Assistant Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations

Job Description:

The Assistant Director is a key member of the CFR team, supporting Berklee’s efforts to build philanthropic relationships with foundations, corporations, and government agencies. The Assistant Director works closely with the CFR team to identify and evaluate prospects, write proposals, LOIs, concept papers, and other solicitation materials, provide a high-level of stewardship to current donors through quality written reports and communications, and cultivate CF prospects and donors. The Assistant Director works closely with the Associate Director and Senior Director to proactively manage prospect research, ensuring a continuous pipeline of qualified CF funding prospects. S/he will be a collegial and entrepreneurial professional motivated by the opportunity to develop and support a proactive fundraising plan to increase philanthropic support for Berklee’s programs and initiatives during an exciting time of growth.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Support the solicitation process through writing and editing proposals, reports, LOIs, outreach materials and other correspondence to secure funding from foundation, corporate, and government funders
• Support the Senior Director and Associate Director with submissions of large, complex proposals as needed
• Provide timely and compelling reports to existing funders
• Use industry-standard resources, such as Foundation Center Directory, to research and identify funding opportunities; working closely with the Associate Director to proactively manage research/prospect pipeline for CFR
• Manage tracking systems for proposal deadlines, submissions, outcomes, and contacts; stay abreast of prospects’ funding guidelines and priorities
• Assist in preparing budgets in collaboration with the finance office and program staff
• Communicate effectively with campus executives and program staff, as well as with foundation and corporate, government representatives to ensure successful proposals
• Stay conversant with emerging philanthropic trends and best practices in foundation and corporate giving; recommend new ideas as appropriate to enable the team to creatively secure funding
• Exercise good time management, critical thinking and sound judgment to prioritize projects and identify viable opportunities to pursue funding

Knowledge and Skills Required:

• An interest in music, the performing arts, and/or education desired
• Strong written communications skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information into compelling prose and effectively tailor messaging to different audiences
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in an advancement office or similar
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with a proven ability to set priorities, bring projects to completion, and meet multiple deadlines with a high degree of autonomy
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work well with a variety of campus stakeholders
• Willingness to work occasional weekends and evenings
• Ability to research and cultivate strong relationships among foundation, corporate, and government funding sources
• Bachelor’s degree or higher preferred
• Remote/hybrid work arrangements possible; ability to be on campus for key meetings and events is necessary

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.

 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at Berklee: 

We support an inclusive workplace where everyone excels based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance.  Berklee affirms that inequality is detrimental to our faculty, staff, students, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to make lasting change through our actions. Berklee is committed to providing fair and equitable consideration of all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, place of birth, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, or status as a member of the armed forces or veteran of the armed forces, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

As part of this commitment, Berklee will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Human Resources Team at hroperations@Berklee.edu or call 617-747-2375.

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