The Director of Corporate, Foundation & Government Relations is responsible for increasing the visibility of Adler University by managing its relationships with private foundations, corporations, corporate foundations and government entities. The Director actively works to establish long-term partnerships and strengthen existing relationships with the corporate and foundation sector, as well as other key communities that will result in funding for the immediate and long-term goals of the University. The position provides the expertise to advance Adler’s interests by researching, identifying, and soliciting sources of support, proactively seeking opportunities to generate new proposals based on prospects’ guidelines and interests, and by maintaining strong communication ties with corporate and foundation donors and prospects. Additionally, the Director is a key advisor in recommending strategies to ensure that the University’s faculty and program directors are successful in pursuing and securing grants for current operations as well as special projects as appropriate. The Director supports all three Adler campuses: Chicago, Vancouver, and Online.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Planning. Design, implement, and manage a comprehensive proactive development strategy focused on expanding and enhancing foundation, corporate, and government relationships by directing and coordinating activities related to obtaining foundation, corporate, and government monetary support.
2. Proposal Development. Develop highly competitive proposals for foundation and corporate prospects and leverage diverse foundation and corporate goals and interests in conjunction with University goals. Produce and submit grant proposals to governmental agencies for funding for specific projects.
3. Program Management. Lead and execute day-to-day management of a comprehensive grants program, including but not limited to:
   • Create and maintain an annual operations plan with measurable program goals, individual prospect funding goals, and a comprehensive grants calendar;
   • Develop, track, and report key measures of progress in all areas of grant activity;
   • Within the emerging strategic priorities of Adler and through regular contact with faculty and internal center and institute directors, identify areas of activities/needs that might be of interest to foundations or corporations;
   • In concert with the AVP and VP OIA, leverage a network of key volunteers in cultivating and soliciting prospects;
   • Make initial, exploratory or solicitation contacts for the President, VP and AVP, and/or appropriate program directors;
   • Work with appropriate internal staff to research, plan, outline, draft and /or edit grant proposals;
   • Organize and facilitate Adler grants committee meetings; and
   • Develop, implement, and maintain stewardship strategies and systems for foundations and corporations who have made a gift to the University.
4. Prospect Research. Maintain a thorough research effort to determine the giving patterns of local, regional and national foundations and corporations, including state and federal competitive grant funding. Identify emerging business leaderships and industry trends with a special emphasis on developing high value exchange corporate alliances to solicit philanthropic commitments to support the mission and goals of Adler.
5. Relationship Building. Represent the University at on and off-campus meetings and functions. Develop and maintain an active list of contacts/prospects in order to interact with external sources for the procurement of grants and gifts. Initiate opportunities for faculty, administrators, and program directors to interact with corporate and foundation prospects and interpret foundation and corporate interests to University constituencies on all three campuses: Chicago, Vancouver, and Online.
6. Advise faculty, administrators, and staff about the trends and areas of interests of private and public grant funding sources (e.g., foundations, corporations, government agencies). Prepare or assist in the preparation of reports to external officials on the status of grants and the use of funds in accordance with the specifics of approved grants.
7. General Functions. Assist with development functions, such as screening sessions, presidential briefings, committee meetings and volunteer activities as needed and necessary; occasional travel required.
8. Office of Sponsored Research. Understand the workings of this office in a University setting, make recommendations and provide counsel in its organization.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree; minimum five years demonstrated successful foundation, corporate, and/or government, fundraising experience preferably in higher education (or a comparably complex organization)
• A proven track record of successful fundraising from foundations, corporations, and government agencies
• Demonstrated ability in grant and proposal writing at appropriate levels for varied proposal development
• Knowledge of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies and techniques, particularly in the area of foundation, corporate, and government fundraising required
• Demonstrated knowledge of methods, practices and procedures for obtaining information about the giving programs of foundations, corporations, and government
• Self-motivation and discipline to regularly set and achieve work goals
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and networking skills with large groups as well as with individuals are essential
• Ability to initiate and build relationships with prospective foundation, corporate, and government donors, and interact via telephone and in person with institutional representatives
• Demonstrated ability to take primary responsibility for a diverse number of projects and to complete them in a timely manner with limited supervision
• Demonstrated record of success in generating significant commitments from foundations, corporations and government entities
• Exceptional writing and editing skills in order to develop professional reports, strategic plans and correspondence
• Must work effectively in a team setting and interact well with all types of people, including faculty and external program officers alike, and maintain a high level of poise and professionalism in all circumstances
• Ability to coordinate a variety of tasks simultaneously and handle tension and stress in a positive manner is required

Work Environment (Physical Demands):  The usual and customary methods of performing the jobs functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires 80% sitting, 10% walking, and 10% standing. This job is performed in a generally clean and healthy environment.

Universal Core Behaviors:

Communication:

• Effectively expresses oneself in all oral and written communications.
• Exhibits good listening and comprehension skills.
• Keeps others informed, as well as responds, in a timely manner.
• Demonstrates match between words and actions.
• Responds with tact, diplomacy, respect and composure when dealing with others.
• Promotes the spirit and essence of the School’s Vision, Mission, Values and Key Strategies through both verbal and written communication.

 

Teamwork and Collaboration:

• Cooperates with others toward the achievement of common goals.
• Seeks consensus and win-win solutions to problems and conflicts.
• Contributes actively and participates fully in team initiatives.
• Puts success of the team above own interests.
• Builds and maintains constructive work relationships.

 

Responsive to Change:

• Supports changes in the work environment.
• Displays a proactive, problem-solving approach toward work.
• Committed to life-long learning by continuously increasing skills, knowledge and effectiveness.
• Actively seeks and initiates creative and innovative solutions.
• Exercises sound, accurate and informed independent judgment when needed.

 

Quality-Driven and Accountable:

• Results-oriented and committed to quality through continuous process improvement.
• Eliminates ineffective activities and closes performance gaps.
• Anticipates and responds to customer needs.
• Monitors own performance, accept responsibility for actions and actively seeks feedback.
• Meets deadlines and completes projects and activities in professional, timely manner.
• Seeks opportunities to increase productivity and/or reduce costs while maintaining highest quality standards (fiscally responsible).

 

Support of Vision, Mission, Values, Key Strategies:

• Supports and models the School’s Values of: social interest, compassion, justice, respect for the individual, honors diversity and difference, intellectual rigor, optimism and collaboration.
• Articulates the School’s Vision, Mission, and Key Strategies in a way to educate others.
• Demonstrates active commitment in advancing the School’s Vision, Mission and Key Strategies.
• Exhibits personal integrity, honesty, zeal and compassion.
• Aligns work processes to advance the School’s strategic plan and key strategies.

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of Adler University that all persons are entitled to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) protection. The University does not discriminate against any individual for employment because of age, religion, race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, physical or mental disability, military status (including unfavorable discharge from the military), or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

 As part of the Adler's equal employment opportunity policy, Adler will also take affirmative action to ensure that minority group individuals, females, disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, other protected veterans, Armed Forces service medal veterans, and qualified disabled persons are introduced into our workforce and considered for promotional opportunities.