Associate Director Institutional Partnerships

The Associate Director of Institutional Partnerships helps drive the development and execution of Davidson College’s strategy to secure funding from corporate and foundation partners and to engage more purposefully in greater Charlotte. Responsibilities will include identifying and initiating activities and relationships that can lead to meaningful partnerships. The position will build a portfolio of strong relationships and effective community relations efforts to highlight the potential for engaging with Davidson College.  

Key Responsibilities

• Proposal Development: Collaborate with the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations in researching, writing, and submitting high-quality proposals to corporate and foundation funders. This includes gathering project information from internal stakeholders, crafting compelling narratives, and ensuring alignment with donor priorities.
• Project Management: Assist the Associate Vice President for Campus and Community Relations and the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations with the development of new initiatives to engage corporate, foundation and other partners around a comprehensive vision connected to the strategic plan's goals for engagement in the Charlotte region, including managing an informal network of advisers in Charlotte.
• Stewardship and Reporting: Facilitate the comprehensive stewardship of existing institutional donors. This includes drafting and submitting timely grant reports, tracking project progress and budgets, and ensuring accurate documentation of all gifts and communications.
• Prospect Management: Grow and manage a portfolio of corporate and foundation prospects. Conduct research to identify new funding opportunities and contribute to the overall cultivation strategy.
• Cross-Campus Collaboration: Partner with faculty, staff, and other departments to gather information, ensure accurate project representation, and coordinate on grant-funded initiatives.

Qualifications

• Experience: A bachelor’s degree is required, with a minimum of three years of professional experience, preferably in fundraising, grant writing, or a related field.
• Skills:
  • Writing and Communication: Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills are essential. The ability to translate complex academic concepts into clear, persuasive proposals is critical.
  • Strategic thinking: Ability to see opportunities, develop and propose strategic solutions.
  • Project Management: Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
  • Interpersonal Skills: The ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including faculty, staff, and institutional partners and to represent the college at events in the greater Charlotte region.
  • Adaptability and urgency: working at a fast pace with frequent deadlines is necessary. Flexibility to adapt to new technology and industry trends is important.
• Knowledge: Familiarity with corporate and foundation fundraising processes, donor databases, and grant management is highly desirable. Experience working in a higher education environment is a plus.

Work Setting and Hours

This position qualifies for a hybrid work arrangement with the option of working some days remotely from home/outside of the office in accordance with College Relations guidelines after a satisfactory introductory period of fully in-office work. Flexibility is expected when scheduling in-office days to meet the needs of the office and the division, including attending various in-person meetings and events. A regular presence in Charlotte for meetings, community events, etc. is expected. General work hours are 8:30 - 5, Monday through Friday, with occasional evening and weekend hours. 

Information about how to submit an application can be found at https://employment.davidson.edu