Director, Foundation Relations
About the position The Director of Foundation Relations advances The Tech’s mission to inspire the innovator in everyone by building and stewarding strategic relationships with foundations. Working in close collaboration with the Development team and Executive Leadership Team, this role leads efforts to secure funding for The Tech Interactive’s programs, general operating support, field trip scholarships, exhibits, and other STEM initiatives. Through a proactive and strategic approach to identifying, cultivating, and managing foundation relationships, the Director plays a critical role in achieving The Tech’s contributed revenue goals.
Responsibilities
- Manage a portfolio across the full foundation lifecycle, including research, prospect identification, and cultivation, strategy development, LOI submission, proposal writing, grant negotiation, award closure, stewardship, and renewals. Manage grants calendar.
- Serve, alongside the CEO and VP of Development, as a member of the Campaign Brain Trust, contributing to moves management strategy, meeting preparation, proposal development, and prospect research for upcoming campaigns.
- Initiate and lead visits with foundation personnel both on-site and externally, including preparing briefing materials for Tech leadership, staff, and volunteers, and ensuring thoughtful follow-up and next steps.
- Create, develop, and edit compelling proposals, budgets, and supporting materials.
- Ensure strong stewardship and relationship management for all foundation awards.
- Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to grant administration in collaboration with cross-functional teams; Partner with the Finance team in budget development, monitoring grant process, and post-award reporting.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Minimum Bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) English, Communications, Journalism, Business Administration or related field.
- 5+ years of foundation relations/partnerships including research, proposal writing or related experience, with a demonstrated track record of fundraising success.
- Proven ability to build and manage strategic relationships with foundations.
- Strong ability to translate programmatic priorities into compelling, fundable proposals.
- Experience with program design, evaluation frameworks, and detailed budget development.
- Knowledge of STEM-focused philanthropy and current trends in foundation funding; existing foundation relationships strongly preferred.
- Experience with state and federal funding proposals strongly preferred.
Nice-to-haves
- existing foundation relationships strongly preferred
- Experience with state and federal funding proposals strongly preferred