Executive Director of Development, Corporate and Foundation Relations

About Us
- Values Overview

We are one team comprised of individuals who are committed to excellence, curiosity and innovation. We are transforming lives and creating economic opportunity through education. We champion a people‑first values‑based culture where We Care about each other and those we serve. We believe that we are Better Together because we foster an environment of respect, belonging, and access for all. We demonstrate Courageous Integrity through setting exceptional standards and acting in the best interest of our communities.

We are encouraged to Be Curious about opportunities for learning, creating, discovering, and innovating, and are encouraged to learn from failure. Show Your Fire by joining our team and exhibiting your passion and pride in your work as part of our UNT System team.

Learn more about the UNT System and how we live our values System.edu.

The Division of University Advancement strives to transform lives and unlock potential through the power of philanthropy and engagement by awakening and stewarding pride and loyalty for the University of North Texas.

Established in 1890, the University of North Texas is a place where students transform their lives through education and opportunity. With more than 46,000 students from across the state, nation, and world, UNT offers 240 academic programs — many nationally and internationally recognized. A Tier One research university and designated a Hispanic- and Minority-Serving Institution, UNT has a legacy of excellence in education, music, the arts, business and social sciences, with growing strengths in science and engineering.

Last year, students earned nearly 13,000 degrees and joined UNT's network of 480,000 alumni, fueling progress and innovation.

The University Advancement Corporate and Foundation Relations Team is seeking an Executive Director to lead a foundation-forward advancement strategy focused on transformational private foundation partnerships. This role will devote the majority of its effort—approximately 80%—to identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major national and regional private foundations capable of making significant philanthropic investments in UNT’s institutional priorities, research enterprise, academic programs, and student success initiatives.

Corporate relations will remain an important but secondary function, representing approximately 20% of the role and focused on select corporate entities in partnership with the President’s Corporate Concierge program aligning with UNT’s strategic priorities.

• Leads the development and execution of a transformational foundation relations strategy designed to secure major philanthropic gifts and grants from national and regional private foundations in support of UNT’s highest institutional priorities.
• Builds and deepens long‑term partnerships with major foundation leaders, program officers, and trustees while positioning UNT faculty, research, and academic initiatives for significant multi‑year foundation support.
• Provides strategic leadership and management for the Corporate and Foundation Relations team, setting priorities, metrics, and practices/processes that emphasize foundation support growth while maintaining targeted corporate engagement.

The position reports to the Associate Vice President for Development. In addition, it will supervise multiple direct reports, including a Grant Writer and a Senior Director/Director of Foundation Relations, with the opportunity for future team expansion as organizational needs and resources evolve.

• Works with advancement and development colleagues, faculty, deans, unit directors, volunteers, administration, and staff to identify, cultivate, and solicit major private foundations as the primary focus of the role, while also pursuing select corporate and corporate foundation opportunities aligned with UNT’s strategic priorities.
• Manages a portfolio of high‑capacity foundation prospects and partners, cultivates relationships with foundation decision‑makers, guides solicitation strategy, and advances complex proposals for transformational gifts…