Director of Foundation Relations

Director of Foundation Relations

Southern Oregon University


Position Number: A00503

Rate: $82,000 - $95,796

Position Summary:
The Director of Foundation Relations will be a key partner in the successful implementation of Southern Oregon University's inaugural comprehensive campaign. The Director develops and manages relationships with internal campus partners and with local, regional, and national foundations; supports faculty and campus leaders on proposals, letters of intent/interest, concept papers and reports; researches funding opportunities; collaborates with development colleagues to identify promising projects; and helps manage the pipeline of potential foundation donors. The Director will manage a portfolio of existing relationships with foundation constituents, identify new foundation prospects, and develop and implement successful cultivation and solicitation strategies for foundation donors.

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree.
  • Five years of demonstrated successful fundraising experience in major, annual, planned giving, or corporate and foundation relations.
  • Ability to work independently and confidently with senior leadership at SOU and in the
    foundation and/or corporate sector.
  • Ability to listen and understand the needs and interest of key executive leaders or designee for
    corporate, private and family foundations to develop and strengthen relationships and
    partnerships.
  • Successful experience making initial visits and managing the fundraising process to secure
    successful gift closure.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to work effectively and build relationships with internal constituents including faculty,
    university leaders, development officers and key campus partners.
  • Proficiency with MS Office Suite in Windows environment.


Preferred Qualification:
  • Demonstrated success working with grant seekers from a variety of disciplines.
  • Working knowledge of best practices in foundation relations.
  • Experience in higher education fundraising.
  • Knowledge of and facility with fundraising database software, Raiser's Edge preferred.


Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
· Excellent communication skills; ability to effectively communicate information in a clear and understandable manner, both verbally and in writing.· Demonstrated customer service experience requiring a very high level of diplomacy and professionalism to effectively handle a broad range of sensitive interpersonal situations.· Demonstrated ability to interpret and consistently apply a wide variety of complex policies and procedures where specific guidelines may not always exist.· Ability to work with frequent changes in policies and procedures, under pressure of deadlines in a fast-paced environment.· Strong analytical and research skills; ability to gather, evaluate, and to develop well-reasoned conclusions and recommendations.· Ability to proactively assess work operations and anticipate potential problems; ability to develop and implement strategies for preventing/resolving problems.· Ability to effectively perform work of a highly sensitive and confidential nature that requires access to information. Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion, tact, and diplomacy.· Initiative in independently planning, organizing, and performing work assignments within broadly defined parameters.· Ability to work with a high level of productivity and accuracy/attention to detail.· Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to set own priorities to coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating and time-sensitive deadlines.· Excellent computer skills and proficiency with a variety of computer applications including word-processing, spreadsheets, databases, online systems, social media platforms, Internet as well as online calendaring and email.· Ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere in and outside the University with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds.· Ability to adapt to and work effectively in a heavily bureaucratic environment which requires regular interaction with a number of levels within the organization and multiple outside agencies.· Working knowledge, or ability to quickly learn, university infrastructure, policies and procedures.· Provides training and direction to student assistants.

Special Instructions to Applicants:
Each applicant is required to provide (as attachments to the online application) the following supplemental documents: (1) letter providing some detail of the applicant's qualifications and interest in the position; (2) current resume/CV; and (3) the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of at least three professional references. If you are unable to attach the supplemental materials to the online application please contact Human Resources for assistance:

For inquiries and additional information, please contact: Human Resource Services via email at hrs@sou.edu or by phone at (541)552-8553.

To view SOU's offers very generous benefits and pension programs available to eligible positions, please visit: https://inside.sou.edu/assets/hrs/Benefits/2021_Employee_Benefits_Overview.pdf
Our benefits package is an important complement to the offered salary and our Total Compensation Calculator, https://inside.sou.edu/hrs/comp-calc.html , demonstrates our value and commitment to our employees.

Special Conditions
•Must be willing to travel and attend training programs off-site for occasional professional development.
•Must be able to work additional hours and adjust working hours to meet special jobs. May be called back periodically to perform work as needed on an emergency basis.
•Must be able to successfully pass a pre-employment background check.
•Under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA):
-Position classification defined as "exempt" are not subject overtime
•The person holding this position is considered a "mandated reporter" under the Oregon Revised Statues and is required to comply with the requirements set forth by the Oregon department of Human Services.

Notice to Prospective Employees
Section 485 of the Higher Education Act, and The Federal Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 (now referred to as the "Clery Act"),requires that prospective employees be notified of the availability of SOU's Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. The report provides the annual statistics and campus policies for the reporting of and responding to campus crimes and fires; access to campus facilities; conduct code and campus policies on use, possession and sale of drugs/alcohol; and educational/information programs to inform the campus community about campus security procedures and crime prevention.

An electronic copy of the Annual Security Report (ASR)can be accessed at the following link:
https://inside.sou.edu/assets/security/AnnualCrimeReportFinal.pdf. A physical copy of the ASR is available at no charge upon request. To request a copy please visit the Campus Public Safety Office at 382 Wightman Street, Ashland OR 97520. For more information call 541-552-6258, or email clerycoordinator@sou.edu.

All applicants must apply online at https://jobs.sou.edu/postings/10545 .

Diversity Statement
Southern Oregon University is a welcoming community committed to inclusive excellence and the celebration of diversity. Without diversity, our educational process is diminished. Working together in support of our commitment to diversity, we strengthen and enrich our role as learners, educators and members of a tightly connected global community. We encourage those who share in our commitment to diversity, to join our community and we expect all our employees to demonstrate an ability and desire to create an inclusive campus community.

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