Director of Foundation Relations

Job Description

Reporting to the Executive Director of LINK | Center for Advancing Partnerships, the Director of Foundation Relations serves as the senior leader for Virginia Tech's foundation relations program and chief architect of its institutional engagement strategy with major national foundations and select corporate foundations. The Director provides strategic and operational leadership for a comprehensive foundation relations function aligned with university and campaign priorities.
A key member of the LINK leadership team, the Director is responsible for creating and executing a long-range strategic plan to elevate Virginia Tech's visibility and expand partnerships with major national philanthropic organizations. They will partner closely with colleagues from the Office of Research and Innovation and Advancement, including Principal Gifts and corporate fundraising teams, to drive integrated fundraising strategies across the institution.
The Director leads efforts to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward foundation prospects and donors in collaboration with colleges, centers, programs, and faculty. They build and sustain high-level relationships with institutional leaders, board members, donors, and program officers, including C-suite executives, ensuring alignment between philanthropic interests and university priorities.
The role is responsible for initiating and managing foundation relationships and securing philanthropic investment that advances institutional priorities.

Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Experience managing or coordinating across cross-functional advancement teams, including collaboration with principal gifts and related fundraising functions.
• Demonstrated experience working with senior institutional leaders and external stakeholders, including foundation program officers, executive leadership (including C-suite equivalents), and board members.
• Demonstrated success in securing and stewarding significant foundation investments, including six- and seven-figure gifts, with a strong record of cultivating relationships with major national foundations.

Preferred Qualifications
• Significant progressively responsible experience in foundation relations, major gifts, or related advancement leadership roles within a complex higher education or similarly matrixed nonprofit environment.
• Experience leading or contributing to comprehensive campaign initiatives, including strategy development, execution, and alignment of fundraising priorities across multiple institutional stakeholders.
• Proven ability to develop and execute long-range strategic plans that advance institutional priorities and expand engagement with high-value philanthropic partners.
• Strong ability to translate complex academic, scientific, and research priorities into compelling philanthropic cases for support and donor-ready narratives.
• Demonstrated ability to use data, portfolio insights, and CRM systems to inform strategy, prioritize prospects, and manage complex fundraising pipelines.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, including the ability to shape messaging for external audiences and support faculty or institutional spokesperson engagement.
• Experience in stewardship strategy and donor engagement practices that sustain and deepen long-term foundation relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to set goals, measure outcomes, and adjust strategy to meet institutional priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

$135,000 - $170,000

Hours per week

40+

Review Date

October 11th, 2026

Additional Information

• Safe Driving Record.
• Regional and national travel required for the purposes of conducting field research, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, which may include overnights and weekends.
• Must have the ability and willingness to travel utilizing standard, commercial, and/or personal modes of transportation.
  Lifting < 20 lbs|Sitting|Standing|Reaching|Repetitive motion.
• The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
• This position may be based in either the Blacksburg or Washington, D.C. area.