Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Jobs
Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations jobs are open across higher education, nonprofits, and healthcare systems, at every level from manager to vice president, with specializations in major gifts, grant strategy, and institutional partnerships. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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The Senior ADO will be a key member of the development team reporting to the Senior Director of Development, Principal Gifts and Foundation Relations. This position is a member of the Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement Team (PAE) and subject to joint management by the University of Arizona and the University of Arizona Foundation as specified in the restated Development Services and Asset Management Agreement dated July 2, 2021.
Supervisory Responsibility
Duties and Responsibilities
- At the direction of the Senior Director of Development, Principal Gifts and Foundation Relations lead key fundraising priority initiatives for the university and Office of Research and Partnerships. Serve as a leadership partner with key department heads, center directors, and administrators on fundraising priorities and development operations initiatives.
- Responsible for building and maintaining a healthy portfolio defined for Senior ADOs as 50-70 assigned prospects with 40-50 in cultivation/solicitation; 40% of those in cultivation/solicitation capacity rated at $250K+ and 5% rated at $1M+.
- Develop and execute strategic, personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for an assigned portfolio ($50,000 capacity or greater) of donor prospects (individual, corporate, and foundation) through personal meetings (in-person or via live video conferencing platforms), letters, phone calls, email, text messaging and other methods.
- Effectively initiate and complete Qualification Plans per PAE standards to develop new major gift prospects.
- Plan, coordinate, and schedule weekly personal meetings with prospects and donors utilizing UAF software, introductory letters, emails/texts, and phone calls to set appointments.
- Provide a high level of support in stewardship and recognition efforts for annual fund donors.
- After an initial 6-month onboarding period, execute an agreed-upon metric of at least 100 current or prospect donor meetings and the successful closure of 15+ major/principal gift proposals per year, with an expectation of $750K+ raised after the initial onboarding period (with incremental increases after the first year).
- Develop personalized strategies for all assigned donors and prospects which builds, maintains, and enhances relationships while furthering donors’ philanthropic objectives.
- Design and manage solicitation and stewardship plans in UAF CRM platform to support fundraising initiatives.
- Maintain current and accurate records of donor prospects recorded in UAF CRM platform. In a timely manner, but no less frequently, than on a weekly basis, enter contact reports of all meetings, significant conversations, letters and correspondence, gift solicitations, and other communications with donors.
- Ensure all contributions are properly documented and handled in accordance with the University of Arizona Gift Policy.
- Partner with College and PAE alumni engagement colleagues to help build donor pipeline.
- Partner with, and effectively utilize, the development professionals and resources of the PAE, including campus-based development teams, the offices of Regional Development; Gift Planning; Leadership and Annual Giving (telephone, direct-mail, and e-solicitation services); Alumni Engagement; Marketing and Communications; Prospect Development; Financial Services; Information Services; and other PAE Central services.
- Creatively leverage outreach activities (e.g. tours, lectures, exhibits, etc.) to develop new major gift prospects.
- Utilize the common systems, policies, and procedures adhered to by PAE team members.
- Support and promote a culture of philanthropy across the University and work effectively as part of the greater PAE.
- Represent the Foundation, University, and PAE at public events, including delivering remarks.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Ability to understand and follow all Federal, UA, and UAF policies and procedures, including UA scholarship and financial aid policies, as well as the University of Arizona Gift Policy.
- Commitment to working in a collaborative team environment with shared goals.
- Ability to work efficiently with a wide variety of individuals, including donors, PAE colleagues, deans, faculty and staff.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to effectively communicate both verbally and written.
- Demonstrated commitment to exceptional customer service with the ability to translate the PAE guiding principles of donor-centricity and collaboration into work practices.
- Ability to recognize and handle highly confidential and sensitive information in a discrete and professional manner.
- Work with excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Be able to work independently with the ability to prioritize multiple projects and meet strict deadlines for deliverables
- Ability to anticipate and discern work priorities and meet deadlines with little supervision.
- Adept at problem-solving and using judgment in situations requiring initiative, tact, and confidentiality.
- An exceptional work ethic and track record of personal initiative required.
- Openness to new ideas and personal flexibility with the ability to adapt and succeed in a multi-task, fast-paced environment with changing processes and occasional ambiguity.
