Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations

The Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations is responsible for developing and implementing Graceland University's institutional philanthropy strategy for cultivating, soliciting, securing, and stewarding corporate and foundation partnerships. The position serves as the University's primary liaison to corporate partners, private foundations, and institutional funders, with a strategic emphasis on building relationships throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area while supporting funding priorities across both the Lamoni and Independence campuses along with the Mission, Kansas doctoral program campus for physical therapy.

Working collaboratively with university leadership, faculty, and advancement colleagues, the Director develops customized funding strategies that advance Graceland's strategic priorities, campaign initiatives, scholarship support, academic innovation, student success, athletics, and capital projects.

Primary Responsibilities

Corporate & Foundation Strategy

• Develop and execute a comprehensive corporate and foundation fundraising strategy aligned with the University's strategic plan and campaign priorities.
• Build and manage a portfolio of approximately 60–80 high-potential corporate and foundation prospects.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward institutional donors through strategic relationship management.
• Develop annual fundraising goals and measurable performance metrics for institutional giving and “menu of options” for engaging partners with Graceland University.
  
  

Kansas City Foundation Relations

• Serve as Graceland's lead relationship manager for foundation partners throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area.
• Develop meaningful relationships with foundation executives, program officers, trustees, and philanthropic leaders and work in partnership with the academic leadership across the organization on identifying and cultivating new partners for both advancement and admissions pipeline development.
• Represent Graceland within the regional philanthropic community through meetings, networking events, and strategic partnerships.
• Identify new funding opportunities that align with university priorities and emerging initiatives.
  
  

Proposal Development & Grant Management

• Coordinate the development of compelling letters of inquiry, grant proposals, sponsorship requests, and institutional funding applications.
• Collaborate with faculty and administrative leaders to gather project information, budgets, outcomes, and impact measures.
• Maintain a comprehensive grants calendar to ensure timely proposal submissions and stewardship reporting.
• Oversee post-award reporting and stewardship to strengthen long-term foundation relationships.
  
  

Corporate Sponsorships & Partnerships

• Serve as the University's primary point of contact for corporate sponsorships and business partnerships.
• Develop sponsorship opportunities supporting athletics, performing arts, nursing, Homecoming, alumni engagement, student success initiatives, and university events.
• Create customized partnership packages that align corporate philanthropic interests with Graceland's mission.
• Coordinate corporate engagement strategies across Advancement, Admissions, Marketing, and Athletics to maximize institutional partnerships.
  
  

Campaign & Major Gift Collaboration

• Partner with the Vice President and advancement leadership to identify institutional funding opportunities supporting fundraising priorities and campaigns.
• Participate in solicitation strategy sessions and donor planning for institutional prospects.
• Coordinate foundation and corporate solicitations to complement individual major gift strategies.
• Assist in developing funding cases for naming opportunities, capital projects, scholarships, and endowment initiatives.
  
  

Cross-Campus Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with academic leadership, athletics, student affairs, finance, admissions, and marketing to identify institutional funding priorities.
• Serve as an internal consultant regarding foundation interests, proposal strategy, and institutional funding opportunities.
• Promote a campus-wide culture of philanthropy and collaborative fundraising.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required
• Minimum of three to five years of progressively responsible experience in corporate relations, foundation relations, institutional giving, grant development, major gifts, or related fundraising.
• Demonstrated success securing foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and/or institutional philanthropic support.
• Exceptional written communication and proposal development skills.
• Experience developing cultivation and solicitation strategies for institutional funders.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong relationship-building skills with executives, volunteers, faculty, and community leaders.
• Willingness to travel regularly throughout the Kansas City region and to all Graceland campuses.