Development Officer, Corporate and Foundation Relations

ABOUT SEEDS

SEEDS – Access Changes Everything (founded in 1992 as NJ SEEDS) is a privately funded, nonprofit organization. We change the lives of motivated, high-achieving students from households with limited means by transforming their educational opportunities.

SEEDS’ programs include advanced academic classes, cultural enrichment opportunities, and leadership training to prepare students for placement at exceptional educational institutions where they can realize their full potential. We encourage our alumni to be leaders who give back to the community. With more than 200 students per year and more than 3,400 graduates, every member of SEEDS’ 25‑person main office staff and 75‑person site staff understands how their work contributes to students’ success every day.

The Development Officer, Corporate and Foundation Relations is responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive plan to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate and foundation donors and aims to build key partnerships to support strategic priorities. With equal parts externally facing and internally partnering, the Development Officer will have one eye on the organizational fundraising goals and the other on identifying and completing new opportunities.

This role will focus on building relationships with corporate representatives and foundations that are able to support the needs for SEEDS programming and operations.

Along with a commitment to the SEEDS mission, the ideal candidate will have significant project management experience, strong writing skills and a passion for building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders. This hybrid role reports to the Vice President, Development, but works closely with other members of the development department to achieve the annual fundraising goals of SEEDS – Access Changes Everything.

• Increase total revenue in corporate and foundation channels.
• Build upon and manage a portfolio of 80‑100 foundations and corporations, consisting of existing donors, lapsed donors and prospective new supporters and partners.
• Contribute to strategic planning for partnership development, including creating and implementing an accountability/work plan based on fundraising goals.
• Serve as primary grant writer, managing all aspects of foundation writing for grants, letters or inquiry, and follow‑up reporting. This includes obtaining and organizing data necessary for proposal writing and reporting.
• Identify, research and lead outreach for new strategic partnerships with corporate offices such as Talent Acquisition/HR, Diversity and Inclusion to secure internships for SEEDS’ scholars and alumni.
• Lead planning and strategy for donor visits and other targeted contact with donors and prospects. Handle all logistics related to meetings and opportunities, including scheduling, site visits, and social media opportunities with donors, SEEDS Scholars and leadership.
• Advise on engagement strategy and take initiative to coordinate preliminary and follow‑up communications.
• Track all necessary donor data, including contact reports, actions, proposals, and deadlines in Raiser's Edge database.
• Design a creative and systematic approach for recognizing and stewarding donors and partners.
• Collaborate with other departments (i.e., college placement, guidance, marketing, etc.) to fulfill corporate partnership deliverables. Spearhead efforts to solicit corporate sponsor ships for events, which include SEEDS’ annual Golf Outing (fall) and Benefit (spring).
• Additional duties as needed.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 3+ years’ experience with fundraising, corporate relations, foundation relations, or equivalent/similar combination.
• Demonstrated excellence in written and oral communication.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and relationship building.
• A problem‑solving, can‑do attitude with top‑notch planning and prioritizing skills, with a keen eye for detail.
• Ability to balance multiple deadlines simultaneously and meet performance and team fundraising goals.

• Hybrid schedule: minimum three days per week in the Newark office (including…