Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations

Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations

The Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations is a fundraising professional with a passion for working creatively with corporate leaders and foundation funders. The ideal candidate demonstrates considerable initiative, independent judgment, detail orientation, and creative thinking, along with strong written and verbal communication skills. This position reports to the Vice President of Advancement (VPA) and is responsible for building and maintaining a portfolio of institutional funders to achieve KGl’s fundraising goals.

The Associate Director works with corporate representatives, foundation leaders and program directors, and campus leadership, faculty, and staff to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate and foundation donors.

Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) is a recognized leader in biotechnology and healthcare education and is a graduate institution within the consortium of The Claremont Colleges. Founded on the belief that the future of science requires a new type of leader, KGI is an entrepreneurial, nimble, and industry-focused university dedicated to translating scientific discoveries into medical solutions. Spanning the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the School of Applied Life Sciences, KGI equips students for high-demand careers in genomic medicine, bioprocessing, and healthcare management.

Joining KGI means becoming part of a mission-driven community that values innovation, diversity, and the power of science to improve the human condition.

Located in beautiful Claremont, California, KGI is a member of the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of five undergraduate liberal arts colleges, two graduate institutions, and The Claremont Colleges Services, which provides shared institutional support services. Each nationally recognized college has its own campus, students and faculty, and distinctive mission, and each offers top‑notch curricula, small classes, distinguished professors, and personalized instruction.

The Claremont Colleges consistently place at the top of national college rankings, including Forbes, Money and U.S. News and World Report, and the Princeton Review.

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a minimum of three years of professional experience, preferably in fundraising, business development, nonprofit management, grant writing, or research administration. Candidates with strong transferable skills such as backgrounds in sales, marketing, or technical writing who are seeking to transition into higher education advancement are also encouraged to apply. Experience or familiarity with the biotech, healthcare, or life sciences industries is beneficial.

Demonstrated success in securing funding, generating revenue, or managing high-value partnerships is required.

• Portfolio Management & Proposal Development
  • Execute Fundraising Strategy:
    Manage an active portfolio of 80–100 corporate and foundation prospects with a giving capacity of $10,000 or more. Move prospects through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship cycles.
  • Pipeline Development:
    Proactively identify and qualify new leads from the biotech, healthcare, and life sciences sectors. Translate KGI’s institutional priorities into compelling sponsorship opportunities and grant proposals.
  • Proposal Writing: serve as the primary drafter for corporate appeals, grant applications, and sponsorship decks. Collaborate with the VPA to refine messaging for high-level solicitations.
  • External Representation:
    Represent KGI at industry functions, community events, and corporate meetings to increase visibility and identify potential partners.
• Stakeholder Collaboration & Strategy
  • Internal Partnership:
    Build productive working relationships with faculty, Deans, and program directors to understand their funding needs. Translate complex academic and scientific goals into accessible language for external funders.
  • Cross-Departmental Coordination:
    Partner with the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects and Corporate Partnerships to coordinate focused meetings…