Executive Director of Foundation Relations & Institutional Giving

Job no: 530058
Work type: Staff Full Time
Campus: UMass Lowell
Department: University Advancement
Pay Grade: P25
Categories: Advancement/Fundraising

General Summary of Position:

The Executive Director of Foundation Relations & Institutional Giving oversees the university's foundation fundraising and institutional giving efforts. The role leads the university's foundation relations program and manages Advancement's role in corporate engagement, with a focus on philanthropic giving and sponsorships. Responsible for developing and executing strategies that secure support from private, family, community, and corporate foundations, as well as sponsorships and other corporate philanthropic investments, the Executive Director works collaboratively across campus to advance institutional fundraising priorities and support the university's strategic and campaign goals. This position reports to the Vice Chancellor and serves as a member of the Advancement Senior Leadership Team.

Essential Job Duties:

1. Lead the university's foundation relations program and oversee the full foundation fundraising lifecycle, from opportunity identification and relationship cultivation through proposal development, submission, stewardship, impact reporting, and renewal. Working collaboratively with faculty, deans, staff, and university leadership, develop and execute strategies that secure significant philanthropic investments from private, family, community, and corporate foundations in support of institutional priorities and campaign objectives.

2. Provide strategic oversight of grant and sponsorship fulfillment activities, including stewardship, reporting, impact communication, compliance with funding requirements, and the fulfillment of grant and sponsorship commitments. Ensure effective engagement with foundations, corporate philanthropic funders, and sponsors to support renewal and continued investment.

3. Develop and manage a select portfolio of corporations with a focus on philanthropic giving and sponsorship support. Cultivate, solicit, and steward investments that advance university priorities, student success initiatives, faculty projects, scholarships, events, and campaign objectives.

4. Collaborate with development colleagues, academic leadership, alumni engagement staff, the office of industry engagement, and the office of community engagement to identify and engage alumni, corporations, and foundations with the capacity and interest to deepen their philanthropic investment in UMass Lowell.

5. Serve as a strategic resource to faculty, deans, and university colleagues on matters related to foundation relations, corporate philanthropy, sponsorships, and organizational funding opportunities. Represent University Advancement in selected cross-functional initiatives and lead special projects that support college, departmental, and university-wide priorities.

Minimum Qualifications (Required):

• Bachelor's degree required, master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in advancement, foundation relations, institutional giving, corporate philanthropy, sponsorship development, or related fields, preferably in a higher education setting.
• Demonstrated experience in project management and use of computer software including office applications, data base management, spreadsheets, email/Outlook, Microsoft Word/Excel.
• Ability to think and work strategically across reporting lines to manage projects on behalf of the Vice Chancellor.
• Ability to articulate the mission and the vision of the University to a diverse group of constituents.
• Ability to work collaboratively across the University
• Demonstrated communication skills, both verbally and in writing.
• Proven ability to determine and accomplish short and long term goals.
• Demonstrated ability for relationship building and follow-up

Additional Considerations:

• Must be available to work flexible schedules, including some nights and weekends, on and off campus if needed.
• Prior work in a University setting preferred.
• Ability to handle confidential materials and information.
• Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in applying and interpreting departmental policies and procedures.
• Ability to respond to difficult situations diplomatically.

Working Conditions:

• Some nights and weekend events required. Local travel to foundation and corporate locations and attendance at events and off-site meetings. Some travel for fundraising and alumni events may be required.

Other Job Duties:

• The position requires judgment and independent thinking in performing a variety of duties. Will be empowered to make decisions, and will seek input from the Vice Chancellor and other Advancement senior leaders regarding recommendations and other decisions as necessary.
• May manage an associate director of foundation relations & institutional giving or related position.
• This position must have excellent customer relations skills in order to interact with staff, alumni and leadership donors.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

This position is full-time, benefited and non-unit in grade P25. Anticipated salary based on qualifications within range. Minimum $138,113, 25th quartile: $158,830 and midpoint of $179,547.

Initial review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. However, the position may close when an adequate number of qualified applications is received.

Please include a resume and cover letter with your application. Names and contact information of three references will be required during the application process.

Advertised: Jul 15 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:

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