- Ability to inspire cooperation and participation
- Proficiency in the use of personal computers and Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
- Proficiency or ability to learn additional software required to perform the essential duties of the position.
- Bachelor's degree
- Minimum of 5 years of related work experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
- Ability to drive/attend meetings throughout Arizona and travel by commercial airline as needed.
- Any equivalent combination of experience, training, and/or education approved by Human Resources.
Preferred Qualifications
- Fundraising experience in a higher education setting.
- Ability to work across multiple teams and diverse priorities.
Work Environment
- Regular in-state and national travel is required.
- The Senior ADO will be required to work evenings and/or weekends as necessary.
The University of Arizona Foundation reserves the right to revise this job description anytime.
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Find JobsDirector of Corporate and Foundation Relations Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Insurance
- Science & Research
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in director of corporate and foundation relations jobs.
- Five or more years of experience in corporate or foundation fundraising and donor relations
- Demonstrated success closing major gifts or multi-year institutional grants
- Bachelor's degree in communications, nonprofit management, business, or a related field
- Experience writing and submitting grant proposals to private foundations and corporate funders
- Proficiency with constituent relationship management software such as Raiser's Edge or Salesforce Nonprofit
- Ability to build and manage a prospect pipeline from identification through stewardship
Tips for Your Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Job Search
Quantify your fundraising portfolio results
Hiring committees want to see portfolio totals, not just titles. Pull your three to five largest corporate or foundation gifts closed, the grant cycle timeline you managed, and the year-over-year growth you drove. Numbers replace vague claims about relationship-building.
Tailor your resume to the institution type
A research university values indirect cost recovery and federal grant compliance experience. A community nonprofit values program alignment and foundation stewardship cycles. Read the mission statement and match your resume language to their funding priorities before you apply.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists director of corporate and foundation relations openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target organizations with active grant pipelines
Search for employers whose annual reports or Form 990 filings show growing foundation revenue or new corporate sponsorship programs. Those organizations are expanding their development teams, not backfilling departures, which means more room to negotiate scope and title.
Prepare a case statement for your interview
Expect to walk through how you would approach a cold corporate prospect or a lapsed foundation funder. Bring a one-page sample cultivation plan tied to the organization's existing programs. Interviewers test strategic thinking, not just relationship history.
Negotiate beyond base compensation
Development directors often have room to negotiate conference budgets, donor cultivation expense accounts, and remote travel policies that directly affect your ability to close gifts. Raise these in the offer stage, after the compensation conversation has opened, not before.
Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most director of corporate and foundation relationss?
AltaMed Health Services, Toledo Zoo, and UNT System are hiring the most director of corporate and foundation relationss right now, with openings concentrated in California, Texas, and Massachusetts, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Universities, health systems, and large nonprofit organizations tend to post the highest volume of these roles year-round.
How many director of corporate and foundation relations jobs are remote?
About 74% of director of corporate and foundation relations openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though fully on-site roles remain common at institutions that prioritize in-person donor cultivation. Grant writing and prospect research functions within the role are most frequently offered with remote flexibility, while major gifts stewardship often requires a local or regional presence.
How do you become a director of corporate and foundation relations?
Most directors of corporate and foundation relations start in development associate or grants coordinator roles, building experience writing proposals and managing funder relationships. From there, moving into a manager or associate director position with a defined portfolio of corporate or foundation prospects is the typical path. Earning a Certified Fund Raising Executive credential and building a record of closed gifts in the six- or seven-figure range positions you competitively for director-level roles.
Can you get hired as a director of corporate and foundation relations without direct experience?
Candidates with adjacent experience in grant writing, corporate sponsorship sales, or institutional communications sometimes transition into this role by emphasizing transferable skills such as prospect cultivation, proposal writing, and relationship stewardship. Starting at the manager or assistant director level at a smaller organization, then building a closed-gift portfolio, is a realistic path into a full director title without a traditional development background.
What does the director of corporate and foundation relations interview process look like?
The process typically includes an initial phone or video screen with HR, followed by a panel interview with the chief development officer and program leadership. Many organizations include a written exercise asking candidates to draft a funding pitch or prospect brief. Finalists often meet with senior institutional leadership and may be asked to present a cultivation strategy for a mock corporate or foundation prospect before an offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to director of corporate and foundation relations jobs?
You can find and apply to director of corporate and foundation relations jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your background and apply directly to each one that fits.
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