Associate Director of Foundation Relations

Job Overview

The Associate Director of Foundation Relations (ADOFR) helps build and steward relationships with foundation funders and generates philanthropic support for UNH programs and priorities. Serving in a frontline fundraising role, the ADOFR will partner with the Managing Director of Foundation Relations to strengthen a foundation fundraising program that reflects UNH’s culture, mission, goals, and evolving strategic plans. In these efforts, the ADOFR will coordinate and direct activities that will ensure regular and increased support from foundation donors and prospects to fulfill UNH’s goals and priorities, and work collaboratively and transparently with faculty, staff, academic leadership, Advancement colleagues, board members, and alumni.

They will identify, cultivate, and solicit prospective foundation partners; maintain and expand relationships with existing partners; and participate in ongoing institution-wide conversations about fundraising vision, strategy, and goals.

Frontline Fundraising - 70%

• Use professional relationship-building skills to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward foundation donors and prospects capable of supporting UNH programs, projects, and research initiatives.
• Regularly meet with faculty, staff, associate deans/deans, and other internal partners to understand priorities and programmatic needs; research and identify foundation prospects based on institutional priorities and funders’ giving interests.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with foundation contacts; develop engagement strategies to advance UNH’s goals with those funders.
• Assist in the preparation and submission of proposals, letters of intent, and other funding application materials, ensuring alignment with foundation priorities and working in collaboration with the Office of Sponsored Program Administration.
• Close gifts/grants and sponsored projects agreements with a typical funding range of $25,000-$250,000.
• Proactively research new and existing foundation funders and prospects whose giving interests align with UNH priorities. Develop outreach plans to showcase key UNH programs and capabilities with prospective funders.

Strategy Development and Implementation - 30%

• Monitor foundations’ funding strategies and interests to identify potential alignment with UNH priorities and faculty research, education, and outreach activities.
• Gather and disseminate information on RFPs and other foundation funding opportunities to faculty and administrators.
• Engage in strategic planning discussions to help advance the Foundation Relations team’s impact.
• Keep abreast of the complex and dynamic foundation funding landscape and advise internal constituents on funding approaches accordingly.
• Collaborate and cooperate with colleagues to advance UNH’s overall fundraising priorities and achieve strategic goals.
• Participate in other Development activities as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree and 3-5 years of fundraising experience or equivalent (sales, business development, account/relationship management, marketing and/or public relations).

• Experience in a fundraising setting and proven success in goal achievement, planning, proposal development, and related work. Related experience in communications, professional sales/marketing, financial planning/advising, and other fields will be considered.
• Orientation as a team player with collaborative instincts and a metrics-driven, entrepreneurial mindset that informs strategy and work.
• Willingness to develop broad knowledge of campus programs, projects, and activities, as well as the mechanisms by which foundations partner with educational institutions.
• Exceptionally strong verbal and written communication skills, organizational and analytical skills, and project management skills.
• Exemplary interpersonal and communication skills, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to deal with complex concepts and negotiate conversations with diplomacy.
• Demonstrated commitment to collaboration as well as the ability to work well both independently and collectively with a diverse team and donor/prospect…