Assistant Director of Foundation Relations

Position Overview

The Assistant Director of Development will function as an integral member of the Foundation Relations team, working directly with faculty and internal partners (i.e. Office of Research, Office of Sponsored Programs, and unit-based grants teams/personnel) to ensure the development and submission of competitive proposals to private foundation prospects. This position will work with a variety of colleges and constituent units to proactively assist in identifying new foundation prospects and move them through the fundraising continuum to solicitation and stewardship. The aim of the role is to actively manage a portfolio of foundation prospects and secure grants up to and over $99,000 and to build a pipeline of foundation grants for the future. Responsibilities will also include developing fundraising projections and managing personal plans to achieve identified annual goals.

Assistant Directors broaden the community of donor support for the university and its Wexner Medical Center by establishing relationships with foundations and internal partners, and identifying future funding opportunities for faculty and the university. Success in this position will be guided by annual metrics such as number of grant proposals, qualifications, commitments and dollars raised.

The Assistant Director operates with a high degree of independence to make decisions, solve problems, negotiate and adapt to shifting priorities. They are expected to have exceptional interpersonal skills and strong writing, editing and project management abilities. Must be highly self-motivated with an entrepreneurial spirit; professionally versed in grantsmanship; detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects and meet deadlines. Some travel is required and this position will work a hybrid-remote schedule.

All members of Advancement are part of creating a culture that inspires an exceptionally multifaceted and talented team and are expected to exhibit The Ohio State University’s Shared Values. The Office of Advancement is committed to acting with kindness, respect, and integrity at all times and welcoming our colleagues’ ideas, voices, and perspectives, acknowledging that we are better together.

About the Office of Foundation Relations

The Office of Foundation Relations is a resource unit in central Advancement that generates and stewards philanthropic support from private foundations for Ohio State. Our Team supports all academic units, regional campuses and the medical center. Foundation Relations officers focus on cultivating and managing relationships with private foundations and aligning innovative research, education, and strategic initiatives to foundations’ giving priorities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

85% - Fundraising Management

Identifies, cultivates, solicits and stewards portfolio of foundations in order to secure grants in keeping with assigned academic and non-academic unit priorities. Completes work with minimal supervision.

Prospect qualification: Manages a portfolio of prospective foundation donors. Identifies potential donors and researches their alignment, capacity, and potential funding levels. Works to cultivate early fundraising interactions and develops useful, early stage briefing materials.

Prospect cultivation: Identifies foundations’ values, capacity, interests and key triggers. Effectively uses research. Builds meaningful engagement with Ohio State. Sustains and deepens foundation engagement through effective partnerships and leverage of university resources. Develops strategies that build trust and identify mutual areas of interest with foundation prospects.

Prospect solicitation: Raises foundations’ sights and builds context for asks. Develops, edits and submits letters of inquiry and proposals, or other forms of solicitation.

Stewardship: Manages a select pool of stewardship prospects. Depending on funders’ expectations, develops comprehensive stewardship plans and periodic stewardship reports for each foundation, for the purpose of recognition and continuous engagement.

Prospect management: Maintains key prospect and records for relationship-building and gift/grant activities through University Development systems and departmental files, including Prospect Tracking and Contact Reports.

15%

Participates in ongoing training in basic fundraising activities and strategy. Performs other fundraising duties as assigned as part of a strong Foundation Relations team.

Metrics and Collaboration:

The annual performance of all fundraisers at Ohio State is measured by the number of qualifications, cultivations, solicitations and commitments/dollars raised the individual accrues over each fiscal year. Each fundraiser may have different expectations regarding these figures based upon, but not limited to, their experience level, unit size, prospect portfolio, past performance, etc. Goal setting is done with the individual’s manager prior to each fiscal year to assure transparency, consistency and alignment.

All fundraisers at Ohio State are encouraged and expected to collaborate with their colleagues across the institution and can be counted as ‘Secondary’ on a gift in the solicitation, commitment and dollars raised phases of the development cycle. A secondary fundraiser can be considered when a team is working on a multi-unit gift, the fundraiser is a subject matter expert in an area critical to the solicitation or a fundraiser has a pre-existing, meaningful relationship with the donor and their participation helps move the gift forward.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• 2 years of experience in developing proposals and securing grants/gifts from private and/or public funders.

Desired Qualifications (We’re committed to building a team that reflects a variety of skills and experiences and encourage you to apply even if your experience does not align perfectly)

• 3 years of experience in developing proposals and securing grants/gifts from private and/or public funders.

• Professionally versed in grantsmanship.

• Experience working closely with high-level executives, deans and faculty.

• Experience working in higher education.

The Office of Advancement is committed to providing tools and resources for you to learn our business, proprietary databases, university-specific processes, and advancement practices.

In accordance with the Disaster Preparedness and University State of Emergency Policy 6.17 this position has been designated as a standby position.

You Need to Know

Aside from the unparalleled benefits of working for The Ohio State University and working in the vibrant, smart, enjoyable, and growing city of Columbus, Ohio, this opportunity will provide exceptional rewards that arise from working for an institution doing worldwide life-changing teaching and research. Learn more here: https://hr.osu.edu/careers/.

In accordance with the Disaster Preparedness and University State of Emergency Policy 6/17, this position has been designated as a standby position.

To learn more about the Office of Advancement, please visit advancement.osu.edu.

The budget for this position is up to $63,000. The offer for this position will be based on internal equity and the candidate's qualifications.

Function: Development and Engagement

Sub-function: Development

Career Band: Individual Contributor - Specialized

Career Level: S2