Associate Director Foundation Relations

Department: University Advancement
Appointment Type and Duration: Regular, Ongoing
Salary: $65,000 - $75,000 per year
Compensation Band: OS-OA07-Fiscal Year
FTE: 1.0

January 5th, 2026; position open until filled

To be considered for this position, applicants must submit a complete application that includes (1) an online application, (2) a cover letter, and (3) a resume that addresses how they meet the minimum and/or preferred qualifications.

Applicants must also submit a writing sample. This position requires a high level of writing proficiency. Submit a 1-page excerpt of your own writing, which could include an academic paper, grant or fellowship application or other example of your choosing. You do not need to write something new, we want to see an example of something you have written for a professional or academic purpose.

We are interested in finding the best candidate for the position. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t think you meet every one of our preferred qualifications. Use your application to let us know what is meaningful to you about the role and what transferable skills or other qualities you would bring.

University Advancement (UA) supports the University of Oregon’s (UO) mission of providing exceptional teaching, discovery, and service by strategically positioning the university to create awareness, build long-term relationships, and secure resources that increase understanding and further its aims. We are committed to fostering equity and inclusion in a welcoming, safe, and respectful environment that recognizes the value of all members of our community.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Central Development Research Programs, the Associate Director of Foundation Relations is responsible for identifying, cultivating, solicitating and stewarding private foundations with the capacity to make grants of up to $100,000. This position will assist multiple schools and units across campus, will manage a portfolio of private foundations, and will respond to queries from members of the UO community (Advancement colleagues, faculty, administrators, etc.)

regarding opportunities with private foundations that may exists outside the portfolio. The primary focus of the person in this role will be identifying foundation prospects whose missions align with research, scholarship and artistic output of the university’s arts, humanities and qualitative social science disciplines. This includes faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Design and Oregon Humanities Center, as well as programs in the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, Museum of Natural and Cultural History and UO Libraries.

The Associate Director of Foundation Relations will manage the stewardship/reporting for foundations in their portfolio. This position will coordinate with academic partners on awarded grants to write and submit reports in coordination with funder criteria and deadlines.

The Associate Director will establish effective working relationships with school/unit fundraisers, deans, and faculty and administrative staff of the university to accomplish fundraising goals.

The Associate Director will be responsible for meeting fundraising goals as they relate to the strategic needs of the University of Oregon. Performance as measured against these goals will be evaluated annually.

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of skills and experience.
• Two years of professional experience in foundation and/or corporate relations at a university or other large institution OR three years’ experience in a closely related field.
• Experience writing grant proposals or similar materials for foundations and/or corporations.

• Ability to source and develop competitive proposals to philanthropic foundations in support of research, scholarship and artistic activities led by UO faculty.
• Working with foundation prospects:
  Ability to identify, cultivate, and solicit foundation prospects and build relationships with key constituents connected with the university.
• Ability to work with university faculty and professional staff to understand priorities and programmatic needs in order to identify potential foundation partners and sponsors.
• Strong writing and editing skills:
  Ability to draft and edit proposals, letters of intent, and other collateral materials designed to promote university programs to potential foundation partners.
• Portfolio Management:
  Ability to research and identify foundation prospects based on university priorities and giving opportunities. Ability to manage portfolio of 30-50 foundation prospects and regularly use CRM database and other tools to find and update prospect information.
• Professionalism:
  Ability to establish collaborative working relationships with Advancement colleagues and university faculty, staff, University of Oregon Foundation staff, and leadership and maintain…