Senior Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations

The Sr. Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations is responsible for increasing the visibility of the Saint Louis Science Center by managing the Science Center’s relationships with corporations, corporate foundations and private foundation community and government relations. The Sr. Director is actively engaged in working to establish long-term partnerships and strengthen existing relationships with private and public sectors, as well as other key partners that will result in funding for the immediate and long-term goals of the Science Center. The Sr. Director will provide leadership in the strategic planning, budgeting, and development of a comprehensive fundraising plan for corporate and foundation support, sponsorship and promotional partnerships, and grants. These overall efforts follow the overall strategies and goals of the Institutional Advancement Department and support the Saint Louis Science Center’s mission, “to inspire everyone to be curious and engaged in science.” The Sr. Director is responsible for developing, advancing, and maintaining positive and productive relationships and partnerships with the external community.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Identify, engage, and secure support from corporations and corporate and community foundations.
• Develop and implement strategies for multi-faceted engagements of corporate donors.
• Assure that all corporate and foundation donors are stewarded for their gifts and that strong relationships are maintained.
• Use database to track and report all interactions with corporations and foundations, produce accurate giving, prospecting, and stewardship reports.
• Develop, implement, and maintain stewardship strategies for corporations and foundations that have made a gift.
• Design, implement, and manage a comprehensive development plan focused on expanding and enhancing corporate and foundation relationships by directing and coordinating activities related to obtaining corporate and foundation monetary support.
• Build awareness among corporate and foundation constituencies to build and significantly expand fund-raising relationships. Identify key corporations/foundations and review corporate profiles that suggest potential relationships.
• Advise leadership and program staff on corporate and foundation areas of interest.
• Initiate opportunities for corporate and foundation prospects.
• Develop, align, and maintain relationships with coalitions, affiliations, and select groups and partners.
• Secure in-kind donations for budget relief.
• Provide support for special projects such as golf tournaments, galas, special events and other significant fundraisers.
• Develop new approaches to foundations and corporations that initiate the cultivation and fundraising process.
• Develop highly competitive proposals for corporate and foundation prospects and leverage corporate and foundation goals and preferences in conjunction with Science Center goals.
• Maintain a rigorous schedule of contacts with corporate and foundation representatives, creating moves management plans related to them, compelling presentations, and comprehensive fundraising proposals.
• Monitoring and assisting the fulfillment of institutional obligations to funders.
• Monitor proposal deadlines, prepare and edit proposals, and manage proposal submissions.
• Maintain high quality stewardship process for active corporate and foundation prospects and donors. Ensure that stewardship and reporting requirements are met to sustain successful partnerships.
• Develop and maintain relationships with golf tournament committee, chairs, and other special activities.
• Oversees the integrity, quality, and process efficiency of all communication to Corporate and Foundation Donors / partners including email, letters, renewals, social media campaigns, sponsorships, and event invites.
• Annually create and manage a series of VIP events and unique programmatic experiences for donors.
• Support and work closely with Board Members and Board Committees with functional and funding lead staff responsibilities both internal and Board, as well as Board Sponsorship Committee.
• Supervises the grants department to seek and identify resources for program development, delivery, and sustainability, including federal, state, and local government and private grant and foundation support and other external funding opportunities.
• Perform other duties as required.

SPONSORSHIP

• Supervises and provides leadership an oversight of the Sponsorship and Promotions Manager in the development of partner centered sponsorship and promotional partnerships in support of the Saint Louis Science Center’s mission, programs, films, galleries, and exhibits.
• Working with the Sponsorship and Promotions Manager, cultivates and manages promotional partnerships and in-kind donations.
• Oversees the professional presentation materials created by the Sponsorship and Promotions Manager for internal and external communications.
• Develops highly competitive proposals for corporate and foundation prospects and leverages corporate and foundation goals and preferences in conjunction with Science Center goals.
• Oversees sponsorship payments and receivables.
• Manages the creation and inventory of printed materials with special attention to sponsor and partner acknowledgements.
• Work collaboratively with SEE department and other staff to coordinate the gathering of information needed for proposals.

GRANTS

• Supervises and provides leadership and oversight in the strategic planning, budgeting and development for grants.
• Supervise and manage the Grant Manager to ensure procedures and process for department operations, and grant submissions are adhered to.
• Perform internal reviews of institutional needs and assess feasibility of obtaining external funding for projects and programs.
• Actively seek, identify, and recognize external opportunities that present viable funding opportunities that align with Science Center priorities.
• Works with the Grant Manager, Grants Writer and Grants Researchers to create design, write, and implement processes and procedures related to grants management and proposal development.
• Work collaboratively with Science & Education department and other staff to coordinate the gathering of information needed for proposals.
• Oversee the Grant Manager to ensure internal procedures and funding agency compliance, ensure all issues of financial, personnel, payroll, purchasing and administration of funded awards is correct.
• Serve as a liaison to funding agencies or organizations, develop collaborative relationships with grant funding representatives.
• Leads grant team meetings with Grant Manager.
• Participates in local, state, and regional workshops, conferences, and meetings.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supervises 2-3 staff members.
• Lead Staff responsibilities for the grants committee both internal and Board, as well as Board Sponsorship Committee.
• Ongoing relationship management of 250 Corporations, Organizations, Foundations, and Individuals.
• Supervise the Grants Department to ensure that processes, compliance, operations, and objectives are consistent and efficient.
• Establish and monitor staff performance goals, assign accountabilities, set objectives, establish priorities, and conduct annual performance reviews.
• Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning, innovation and commitment to quality.

COMPETENCIES:

• Knowledge of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies and techniques, particularly in corporate and foundation fundraising techniques required.
• Demonstrated ability in proposal writing at appropriate levels for varied proposal development.
• Demonstrated knowledge of methods, practices, and procedures for obtaining information about the giving programs of corporations and foundations.
• Self-motivation and discipline to regularly set and achieve fundraising goals.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and networking skills with large groups as well as with individuals are essential.
• Ability to maintain a high level of poise and professionalism in all circumstances.
• Ability to initiate and build relationships with prospective corporate and foundation donors and interact via telephone and in person with institutional representatives.
• Demonstrated ability to take primary responsibility for diverse number of projects and to complete them in a timely manner with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated record of success in generating significant commitments from corporations and foundations.
• Familiarity with federal rules and regulations as pertains to the administration of federal grant awards.
• Understanding of grant development, administration and compliance methods and practices.
• Proven supervisory and leadership skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of management, boards, and staff as well as external individuals and groups.
• Attention to detail and strong follow-through.
• Sound judgment and integrity.
• The initiative, enthusiasm, and credentials, to gain the respect of all levels of constituents.
• Exceptional personal communication and relationship building skills, including listening, oral and written communications; and ability to gather and share ideas among diverse groups.
• Innovative networking skills necessary to locate and secure outside funding.
• Keen organizational skills an project management skills.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree OR equivalent experience in development or comparable field preferred.
• 7 to 10 years’ experience in development/nonprofit management.

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