Foundation Director Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Foundation Director positions typically qualify for H-1B and EB-2 visa sponsorship when requiring specialized nonprofit management expertise and advanced degrees. Organizations like major foundations, university endowments, and healthcare systems regularly sponsor international talent for strategic leadership roles in philanthropy and grant administration. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
At Houston Methodist, the Foundation Director Gift Services is responsible for providing strategic leadership and oversight of all aspects of gift processing, including gift acceptance and accurate recording of philanthropic gifts and commitments, ensuring alignment of gift services with Foundation goals and institutional priorities.
Prefer candidate with knowledge of financial systems and processes; highly computer literate with strong Microsoft Office skills – particularly Excel; and experience with fundraising CRM systems. This position collaborates with Foundation staff and other internal stakeholders on the design and implementation of strategies for operational efficiency, service excellence, and comprehensive fund management to achieve the goals of maintaining donor trust, ensuring effective donor stewardship and compliance with federal/state regulations and institutional policies. Collaborates with Foundation fundraising program leaders to develop timelines, tracking, and processes in support of program goals. Drives continuous improvement and leverages technology to enhance efficiency, accuracy, donor service, and alignment with industry best practices. Director also manages the production of gift agreements/statements of gift intent for major and principal gifts. Duties also include serving as the senior liaison to Houston Methodist Finance/Treasury teams on all philanthropic gift processing, reconciliation, financial closings, and audit matters.
The Foundation Director Gift Services position responsibilities include managing the daily work activities of the work unit/department staff, ensuring quality, productivity, functional excellence, and efficiency while assisting management in accomplishing strategic and operational objectives. In addition, this position provides guidance to staff and is responsible for staffing, budget compliance, contributing to staffing decisions such as hiring and terminating employment, coaching, and counseling employees on work-related performance, and assisting in the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure a safe and effective work environment. This position also implements training, monitoring and operations initiatives that secure compliance with ethical and legal business practices and accreditation/regulatory/government regulations.
FLSA STATUS
Exempt
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Bachelor's degree in business, accounting, finance, or related degree
Experience
Eight years of experience in gift processing/administration, accounting, or fund management related experience in non-profit, of which one year must have been in a people management role. For internal employees, seven years of experience in relevant field with HM performance that demonstrates leadership responsibility. Healthcare fundraising experience preferred.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
- Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
- Ability to effectively communicate through a variety of channels with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles; engages the recipient(s) and helps them understand and retain the message
- Demonstrates the ability to interact with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization
- Ability to use appropriate interpersonal styles and techniques to gain acceptance of ideas or plans; modifying one’s own behavior to accommodate tasks, situations and individuals involved
- Demonstrates leadership qualities and critical thinking through self-direction initiative and effective interpersonal skills and oral/written communication skills
- Ability to identify and understand issues, problems and opportunities, comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints and probable consequences
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment
- Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in the workplace
- Working knowledge of all aspects of gift cycle, including gift entry and acknowledgment preferred
- Knowledge of the IRS regulations as they pertain to gift acceptance, processing, receipt delivery, and 501(c)3 organizational operations
- Ability to identify errors and determine strategies to mitigate future risk
- Relational database experience, including data entry, query construction, report creation, and data manipulation
- Experience with financial reconciliation and audit processes
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Performs management responsibilities of selection, scheduling, supervision, retention, and evaluation of employees in the department. Provides development and mentoring of staff. Meets or exceeds threshold goal for department turnover. Develops direct reports to perform these same functions.
- Provides fair and consistent leadership and communication to maintain a competent and engaged employee group by conducting regular department meetings to review policies and procedures and operational matters, rounding on all employees, completing performance appraisals, conducting new hire feedback sessions, coaching/corrective counseling, and providing recognition/commendations to achieve desired outcomes. Provides timely guidance and feedback to help others strengthen specific knowledge/skill areas needed to accomplish a task or solve a problem.
- Facilitates and promotes effective team dynamics and teambuilding strategies within and between departments; participates and/or leads and facilitates department process improvements as needed.
- Meets or exceeds threshold goal for department and/or system metrics on employee engagement indicators.
