Director of Foundation Relations & Grants

Director of Foundation Relations & Grants

The Director of Foundation Relations & Grants provides strategic leadership and day-to-day management of the foundation and institutional partners of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. This role shares responsibility with the Senior Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations for donor engagement, portfolio strategy, grant development, data-informed decision-making, and team leadership. This role is expected to supervise and mentor the Foundation Relations team in alignment with our organizational values and strategic goals.

Strategic Leadership & Thinking

• Create strategies that significantly increase foundation, government, and institutional funding through multi-year partnerships.
• Partner with the Senior Director to translate data, insights, and fundraising performance into clear plans, priorities, and results.
• Think broadly about donor engagement, grant strategy, portfolio performance, and revenue growth.
• Maintain a strong focus on impact and meaningful outcomes.

Team Leadership & Management

• Manage and mentor the Foundation Relations team, including grant-writing resources.
• Provide coaching, accountability, and strategic guidance.
• Support professional growth while ensuring execution against goals and standards.
• Monitor team progress through KPIs, portfolio performance, and revenue goals.
• Partner with the Senior Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations to foster a collaborative, results-oriented team culture.

Donor Engagement & Portfolio Strategy

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 50-75 foundation, institution, and government funding relationships.
• Lead cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, renewal, and recognition strategies for foundation and institutional partners.
• Recommend and support strategy development for foundation relationships in collaboration with the Senior Director and cross-functional partners.
• Oversee development and implementation of donor engagement and stewardship plans.
• Review and approve proposals, reports, grant agreements, and donor communications.
• Ensure all proposals and reports accurately communicate organizational impact.
• Track relationship activity and donor strategy in Stratus LIVE.

Data Analysis, Insights & Executive Reporting

• Develop, analyze, and interpret fundraising data to surface insights and trends across pipelines, portfolios, donors, grants, and campaigns.
• Translate data related to budgets, forecasting, and pipelines into concise, actionable insights that support planning and decision-making.
• Work closely with the Senior Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations to create clear narratives that accompany data for executive audiences.
• Prepare high-quality reports and presentations for executive leadership and board audiences.
• Track foundation revenue goals and support annual budgeting, forecasting, and long-range revenue planning.
• Use portfolio and pipeline analysis to identify funding gaps, renewal risks, growth opportunities, and strategic priorities.
• Ensure data is used to shape plans rather than simply being reported.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Individual Giving, Corporate Relations, Marketing & Communications, Community Impact, Finance, and other leaders to identify funding opportunities.
• Collaborate on donor engagement and stewardship strategies when funders have relationships across multiple fundraising programs.
• Support executive leadership, board, and team to address institutional funder reporting needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 7-10 years of fundraising experience required
• Supervisory experience required
• Demonstrated success in hitting philanthropic revenue goals and milestones
• Strong project management and time management skills
• Advanced computer skills with Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience with Stratus LIVE or other CRM
• Strong presentation, communications, and interpersonal skills a must
• Flexibility and sense of humor; thrives in a fast-paced working environment

Benefits:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution
• Generous paid time off
• Parental leave
• On-site gym
• $3,000 annual employer-paid Thrive Pass lifestyle and wellness benefit program
• $250 employee referral bonus