Foundation Relations Program Director

Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

The University of Notre Dame is seeking a dynamic, analytical, and highly collaborative Director of Foundation Relations. This pivotal role is charged with growing external support for University research and programs from private foundations through effective alignment strategy, proposal development, and stewardship.

This individual will work directly with Notre Dame faculty, staff, and administrators to understand, synthesize, and articulate research expertise and funding needs for a grantmaking audience. They will also proactively identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward foundation partners, matching funding opportunities with projects within the Academy. This Director will oversee a portfolio of faculty and foundations and will work to achieve an individual production goal.

The ideal candidate is a highly motivated, creative thinker who can approach and translate complex ideas from multiple angles, possesses superior writing and editing skills, and easily earns credibility within an academic setting. Intellectual curiosity and interest in working with researchers from across the University, regardless of field, are essential, but candidates with a background in specific disciplinary areas (e.g., STEM) are also encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

Foundation Relations & Portfolio Management 

• Partner directly with faculty within assigned disciplines to surface, explore, and prioritize academic research for philanthropic solicitation.

• Initiate, execute, and evaluate strategies to expand the foundation prospect pool, creating connections that lead to sustained, long-term partnerships.

Research & Proposal Development 

• Draft, edit, review, and finalize Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) and full grant proposals in close coordination with faculty, ensuring tight alignment with foundation focus areas.

• Develop and execute an annual plan for proposal submissions, institutional meetings, foundation engagement, and stewardship.

• Facilitate introductions and coordinate campus visits for foundation representatives to meet with faculty and leadership.

Faculty Engagement 

• Partner directly with faculty within assigned disciplines to surface, explore, and prioritize academic research for philanthropic solicitation.

• Convene and collaborate with faculty to align their research objectives with specific foundation interests.

• Partner closely with Notre Dame Research (NDR) to develop proposals and ensure administrative alignment.

• Attend faculty presentations, departmental meetings, and college events to stay integrated with the academic community.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• 3 to 5 years of professional experience in fundraising, grant writing, corporate/foundation relations, or a closely related field (such as research development or university administration).
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a proven track record of writing, editing, and finalizing successful proposals, Letters of Inquiry (LOIs), or complex reports.
• Demonstrated experience working with high-level stakeholders, managing a portfolio, or cultivating relationships that lead to successful project outcomes.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a proven ability to collaborate across diverse departments, offices, or multi-disciplinary teams.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.
• Must be willing to relocate to South Bend, Indiana, where the position is based.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master’s or Ph.D. in relevant field)
• Deep familiarity with a high-level academic research environment, including an understanding of university structures, faculty culture, and the mechanisms of academic research enterprise.
• Direct experience in foundation relations within higher education, with documented success in securing major awards.

Additional Information

RESUME AND COVER LETTER REQUIRED to be considered for this position.  Please add in the attachments section of the application.

Application Deadline to Apply:  July 29, 2026

Starts in the low $110ks, commensurate with experience.

Benefits page: -compensation/

The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or age in employment. Moreover, Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and complies with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). We strongly encourage applications from candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity.