Director of Development, Foundation Development

Director of Development, Foundation Development

The ASU Foundation (ASUF) fosters partnerships between ASU and
like-minded individuals, corporations and foundations who believe
in ASU’s mission and provide resources for ASU to manifest its
charter into meaningful impact.   

 

The Director of Development, Foundation Development at the ASU
Foundation, plays a pivotal role in aligning the university’s
research and programmatic strengths with the interests of private
and independent foundations. This position is central to fostering
and enhancing partnerships with foundations that advance ASU’s
charter, as well as the institution’s academic, research, social
impact, and other goals.

 

The Director will work closely with unit-based university
leadership, faculty, and development colleagues to identify and
engage with potential foundation partners. The Director will guide
the proposal process from start to finish. This involves in-depth
foundation research, developing tailored strategies for engagement,
initiating contact with Program Officers or other foundation staff,
as appropriate, and assisting in the preparation of letters of
inquiry and proposals. Further, the Director of Development will
ensure all internal processes and requirements related to
agreements, approvals, signatures, account set up and activation,
and reporting are met.

 

A significant part of the role involves cultivating and
maintaining relationships with foundation partners. The Director
ensures that these partnerships not only align with the
university’s objectives but also with foundations’ missions to
drive meaningful and innovative change in various societal and
technical domains.

 

The Director will be a resource and support to ASU units,
providing necessary assistance in navigating the complexities of
foundation funding. The Director will aim to establish lasting
relationships with foundations that enhance the university’s
capacity to tackle pressing challenges, accelerate faculty
research, improve teaching and pedagogy, and enable students to
reach their potential.

 

This role requires a strategic thinker who can effectively
bridge the gap between the university’s initiatives and the
philanthropic goals of foundations, thereby contributing
significantly to the advancement of ASU.

 

Reporting to the Sr. Director, Foundation Development, this role
will serve as a critical member of our growing team, especially as
the ASU Foundation launches its Changing Futures campaign.

 

 

What you’ll do:

 

Collaboration and Strategic Engagement:

• Collaborate with academic leaders, fundraising colleagues, and
  ASU staff and faculty to foster and strengthen relationships with
  foundation and philanthropic LLC leaders and program officers.

• Engage in strategic planning with ASUF unit-based teams to align
  ASU’s initiatives with the interests of major foundations and
  philanthropic LLCs.

 

Project Development and Proposal Creation:

• Assist in identifying and developing strategic investment
  opportunities that reflect ASU’s unique position, as well as its
  unit- and university-wide priorities.

• Support the creation and refinement of comprehensive proposals,
  including crafting concept summaries and drafting letters of intent
  and final proposals.

 

Foundation Relations and Site Visits:

• Coordinate and participate in foundation site visits to ASU,
  ensuring effective representation and communication with foundation
  visitors.

• Attend relevant conferences and meetings with foundation
  leaders, both in-person and virtually, to foster and maintain
  relationships.

 

Goal Setting and Implementation:

• Work with colleagues on the Foundation Development team and in
  units to set and implement goals and objectives that maximize
  foundation awards.

• Contribute to ASUF’s fundraising efforts, including the
  identification, research, cultivation, solicitation, and
  stewardship of foundation investments.

 

Prospect Management and Monitoring:

• Utilize ASUF’s shared database, Salesforce, to manage and track
  prospect clearance, proposal strategies, and project
  monitoring.

• Stay informed about trends in private and family philanthropy
  and assist in developing responsive strategies.

• Ensures the foundation team’s timely, accurate completion of
  contact reports, proposals, gift and grant agreements, program and
  stewardship reporting.

 

Reporting and Documentation:

• Regularly report on activities and results, maintaining
  documentation that aligns with the team’s objectives and
  targets.

 

Team Collaboration and Supervision:

• Participate in cross-campus meetings and contribute as a member
  of relevant teams or committees.

• Engage in the cultivation and management of a portfolio of
  foundation partners, including identifying, engaging, and
  soliciting investments.

 

Strategic Planning and University
Alignment:

• Work closely with ASU and ASUF leadership to navigate and
  prioritize competing priorities and initiatives in the solicitation
  of foundation partners.

• Develop knowledge of ASU’s extant and emerging research,
  academic, and social impact activities and the corresponding
  foundations funding those sectors, coordinating activities with
  relevant university offices.

 

Community and Event Representation:

• Represent the Foundation Development team at key university
  events and external foundation/community events.

 

 

What you’ll need:

• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to make connections
  between ideas, organizations, and people.

• Self-motivated with the ability to take initiative in
  identifying and pursuing new funding opportunities.

• Skilled in conducting, outlining and implementing research
  assignments regarding the goals, funding priorities, personnel, and
  processes of foundations.

• Experience in communicating effectively in person, in writing,
  and by phone with a variety of audiences, including an
  understanding of the sensitivities, formalities, and expectations
  involved in communicating with university and foundation
  leaders.

• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the
  ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet
  deadlines.

• Problem solver who can set priorities, while being flexible.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, as well as
  collaboratively with various internal teams and external
  partners.

• Strong desire to learn more about funders to best connect them
  with opportunities for impact at ASU.

• Lifelong learner who enjoys acquiring new skills, learning about
  new concepts, and staying updated on trends in philanthropy and
  higher education innovation trends and practices.

• Ability to quickly gain an understanding of ideas to support
  their competitive positioning for philanthropic partnership.

• Competence in using databases and CRM systems, with a preference
  for experience with Salesforce or similar platforms.

• Commitment to ethical conduct in all aspects of the work,
  maintaining confidentiality and integrity in dealing with sensitive
  information.

• A belief in the ASU’s charter, and the university’s vision of
  ASU as a New American University.

• Ability to represent the institution well.

 

 

Relevant qualifications:

 

A bachelor’s degree in a related field is required, an advanced
degree is preferred. Minimum of 5 years of professional experience,
preferably in higher education or development/fundraising.

 

 

At ASU Enterprise Partners: 

 

We serve. 

We serve the faculty and staff of ASU to bring them resources so
they can do all the great things that they do. 

 

We innovate. 

We’re always looking for new ideas, new solutions, new
approaches and new ways to address the challenges facing
ASU. 

 

We engage. 

We engage our donors, philanthropists, investors and partners,
connecting them to ASU and helping them share their time, talent
and treasure. 

 

We care. 

When we serve, innovate and engage, it shows that we care —
about faculty, staff, donors, fellow employees and other partners
as we bring resources to ASU. 

 

ASU Enterprise Partners and its subsidiaries is an equal
opportunity employer that is firmly committed to promoting justice,
equity, diversity, and inclusion within our organization and
throughout our sphere of influence. Because we embrace a spirit of
innovation and achievement, we will endeavor to maximize the talent
and potential of all employees, directors, and volunteers through
bold and strategic action aimed at building success and a sense of
belonging. All employees are expected to act in good faith to
support these actions and to not impede the efforts of others to
build a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive
organization.  

 

 

 

ASU Enterprise Partners is an Equal
Opportunity Employer