Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer

Location

Main Campus - North Canton, OH 44720

Staff (Full-Time)

The Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer plays a crucial role in representing Walsh University and in the university's fundraising efforts by cultivating and securing philanthropic support from institutional sources: corporations, corporate foundations, private and community foundations, and other organizational donors. The officer is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding institutional prospects and donors and for developing strategic sponsorship and partnerships that align corporate and foundation interests with the priorities of Walsh University.

• Develop, manage, and grow a robust portfolio of corporate, corporate foundation, private foundation, and community foundation prospects capable of making gifts or grants of $10,000 or greater.
• Implement and execute strategic plans for institutional gift prospects and donors, including multi-year and campaign-level grant commitments.
• Research and identify institutional gift prospects, including corporations with matching gift programs, foundations with giving priorities aligned with the university's mission, and corporate partners interested in sponsorship and community engagement.
• Develop and manage a comprehensive program for corporate sponsor ships and partnerships, creating sponsorship packages and benefit structures that align with corporate marketing, community investment, and philanthropic goals.
• Prepare grant proposals, letters of inquiry, sponsorship packages, solicitation letters, reports, and stewardship communications for foundation and corporate audiences.
• Collaborate with Office of Philanthropy staff, university leadership, faculty, staff, academic deans, and program directors to identify fundable priorities and build compelling cases for support that speak to institutional funders.
• Maintain knowledge of foundation and corporate grant cycles, RFP deadlines, reporting requirements, and compliance obligations; manage a calendar of deadlines and submissions to ensure timely and accurate grant activity.
• Coordinate with the university's grants and sponsored programs resources (where applicable) and with Finance and Academic Affairs to ensure appropriate budget development, gift and grant compliance, and stewardship reporting.
• Prepare talking points, briefings, and proposals for senior leadership and trustees to support institutional donor engagement and solicitations.
• Track and assess institutional giving fundraising metrics, including proposals submitted, dollars raised, prospect pipeline activity, and portfolio performance.
• Organize and participate in cultivation and stewardship events, campus visits, meetings with foundation or corporate contacts, and external networking opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned or acquired.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) of this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.

All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s Degree.
• Minimum three to five years of experience in corporate and foundation relations, grant writing, institutional fundraising, corporate sponsorship sales, or a closely related field; track record of securing five- and six-figure plus institutional gifts, grants, or sponsor ships.
• Experience in higher education or nonprofit environment preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Demonstrated expertise in grant writing, including preparation of letters of inquiry, full proposals, and stewardship reports.
• Knowledge of corporate giving programs, sponsorship models, and foundation grant-making practices.
• Professional demeanor with a positive, can‑do attitude and strong listening, interpersonal and relationship management skills.
• Strong sense of urgency, perseverance, passion for achieving goals, and ability to travel as needed.
• Commitment to Walsh University’s Statement of Faith, Mission, Vision, Values and Code of Ethical Conduct.

Light work: occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds. Desk job with majority of sedentary work, climate‑controlled office and remote settings, occasional travel, weekend and evening hours may be required.

Walsh University is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to principles of equal opportunity.