The University of Connecticut is a top-ranked national university and health system with its flagship campus located in idyllic Storrs. Designated a Carnegie Research 1 institution, UConn is the state land- and sea-grant university focused on education, research, and service to the state of Connecticut and beyond. The University serves over 33,000 students — 8,550 of them first in family — across seven campuses, with a legacy of national championships. UConn Health is a top-ranked health provider that delivers groundbreaking medical education, research, and hospital and clinical services to over one million patients each year. In addition, UConn has nearly 300 scientists who are in the top 2 percent of researchers globally advancing discoveries in fields ranging from cancer to AI.
UConn continues its meteoric rise as a top public university with a record number of applications, continued investment in student success, health, and wellness, recruitment of top faculty, innovation in research, and top-tier athletic programs focused on the holistic success of student-athletes. UConn is proud to have 26 national championships across all sports. This includes the men’s and women’s basketball teams, which have brought home three consecutive NCAA National Championship trophies in the last three years.
Guided by the public launch of our most ambitious campaign in history, Because of UConn: The Campaign for UConn Nation, we are moving boldly into the future. The $1.5B comprehensive campaign spans all schools, colleges, campuses, and UConn Health, focusing on four pillars designed to make education more affordable and elevate UConn among its national peers:
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Students First: making transformative investments in financial aid, student health, career readiness, and life skills to improve time-to-degree and career outcomes.
- Academic & Innovation Excellence: driving investment in top faculty and graduate fellows and building the innovation ecosystem of the state and beyond.
- Health & Wellness of People & Planet: focusing on patient care, medical research, and development of life-changing technologies that improve healthcare outcomes.
- Husky Pride: investing in athletic excellence and supporting a thriving UConn Nation that includes more than 290,000 alumni worldwide.
The campaign will have a profound impact on the University, doubling the number of named scholarships, funding scientific breakthroughs and advanced lifesaving therapies, and engaging UConn Nation in the life and mission of the University like never before.
We seek the top talent in the country to join The UConn Foundation and help us drive our mission to connect people to the University of Connecticut, growing philanthropy, engaging a thriving alumni and donor community, and building a robust endowment to strategically advance UConn and UConn Health’s educational, research, and service missions.
We are committed to a caring and supportive work culture, professional and leadership development, and flexibility for high achievers with a passion for higher education.
We’re looking for dedicated professionals to drive success and excellence and exemplify our values of Purpose, Excellence, Culture, Communication, and Integrity.
The UConn Foundation is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. We celebrate different perspectives and are committed to a welcoming environment that values your unique experiences and identity. As an organization, we strive for continued growth each and every day.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations is responsible for building relationships and advancing partnerships with the corporate community. The Director will lead the corporate philanthropy and sponsorship programs for several academic units with a particular focus on College of Engineering, School of Business and College of Liberal Arts & Sciences with support focus on our flagship campus in Storrs and our regional campuses. This position will create a streamlined approach to collaborate and partner with corporations by showcasing the many UConn programs, resources, and capabilities that are crucial for state and regional businesses to grow and align with the strategic focus areas and strengths of the University. The Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations will work closely with University and Foundation leadership, to build relationships and advance partnerships with business and corporations to secure philanthropic funding, and other areas of support.
Primary Responsibilities
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Manage a prospect portfolio of 125-150 prospects rated at $100k+.
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Raise $1-5M per year.
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Conduct 10-15 qualification meetings at the $100k+level; 15+ solicitations at the $100K level; and 80-90 face-to-face, meaningful meetings per year.
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Manage corporate activities including prospect identification, cultivation, program/proposal development, solicitation and stewardship that will lead to securing major ($100,000 and leadership level ($1,000,000+) gifts that will support and elevate multiple areas and initiatives for the benefit of University priority initiatives, including the establishment of multi-dimensional corporate partnerships.
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Develop and manage new corporate partnerships to fund and grow the University’s priorities and initiatives.
- Partners with University leadership and institute directors to identify strategic partnership with corporations.