- Collaborates with various Foundation units to support Foundation goals and best in class donor experience and fund management. Participates in strategic planning for Foundation operations and donor systems.
- Partners with Foundation Finance and Donor Relations/Stewardship teams; hospital finance/treasury; departments; and service lines on fund establishment, revenue classification, gift reporting, and internal/external audits.
SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Plans and organizes day-to-day department operations, schedule and activities. Sets priorities and functional standards, giving direction to staff as necessary to ensure the best possible delivery of service and high customer/patient satisfaction.
- Drives department service standards and activities to impact department and/or system score for patient/customer-based satisfaction, through role modeling and fostering accountability. Serves and actively participates on various entity committees as a voice for the department.
- Supports fundraising initiatives and campaign gift tracking by assessing progress, accuracy and timeliness of gift entry.
- Serves as primary liaison to Corporate Finance/Treasury unit and as resource to Foundation staff and donors on gift processing related issues and accounting of giving, including the management of donor inquiries by phone or through the dedicated inbox.
QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Ensures a safe and effective working environment; monitors and/or revises the department safety plan and/or any specific accreditation/regulatory required safety guidelines, including infection control principles. Monitors and confirms staff maintain their required credentials that demonstrate competency per accrediting agency or department guidelines as applicable.
- Uses and optimizes information systems to enhance operations; supports entity-specific performance improvement and data management/analysis functions.
- Employs a proactive approach in the optimization of safe outcomes by monitoring and improving the department workflow, using peer-to-peer accountability, reporting accidents, near misses, and/or adverse events immediately per department protocol and identifying solutions via collaboration. Adopts lean principles in driving process improvements. Role models situational awareness, using teachable moments to improve safety.
- Monitors self and employee compliance with policies, procedures, and System HR Standards of Practice and performs associated actions upon non-compliance (i.e., focal point review requirements, disaster plan, in-services, influenza immunization, wage and hour, standard hours, timely termination submission, timely timecard approval, etc.).
- Oversees the full cycle of gift processing, ensuring that all gifts are posted, acknowledged, and transferred efficiently, timely and accurately in accordance with federal/state, Foundation and institutional policies and procedures. Establishes protocol for the protection and privacy of donor records, including the electronic management, organization, and security of donor files.
- Develops and implements policies and procedures for all aspects of the gift processing cycle, month and year-end financial closings, pledge management, write-offs, reconciliations, and standards for best-in-class donor experience, timeliness, and accuracy.
FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Assists in the development of department budget and ensures that the department operates in a cost-effective manner. Manages/audits department expenses within approved budget parameters, ensuring that the department meets the budgeted/flex revenue and/or expense targets on a monthly and annual basis. Develops staffing plans and schedules to meet department/patient needs that reflect understanding of the importance of cost-effectiveness.
- Implements department strategies to achieve financial target and staffing needs, developing others to do the same, through optimizing productivity, supply/resource efficiency, minimizing incidental overtime and overtime percentage, and other areas according to department specifications.
- Oversees the administration of all charitable pledges and gifts, including cash, check, credit card, ACH, wire, securities, matching gift, planned gift, and gift-in-kind tender types. Ensures proper accounting of gifts for compliance with donor restrictions and institutional policies, including endowed and restricted current use gifts.
GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Identifies and implements innovative solutions for practice or workflow changes to improve department operations or other department-specific measures by leading unit projects and/or other department/system directed/shared governance activities. Supports change initiatives, maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment; adjusts effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures.
- Proactively evaluates processes; recommends and implements action plan(s) for change; follows through to ensure effective, sustainable change. Participates in the development and implementation of new procedures and the review and revision of existing procedures.
- Identifies opportunities and takes action to build strategic relationships between one’s area and other areas, teams, departments, and units to achieve business goals.
- Seeks opportunities to identify developmental needs of self and staff and takes appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates My Development Plan (MDP) on an ongoing basis. Conducts conversations with staff on their development.
- Maintains awareness of charitable giving regulations, gift types, nonprofit accounting principles and industry trends/best practices in gift processing and administration.
SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
WORK ATTIRE
- Uniform: No
- Scrubs: No
- Business professional: Yes
- Other (department approved): No
ON-CALL
- Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.
- On Call: No
TRAVEL
- Travel specifications may vary by department
- May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area: Yes
- May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area: Yes
Houston Methodist is one of the nation’s leading health systems and academic medical centers. The health system consists of eight hospitals: Houston Methodist Hospital, its flagship academic hospital in the Texas Medical Center, seven community hospitals and one long-term acute care hospital throughout the Greater Houston metropolitan area. Houston Methodist also includes a research institute; a comprehensive residency program; international patient services; freestanding comprehensive care clinics, emergency care and imaging centers; and outpatient facilities. Come lead with us!
Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
INTRODUCTION
At Houston Methodist, the Foundation Director Gift Services is responsible for providing strategic leadership and oversight of all aspects of gift processing, including gift acceptance and accurate recording of philanthropic gifts and commitments, ensuring alignment of gift services with Foundation goals and institutional priorities.
Prefer candidate with knowledge of financial systems and processes; highly computer literate with strong Microsoft Office skills – particularly Excel; and experience with fundraising CRM systems. This position collaborates with Foundation staff and other internal stakeholders on the design and implementation of strategies for operational efficiency, service excellence, and comprehensive fund management to achieve the goals of maintaining donor trust, ensuring effective donor stewardship and compliance with federal/state regulations and institutional policies. Collaborates with Foundation fundraising program leaders to develop timelines, tracking, and processes in support of program goals. Drives continuous improvement and leverages technology to enhance efficiency, accuracy, donor service, and alignment with industry best practices. Director also manages the production of gift agreements/statements of gift intent for major and principal gifts. Duties also include serving as the senior liaison to Houston Methodist Finance/Treasury teams on all philanthropic gift processing, reconciliation, financial closings, and audit matters.
The Foundation Director Gift Services position responsibilities include managing the daily work activities of the work unit/department staff, ensuring quality, productivity, functional excellence, and efficiency while assisting management in accomplishing strategic and operational objectives. In addition, this position provides guidance to staff and is responsible for staffing, budget compliance, contributing to staffing decisions such as hiring and terminating employment, coaching, and counseling employees on work-related performance, and assisting in the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure a safe and effective work environment. This position also implements training, monitoring and operations initiatives that secure compliance with ethical and legal business practices and accreditation/regulatory/government regulations.
FLSA STATUS
Exempt
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Bachelor's degree in business, accounting, finance, or related degree
Experience
Eight years of experience in gift processing/administration, accounting, or fund management related experience in non-profit, of which one year must have been in a people management role. For internal employees, seven years of experience in relevant field with HM performance that demonstrates leadership responsibility. Healthcare fundraising experience preferred.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
- Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
- Ability to effectively communicate through a variety of channels with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles; engages the recipient(s) and helps them understand and retain the message
- Demonstrates the ability to interact with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization
- Ability to use appropriate interpersonal styles and techniques to gain acceptance of ideas or plans; modifying one’s own behavior to accommodate tasks, situations and individuals involved
- Demonstrates leadership qualities and critical thinking through self-direction initiative and effective interpersonal skills and oral/written communication skills
- Ability to identify and understand issues, problems and opportunities, comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints and probable consequences
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment
- Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in the workplace
- Working knowledge of all aspects of gift cycle, including gift entry and acknowledgment preferred
- Knowledge of the IRS regulations as they pertain to gift acceptance, processing, receipt delivery, and 501(c)3 organizational operations
- Ability to identify errors and determine strategies to mitigate future risk
- Relational database experience, including data entry, query construction, report creation, and data manipulation
- Experience with financial reconciliation and audit processes
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Performs management responsibilities of selection, scheduling, supervision, retention, and evaluation of employees in the department. Provides development and mentoring of staff. Meets or exceeds threshold goal for department turnover. Develops direct reports to perform these same functions.
- Provides fair and consistent leadership and communication to maintain a competent and engaged employee group by conducting regular department meetings to review policies and procedures and operational matters, rounding on all employees, completing performance appraisals, conducting new hire feedback sessions, coaching/corrective counseling, and providing recognition/commendations to achieve desired outcomes. Provides timely guidance and feedback to help others strengthen specific knowledge/skill areas needed to accomplish a task or solve a problem.
