Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer (72449)

Position Summary

The Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer plays a crucial role in representing Walsh University and in the university's fundraising efforts by cultivating and securing philanthropic support from institutional sources: corporations, corporate foundations, private and community foundations, and other organizational donors. Responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding institutional prospects and donors and for developing strategic sponsorship and partnerships that align corporate and foundation interests with the priorities of Walsh University.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Develop, manage, and grow a robust portfolio of corporate, corporate foundation, private foundation, and community foundation prospects capable of making gifts or grants of $10,000 or greater.
• Implement and execute strategic plans for institutional gift prospects and donors, including multi-year and campaign-level grant commitments.
• Research and identify institutional gift prospects, including corporations with matching gift programs, foundations with giving priorities aligned with the university's mission, and corporate partners interested in sponsorship and community engagement.
• Develop and manage a comprehensive program for corporate sponsorships and partnerships, creating sponsorship packages and benefit structures that align with corporate marketing, community investment, and philanthropic goals.
• Prepare high-quality grant proposals, letters of inquiry, sponsorship packages, solicitation letters, reports, and stewardship communications for foundation and corporate audiences.
• Collaborate with Office of Philanthropy staff, university leadership, faculty, staff, academic deans, and program directors to identify fundable priorities and to build compelling cases for support that speak to institutional funders.
• Maintain a working knowledge of foundation and corporate grant cycles, RFP deadlines, reporting requirements, and compliance obligations; manage a calendar of deadlines and submissions to ensure timely and accurate grant activity.
• Coordinate with the university's grants and sponsored programs resources (where applicable) and with Finance and Academic Affairs to ensure appropriate budget development, gift and grant compliance, and stewardship reporting.
• Prepare talking points, briefings, and proposals for senior leadership and trustees to support institutional donor engagement and solicitations.
• Track and assess institutional giving fundraising metrics, including proposals submitted, dollars raised, prospect pipeline activity, and portfolio performance.
• Organize and participate in cultivation and stewardship events, campus visits, meetings with foundation or corporate contacts, and external networking opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned or acquired.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) of this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.

All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

Required Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

Must demonstrate an understanding the Walsh University Statement of Faith and a commitment to support the Mission, Vision, Values and Code of Ethical Conduct of Walsh University in accordance with Ex Corde Ecclesiae and the Catholic intellectual tradition. Must also possess the following:

Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Work Experience: A minimum three to five years of experience in corporate and foundation relations, grant writing, institutional fundraising, corporate sponsorship sales, or a closely related field. Demonstrated track record of securing five- and six-figure plus institutional gifts, grants, or sponsorships. Five or more years of experience preferred. Experience in higher education, nonprofit environment, or related sector preferred. Excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.

Skills and abilities:

• Professional demeanor and ability to interact with charity towards students, staff, and faculty. Positive attitude a must.
• A track record of securing five- and six-figure gifts or grants from corporations, foundations, or institutional sources, while managing an active and engaged portfolio of institutional prospects and donors.
• Demonstrated expertise in grant writing, including the preparation of compelling letters of inquiry, full proposals, and stewardship reports for private, corporate, and community foundations.
• Knowledge of corporate giving programs, sponsorship models, and foundation grant-making practices.
• A strong sense of priorities and purpose. Operates with a sense of urgency. Bold in the service of the mission, with the perseverance and passion to achieve goals. Professional, persistent, and resilient.
• A can-do attitude. A person of possibility. Resourceful and a self-starter. Sees challenges as opportunities, not obstacles.
• Humility, flexibility, and an eagerness to learn. Willingness to adapt what is known and what has made one successful in ways that intersect with the mission and institutional partners of Walsh University.
• Strong listening, interpersonal communication, and relationship management skills, particularly in navigating organizational decision-making processes and timelines unique to corporate and foundation giving.

• Genuine love, excitement, and passion for raising money in support of the mission of Walsh University.
• A strong proponent of the mission of Walsh University, capable of articulating the university's value proposition compellingly to corporate and foundation audiences.
• Ability and eagerness to travel in order to meet the needs of the university and its institutional donors and partners.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

• Light Work: Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects; desk job with majority of sedentary work sitting roughly 50% or greater of the workday.
• Climate controlled office and remote settings, but some activities/ duties can occur both inside and outside the office setting. 
• Occasional travel, weekend and evening hours are required.

Application Instructions

Applicants must submit a completed online application and any additional documents requested by the search/interview committee. This may include resume, unofficial transcripts, etc.

About Walsh University

Walsh University is seeking a dynamic, energetic, and passionate individual who is enthusiastic about contributing to a private, faithfully Catholic institution of higher learning and serving the common good. Walsh University promotes academic excellence, an engaged community, and a commitment to helping students discover their life purpose. Grounded in values of faith, excellence, integrity, service, and community, Walsh University is committed to principles of equal opportunity and is an equal opportunity employer.