The Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations will serve as a primary interface between faculty and staff in the campus schools, colleges and units and corporate and foundation funding partners, with a core responsibility of generating philanthropic support for the University of Michigan-Flint. As a member of the University Advancement team, this position will develop new and increased funding support opportunities from corporations and professional foundations; contribute to developing a plan for corporate engagement; represent UM-Flint Corporate and Foundation Relations in internal and external relationships; and build strong partnerships across campus and across the donor pool. This role contributes to University Advancement's positive culture and adheres to all university standards.
This position reports to the Vice Chancellor for University Advancement.
Responsibilities*
Corporate and Foundation Engagement
- Actively manage a portfolio of corporate and foundation relationships to generate philanthropic support
- Research, identify, and develop engagement efforts for prospective and existing corporate and foundation prospects
- Develop and direct short- and long-term plans for cultivation and stewardship strategies and tools in partnership with staff, faculty, and leadership
- Assess the potential for corporate engagement (philanthropy, sponsorships, recruitment, and research) and design a pilot program with achievable goals to increase corporate philanthropic support for UM-Flint
Faculty Engagement
- Serve as a point of contact for faculty funding requests
- Provide faculty and research administrators with advice and consulting services regarding donor and proposal strategy, proposal development, and submission
- Collaborate with team members on funding prospect requests from faculty and staff, including benchmarking, strategic analysis, and prospect research
Campus/University Collaboration
- Collaborate with Corporate and Foundation Relations colleagues across all three campuses to develop strategies and strengthen best practices
- Build working relationships with core administrative teams (research, marketing and communications, career services, business office) to ensure an integrated approach to increasing the number of competitive proposal submissions
Perform core administrative functions of role
- Support other special projects and duties as assigned
Required Qualifications*
- Bachelor's degree
- 4 or more years of experience working in a corporate and foundation relations fundraising environment
- Demonstrated success in securing six-figure and larger gifts/grants from corporations and foundations
- Strong organizational, verbal, and written skills
- Strong computing and technical skills, including familiarity with cloud-based tools, word processing, spreadsheet, database, data visualization tools, and other applications
- Ability to set priorities and to create strategies to increase revenue
- Ability to interact with a wide variety of people
- Ability to work independently, in addition to as a member of an effective development team
- Flexibility to meet changing priorities
Desired Qualifications*
- Master's Degree
- Fundraising experience in an academic setting.
- Prior experience in proposal development, grant writing, and stewardship.
Why Work at U-M Flint?
In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family, and plan for a secure future.
Benefits include:
- Generous time off
- A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions after 12 months of eligible service, with immediate vesting.
- Many choices for comprehensive health insurance.
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability coverage
- Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
Eligibility for benefits is based on your job group, your appointment percentage and the length of your appointment. Learn more about employee benefits and eligibility and download the Comprehensive Benefits for Faculty and Staff flier.
UM-Flint offers tuition support for eligible UM-Flint staff members. In addition, UM-Flint offers dependent tuition support (DTS) for qualified dependents of faculty and staff from all UM campuses. Information can be found at: https://www.umflint.edu/hr/benefits/
Information about our vision, mission and values can be found at: https://www.umflint.edu/chancellor/leadership-mission-vision/
Modes of Work
Hybrid:
The work requirements allow both onsite and offsite work and an employee has an expected recurring onsite presence. On occasion, the employee may be required and must be available to work onsite more frequently if necessitated by unit leadership or their designee and/or the job requirements.
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes here.
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.