- Facilitates and promotes effective team dynamics and teambuilding strategies within and between departments; participates and/or leads and facilitates department process improvements as needed.
- Meets or exceeds threshold goal for department and/or system metrics on employee engagement indicators.
- Collaborates with various Foundation units to support Foundation goals and best in class donor experience and fund management. Participates in strategic planning for Foundation operations and donor systems.
- Partners with Foundation Finance and Donor Relations/Stewardship teams; hospital finance/treasury; departments; and service lines on fund establishment, revenue classification, gift reporting, and internal/external audits.
SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Plans and organizes day-to-day department operations, schedule and activities. Sets priorities and functional standards, giving direction to staff as necessary to ensure the best possible delivery of service and high customer/patient satisfaction.
- Drives department service standards and activities to impact department and/or system score for patient/customer-based satisfaction, through role modeling and fostering accountability. Serves and actively participates on various entity committees as a voice for the department.
- Supports fundraising initiatives and campaign gift tracking by assessing progress, accuracy and timeliness of gift entry.
- Serves as primary liaison to Corporate Finance/Treasury unit and as resource to Foundation staff and donors on gift processing related issues and accounting of giving, including the management of donor inquiries by phone or through the dedicated inbox.
QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Ensures a safe and effective working environment; monitors and/or revises the department safety plan and/or any specific accreditation/regulatory required safety guidelines, including infection control principles. Monitors and confirms staff maintain their required credentials that demonstrate competency per accrediting agency or department guidelines as applicable.
- Uses and optimizes information systems to enhance operations; supports entity-specific performance improvement and data management/analysis functions.
- Employs a proactive approach in the optimization of safe outcomes by monitoring and improving the department workflow, using peer-to-peer accountability, reporting accidents, near misses, and/or adverse events immediately per department protocol and identifying solutions via collaboration. Adopts lean principles in driving process improvements. Role models situational awareness, using teachable moments to improve safety.
- Monitors self and employee compliance with policies, procedures, and System HR Standards of Practice and performs associated actions upon non-compliance (i.e., focal point review requirements, disaster plan, in-services, influenza immunization, wage and hour, standard hours, timely termination submission, timely timecard approval, etc.).
- Oversees the full cycle of gift processing, ensuring that all gifts are posted, acknowledged, and transferred efficiently, timely and accurately in accordance with federal/state, Foundation and institutional policies and procedures. Establishes protocol for the protection and privacy of donor records, including the electronic management, organization, and security of donor files.
- Develops and implements policies and procedures for all aspects of the gift processing cycle, month and year-end financial closings, pledge management, write-offs, reconciliations, and standards for best-in-class donor experience, timeliness, and accuracy.
FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Assists in the development of department budget and ensures that the department operates in a cost-effective manner. Manages/audits department expenses within approved budget parameters, ensuring that the department meets the budgeted/flex revenue and/or expense targets on a monthly and annual basis. Develops staffing plans and schedules to meet department/patient needs that reflect understanding of the importance of cost-effectiveness.
- Implements department strategies to achieve financial target and staffing needs, developing others to do the same, through optimizing productivity, supply/resource efficiency, minimizing incidental overtime and overtime percentage, and other areas according to department specifications.
- Oversees the administration of all charitable pledges and gifts, including cash, check, credit card, ACH, wire, securities, matching gift, planned gift, and gift-in-kind tender types. Ensures proper accounting of gifts for compliance with donor restrictions and institutional policies, including endowed and restricted current use gifts.
GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Identifies and implements innovative solutions for practice or workflow changes to improve department operations or other department-specific measures by leading unit projects and/or other department/system directed/shared governance activities. Supports change initiatives, maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment; adjusts effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures.
- Proactively evaluates processes; recommends and implements action plan(s) for change; follows through to ensure effective, sustainable change. Participates in the development and implementation of new procedures and the review and revision of existing procedures.
- Identifies opportunities and takes action to build strategic relationships between one’s area and other areas, teams, departments, and units to achieve business goals.
