Director of Corporate Relations and Partnership

Description

Reporting to the Senior Director for Advancement, the Director of Corporate Relations and Partnership is responsible for developing and implementing plans to maximize philanthropic support for Oglethorpe University from a portfolio of private corporations. This position is responsible for the acquisition and renewal of corporate support for the University, focusing on those with the capacity to make substantial commitments. Working with the Senior Director, this position serves as a contact for cultivation and solicitation activities as part of the University's overall philanthropic program within the guidelines of federal, state, and local laws and University, office, and division policies and procedures. The director will support fundraising efforts with a variety of campus partners to maximize corporate support for Oglethorpe and ensure a coordinated, seamless approach campus-wide. As a member of the Advancement team, the Director plays a significant role in building and strengthening core fundraising services and activities guided by the University’s strategic plan and institutional priorities. The Director will develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising plan and strategy for consistent, long-term support for Oglethorpe University.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Build, develop, and manage the development program for corporations; work with development and advancement colleagues and the Senior Director of Advancement to continually identify, explore, cultivate, and solicit new corporations and prospects.
• In coordination with the Senior Director of Advancement, create and execute an annual operating plan with monthly and quarterly fundraising and activity goals.
• Maintain, grow, and personally solicit a dynamic portfolio (75 115) of key corporations (local, regional, and national) contacts and secure new levels of institutional support through grants, partnerships, sponsorships, and other charitable initiatives.
• Prepares and submits timely letters of inquiry, full proposals, and other correspondence to promote Oglethorpe’s institutional priorities based on information provided by the senior leadership, other administrators, and faculty members. Maintain a comprehensive annual institutional grants calendar, plan, and pipeline that clearly outlines goals, deadlines, and measurements of success.
• Meet or exceed confirmed corporate fundraising goals and activity metrics and provide timely progress reports.
• Assure timely and accurate reporting of gift/grant usage and impact to corporate investors and provide updates on relevant Oglethorpe activities. Maintain a comprehensive annual institutional reports calendar that clearly outlines requirements, deadlines, and measurements of success and share it with campus partners.
• Work with the Senior Director of Advancement to coordinate institutional donor visits and prepare leadership for meetings with institutional funders.
• In collaboration with Donor Relations and Stewardship, execute meaningful recognition and stewardship of new and long-term corporate donors and partners.
• Participate consistently in prospect strategy and management meetings and maintain a proactive partnership with Prospect Development.
• Works collaboratively with Advancement Services to prepare narrative and financial reports for funding agencies and to implement other activities to steward gifts from organizational sources, including matching gifts.
• Meet regularly with university leadership, faculty, and staff to identify new opportunities and assure timely progress on priority projects.
• Assist with development, advancement, and Oglethorpe community events as requested.
• Attend professional development conferences and trainings.
• Actively review information and publications on the fundraising profession, philanthropy, and advancement best practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, preferably in communications, business, nonprofit management, or philanthropy.
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience.
• Experience in grant writing and proven success in securing charitable support from corporations.

Preferred:

• Strong writing and editing skills.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office products suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word), or equivalent software.
• Technologically skilled and familiar with Raiser’s Edge/fundraising databases and other software applications.
• Experience in a higher education setting.

Other Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Desire to represent Oglethorpe out in the community, attending events and other social gatherings, building personal relationships on behalf of Oglethorpe, and with the objective of raising awareness and funds for the institution.
• Appreciation of, sensitivity to, and respect for a diverse academic environment, inclusive of students, faculty, and staff of many social, economic, cultural, ideological, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.

• Excellent oral and interpersonal skills, including diplomacy, required to function effectively among campus fundraisers, high-level campus administrators, volunteers, and other constituencies to bring large-scale projects to completion. Ability to work in a team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize work, and independently manage multiple, diverse, and competing priorities while meeting deadlines.

• Strong project management and problem-solving skills and a demonstrated ability to work in a demanding environment.
• Ability to recall, recognize, and communicate interrelated information pertaining to University benefactors and prospects.
• General fundraising skills, including proficiency at tracking processes and staying informed of trends in the field.
• Knowledge of ethics statements by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and other related associations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and work with sensitive information and successfully pass a criminal background check required.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

• This position is in a normal office environment, typically working at a desk or table.
• The use of normal office equipment will be required.
• At times, the individual may be required to work an alternative work schedule.

This job description is intended as a summary of the primary responsibilities of and qualifications for this position. The job description is not intended to be inclusive of all duties an individual in this position might be asked to perform or of all qualifications that may be required either now or in the future.