ASSISTANT DIRECTOR / CORPORATE & FOUNDATION RELATIONS
Posting Number: S-3586
Position Number: 72525
Type of Recruitment: External
Position Summary
The Assistant Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Central Michigan University will work closely with the Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations to foster, cultivate, and steward strategic philanthropic partnerships with corporations and private foundations. This role encompasses identifying new funding opportunities, developing new partnerships, and enhancing existing relationships to support the university’s academic and research priorities. The Assistant Director will manage the preparation and submission of grant applications and contribute to the formulation and execution of corporate and foundation fundraising strategies.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree or a combination of education and professional experience that equates to four years.
Two years of professional experience in development, grant writing, or related fields within the fundraising, non-profit, or higher education sectors.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other office software.
Superior written communication skills.
Ability to craft compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
Strong organizational acumen, with the capacity to manage multiple concurrent projects with precision.
Proven ability to be detail oriented.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Ability to be proactive towards achieving institutional goals.
Ability to cultivate relationships with a wide array of stakeholders.
Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with Raiser’s Edge, Instrumentl, or similar grant management databases.
Proven track record collaborating with internal teams to develop persuasive proposals.
Experience working in higher education or non-profit development, particularly in academic environments.
Demonstrated success in developing and managing corporate or foundation partnerships.
Duties & Responsibilities
Assists in the management and coordination of multi-college proposals and corporate-foundation partnerships.
Prepares comprehensive briefing materials for meetings with corporate and foundation representatives, ensuring the latest and most relevant information about CMU’s work is conveyed.
Represents the university at external events and functions to strengthen corporate and foundation relations.
Grant Management and Support:
Collaborates with the Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations to oversee the preparation and submission of corporate and foundation grant applications, ensuring a thorough stewardship process.
Supports the creation, editing, and timely submission of high-quality grant proposals.
Maintains an organized system of grant deadlines and reporting requirements, ensuring all necessary documentation is ready for submission and follow-up.
Partners with the Advancement research team to identify potential funding opportunities through various research tools and platforms.
Donor Cultivation & Stewardship:
Assists the Director in fostering and nurturing relationships with corporate and foundation donors.
Develops and execute strategies to strengthen relationships with key donors through ongoing communication, meetings, and engagement opportunities.
Collaborates with internal stakeholders, including the Director of Stewardship & Donor Relations, to design and implement effective donor stewardship programs, including timely reports, acknowledgment letters, and other forms of donor communication.
Coordinates campus visits for corporate and foundation representatives, working alongside the Director to ensure a meaningful and informative experience.
Collaborative Support & Strategic Planning:
Provides guidance to faculty and staff in securing corporate and foundation funding and assists with the preparation of internal applications and proposal development.
Ensures alignment between faculty and staff activities and university priorities when identifying and pursuing grant opportunities, offering editorial support and strategic counsel as needed.
Coordinates the preparation of materials for internal meetings with faculty, staff, and other key stakeholders, ensuring all necessary post-meeting follow-up occurs timely.
Collaborates with the Director and other campus leaders to identify and capitalize on strategic opportunities for engagement with corporate and foundation partners.
Monitors the interests and funding trends of assigned corporate and foundation donors, aligning those interests with the university’s research, academic, and outreach programs.
Partners with the University’s Communications teams to craft and distribute materials that effectively communicate CMU’s initiatives and align them with the interests of potential donors.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Supervision Exercised
None.
Message to Applicants
Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering a broadly diverse and inclusive campus that respects all social identities, experiences, and perspectives. In an effort to further this initiative, we are especially interested in candidates who will advance and promote an inclusive and supportive environment for every member of our university community.
You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position.
Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.
Employee Group: Professional & Administrative -Salary
Pay Range: $50,000 - $60,000 per year
Division: University Advancement
Department: Advancement - Vice President
Position Status: Provisional
Position End Date: 06/30/2033
Employment Status: Full-Time
FTE: 1.00
Position Type: 12 month
Weekly Work Schedule: Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. / weekends and evenings as needed
Location: Mount Pleasant, MI
About CMU
Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.
We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master’s, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.
CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.
Central is home to 17 men’s and women’s Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17.
