Director of Foundation Relations

Job Description

Reporting to the Executive Director of LINK Center for Advancing Partnerships the Director of Foundation Relations serves as the senior leader for Virginia Techs foundation relations program and chief architect of its institutional engagement strategy with major national foundations and select corporate foundations. The Director provides strategic and operational leadership for a comprehensive foundation relations function aligned with university and campaign priorities.
A key member of the LINK leadership team the Director is responsible for creating and executing a long-range strategic plan to elevate Virginia Techs visibility and expand partnerships with major national philanthropic organizations. They will partner closely with colleagues from the Office of Research and Innovation and Advancement including Principal Gifts and corporate fundraising teams to drive integrated fundraising strategies across the institution.
The Director leads efforts to identify cultivate solicit and steward foundation prospects and donors in collaboration with colleges centers programs and faculty. They build and sustain high-level relationships with institutional leaders board members donors and program officers including C-suite executives ensuring alignment between philanthropic interests and university priorities.
The role is responsible for initiating and managing foundation relationships and securing philanthropic investment that advances institutional priorities.

Required Qualifications

Bachelors degree required; advanced degree preferred.
Experience managing or coordinating across cross-functional advancement teams including collaboration with principal gifts and related fundraising functions.
Demonstrated experience working with senior institutional leaders and external stakeholders including foundation program officers executive leadership (including C-suite equivalents) and board members.
Demonstrated success in securing and stewarding significant foundation investments including six- and seven-figure gifts with a strong record of cultivating relationships with major national foundations.

Preferred Qualifications

Significant progressively responsible experience in foundation relations major gifts or related advancement leadership roles within a complex higher education or similarly matrixed nonprofit environment.
Experience leading or contributing to comprehensive campaign initiatives including strategy development execution and alignment of fundraising priorities across multiple institutional stakeholders.
Proven ability to develop and execute long-range strategic plans that advance institutional priorities and expand engagement with high-value philanthropic partners.
Strong ability to translate complex academic scientific and research priorities into compelling philanthropic cases for support and donor-ready narratives.
Demonstrated ability to use data portfolio insights and CRM systems to inform strategy prioritize prospects and manage complex fundraising pipelines.
Strong communication and presentation skills including the ability to shape messaging for external audiences and support faculty or institutional spokesperson engagement.
Experience in stewardship strategy and donor engagement practices that sustain and deepen long-term foundation relationships.
Demonstrated ability to set goals measure outcomes and adjust strategy to meet institutional priorities in a dynamic environment.
Willingness and ability to travel domestically.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

$135000 - $170000

Hours per week

40

Review Date

September 1st 2026

Additional Information

• Safe Driving Record.
• Regional and national travel required for the purposes of conducting field research cultivation solicitation and stewardship which may include overnights and weekends.
• Must have the ability and willingness to travel utilizing standard commercial and/or personal modes of transportation.
  Lifting < 20 lbsSittingStandingReachingRepetitive motion.
• The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
• This position may be based in either the Blacksburg or Washington D.C. area.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its mottoUt Prosim(That I May Serve) Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world Virginia Tech is aninclusive communitydedicated to knowledge discovery and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36000 undergraduate graduate and professional students in eightundergraduate colleges aschool of medicine aveterinary medicinecollegeGraduate School andHonors College.The university has a significant presence across Virginia including Blacksburg the greater Washington D.C. area the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke sites in Newport News and Richmond and numerousExtension officesandresearch institutes.A leading global research institution Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.