The Director of Foundation Relations is responsible for developing and strengthening relationships with grant makers and funding partners to maximize gift and grant support to LSU from both national and local foundations. This position collaborates with LSU’s Office of Academic Affairs, Office of Research and Economic Development, Schools and Colleges, and various centers, institutes, and departments within the university to determine best practices and develop policies and guidelines for the university’s external grants management process.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Strategic Planning (30%): Identify regional and national foundations whose giving interests match strengths and priorities of LSU. Leverage knowledge of university programs and research strengths to seek foundation funding for university priorities. Create annual grants schedule and manage the grant lifecycle.
- Portfolio Management (30%): Manage portfolio of foundation prospects by designing and implementing strategies for cultivation and solicitation. Build relationships with foundation representatives to bring awareness to LSU’s value propositions. Engage with LSU stakeholders to present gift and grant opportunities and initiate their application process.
- Proposal Writing (30%): Develop and write competitive cases for support, letters of inquiry and proposals for foundations, in cooperation with faculty and staff collaborators and LSU Foundation’s Communications and Marketing team. Ensure timely submission of thorough and accurate progress and final reports, consistent with foundation guidelines and the university’s commitment to integrity and excellence. Develop project budgets for proposals that are consistent with university policies and foundation requirements.
- Asset Cultivation (10%): Organize campus visits for foundation representatives as cultivation or stewardship events. Maintain positive relationships with foundations throughout the grant cycle. Monitor and provide appropriate stewardship to ensure that gifts and grants to LSU will lead to future support.
Non-essential/marginal position responsibilities
- Complete projects/reports as requested
- Serve on committees
- Attend relevant seminars or trainings
Required level/type of experience
- Self-motivation and discipline to regularly set and achieve work goals.
- Outstanding collaborative and leadership skills in a team-focused environment.
- Knowledgeable and autonomous with ability to work independently as well as a member of a team.
- Five to ten years of experience in successful cultivation and solicitation of major gifts from foundations
- Strong writing and verbal communications skills
- Knowledge of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies and technique, particularly as it relates to funder relationship building
- Demonstrated ability in grant and proposal writing
- Experience working with corporate and private foundations
Preferred level/type of experience
- Experience with philanthropic focused databases
- Demonstrated success in foundation fundraising at a major research university
- Expertise in methods, practices, and procedures for obtaining information about major foundations’ giving programs
- Experience establishing grant schedules and creating grant writing strategies
Preferred abilities
- Self-motivated and disciplined to set priorities, manage time, leverage limited resources, and meet deadlines
- Entrepreneurial instincts, intellectual curiosity, and an ability to work both independently and as a team member
- Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and networking skills
Required education
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
Preferred education
Master’s degree from an accredited college or university
Desired competencies
- Collaboration: Works collegially with others, cooperating in both interpersonal and team relationships; fosters enthusiasm and maintains mutual trust, candor, and respect.
- Adaptability: Responds to changing circumstances by being innovative and altering behavior to better fit different situations; successfully works with new colleagues; willing to be flexible; remains calm in stressful situations.
- Critical Thinking: Practices objective rather than subjective modes of reasoning and action. Maintains perspective when assessing qualitative and quantitative information. Appropriately challenges and questions common beliefs.
- Relationship Building: Develops, maintains, and strengthens relationships with others outside of the organization.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- This position has no supervisory responsibilities
Work Environment Requirements
- May be required to work extended workdays, evenings, and weekends to meet deadlines
- May be required to travel 10% of the time