Senior Director, Foundation Relations

JOB TITLE

Senior Director, Foundation Relations

LOCATION

Worcester

DEPARTMENT NAME

University Advancement - Fundraising

DIVISION NAME

Worcester Polytechnic Institute - WPI

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

The Senior Director, Foundation Relations leads WPI's strategic engagement with private foundations and institutional funders, expanding philanthropic support for the university's academic programs, research initiatives, capital projects, and strategic priorities. This senior fundraiser cultivates and solicits foundation prospects, manages a portfolio of established foundation relationships, and develops comprehensive strategies to diversify and grow WPI's foundation funding base. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Advancement, the Senior Director supervises foundation relations staff, partners closely with faculty and academic leadership to identify fundable projects, and ensures WPI maximizes opportunities within the foundation funding landscape. This role is critical to leveraging WPI's new R1 research designation, completing the Beyond These Towers campaign, and building sustainable institutional support from foundations.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Foundation Fundraising & Portfolio Management

• Manage a personal portfolio of 40-60 foundation prospects and donors with giving capacity of $50,000 to $2 million+

• Conduct 60-80 meaningful interactions annually including foundation visits, proposal presentations, site visits, and relationship cultivation

• Research, identify, and qualify new foundation prospects aligned with WPI's priorities in STEM education, research, student access, and institutional advancement

• Develop comprehensive cultivation strategies for priority foundation relationships requiring multi-year engagement

• Write compelling letters of inquiry, concept papers, and grant proposals that articulate WPI's distinctive mission and demonstrate project viability

• Make solicitations for major foundation grants independently and in partnership with President, Provost, Deans, and faculty

• Close at least $2-4 million annually in new foundation commitments across portfolio

• Steward foundation donors through progress reports, impact communications, site visits, and relationship-building touchpoints

• Manage grant deliverables and reporting requirements in partnership with faculty and Advancement Operations

• Build relationships with foundation program officers, trustees, and staff to position WPI favorably

Strategic Foundation Program Development

• Develop and implement comprehensive foundation relations strategy aligned with institutional priorities, campaign goals, and WPI's R1 research status

• Identify emerging funding opportunities in WPI's areas of strength including robotics, data science, cybersecurity, materials science, biomedical engineering, project-based learning, and student access

• Create strategic funding plans for major initiatives requiring foundation support (research centers, student programs, capital projects, endowed professorships)

• Build foundation funding pipelines across academic departments and research centers

• Conduct market analysis of foundation funding trends, emerging priorities, and competitive landscape

• Position WPI strategically within foundation funding ecosystem, particularly leveraging R1 designation and distinctive project-based curriculum

• Develop relationships with foundation affinity groups, regional associations, and funding collaboratives

• Represent WPI at foundation conferences and networking events

• Advise senior leadership on foundation funding opportunities and strategies

Faculty & Campus Partnership

• Partner with faculty, researchers, Deans, and academic leadership to identify fundable projects and develop competitive proposals

• Translate complex research and academic programs into compelling narratives that resonate with foundation priorities

• Educate faculty on foundation funding processes, timelines, and relationship cultivation

• Coordinate proposal development across multiple campus stakeholders ensuring alignment and excellence

• Connect faculty with foundation program officers for relationship-building and project refinement

• Support faculty in understanding foundation funding landscape and identifying appropriate prospects

• Facilitate foundation site visits, connecting foundation representatives with students, faculty, and programs

• Build trust wit