Executive Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations - UC Irvine

At a glance

Another Source is proud to be partnering with University of California, Irvine to find their next Executive Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations. This is an opportunity to lead and elevate a CFR program at a top R1 institution where interdisciplinary research is truly embedded in the culture. UCI is looking for a leader who can build a proactive strategy- connecting research, faculty, and priorities across campus to larger funding opportunities. In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to:• Lead and develop an established CFR team• Build a strategic approach to moves management and foundation engagement• Partner across disciplines to translate complex research into compelling funding opportunities• Personally drive seven-figure gifts while helping grow a $20M+ team goal• Help shape the next chapter of corporate and foundation philanthropy at UCI 📍 Irvine, CA | Hybrid – 3 days onsite💰 $185,000–$195,000 If you’re excited by the opportunity to build on a strong foundation and help expand the impact of corporate and foundation philanthropy across a dynamic R1 institution, I’d love to connect!

Description: What you'll be doing

Another Source’s client, University of California, Irvine, is recruiting an Executive Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations to join their team in Irvine, California. You will have the opportunity to work in a hybrid capacity, onsite at least 3 days per week.  

Here’s a little about University of California, Irvine: 

In 1965, the University of California, Irvine was founded with a mission to catalyze the community and enhance lives through rigorous academics, cutting-edge research, and dedicated public service. A top public university, UC Irvine is internationally recognized for improving lives through research and discovery, fostering excellence in scholarship and teaching, and engaging and enriching the community. Today, UCI continues to inspire change and pioneer new ideas with the support of its generous partners, alumni and friends. 

Through the combined efforts of the University Advancement & Alumni relations team, the University can share its amazing achievements, build lasting relationships, and generate support for important campus programs and initiatives. University Advancement seeks to strengthen contributions to research, education, and service; accelerate the university's place among globally preeminent research universities; and bring together passions, skills, and creativity to further improve people's lives. 

Located in Central Development, the Corporate and Foundation Relations team works with administrators, faculty, program directors and development officers to build effective partner relationships, working to understand the needs and priorities of corporations, corporate foundations, associations, and private foundations and to facilitate partnerships to advance UC Irvine’s mission. 

Learn more about giving to UC Irvine: https://give.uci.edu/ 

About this role: 

Under the general direction of the Associate Vice Chancellor, Strategic Philanthropy, and located in University Advancement’s Central unit, the Executive Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations (ED) provides leadership and direction for a comprehensive foundation and corporate relations strategy for UC Irvine. Working closely with academic, administrative, and development leaders, the ED will develop proactive strategies to increase philanthropic and corporate support for research, university priorities, and interdisciplinary initiatives. 

The Executive Director leads and manages the Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) team whose goal is to enhance and strengthen existing University relationships with corporations, corporate foundations, associations like the American Cancer Society, and private foundations, as well as increase funding to the university from these organizations. The ED develops strategies for identifying and building relationships with new philanthropists and their organizations, helps develop strategies for major gifts and grants with both existing funders and aspirational foundations, and monitors stewardship plans for strategic corporate and foundation donors. 

In collaboration with the Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Philanthropy, the ED may be consulted by the Office of Research about contemplated Organized Research Units (ORUs) and other emerging research initiatives to provide insight on corporate and foundation funding opportunities, sponsor alignment, funding competitiveness, and strategies to enhance external support. 

The successful candidate will have demonstrated ability to secure seven-figure gifts from foundations, associations and/or corporate foundations and a record of proactive outreach to organizations resulting in new relationships and/or funding. The Executive Director is expected to raise an initial annual goal of $4+ million in funds worked on directly and assist in a team goal of $20M+, with these goals to increase year over year. 

Scope & Impact 

• Serves as an expert or lead development professional in a specific academic discipline that includes, or potentially includes, donors capable of making very significant contributions to the campus. 

• Manages and mentors the CFR team and assists team members to develop and implement strategies that ensure achievement of individual and unit goals. Oversees training of new CFR staff members. 

• Manages own portfolio of foundations with existing relationships with UCI and foundations where relationships are still aspirational. Assists faculty, development officers and CFR team members to submit proposals to private and corporate foundations, consulting with applicants on the clarity and strength of presentation of letters of inquiry, proposals and letters of reference, and for compliance with funders’ guidelines and priorities. 

