Executive Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations

Welcome to the official site for employment opportunities at MICA. At MICA, we empower our employees to use their talent in a variety of ways. We are pleased that you are interested in career opportunities offered at MICA. Job Title: Executive Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations Department: Advancement Division: Advancement FLSA Status: Exempt Union: N/A Grade: 11 Salary Range: $109,700 - $142,500 Reports to: Vice President for Advancement General purpose: The Executive Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations serves as the College's senior fundraising strategist for institutional philanthropy and public funding. Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement, this position develops and executes a comprehensive strategy to secure significant philanthropic investments and government funding that advance the College's strategic priorities and Campaign goals. The Executive Director identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards corporations, private and family foundations, and government agencies while managing a portfolio of institutional funders and prospects capable of making gifts and grants ranging from $25,000 to more than $2 million. The position serves as a strategic advisor to institutional leadership, develops complex funding proposals, oversees grants management and reporting, strengthens relationships with key funding partners, and collaborates across the institution to position the College for sustained philanthropic growth. This position exercises considerable independent judgment, initiative, and strategic decision-making while serving as a key member of the Advancement leadership team. Summary of Essential Functions Develop and implement a comprehensive corporate, foundation, and government fundraising strategy that advances the College's Strategic Plan and Campaign priorities. Manage a portfolio institutional donors and prospects through all stages of identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and renewal. Secure transformational philanthropic investments and competitive grants ranging from $25,000 to $2 million or more. Identify, research, qualify, and engage new corporate, foundation, and government funding opportunities aligned with institutional priorities. Lead the development, writing, submission, and stewardship of complex grant proposals, sponsorship requests, reports, and other institutional funding opportunities. Direct advocacy strategies related to federal, state, and local government funding opportunities. Oversee the grants management process, proposal calendar, reporting timelines, and institutional compliance with funding requirements. Partner with senior leadership, faculty, and staff to identify funding priorities, develop competitive proposals, and strengthen relationships with institutional funders. Develop strategic corporate partnerships, sponsorships, and collaborative funding opportunities that expand institutional visibility and philanthropic support. Provide leadership for institutional grants administration, prospect strategy, and funding pipeline development. Essential Duties & Responsibilities Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and renewal strategies for a portfolio of institutional donors and prospects. Conduct ongoing prospect research, qualification, and pipeline development to expand corporate, foundation, and government funding opportunities. Initiate and lead discovery meetings, cultivation visits, proposal discussions, and solicitation meetings with institutional funders. Build and maintain strong relationships with corporate executives, foundation officers, government officials, and philanthropic leaders. Identify major funding opportunities that support institutional priorities, including scholarships, academic programs, faculty initiatives, capital projects, research, public programming, entrepreneurship, exhibitions, and strategic initiatives. Collaborate with Advancement colleagues to coordinate institutional fundraising strategies and maximize philanthropic opportunities across donor constituencies. Lead the preparation of compelling grant proposals, sponsorship requests, letters of inquiry, presentations, budgets, and supporting documentation. Coordinate proposal development with faculty, academic leadership, finance, institutional research, and other campus partners. Ensure timely completion and submission of all grant applications, sponsorship requests, interim reports, final reports, and compliance documentation. Monitor grant expenditures, reporting requirements, and institutional compliance with funding agreements. Develop systems to improve grant tracking, reporting, stewardship, and institutional accountability. Develop long-term relationships with private foundations, corporate philanthropies, family foundations, and corporate giving programs. Expand strategic partnerships with corporations at the local, regional, national, and international levels. Identify sponsorship opportunities supporting institutional events, exhibitions, public programs, and campaign initiatives. Research alumni, parents, trustees, and community leaders with corporate affiliations to strengthen institutional partnerships. Monitor federal, state, and local funding opportunities relevant to institutional priorities. Develop competitive strategies for securing public funding and government grants. Coordinate institutional responses to government funding opportunities in collaboration with campus leadership. Maintain relationships with government agencies, elected officials, and funding organizations. Serve as an integral member of the College's