Senior Manager of Corporate and Foundation Relations

Location: Des Plaines, IL Category: Staff Job Type: Full Time Staff Posted On: Tue Sep 15 2026 Job Description:

Basic Function and Responsibility:

Responsible for planning and executing strategies to secure financial support from foundations, corporate, business and organizational donors to advance the mission of the Oakton College Educational Foundation. With experience in grant writing and relationship management, Senior Manager is a core part of the development team, and partners closely with staff throughout the organization to translate program goals and objectives into revenue-driving concepts. The Senior Manager of Corporate and Foundation Relations partners with the Director of Major and Planned Giving to develop identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies to grow revenue via sponsorships, grants, gifts-in-kind, and outright gifts in support of fundraising priorities identified by Oakton College.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, secure, recognize and steward an active portfolio of 50-75 institutional donors as part of the Oakton College Educational Foundation's growing development program.
• Partner with the Director of Major and Planned Giving to develop a strategic revenue plan for a more ambitious institutional giving program in support of the Oakton College and Educational Foundation strategic plans.
• Develop compelling mission-aligned proposals, reports, and activation opportunities to build meaningful relationships with institutional prospects and secure funding.
• Partner with Sr. Manager of Annual Giving to plan and execute strategic events, with a specific focus on cultivation of sponsorships and giving opportunities.
• Manage the Foundation's internal grant and awards programs. Oversee and execute grant awards program related to establishing application guides, selection criteria and committee, awardee orientation and communication throughout the grant period. Coordinate grant review, interviews, and selection with the Foundation Board's Programs Committee.
• Develop and maintain relationships with campus partners to connect corporate and foundation interest with program and student need.
• Record call reports of donor engagement and grant proposal status in the donor database, providing monthly reports used to analyze fundraising strategies.
• Maintain accurate project calendar and timelines for grant applications, renewals, and reports.
• Attend Foundation Quarterly Meetings, identified committee meetings, and special events. Serve on Foundation standing committees as appropriate.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
  
  
  

Supervision Received:

Administrative supervision is received from the Director of Major and Planned Giving and Associate Executive Director of the Foundation.

Supervision Exercised:

Functional supervision exercised over student workers, Interns, consultants, and vendors as appropriate.

Job Requirements:

Qualifications and Working Conditions:

• A Bachelor's degree in Business, Communications, Marketing, Philanthropy, or related field is required or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Five years of fundraising experience is required; experience in higher education philanthropy with a CFRE preferred.
• A high level of interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to deliver services in a fast-paced and customer-service focused environment is required.
• Ability to interact professionally and tactfully with people of different levels of education, cultural backgrounds, and life experiences, and to exhibit an adequate level of respect to fellow employees and the College community at large.
• Must be an impeccable, polished writer with an eye for detail.
• Ability to utilize a keyboard to enter, retrieve, and manipulate data is required.
• Advanced word processing (Microsoft Word preferred), intermediate spreadsheet application (Microsoft Excel preferred), and beginning presentation application (Microsoft PowerPoint preferred) skills required. Experience with Blackbaud's The Raisers Edge or other constituent relationship management software program highly desired.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed and travel between campuses and to off campus events.
  
  
  

Physical Demands:

Light lifting up to 10 lbs. and light carrying up to 10 lbs. Ability to reach above shoulder. Periods of time spent sitting, standing, walking, kneeling, bending and stooping. Mobility to move from building to building on-Campus and to visit off-Campus entities. Work is performed in a general office environment and is sedentary in nature. Little or no exposure to adverse working conditions.

Additional Information:

HOURS: Monday-Friday 8:15 am - 5:00 pm

SALARY: $76,192

Based on the needs of the college and with Administrator approval, some positions at the college may have a hybrid schedule option available after 30 working days.

For information regarding employment eligibility, please visit our employment at Oakton web page.

Equal Opportunity Employer