Posted: 2/26/2008
Level: Senior
Type: Permanent
Job categories: Development

The Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations reports directly to the Vice President of Development and External Affairs. The Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations will write all corporate and foundation proposals, research prospects, and assist in the formulation of a foundation and corporate giving strategy for WMF from prospect identification, research, cultivation, and stewardship.

The Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations is responsible for the following:

• Thoroughly understand WMF, its mission and policies, culture, values, history, key stakeholders, programs and finances.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive plan to obtain substantial support from local, regional and national foundations and national and international corporations.
• Maintain a list of top current and prospect foundations and corporations and ensure that all reporting requirements are met according to a defined schedule.
• Assist in developing and executing a strategy for each foundation and corporate proposal, involving development staff and program staff as needed.
• Serve as the focal point with the Development department, the programs department and organization-wide to coordinate all proposal writing and solicitations for foundation support.
• Work closely with program staff to understand projects in need of funding.
• Develop proposal and grant request strategies matching WMF needs/opportunities with foundation and corporate donor’s interest and capabilities.
• Write and edit grant and other foundation and corporate requests; draft routine and complex foundation and corporate correspondence including gift agreements, letters of inquiry, progress reports and acknowledgements.
• Work directly staff to track all foundation giving for annual fund and special projects and maintain integrity and accuracy in the database of all foundation and corporate giving.
• Stay abreast of philanthropic, economic, and social and community trends related to WMF; ensure that the staff is informed of changes in trends and initiatives that might impact the organization.

The ideal candidate will have the following experience and qualifications:

• A minimum of 5 years of foundation and corporate giving development experience and experience working within a complex national or international organization.
• Demonstrated success in securing foundation and corporate funding for a cultural or related organization.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, cultivate, write, edit and secure grants from foundations and corporations.
• Flexibility and experience in building a solid foundation and corporate giving program.
• Demonstrated success writing grants and a clear understanding of the tactics required to build and mange foundation and corporate relations.
• Demonstrated ability to establish, maintain and strengthen relationships with foundation and corporate staff on behalf of an institution, and an understanding of the record keeping and stewardship systems that support a successful donor relations program (particularly Raiser’s Edge).
• The ability to organize and prioritize fundraising activities effectively and to guide staff members in managing their particular responsibilities.
• Ability and willingness to participate in events outside the workday schedule.
• The ability to work productively with institutional colleagues around the world on behalf of the fundraising enterprise.

Questions, resumes and CVs should be sent to: .
All first round interviews for the Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations will take place at Development Resources, inc. or via telephone: 1601 N. Kent Street, Suite 1200, Arlington, VA 22209