Assistant Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Strategy and Stewardship

The Assistant Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Strategy and Stewardship serves as a key member of the NIU Foundation's Corporate and Foundation Relations team, supporting the development of meaningful partnerships between Northern Illinois University and corporate and foundation stakeholders. This position is responsible for cultivating and managing internal university relationships, coordinating stewardship and engagement activities for corporate and foundation partners, and supporting data-informed decision-making processes that strengthen the Corporate and Foundation Relations program. The Assistant Director serves as a connector among faculty, staff, students, researchers, academic leaders, advancement professionals, and external partners to identify opportunities, facilitate collaboration, communicate impact, and advance relationship-building efforts. The position works closely with university stakeholders to maintain awareness of research, academic initiatives, workforce development, and student success programs that align with corporate and foundation interests. Additionally, the Assistant Director supports stewardship planning, partner engagement, prospect development activities, and strategic data initiatives that help strengthen and grow corporate and foundation relationships. Duties and Responsibilities 40% Internal Relationship Development and Management Serve as a key liaison between Corporate and Foundation Relations and university faculty, staff, researchers, administrators, and academic units to identify emerging corporate and foundation value propositions and accelerate cross-functional decision-making. Develop and maintain collaborative relationships across the university to identify and advance opportunities for corporate and foundation engagement. Consult with faculty and staff regarding partnership opportunities, project development, project readiness, and engagement strategies. Design and facilitate faculty and staff training related to corporate and foundation engagement, relationship development, and partnership best practices to increase institutional fundraising capabilities across academic units. Develop, maintain, and report on inventories of research, programs, projects, workforce initiatives, and student-centered opportunities with potential alignment with external partner interests. Coordinate with faculty and university stakeholders to assess program readiness and strategic fit for corporate and foundation engagement. Collaborate with Research and Innovation Partnerships, Sponsored Programs Administration, academic colleges, centers, institutes, and administrative units to identify partnership opportunities and emerging initiatives. Support development of project summaries, budgets, partnership concepts, and briefing materials. Partner with Alumni Relations and Advancement colleagues to identify opportunities for alumni involvement in corporate and foundation partnerships. 40% Stewardship and Relationship Engagement Develop and implement stewardship plans that strengthen relationships with key corporate and foundation partners. Coordinate and support partner visits, campus engagements, meetings, networking opportunities, and recognition activities. Maintain and/or facilitate regular communication with external corporate and foundation partners through impact updates, success stories, newsletters, stewardship reports, and other engagement materials. Coordinate faculty, student, and partner participation in stewardship activities. Gather and communicate examples of partner impact, student outcomes, research accomplishments, and university successes. Prepare and coordinate stewardship communications, including reports, letters, presentations, videos, and other partner-facing materials. Track stewardship commitments and engagement activities to ensure fulfillment and continuity. Support relationship-management activities designed to strengthen long-term partnerships and encourage continued investment and engagement. 15% Data-to-Decision Support Support data-informed planning and decision-making processes for Corporate and Foundation Relations. Support prospect management and portfolio development activities. Support efforts to integrate and leverage university and foundation data sources for relationship management and strategic planning. Assist with business intelligence activities utilizing institutional, alumni, procurement, industry, and partnership data. Support implementation of AI-enabled processes and workflow improvements. Conduct company and foundation research and prepare organizational profiles. Gather, analyze, and synthesize information to support cultivation, stewardship, and engagement strategies. 5% Other Duties as Assigned Periodically support additional Advancement functions relating to corporate and foundation relations. Education and Experience Required Bachelor's degree. At least three (3) years of experience in higher education corporate relations and/or foundation relations. Experience managing projects and coordinating activities among multiple stakeholders. Experience building collaborative relationships and working across organizational units. Experience utilizing databases, CRM systems, reporting systems, or other information-management tools. Preferred Advanced degree. Five (5) years of experience in higher education corporate relations and/or foundation relations. Experience supporting or managing stewardship and constituent engagement programs. Experience with prospect management systems and advancement CRMs. Experience utilizing data analytics and business intelligence tools. Proficiency in using AI tools and developing AI-enabled processes. Familiarity with research administration, industry partnerships, workforce development, or experiential learning programs. Knowledge of corporate philanthropy, foundation giving, sponsorships, or external partnership development. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Critical to the Performance of this Position Demonstrable commitment to the highest standard of ethical and professional conduct in accordance with the CASE Statement of Ethics, the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethical Principles and Standards, and The Donor Bill of Rights. (Membership not required.) Deep, personal commitment to diversity in all forms, the recognition of all individuals to mutual respect, and the acceptance of others without biases. Demonstrable commitment to leading by example and modeling diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging throughout the university community. Excellent interpersonal skills to relate effectively with faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, corporate representatives, foundation leaders, volunteers, colleagues, and university leadership. Self-motivated, innovative, and able to work with considerable independence within the context of a team environment and a network of relationships. Superior written and oral communication, facilitation, organizational, analytical, and project management skills, including the ability to synthesize information from multiple sources and communicate effectively to diverse audiences. Demonstrated ability to build and maintain productive relationships across a complex organizational environment and to work collaboratively with stakeholders possessing varying priorities and perspectives. Knowledge of not-for-profit higher education, university governance, academic administration, and university policies and procedures. Ability and desire to engage in relationship-building activities through regular interaction with internal stakeholders and external corporate and foundation partners. Strong attention to detail and ability to coordinate multi-faceted projects involving multiple departments, timelines, and constituents. Familiarity with stewardship, relationship management, constituent engagement, and partnership development practices. Ability to gather, interpret, analyze, and present information to support strategic decision-making and relationship development efforts. Familiarity with donor databases, CRM platforms, reporting tools, Microsoft Office software, and computerized systems for data tracking, relationship management, and prospect development. Ability to learn and utilize emerging technologies, including business intelligence and AI-enabled tools, to improve efficiency and support data-informed decision-making. This position requires the handling of highly sensitive and confidential information and requires an exemplary track record of professionalism, maturity, sound judgment, and discretion. Willingness to commit to and articulate the mission and goals of Northern Illinois University and the NIU Foundation. The ability to think critically and strategically; capable of taking responsibility for specific goals within designated timeframes #J-18808-Ljbffr Northern Illinois University Foundation