Senior Director, Foundation and Institutional Relations

Position: Senior Director, Foundation and Institutional Relations

Reports to: Vice President, Resource Development

Department: Resource Development

Organization Summary:

United Way of New York City (UWNYC) works with a coalition of trusted partners to unite community power with citywide possibility. Together, we meet today’s most urgent needs while building transformative solutions for tomorrow — striving for health, opportunity, and prosperity for every New Yorker in every neighborhood. Part of the United Way Worldwide system, one of the world’s most recognized charitable brands, we believe that New Yorkers deserve to thrive where they live and envision a future where all New Yorkers have the resources they need to live long, healthy lives in flourishing and resilient neighborhoods. We strive to model our values in all our relationships, both internal and external: Collaboration, Compassion, Integrity, Accountability, and Superior Performance.

Position Overview:

Reporting to the Vice President, Resource Development, we are seeking a strategic, relationship-driven Senior Director of Foundation and Institutional Relations to lead our foundation and institutional fundraising efforts. This senior leader manages a high-value portfolio of foundations and institutional partners, deepens long-term relationships, and secures multi-year, six- and seven-figure gifts that power our impact across New York City.

Primary Responsibilities:

· Lead UWNYC’s institutional giving strategy and manage a portfolio of key foundation and institutional funders.

· Cultivate, steward, and expand long-term partnerships with private, family, and corporate foundations.

· Secure significant multi‑year funding by aligning donor interests with UWNYC’s programmatic priorities.

· Oversee the development of high‑quality proposals, concept notes, budgets, and grant reports (with writing support from other fundraising staff).

· Collaborate closely with program, finance, and communications teams to translate impact into compelling cases for support.

· Direct prospect research and identify new institutional funding opportunities.

· Prepare materials for donor meetings, including presentations, briefings, and follow‑up communication.

· Maintain oversight of the institutional grants pipeline, deadlines, and compliance requirements.

· Provide supervision, guidance, and support to staff responsible for institutional giving and grant development.

Skills, Knowledge, and Experience:

· Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred.

· A senior fundraising professional with seven (7) or more years of experience in institutional

giving, foundation relations, philanthropy, or a related field.

· Demonstrated skills at securing major gifts and managing a sophisticated portfolio of institutional partners.

· A strong communicator who can build trust with funders, team members, and senior leaders.

· Strategic, collaborative, and able to turn complex program information into compelling funding opportunities.

· Experienced working cross-functionally to produce high-quality proposals and grant materials.

· Familiar with fundraising databases and research tools (e.g., Raiser’s edge, Salesforce, Instrumentl, Foundation Directory, iWave, Monday.com).

· Motivated by equity, community impact, and UWNYC’s mission to improve outcomes for New Yorkers.

Key Competencies:

· Drives Revenue

· Strategic Relationship Building

· Effective Communication

· Innovation & Problem Solving

· Adaptability in a Changing Environment

Additional Requirements:

· Successful completion of background check.

· UWNYC is presently on a Hybrid/In-Person work schedule.

United Way of NYC Core Competencies for All Staff

· Mission Focused: Catalyze others’ commitment to the mission to create real social change that leads to better lives and healthier communities. This drives their performance and professional motivations.

· Relationship-Oriented: Understands that people come before processes and is astute in cultivating and managing relationships toward a common goal.

· Collaborator: Understands the roles and contributions of all sectors of the community and can mobilize resources (financial and human) through meaningful engagement.

· Results Driven: Dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the common good: creating, resourcing, scaling and leveraging strategies and innovations for broad investment and impact.

· Brand Steward: Steward of the brand and understands his/her role in growing and protecting the reputation and results of the greater network.

United Way of New York City is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Salary : $104,510 - $122,534