Director, Badger Founders Network

Are you an entrepreneurial, relationship-driven leader excited by the opportunity to build something with lasting impact? The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA), the private fundraising and alumni relations organization for the University of Wisconsin–Madison,  is seeking a Director, Badger Founders Network, to shape and grow a global community of UW–Madison alumni founders, innovators, investors, and startup leaders. In this highly collaborative role, you will create meaningful connections, develop engaging programs and experiences, and partner across WFAA, the Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub, and the university to strengthen UW–Madison’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. This is an opportunity to bring a bold vision to life while helping Badgers connect, collaborate, and contribute their expertise in support of UW–Madison.

The Director, Badger Founders Network, will lead the development and growth of a global community of UW–Madison alumni founders, entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and startup leaders. This role will create and execute a comprehensive strategy to identify and engage alumni, foster meaningful connections, and strengthen the university’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. Working across WFAA and in close partnership with the Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub, campus colleagues, volunteers, and external stakeholders, the Director will build scalable programs, experiences, communications, and communities in Madison and key markets nationwide. Through strategic relationship management, constituent data, technology, events, and volunteer leadership, the Director will expand the network, deepen alumni connections to UW–Madison, and create opportunities for members to contribute their expertise, leadership, and support to the university’s entrepreneurship efforts. This is a hybrid position that will require you to work weekly in our Madison, WI office location.

Who is WFAA?
The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is a private, nonprofit corporation that encourages individuals and organizations to make gifts to the university and to connect with the UW. In 2014, the UW Foundation merged with the Wisconsin Alumni Association® to better serve a growing population of UW alumni and donors. We believe that private support grows out of good relationships between campus leaders, faculty, and program staff who need support, and the alumni and friends who want to invest in UW–Madison. We provide important engagement opportunities to link UW–Madison alumni to each other and to their alma mater, building a strong community of Badgers.

Diversity and Inclusion:

Just as the university community benefits from differing viewpoints, perspectives, and experiences, inclusion and diversity are imperative for the success of our mission. WFAA values people and the differences that they bring to the organization, and creates an environment in which all staff members and constituents feel respected and have opportunities to thrive.  

Essential Functions

Program Development and Leadership 

• Lead the strategy, launch, and growth of the Badger Founders Network, establishing a nationally recognized community of UW-Madison alumni founders, entrepreneurs, investors, and innovation leaders.
• Design and implement a scalable, sustainable operating model that supports growth across key geographic markets and stages of member engagement.
• Develop and oversee a community-based volunteer leadership structure to expand the network's reach and impact.
• Create data-informed engagement strategies that connect founders with one another, the university and entrepreneurial initiatives across the UW ecosystem.
• Collaborate with colleagues across WFAA, campus partners, and external stakeholders to plan and execute engagement initiatives in Madison and priority founder communities nationwide.
• Establish and monitor clear performance indicators (including founder identification, network growth, participation and program impact) using results to drive continuous improvement.
• Develop expertise in entrepreneurship ecosystems, founder engagement, and alumni network development, serving as a trusted resource for internal and external stakeholders.
• Bring an entrepreneurial, innovative, and collaborative approach in building new programs and pursuing opportunities that advance network objectives.
• Represent WFAA and the Badger Founders Network at campus, alumni, entrepreneurship and industry events, including travel as needed.

Constituent Relations 

• Develop and execute strategies to identify, recruit, and engage alumni founders, entrepreneurs, investors, startup executives, and other members of the entrepreneurship community, leveraging university, industry, and alumni networks.
• Promote and expand the use of digital platforms, online communities, CRM tools, and engagement technologies to strengthen connections, facilitate resource sharing, and increase participation.
• Cultivate meaningful relationships with alumni founders, entrepreneurship leaders, identifying opportunities for deeper involvement with UW and in the ecosystem.
• Design and deliver high-value experiences, programs and networking opportunities that provide meaningful benefits to members while strengthening their connection to UW-Madison.
• Respond to constituent and stakeholder needs and interests with creative, constituent-centered solutions that align with strategic priorities of WFAA, the Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub and the university.
• Use constituent insights and engagement data to inform strategy, prioritize opportunities, and strengthen member retention and growth.
• Maintain oversight of founder and entrepreneurship affinity data within the CRM, including constituent identification, tagging, reporting, and data quality management.

Campus Relations 

• Serve as WFAA’s primary liaison with the Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub to align strategies, priorities and engagement initiatives that support founders and the broader entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Build strong partnerships across campus units and programs to identify founders, leverage existing expertise, and create meaningful engagement opportunities.
• Coordinate and communicate regularly with WFAA and campus colleagues regarding network activities, engagement strategies, founder identification efforts, and entrepreneurship initiatives.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner in the development, implementation and evaluation of initiatives that advance entrepreneurship and founder engagement at UW-Madison. UW’s entrepreneurship.
• Collaborate with campus partners on efforts to engage, steward and recognize founders and entrepreneurship stakeholders in ways that support institutional priorities and long-term relationship building.

Administration

• Demonstrate proficiency and effectively use organizational systems, processes and technology tools, including AI, to perform daily work.
• Leverage CRM database tools – including Salesforce, reporting platforms and engagement technologies – to support network management and decision making.
• Manage program budgets, contracts and resources in alignment with organizational priorities while ensuring effective stewardship of organizational resources.
• Participate actively in team, divisional and organizational meetings, planning activities, professional development and training programs.
• Respond promptly and professionally to internal and external information inquiries and provide exceptional service to alumni, volunteers, campus partners and other stakeholders.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 7 + years of professional experience in business development, entrepreneurship, industry or community relations, higher education, alumni relations, constituent engagement, entrepreneurship programming, community development, advancement, marketing, or related.
• Demonstrated success building and sustaining professional, affinity-based or entrepreneurial communities or networks.
• Experience cultivating positive relationships with constituents and volunteers from a variety of backgrounds, interests, and experience levels.
• Experience using Salesforce or similar CRM platforms to support relationship management, constituent engagement, segmentation, and reporting.
• Ability to analyze constituent data and translate insights into actionable engagement strategies.
• Ability to meet travel requirements (@25%) and work occasional evenings and weekends. 

Other Qualifications:

• Experience working within entrepreneurship ecosystems, startup communities, innovation organizations, venture capital environments, accelerators, or incubators.
• Experience leading alumni affinity groups, professional networks, membership organizations, or community-building initiatives across multiple geographic regions.
• Experience with marketing automation platforms, engagement campaigns, and audience segmentation strategies.
• Experience managing volunteer leadership programs.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage data-informed insights for strategic planning.
• Experience managing multiple projects in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.
• Excellent analytical, written, and interpersonal communication skills

At WFAA, we are dedicated to creating an inspiring, creative, and respectful work environment for our employees. We offer competitive pay and an outstanding benefits program, including a generous 10% 401k contribution after just one year of service! Join us and be part of a team that values your growth and well-being. to learn more about our employee benefits ! 

*The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer *The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (advanceuw.org) is the “doing business as” name of the merged organization comprising the University of Wisconsin Foundation (supportuw.org) and the Wisconsin Alumni Association (uwalumni.com). Its legal corporate name is registered as the University of Wisconsin Foundation.