Director of Development, Government, Corporate and Foundation Relations

The Director of Development, Government, Corporate and Foundation Relations fulfills an important role in George Fox University Advancement efforts and has responsibility for planning activities, setting priorities, and determining effective strategies designed to maximize support to the University from corporations, foundations and grant makers. Responsibility will focus on generating revenue and partnerships with organizations aligned with GFU's mission and competencies as a Christian academic institution.

Under the general direction of the Vice President for Advancement, the Director is responsible for managing a prospect/donor portfolio in various stages of cultivation, solicitation and stewardship. This person will work collaboratively with faculty, academic leadership and professional staff to create and implement strategies for approaching organizations; serve as a recognized campus expert in securing funding from organizations; and regularly have impact and influence on campus policy and program development. The Director's portfolio includes many of the campus's most complex and important partners. The incumbent will operate autonomously, exercising initiative and authority within general parameters set by the Vice President for Advancement, and will represent the department at events, in the community, and with key prospects. The holder of this position must be comfortable working with prominent leaders and senior volunteers, and must have a successful record of building partnerships and securing support for complex organizations. This person will be expected to regularly meet with external stakeholders and communicate with organizational leadership, volunteers, program managers and decision makers to advance the University's mission.

• Must have access to reliable transportation.
• Occasional evening and weekend work required.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Discover, engage, and invite philanthropic gifts and grant awards through ongoing personal contact and visits with organizations and prospective donors. Conduct a minimum of 15 significant individual donor contacts monthly.
• Make a minimum of 30 solicitations per year.
• Meet minimum fundraising goals annually and minimum number of contacts monthly.
• Steward existing supporters and funders through regular and ongoing personal communication.
• Manage a portfolio of a minimum of 50 prospects.
• Regularly update the database to include contact notes and ensure proper data collection.
• Develop organization-specific engagement strategies designed to initiate, renew, and upgrade funding to GFU.
• Produce timely contact reports that outline future engagement strategies after each donor or organization contact.
• Partner with senior leaders and key constituents (i.e. Deans, faculty, staff, students, colleagues in Advancement, volunteers) in cultivation/solicitation/stewardship process.
• Write and edit proposals for funding with university partners.
• Approximate time spent working with government agencies - 40%; foundations - 40%; and corporations - 20%.
• Develop and maintain protocols for working with government organizations, foundations and corporations including indirect costs, reporting and compliance with funding terms.
• Serve as Advancement's representative with academic and/or other university Be a liaison for Advancement staff in communicating assigned partner(s) priorities and updates.  
• Develop strategy for engagement and securing funding for assigned portfolio prospects in collaboration with appropriate university leadership.
• Work with faculty, staff and volunteers to develop and execute strategies to engage current and prospective donors and organizations.
• Communicate effectively and courteously with others, including employees, students and the public, in a spirit of teamwork, respect and customer service.
• Attend events, presentations, meetings and other appropriate gatherings.
• Ensure that awards are acknowledged, reports are shared and funding is allocated appropriately.
• Local and national travel is required up to 25% of the time.
• Supervise a student employee.
• By actions, words and lifestyle, be a Christian role model to students, whether through casual contact or in a formal supervisory role.
• Other duties as assigned.