Campaign fundraising team. Collaborate with senior leadership to develop institutional funding priorities and campaign strategies. Provide strategic guidance regarding institutional funding trends, philanthropic opportunities, and grant competitiveness. Participate in campaign planning, donor strategy meetings, and institutional leadership discussions. Direct the grants calendar and proposal management process. Develop policies, procedures, and best practices supporting institutional grants administration. Maintain accurate donor records, proposal documentation, and activity reporting within the constituent relationship management system. Prepare reports and analyses regarding fundraising activity, proposal success, institutional funding trends, and portfolio performance. Provide day-to-day leadership, guidance, and work direction to the Coordinator. Foster strong partnerships with Advancement Services to improve prospect management, reporting, and grant administration. Work collaboratively with academic leaders, faculty, finance, communications, and institutional partners to advance funding priorities. Represent the College at donor meetings, professional conferences, community events, and institutional functions. Perform other related duties as assigned. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs) Extensive knowledge of institutional fundraising, grant development, corporate philanthropy, foundation relations, and government funding. Demonstrated success securing major institutional gifts and competitive grants, including six- and seven-figure awards. Thorough knowledge of fundraising strategy, donor cultivation, stewardship, prospect management, and campaign fundraising. Strong understanding of federal, state, local, corporate, and private foundation funding processes. Exceptional grant writing, proposal development, editing, and persuasive communication skills. Ability to translate complex institutional priorities into compelling funding proposals. Strong analytical and research skills with the ability to identify emerging funding opportunities and philanthropic trends. Excellent relationship-building, negotiation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage senior executives, trustees, donors, faculty, and government officials. Ability to exercise sound judgment, diplomacy, discretion, and confidentiality when working with sensitive donor and institutional information. Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple complex projects, deadlines, and competing priorities simultaneously. Ability to analyze financial information, develop grant budgets, monitor compliance, and prepare funding reports. Ability to work independently while leading collaborative, cross-functional initiatives. Proficiency with fundraising databases, donor relationship management systems, Microsoft Office applications, grants management software, and prospect research resources. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Minimum of 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience in institutional fundraising, corporate and foundation relations, government relations, grant development, or major gifts fundraising. Demonstrated success securing significant corporate, foundation, and government funding, including six- and seven-figure gifts and grants. Experience managing a complex donor portfolio and developing long-term fundraising strategies. Experience writing competitive grant proposals and managing grant compliance and reporting. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and donor relationship management systems. Preferred Qualifications Master's degree or other advanced degree. Experience working in higher education, arts and culture, or nonprofit organizations with comprehensive fundraising programs. Experience with Raiser's Edge or comparable donor relationship management systems. Familiarity with institutional grants management software and prospect research platforms. Knowledge of federal and state grant funding processes and regulations. Familiarity with MICA's mission, strategic priorities, and creative education environment. Conditions of Employment: Satisfactory background check Ability to work evenings and weekends during times of peak activity Physical demands and work environment: Physical Demands: While performing the duties of job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. (may be adjusted depending on position) Work environment: While performing the duties of the job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to high. Required training: Exhibitions Department Installation Guide and Policy handbook, MICA Handbook orientation, Anti-Harassment, Hazard Communication, Emergency Plans & Fire Prevention, Personal Protection Equipment. (additional training may be added, SEE: EHS Manager training schedule) Maryland Institute College of Art is committed to its policy of providing equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or veteran status (disabled, Vietnam-era, or otherwise). Furthermore, the College does not tolerate any form of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment or sexual violence. This policy applies to all programs, facilities, and activities provided by Maryland Institute College of Art, including but not limited to admission, educational programs, and employment. Applicants must apply online for each job in which they are interested. You will not be considered for any job for which you have not specifically applied. We do not accept applications via email, U.S. mail, or fax. Successful candidates for any staff or faculty positions will be subject to a pre-employment background check. MICA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io.