Senior Director of Foundation Relations

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) seeks a highly experienced and strategic Senior Director of Foundation Relations to lead and grow our foundation fundraising efforts. This position will be a member of the senior leadership on the Development Team and will collaborate to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to deepen existing foundation relationships and secure new foundation grants and partnerships. This position will supervise a team of four fundraising professionals. 

The Senior Director of Foundation Relations will report to the Deputy Chief Development Officer and be a valued member of senior leadership on the Development Team. They will collaborate as a member of the Development leadership team in articulating and implementing the vision and strategy for fundraising at CBPP. The Senior Director of Foundation Relations will leverage their successful and deep institutional giving expertise to ensure that the Development Team is collaboratively prospecting for, developing, and stewarding funders and donors.   

The Senior Director of Foundation Relations will be a strategist and connector — able to translate organizational priorities into compelling funding opportunities and build enduring partnerships that advance CBPP's mission. They will bring deep institutional fundraising expertise, exceptional judgment, and a collaborative approach to working across programmatic, financial, and development functions. They will understand how strong foundation relationships are built through thoughtful engagement, clear communication, rigorous stewardship, and a deep understanding of funder interests and philanthropic trends. They will strengthen CBPP's foundation partnerships, expand opportunities for investment, and ensure the organization is positioned for sustained growth and impact.  

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy for foundation fundraising, with a particular focus on cultivating foundation donors, aligning with CBPP’s overall mission and programmatic goals and in collaboration with the Development leadership team. 
• Participate in high-level strategic and work planning sessions with CBPP programmatic leaders to identify new funding opportunities and align foundation relations efforts with the organization's strategic goals. 
• Collaborate with the Director of Cultivation and Stewardship on conducting prospect research for new foundation funders, developing creative outreach strategies, and articulating funder strategy for executive-level briefings for CBPP leadership meetings with funders. 
• Oversee the proposal development process, including writing and editing, in partnership with development managers, the Senior Content Strategist, Development, and CBPP program leadership.  
• Oversee the grant reporting process, ensuring timely and accurate submissions by collaborating with development managers and programmatic and operations teams to gather information on program activities, outcomes, and impact.  
• Manage the calendar of grant deliverables, and keep all members of the Development Team, CBPP leadership, and other stakeholders aware of upcoming due dates and ensure timely submission.  
• Serve as the primary Development Team point of contact for foundation officers, leading cultivation and stewardship efforts and managing all professional communications, including negotiation of terms of complex grant agreements, ensuring they align with CBPP’s policies and priorities. 
• Ensure accurate tracking and allocation of grant funds and revenue forecasting from foundations, in close partnership with Development and Finance leadership. 
• Coordinate with Development and Finance leadership and programmatic leaders to develop program and project budgets for grants that align with CBPP budget needs and funder requirements. 
• Work closely with leadership and CBPP Action, an allied c4, to identify, cultivate, and solicit new opportunities for support. 
• Oversee the maintenance of all foundation records in Salesforce, including grant calendars, revenue pipelines, and donor interactions. 
• Stay current on philanthropic news and trends and the programmatic directions of current and potential future funders to inform and adjust CBPP’s foundation fundraising strategy. 
• Supervise and mentor four development staff, setting performance goals and overseeing their professional development. 
• Collaborate w