Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association ยท 5 days ago
Managing Senior Director of Development / AVP & Managing Director - Foundation Relations
Madison, WI
Full-time
Hybrid
Senior Level, Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
5+ years expThe Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA) is recruiting an experienced Foundation Relations professional to lead their centralized Foundation Relations program. This role involves overseeing a team, driving partnerships, and supporting the university's mission through strategic foundation engagement.
EducationHigher Education
Responsibilities
Lead and mentor a team of FRDoDs, fostering collaboration across campus units
Facilitate cross-unit partnerships on interdisciplinary themes and strategic initiatives, advancing campus-wide 'Big Ideas' that align with foundation funding priorities
Support faculty and staff in articulating interdisciplinary goals to increase competitiveness for major philanthropic support
Partner with the Vice Chancellor for Research (VCR) to leverage office tools, including limited submission processes and internal competitions, ensuring strategic proposal coordination campus-wide
Utilize CRM systems (UW and WFAA) to map relationships, track foundation engagement, and manage prospect pipelines efficiently
Engage newly hired faculty and administrators to activate existing foundation connections, build rapport with program officers, and open new funding pathways
Develop and disseminate standard operating procedures (SOPs) and training materials for FRDoDs and campus partners to ensure consistency and clarity
Maintain a centralized, leadership-approved list of foundation prospects, updated through regular collaboration
Implement qualitative and quantitative metrics tailored to FR work to assess impact, recognizing the long-term nature of foundation cultivation
Empower campus units to pursue high-impact opportunities while ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and funder expectations
Transform foundation fundraising across campus through strong leadership, clear processes, and collaborative tools
Qualification
Required
5 + years of proven experience in foundation relations, fundraising, or related fields
1 + years of experience in a team leadership or supervisory role
Demonstrated experience in the private grant-making process and best practices for building relationships with decision makers at private foundations
Demonstrated ability to lead teams and manage cross-unit collaborations
Excellent communication, organizational, and strategic planning skills
Ability to meet travel requirements (up to 20%)
10 + years of professional leadership experience in complex development programs (preferably within health care / medicine)
2 + years proven supervisory and management skills, both strategic and operational
A demonstrated ability to build, manage, mentor and motivate an effective team, especially through times of growth and change
Effective at establishing processes, metrics and accountabilities and coaching toward goals
Preferred
Familiarity working with CRM systems and prospect management
Proven project management abilities, with a track record of successfully overseeing complex initiatives
Demonstrated negotiation skills, enabling effective agreements and partnerships
Expertise in conflict resolution, motivation, active listening, and organizational effectiveness
Ability to communicate effectively and meaningfully with groups and individuals to build effective working relationships
Creative and innovative approach to problem-solving and strategy development
Solid business acumen and political savvy, with an understanding of complex organizational environments
Benefits
Competitive pay
Generous 10% 401k contribution after just one year of service
Company
Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association
WAA offers competitive salaries and benefits in an environment that is inspiring, creative, and respectful.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Mike Knetter
Chief Executive Officer
Paula Bonner
President and CEO
Recent News
2025-06-19
Company data provided by crunchbase