Foundation Relations Officer

Foundation Relations Officer

At Guiding Eyes for the Blind, we are passionate about connecting exceptional dogs with individuals seeking greater independence. We are dedicated to creating and supporting life-changing partnerships between people and dogs. Our incredible dogs make our mission possible – and working with them will inspire you! We put our clients first, striving to exceed their expectations by providing exceptional dogs trained to meet their unique needs and empower them to live the lives they choose.

The Foundation Relations Officer supports Guiding Eyes for the Blind's fundraising efforts by building and strengthening relationships with foundation partners and securing philanthropic support for the organization's mission and programs. As a member of the Philanthropy team, the Officer manages the full grant lifecycle, including prospect research, proposal development, reporting, stewardship, and donor communications.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across the organization, this position gathers and translates programmatic, financial, and organizational information into compelling funding opportunities that demonstrate impact and inspire investment. This role helps expand and sustain foundation support through effective grant management, stewardship, and donor communications.

The ideal candidate is an exceptional writer, organized project manager, and relationship builder who thrives in a collaborative environment and is passionate about connecting foundations to mission-driven work that changes lives.

At Guiding Eyes, you'll work alongside passionate, caring professionals who are united by a love of dogs and a shared commitment to our mission. Together, we help create life-changing partnerships between people and guide dogs while connecting donors to the extraordinary impact their generosity makes possible. If you're looking for meaningful work in a collaborative, mission-driven environment where your efforts directly support greater independence and opportunity for people with vision loss, we'd love to hear from you.

The Role

• Foundation Fundraising & Relationship Management
• Grant Writing & Management
• Collaboration & Information Gathering
• Donor Records & Gift Administration
• Additional Responsibilities

Qualifications You Will Need

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two (2) or more years of experience in grant writing, foundation relations, development, fundraising, or a related nonprofit role.
• Demonstrated ability to research funding opportunities and develop clear, persuasive grant proposals, reports, and donor communications.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining accurate donor, grant, and gift records.

Professional Skills

• Knowledge of fundraising principles, donor stewardship, and relationship management.
• Ability to identify, research, and evaluate foundation funding opportunities aligned with organizational priorities.
• Ability to interpret and summarize programmatic, financial, and organizational information for funders and other audiences.
• Ability to manage the full grant lifecycle, including proposal development, reporting, stewardship, compliance, and renewals.

Communication & Collaboration

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with excellent editing and proofreading abilities.
• Ability to build productive relationships with foundation funders, donors, and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with colleagues across departments.

Technical & Physical Requirements

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs and donor management/CRM systems;
  Salesforce savvy a plus.
• Ability to maintain confidential donor and organizational information with discretion, diplomacy, sound judgment, and the highest ethical standards.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends in support of donor cultivation, stewardship, fundraising events, and engagement activities.
• Must be comfortable around large, active dogs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing…