar effort. Thus far, foundations have contributed $1.3B toward the campaign averaging $160M+ in annual productivity across both family and professional foundations.

The Executive Director will be a highly strategic, exceedingly knowledgeable leader, manager, and colleague, who has the proven ability to partner with University leadership across campus to establish, secure, and cultivate philanthropic investments from local, national, and international foundation partners in order to advance the priority initiatives of UT Austin.

The ideal candidate will bring experience in successfully pursuing and receiving six‑figure and above gifts from the foundation sector and the ability to manage a newly expanded team of 10 foundation relations frontline professionals and a support team of two researchers and four program and administrative professionals.

• Participate at the executive level in the University's fundraising activities and contribute to the formulation of priorities and policies for foundation relations. Design, implement and manage a proactive development plan focused on expanding and enhancing top level foundation partnerships by directing and coordinating activities related to obtaining multi‑million‑dollar foundations funding and support, including working in partnership with programs on campus that touch on these areas.
• Identify emerging national foundations and trends with a special emphasis on partnerships that can garner larger philanthropic commitments to support the mission and goals of the University. Develop a broad and deep understanding of current fundraising priorities across campus and of University policies relating to foundation grants. Serve as a resource to faculty and development personnel across campus on these topics.
• Provide analysis and make recommendations to solicit foundation…