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Develop and execute solicitation strategies with multiple stakeholders and steward relationships with corporate decision makers, foundation/ corporate giving representatives, UConn faculty, administrators, staff, and alumni and friends of foundation and corporate prospects.
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Create strategic action plans for the best prospects with intent of deepening relationships that lead to increased comprehensive partnerships that may include philanthropy, research, talent development, and other areas of corporate engagement. Provide briefings to senior management on corporate activity within assigned areas.
- Establish working relationships with key faculty and staff to gain knowledge of university activities to generate additional corporate and foundation support for their programs.
- Collaborate with Assistant Vice President policies and projects to position CFR for fundraising success, including successful internal and external CFR brand recognition.
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Collaborate closely with alumni, donors, volunteers, and University leaders to identify new prospects.
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Perform administrative duties related to advancement work Including documenting activity, writing proposals, inputting engagement plans in relationship management database, and adhering to Foundation policies.
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Contribute to the overall productivity and efficiency of the Division/Department’s development staff, by meeting or exceeding goals in a metrics-driven environment.
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Develop and support clearly defined and strategic fundraising priorities within the campaign and articulate compelling cases to advance these priorities.
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Model and articulate the Foundation’s organizational core values at all times.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Major, Leadership, and Principal Gift Fundraising
Demonstrate the ability to personally solicit gifts of $100,000 and above, while advancing the number and quality of principal ($5 million and above) gift conversations in partnership with the principal gifts team.
Potential Donor Discovery
Collaborate with the Prospect Management and Research team to increase and grow the major gift pipeline and overall fundraising success for corporate and foundation relations.
Engagement
Collaborate with Advancement Services to steward donors and engage based off corporate and foundation support interests and initiatives
Leadership
Provide visible leadership across the entire organization by engaging in organization-wide activities such as development management meetings, all-staff meetings, and staff events.
Key Competencies
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Champion for inclusive priorities both internally & externally.
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High level of motivation, as well as an ability to exercise independent judgment.
- Strong interpersonal skills, tact, and diplomacy.
- The ability to build productive, beneficial relationships with a broad range of constituencies.
- Strong written and verbal communications skills, including ability to effectively communicate University priorities to donors and prospects, and to positively represent the University and Foundation.
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Familiar with the use of computers and information management tools, such as CRMs (Blackbaud).
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Ability to handle multiple tasks, to assess and order priorities, and to track details in a fast-paced environment.
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Ability to engender trust and confidence of donors and prospective donors and to maintain confidentiality of donor information; ability to represent the UConn Foundation to prospects, donors, faculty, administrators, and others.
- Ability to work to the demands of the position, which may exceed a 40-hour work week.
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Attention to and concern for others.
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Must be willing to travel extensively. Reliable personal transportation is required for this position.
- Must possess a valid driver’s license issued from the state in which the employee resides. Employees must maintain at their expense, automobile liability insurance coverage in the minimum amount of $500,000 or a combination of umbrella and automobile liability insurance coverage of $500,000. A certificate of automobile insurance evidencing the limit, must be provided to the Foundation at hire and annually thereafter.
Education & Experience
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Bachelor’s degree required, Advanced degree preferred.
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5+ years of experience as a major gift fundraiser for corporate and foundation relations and/or relevant transferrable skills.
Salary:
The target salary range for this position is $100,000 - $115,000. It will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also placing an emphasis on internal equity.
Benefits:
Benefits start from day one. We offer medical, dental, and vision plans and will make an annual contribution to your health savings account if enrolled in one of the high-deductible health plans offered by the Foundation.
In addition, there are a few other perks to being a UConn Foundation employee:
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We offer a generous contribution to your 403(b) retirement plan to help you plan for retirement.
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We place an emphasis on work/life balance. In addition to a hybrid schedule, you will receive thirteen paid holidays, five weeks of paid time off per calendar year, and additional sick time.
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We invest in your professional development. Aside from opportunities to participate in various trainings, committees, and conferences throughout the year, you will also be eligible for tuition reimbursement after one year of employment.
Please contact Employee Support & Experience team member if you need any assistance completing any forms or participating in any part of the application process due to a disability.
