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Senior Director for Corporation and Foundation Relations

Portland, United States

The Senior Director for Corporate and Foundation Relations oversees, implements, and evaluates all aspects of corporate and foundation fundraising for the University of New England. This includes identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding relationships with key institutional partners. The position works closely with the President, the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, and other senior leaders to develop and execute solicitation strategies that align with the University’s evolving priorities. As a member of the advancement leadership team, the Senior Director also leads the development of a forward-looking fundraising strategy that strengthens the prospect pipeline through data-informed portfolio management. This role maintains a portfolio of major donor prospects, with a primary focus on local, regional, and national foundations, corporate entities, and state and federal government grantmakers.

About the University of New England
UNE is Maine’s largest private university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study-abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible online offerings. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to positively impact a world full of challenges. We are the state’s top provider of health professionals and home to Maine’s only medical and dental colleges, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care programs, and nationally recognized programs in the marine sciences, the natural and social sciences, business, the humanities, and the arts.

Benefits Overview

Multiple health and dental plan options, plus vision coverage.
Up to 8% retirement plan match.
Generous leave time, including vacation, sick, and personal time, and 12+ holidays per year.
Educational benefits:
- UNE tuition waiver for employees, spouses, and domestic partners.
- UNE tuition waiver for dependents of employees with 1 year of full-time service.
  - 50% tuition reduction if less than 1 year of full-time service.

For more information about our outstanding benefits, please visit: UNE Benefits Overview.

Responsibilities

Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of 75–100 grant-making and corporate donors and prospects; research and interpret guidelines and application requirements prior to outreach, and prepare correspondence and submissions.
In collaboration with the Office of Sponsored Programs, identify and monitor government funding opportunities that align with University priorities; support relationship-building with agency officials and coordinate grant submissions in partnership with faculty and staff.
Build and maintain strong relationships with senior University leadership and the Office of Sponsored Programs to identify and advance strategic partnership opportunities between UNE and external philanthropic, corporate, and government entities.
Collaborate with the Associate Director of Athletics Fundraising and the Assistant Vice President of the Donor Experience to ensure coordinated and strategic fundraising efforts.
Lead the research, writing, and preparation of proposals and related documents for private foundations, corporate supporters, and government agencies, in coordination with the President, Provost, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, senior administrators, and faculty.
Manage and optimize systems for tracking foundation and corporate engagement, including maintaining accurate grant records, donor communications, and reporting workflows; ensure timely preparation and distribution of financial and narrative reports that support transparency and stewardship.
Explore and incorporate emerging artificial intelligence tools to support prospect research, enhance written communications (such as proposals and reports), and improve efficiency in donor engagement and grant management workflows.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, English, Journalism, Marketing, Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred. Five to ten years of related professional experience, or a combination of education and experience that provides comparable knowledge and skills.

Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex information into concise reports, presentations, and recommendations for diverse audiences.
Demonstrated success in developing and writing proposals for foundation and corporate support.
Familiarity with standard protocols for foundation and corporate giving.
Strong research abilities and analytical reading skills to develop compelling, evidence-based proposals.
Proven ability to proactively identify opportunities and take ownership of tasks with minimal supervision.
Self-motivated and capable of driving projects forward independently.

EEO Statement Summary

Consistent with federal and state law and University policy, the University of New England is committed to the fundamental concept of equal opportunity for all of the members of the University community. The University prohibits, and will not tolerate, discrimination in employment, the provision of academic services or in any other area of University life based on race, color, sex, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, ethnicity, genetic information, HIV status, or status as a veteran. Prohibited bias factors should not motivate decisions regarding students, employees, applicants for admission, applicants for employment, contractors, volunteers or participants in and/or users of institutional programs, services, and activities.

COVID Vaccination Statement (PLEASE NOTE)

Employees in clinical settings must meet the State of Maine’s immunization requirements for clinical activity.

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