- Seeks opportunities to identify developmental needs of self and staff and takes appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates My Development Plan (MDP) on an ongoing basis. Conducts conversations with staff on their development.
- Maintains awareness of charitable giving regulations, gift types, nonprofit accounting principles and industry trends/best practices in gift processing and administration.
SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
WORK ATTIRE
- Uniform: No
- Scrubs: No
- Business professional: Yes
- Other (department approved): No
ON-CALL
- Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.
- On Call: No
TRAVEL
- Travel specifications may vary by department
- May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area: Yes
- May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area: Yes
Houston Methodist is one of the nation’s leading health systems and academic medical centers. The health system consists of eight hospitals: Houston Methodist Hospital, its flagship academic hospital in the Texas Medical Center, seven community hospitals and one long-term acute care hospital throughout the Greater Houston metropolitan area. Houston Methodist also includes a research institute; a comprehensive residency program; international patient services; freestanding comprehensive care clinics, emergency care and imaging centers; and outpatient facilities. Come lead with us!
Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Foundation Director
Target established foundations and university endowments
Large foundations, university endowments, and healthcare systems have dedicated HR teams familiar with visa processes. They're more likely to sponsor compared to smaller nonprofits with limited immigration experience.
Emphasize nonprofit financial management expertise
Highlight specialized skills in endowment management, grant compliance, and nonprofit finance. These technical competencies strengthen the specialty occupation requirement for H-1B petitions beyond general management experience.
Document fundraising and donor relationship achievements
Quantify fundraising success, major donor relationships, and capital campaign leadership. Foundation boards value proven track records in philanthropy, making these accomplishments powerful sponsorship justifications.
Consider positions at academic medical centers
Hospital foundations and medical school endowments frequently sponsor H-1B visas. These organizations combine healthcare missions with substantial philanthropic operations, creating strong business needs for specialized leadership.
Highlight regulatory compliance and fiduciary expertise
Foundation directors must navigate complex tax-exempt regulations, fiduciary duties, and grant compliance requirements. This specialized legal knowledge supports specialty occupation arguments for visa petitions.
Network through Council on Foundations and AFP events
Professional associations like Council on Foundations and Association of Fundraising Professionals host conferences where you can connect with hiring managers familiar with international talent needs.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
What degree requirements do Foundation Director positions have for H-1B sponsorship?
Most Foundation Director roles require a master's degree in nonprofit management, public administration, business, or related field. Some positions accept bachelor's degrees with extensive fundraising experience. The advanced degree requirement strengthens the specialty occupation case for H-1B petitions, as foundation leadership involves complex philanthropic strategy and regulatory compliance.
Do foundations typically sponsor H-1B visas for director-level positions?
Large foundations, university endowments, and healthcare systems regularly sponsor H-1B visas for Foundation Directors. Smaller nonprofits may lack resources or immigration expertise. Success rates are higher at established organizations with dedicated HR departments and prior visa sponsorship experience. Community foundations and private foundations with assets over $100 million are most likely to sponsor.
Can Foundation Directors qualify for EB-2 green cards through their role?
Yes, Foundation Director positions often qualify for EB-2 green cards, particularly EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) cases. Directors leading initiatives in education, healthcare, or community development can argue their work serves national interests. The combination of advanced degrees, leadership responsibilities, and mission-driven work strengthens NIW petitions.
What challenges do international candidates face in foundation hiring?
Foundation boards may hesitate to sponsor visas due to unfamiliarity with immigration processes or concerns about costs and timelines. Many nonprofits lack dedicated legal counsel for employment matters. International candidates should proactively address visa logistics and emphasize their unique expertise in global philanthropy, cross-cultural fundraising, or international development to justify sponsorship investment.
How do nonprofit tax-exempt requirements affect visa sponsorship for Foundation Directors?
Tax-exempt organizations can sponsor work visas without restrictions, as immigration sponsorship serves legitimate business purposes. However, some foundations may be cautious about legal expenses impacting their charitable spending ratios. Directors should research the organization's financial capacity and prior visa sponsorship history before applying to gauge their likelihood of approval.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Foundation Director jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.
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