• Develops, creates, writes, and implements a comprehensive foundation gifts and grants program to support the University's mission and campaigns. Maintains relationships with foundation staff, develops strategies, tracks philanthropic trends, identifies new potential funders and seeks connections through trustees and faculty to establish relationships. This would include organizations with donors who work through consultants such as Science Philanthropy Alliance. 

• Identifies and actively develops new strategies for large grants from major foundations, including researching and developing relationships with foundations not currently funding UCI. 

• Writes complex proposals for solicitation of high-value corporate and/or foundation prospects. Strategizes and participates in visits to and from corporate and private foundations with appropriate UA staff, faculty and administrators. Oversees preparation of materials for Deans, Provost and Chancellor for visits, sharing responsibility with team for all travel and site/office visit preparations. 

• Analyzes needs and creates strategic and long-range plans for fundraising from foundations and corporations. Monitors national and international corporate foundation giving trends and industry research needs, disseminating information to appropriate faculty and staff and assisting campus administrators and faculty by providing information and advice on the corporate philanthropy process. 

• Ensures that individual and team fundraising goals are met and designs and implements highly specialized program activities to achieve these goals.  

• With the Director of Corporate Relations, develops strategies to direct and manage a comprehensive corporate relations program to support the University's mission and campaigns. 

• In collaboration with Deans, department chairs, center directors and development officers of Schools/Units to which the ED is assigned, identifies, assesses and prioritizes funding opportunities. In collaboration with the Central Advancement Stewardship team, refines stewardship strategies for major corporate foundations, associations and private foundations. 

• Manages various procedures with different departments and units across campus, including Office of Research, Sponsored Projects, Gifts Administration and Stewardship. With Office of Research, oversees coordination of “limited submission” requests for proposals and special projects when requested. 

• Convenes internal peers for discussion of best practices on policies, procedures, and industry trends for corporate and foundation philanthropy and participates in external peer groups to maintain state-of-the-art knowledge on CFR. 

• May attend functions and meetings and serve on internal/external committees as a representative of UC Irvine. Collaborates with various UA offices and functions—including stewardship, research and prospect management, financial services, annual giving, and development—to advance prospect strategies and use the UA prospect management and tracking system. Participates as a member of the UA Strategic Philanthropy Team in development activities across campus and serves as a resource to unit-based development colleagues. 

Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training. 

• Seven to ten years' successful professional development and/or fundraising-related experience, preferably in higher education at a R1 university, OR, any equivalent combinations of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skill and abilities have been achieved.  

• Expert working knowledge of all aspects of fundraising, donor relations, and public relations concepts, principles, procedures, and techniques.  

• Expert knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, etc.  

• Expert written and interpersonal communication skills, including political acumen, to establish and maintain good working relationships throughout the organization and with outside constituencies.  

• Expert organizational, analytical and critical thinking skills. Expert project/program management skills, including skills in setting and meeting program/project goals and objectives within budget and time constraints.  

• Expert level skills in maintaining confidentiality.  

• Extensive experience in the completion of complex and detailed proposals and related materials.  

• Extensive experience in working independently with both school and institutional goals in mind.  

• Highly organized and able to handle multiple projects.  

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Salesforce or a comparable donor/prospect database system.  

• Extensive demonstrable experience in stewardship plans leading to additional investments.  

• Clarity of focus while juggling complex projects and/or deadlines. Ability to meet demanding work schedule expectations.  

Preferred Qualifications 

• Expert knowledge of all aspects of the location, including current issues of concern for both the campus and/or throughout higher education/healthcare, generally. Expert knowledge of the location, including its vision, mission, goals, objectives, achievements and infrastructure.  

• Demonstrated ability to read academic and scientific text and convey this information effectively to different audiences. Comfort in speaking effectively in front of large audiences.  

• Advanced degree preferred.  

• CFRE certification preferred.  

Special Conditions 

• Local, regional, and national travel required.  

Compensation & Benefits 

The anticipated annual salary range for this position is $185,000–$195,000. 

UC Irvine offers employee benefits designed to support the health, well-being, and financial security of its employees. Learn more about UCI benefits: https://hr.uci.edu/partnership/benefits/ 

Another Source works with their clients, on a retained project basis. We are committed to building inclusive candidate pools as we partner with hiring teams. As you read through the job posting and review the list of qualifications (required and/or preferred), please do not self-select out if you feel you do not meet every qualification. No one is 100% qualified. We encourage you to apply and share your story with us. 

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