Manager of Foundation Relations and Development Strategy

Manager of Foundation Relations and Development Strategy

Location:

New York, New York

Reports to:

Associate Director of Development

Founded in 1894, the American Academy in Rome is a leading American overseas center

for independent study and advanced research in the arts and humanities. Each year, the

Academy awards the Rome Prize to approximately 30 artists and scholars who join a

dynamic, transdisciplinary residential community on the Academy’s eleven-acre campus

on the Janiculum Hill—enriched further by invited Residents and Visiting Artists and

Scholars, reaching a community of approximately 100 at any given time. Fellows and

Residents have gone on to earn 79 Pulitzer Prizes, 63 Mac Arthur Fellowships, 5 Nobel

Prizes, and 5 Pritzker Prizes, among many other distinctions.

The Manager of Foundation Relations and Development Strategy is a senior fundraising

professional responsible for developing and implementing strategies to secure

philanthropic support from private foundations, family foundations, and selected

individual donors. This position serves as the organization’s lead strategist for foundation

fundraising while also supporting major gift and institutional fundraising efforts through

prospect research, proposal development, grant management, and fundraising planning.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Development, the Manager will identify and cultivate

grant proposals and donor materials, and ensure timely grant reporting and compliance.

The position works closely with senior leadership, program staff, trustees, and fundraising

colleagues to develop funding strategies that align organizational priorities with donor

interests.

Success in this role will be defined by increased foundation revenue, a growing pipeline of

prospective funders, successful proposal submissions, strong grant stewardship and

reporting practices, and the development of strategic fundraising initiatives that support

the Academy’s long-term philanthropic goals.

Working closely with the Associate Director of Development, the position will take the lead

on:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to secure support from private, family, and corporate foundations.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of foundation prospects capable of supporting general operations, programs, and strategic initiatives.
• Monitor trends in philanthropy and foundation giving to identify new funding.
• Develop annual goals, funding priorities, and foundation engagement strategies aligned with organizational objectives.
• Maintain strong relationships with foundation staff, trustees, and philanthropic

• Lead prospect research efforts for foundation, individual, and institutional
• Identify, evaluate, and qualify prospective funders using research tools, wealth screening resources, public filings, and philanthropic databases.
• Prepare donor and foundation profiles, briefing materials, cultivation strategies, and prospect analyses for senior leadership and trustees.
• Work closely with advancement staff to support major gift and campaign planning.
• Assist in developing long-range fundraising strategies and priorities based on donor interests, organizational needs, and philanthropic trends.

• Serve as the primary author and coordinator of foundation proposals, letters of inquiry, concept papers, and grant applications.
• Develop compelling funding narratives that clearly articulate the Academy’s mission, impact, programs, and funding needs.
• Collaborate with programmatic, financial, and executive staff to gather information required for proposals and funding requests.
• Support the preparation of customized proposals and briefing materials for individual donor solicitations and major gift opportunities.
• Ensure that all submissions meet funder requirements, deadlines, and organizational standards.
• Maintain a library of proposal language, organizational information, budgets, and supporting materials.

• Establish and manage systems for tracking proposals, grants, reporting requirements, deadlines, and funding outcomes.
• Maintain accurate records…