Washington University in St. Louis

Director, Foundation Relations - University Advancement

166 Red St, Clayton, MO 63105

Full-time · $84k–$115k (as posted)

First seen by offpeak October 4, 2026

See your drive time Apply on Washington University in St. Louis's site

Location

ST. LOUIS, MO 63105

Scheduled Hours

37.5

Position Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director of Foundation Relations, the Director is responsible for securing major gift level support from foundations whose charitable objectives are consistent with those of Washington University in St. Louis (WashU). The position raises funds for a diverse range of purposes including but not limited to research, facilities, programs, scholarships, and endowment with primary focus on the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences departments, centers and initiatives. The successful candidate will be strategic, thoughtful, collaborative, and experienced in the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of gifts and grants.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Fundraising: Identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of foundations and philanthropic organizations.

Engage in qualifications, strategy, relationship building, and proposal development for gifts or grants.
Partner with faculty, members of the philanthropic Strategy team, and fundraising colleagues to develop effective fundraising strategies that lead to well written proposals for Foundations, aligning these proposals with the Dean/Center director’s priorities and with overall university fundraising goals. May include being the primary writer on a grant or gift.
Develop and implement innovative plans for enhancing stewardship of foundation donors. Provide timely reports of grants from foundations that have made philanthropic gifts to the University.

University Knowledge and Partnerships.

Develop and maintain a deep understanding of the programs and research priorities being conducted by faculty within the schools, departments, and units for which he/she is the staff liaison, including the Arts, Humanities, and Social Science departments, centers and institutes of the Danforth Campus.
Conduct regular meetings with Philanthropic Strategy partners to identify research and programs at the university that align with foundations’ funding interests.
Once research projects are identified, work with faculty and academic staff to build and submit proposal(s).
Identify new viable prospects or proposal opportunities.

In collaboration with the Assistant Director, oversee the maintenance of the Office of Foundation Relations website, including the database of open foundation funding opportunities targeted to the strengths of the Danforth Campus.
Identify, secure, and attend meetings for leadership and faculty with foundation staff. Host campus visits by foundation representatives. Attend professional Corporate and Foundation Relations conferences.
Responsibly document all work with prospects and funders into the constituent relationship management tracking system in a timely manner in accordance with the policies and procedures of University Advancement.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:

Job Location/Working Conditions

Normal office environment
May need to travel across campus

Physical Effort

Typically sitting at a desk or a table

Equipment

Office equipment

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's degree

Certifications/Professional Licenses:

No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

Work Experience:

Relevant Experience (5 Years)

Skills:

Not Applicable

Driver's License:

A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

Preferred Qualifications

Value placed on organizational loyalty, commitment, pride, integrity, mutual respect, and collegial openness.
Development experience in a complex university environment
A deep appreciation for and the ability to articulate the mission and aspirations of the Washington University.
Desire to play a meaningful role in the University community and to share in its commitment to research and education.
Ability to work with collaboratively with diverse constituencies within a complex organization.
Experience in foundation relations or in development work that includes work with foundations and funding organizations.
Direct experience in the exploratory, cultivation and solicitation stages of fundraising.
Demonstrated success in playing a lead or highly active role in securing significant grants from foundations, including at the six- and seven-figure level.
Knowledge of the major national foundations.

This position is located in St. Louis, MO and the targeted hiring range for this position is $84,200 - $115,000.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Master's degree

Certifications/Professional Licenses:

No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Work Experience:

No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Skills:

Analytical Thinking, Capital Campaigns, Communication, Computer Technology, Confidentiality, Deadline Management, Detail-Oriented, Donor Solicitation, Fundraising, Grantmaking, Interpersonal Interactions, Nonprofit Management, Professional Etiquette, Professional Integrity, Project Management, Prospect Management, Self-Starter, Speaking Clearly, Synthesize Information, Teamwork, Work Collaboratively, Working Independently, Workplace Productivity

Grade

G15

Salary Range

$84,200.00 - $148,500.00 / Annually

The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Personal

Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.

Wellness

Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!

Family

We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.
WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/

EEO Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

More jobs within a 30-minute drive of St. Louis, MO