What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Director, Foundation Relations and Public Funding position at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science...?
Posted On: July 16, 2026
Hours: Full Time
Description:
JOB SUMMARY
The Senior Director, Foundation Relations and Public Funding leads strategy for securing grants from public, private, and corporate foundations and select public funders at the local, state, federal, international, and multi-lateral levels, producing positive relationships and giving outcomes for The Cooper Union. The Senior Director will be a high-producing frontline fundraiser who manages a team of foundation relations professionals for proposal and case statement development, disciplined budget development and oversight, compliance with grantor requirements, solicitation, and relationship steward. In addition to their duties to retain a majority of prior-year donors, the Senior Director will identify and advance strategy to secure new funders annually. This critical role reports to the Vice President of Alumni Affairs and Development, regularly interacts with and supports the Office of the President, serves as a member of the department’s Senior Development Team (SDT), and engages across a broad array of internal and external constituents.
This position supports, through actions and conduct, The Cooper Union mission and vision, and helps to build and maintain a productive departmental culture and performance outcomes.
- Discover, cultivate, engage, solicit, and steward foundations and public funders with the capacity to award major ($50,000 ) and principal ($500,000) grants, exceeding $2 million in new commitments annually. In general, four to six new grants are expected each fiscal year. Fundraising work to achieve this metric should be performed independently or in direct partnership with College faculty, staff, or administration.
- Oversee or personally produce project proposals, strategy documents, and budgets that align with grantor expectations and drive successful solicitations and stewardship, in collaboration with the Business Office, principal investigators/program leads, and senior leadership.
- Identify and advance funders capable of committing multi-year principal gift-level grants of $2.5 million or greater.
- Ensure compliance with financial reporting and grantor regulations.
- Mentor staff in grant writing, budget discipline, and funder engagement.
- Demonstrate excellent skill in persuasion through written and spoken communication skills.
- Other duties as assigned.
SKILLS/REQUIREMENTS
- 7-plus years of non-profit, education, or fundraising experience
- 3 years of experience as a fundraising or non-profit manager
- Experience in securing major ($50,000 ) grant commitments from foundations or public funders, with an annual yield of at least $1,000,000.
- Exceptional time management and organizational skills with sharp attention to detail.
- Excellent persuasive writing, proofreading, and editing skills.
- Fluency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.
- Comfort in database research activities (Tessitura, Slate, Raiser’s Edge, Tableau, etc.)
- Propriety, thoughtfulness, and discretion.
- Understanding of fundraising and relationship management in a higher education context.
- Appreciation for The Cooper Union mission and ethos.
EDUCATION
Bachelor’s degree required.
Master’s degree preferred.
Salary range: $152,000–$158,000
This is a non-union position.
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Email materials to: hr@cooper.edu
Required Materials: Resume, two references, and a cover letter (not to exceed two pages)
Salary : $152,000 - $158,000