Associate Director of Foundation Relations

The Associate Director of Foundation Relations (ADOFR) helps build and steward relationships with foundation funders and generates philanthropic support for UNH programs and priorities. Serving in a frontline fundraising role, the ADOFR will partner with the Managing Director of Foundation Relations to strengthen a foundation fundraising program that reflects UNH’s culture, mission, goals, and evolving strategic plans. In these efforts, the ADOFR will coordinate and direct activities that will ensure regular and increased support from foundation donors and prospects to fulfill UNH’s goals and priorities, and work collaboratively and transparently with faculty, staff, academic leadership, Advancement colleagues, board members, and alumni. They will identify, cultivate, and solicit prospective foundation partners; maintain and expand relationships with existing partners; and participate in ongoing institution-wide conversations about fundraising vision, strategy, and goals. Job Duties/Responsibilities Frontline Fundraising - 70% Use professional relationship-building skills to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward foundation donors and prospects capable of supporting UNH programs, projects, and research initiatives. Regularly meet with faculty, staff, associate deans/deans, and other internal partners to understand priorities and programmatic needs; research and identify foundation prospects based on institutional priorities and funders’ giving interests. Cultivate and maintain relationships with foundation contacts; develop engagement strategies to advance UNH’s goals with those funders. Assist in the preparation and submission of proposals, letters of intent, and other funding application materials, ensuring alignment with foundation priorities and working in collaboration with the Office of Sponsored Program Administration. Close gifts/grants and sponsored projects agreements with a typical funding range of $25,000-$250,000. Proactively research new and existing foundation funders and prospects whose giving interests align with UNH priorities. Develop outreach plans to showcase key UNH programs and capabilities with prospective funders. Strategy Development and Implementation - 30% Monitor foundations’ funding strategies and interests to identify potential alignment with UNH priorities and faculty research, education, and outreach activities. Gather and disseminate information on RFPs and other foundation funding opportunities to faculty and administrators. Engage in strategic planning discussions to help advance the Foundation Relations team’s impact. Keep abreast of the complex and dynamic foundation funding landscape and advise internal constituents on funding approaches accordingly. Collaborate and cooperate with colleagues to advance UNH’s overall fundraising priorities and achieve strategic goals. Participate in other Development activities as assigned. Requirements Minimum Acceptable Education & Experience Bachelor's degree and 3-5 years of fundraising experience or equivalent (sales, business development, account/relationship management, marketing and/or public relations). Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Experience in a fundraising setting and proven success in goal achievement, planning, proposal development, and related work. Related experience in communications, professional sales/marketing, financial planning/advising, and other fields will be considered. Orientation as a team player with collaborative instincts and a metrics-driven, entrepreneurial mindset that informs strategy and work. Willingness to develop broad knowledge of campus programs, projects, and activities, as well as the mechanisms by which foundations partner with educational institutions. Exceptionally strong verbal and written communication skills, organizational and analytical skills, and project management skills. Exemplary interpersonal and communication skills, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to deal with complex concepts and negotiate conversations with diplomacy. Demonstrated commitment to collaboration as well as the ability to work well both independently and collectively with a diverse team and donor/prospect constituency. Openness to occasional travel (primarily local or regional) for foundation visits. Commitment to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and advancement. Proficiency in database technologies and Microsoft Office. Preferred Qualifications Master's Degree Proven experience in soliciting and closing annual and/or major gifts, and/or experience in a Development Services role in a higher education setting or campaign environment. Knowledge of the fundraising profession, theories, and standards. Knowledge of philanthropy policies, practices, and systems. Passion for higher education and an understanding of complex institutions. Experience with portfolio and/or volunteer management. Applicant Instructions: Applicants should be prepared to upload the following documents when applying online within the My Experience: Resume/CV section of the application: (Maximum of 5 Documents) Resume/CV Cover Letter Applications that are missing any of the required items may not move forward for consideration. Additional uploaded documents not requested in the position announcement will not be reviewed. About the UNH Foundation (UNHF) and UNH Development: Established in 1989, the UNHF exists to build private philanthropic support for the university with the goal of strengthening programs and supporting students, faculty and staff. The UNH Development team is the fundraising arm of the UNHF, working to advance the mission of the university by inspiring giving among alumni, parents/families, friends, employees, corporations, and foundations. Our donor-centered approach connects stakeholders’ passions and philanthropic goals to funding opportunities at UNH, resulting in meaningful and lasting impacts across the university. The Development team is structured to ensure every level of the donor pyramid is poised for growth and success in the short and long-term, with staff focused on annual giving, leadership giving, major giving, principal and planned giving, and foundation relations. Further, most team members are assigned to fundraise for a specific area of the university, supported by Development leadership and operations staff who work across the various teams. Our team is ambitious about the potential of our fundraising outcomes, embraces diverse perspectives, commits to professional growth, operates with integrity and collaborates in every way possible. Please join us! Hybrid Workplace Expectation: University Advancement has implemented a hybrid work model, and this is a hybrid position. The expectation is that employees reside within reasonable distance to the Durham, NH campus (under three hours) so they are available to come to campus as often as business needs dictate, which vary depending on the position and assigned areas. The hiring manager will clarify exact expectation of in-person versus remote working time for each specific position. The University of New Hampshire is an R1 Carnegie classification research institution providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs of distinction. UNH is located in Durham on a 188-acre campus, 60 miles north of Boston and 8 miles from the Atlantic coast and is convenient to New Hampshire’s lakes and mountains. There is a student enrollment of 13,000 students, with a full-time faculty of over 600, offering 90 undergraduate and more than 70 graduate programs. The University actively promotes a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry. EEO Statement The University System of New Hampshire is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access employer. The University System is committed to creating an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusiveness across our campus communities and encourages applications from qualified individuals who will help us achieve this mission. The University System prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status. Compensation Pay Range: $66,480.00 - $118,860.00 The pay range for this position is listed above. Actual offer will be based on skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity, in addition to relevant business considerations. More information on benefits can be found here: USNH Employee Benefits | Human Resources Location: Durham