Director, Foundation Relations

Position Purpose

Working as part of the fundraising team and reporting to the Vice President, Corporate and Foundation Giving, the Director, Foundation Relations identifies, cultivates, solicits and stewards primarily private foundations. In this position, the individual identifies new opportunities for growth, stewards and maintains current foundation relationships, and develops and executes annual goals to increase foundation revenue.

All fundraising staff at the Foundation are expected to know how to identify and refer all types of gift prospects and/or donors to the appropriate gift officer. It is essential for each fundraiser to develop a mindset and the necessary skills that result in timely identification and referral.

Foundation and individual staff goals are set annually and are expected to grow, accomplish and enhance the Foundation’s strategic plan and annual business plan.

Direct Report: Foundation Relations Officer
 

Key Responsibilities

1. Expectations for All Managers

Working closely with the Leadership Team:

• Develop and Influence Riley Culture: As a manager, realize the importance of modeling and influencing Riley Community. Exhibit trust, innovation and inclusion.

• Lead the Way and Be Accountable: Manage staff in planning and organizing projects. Develop goals and accountabilities. Follow Foundation performance management practices and meet Human Resources deadlines. Model the way.

• Hire the Best: Have up-to-date job descriptions for all direct reports. Follow Foundation hiring practices. Prepare and participate in new employee orientation.

• Guide Your Staff: Set clear expectations and high standards of performance. Provide training, coaching, feedback and corrective action when necessary.

• Engage Your Staff: Be approachable to direct reports and others. Use forms of recognition to thank employees within your team and across the Foundation. Collaborate across the Foundation.

• Create a Best Practice Operation: Stay up-to-date on best practices. Effectively allocate resources. Manage budget as necessary. Establish metrics to minimize costs and maximize impact.

• Manager Training: Actively participate in all Manager Briefings and use the skills and behaviors identified.

2. Fundraising

• Solicit current gifts at the $100K and higher level through relationship building and grant writing, in fulfillment of annual fundraising goals.

• Maintain current portfolio of foundations to renew their support annually.

• Facilitate all grant initiatives, including grant approval process and post-award compliance.

• Ensure all internal and external timelines are met.

• Work with staff at Riley Children’s Health, Wells Center for Pediatric Research and the Indiana University School of Medicine to align funding opportunities with pediatric-focused needs of each organization.

• Partner with Gift Officers as needed to conduct face-to-face visits and meaningful contacts with donors, and track through contact reports in our donor database.

• Build and manage a portfolio of 75 donors and prospects.

• Effectively steward foundation donors.

• Conduct new prospect research in partnership with the Prospect Research team.

3. Administrative

• Administrative: Maintain accountability to administrative systems and procedures including submitting expense reimbursements, credit card reconciliations, invoices, reports, RCF calendar additions, etc., by the deadlines assigned.

• Meetings: Prepare for and actively participate in all Riley Children’s Foundation meetings as appropriate. Ensure expectations and tools for meeting agendas and follow-up are implemented.

• Budget: Work with your direct manager to develop, manage and monitor the budget, staying within overall budget guidelines.

• Technology: Understand and effectively use the technology available at the Riley Children’s Foundation.

• Compliance: Ensure strict compliance with all Foundation policies, as well as local, state and federal laws that govern business practices.

4. Riley Children’s Foundation Representative

• Presentations: Represent Riley Children’s Foundation through delivering speeches about the organization and its mission to the external public and funder representatives.

• Tours: Give tours of the hospital, and provide information on Riley Hospital, Riley Children’s Foundation, JWR Museum Home, Camp Riley and Wells Center for Pediatric Research as appropriate.

5. Other Duties as Assigned

• Riley Children’s Foundation events: Participate in Riley Children’s Foundation Events as requested.

 

Education and Experience

To perform this job successfully, an individual must have the following education and/or experience.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required. Graduate degree preferred.
• Experience: 5-8 years of fundraising experience, including successful grant and proposal writing and reporting for $100K+ gifts. 3-5 years of management experience. High level of knowledge of an overall donor or customer experience model.
• Skills: Solid relationship building. Ability to translate clinical and scientific information for broad audiences. Understanding of donor needs and perceptions. Strong ability to speak in public. Excellent written communication. Sensitivity to needs of donors. Problem-solving, research and analytical skills. Attention to detail and organization. Proficiency in Microsoft Office products with a key focus on Word, Excel and Outlook; experience with SharePoint is a plus. Proficiency in use of databases.
• Qualities: Personal belief in Riley Children’s Foundation vision, mission, core values and strategic direction. Results oriented. Ability to work under pressure and effectively prioritize a varied and diverse workload. Creative and resourceful. Inquisitive and sharp minded coupled with demonstrated aptitude for strategic donor or customer experience strategy. Self-motivating and self-starting. Ability to take quiet pride in one’s work. Optimistic and positive. Team player. Must adhere to the highest ethical standards. Professional demeanor.