Foundation - Senior Manager, Grants and Foundation Relations

About Clark College Foundation: At Clark College Foundation, we are driven by a shared passion to empower our community through education, opportunity, and innovation. As part of our team, you'll have the chance to directly impact the lives of students and families in Southwest Washington, creating lasting change and fostering a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Clark College is a top-rated community college, and by joining the Foundation, you'll be supporting an institution that's recognized for excellence in education and student success. Moreover, Clark College Foundation is consistently ranked as one of the leading community college foundations and recognized for its innovation in fundraising and communication strategies. Here, you'll collaborate with a dedicated group of professionals who are committed to creative problem-solving and bold thinking, all while being part of a respected organization that's leading the way in philanthropy and advocacy work.

We offer competitive compensation packages, a hybrid work policy that supports work-life balance, and a generous PTO allocation, including two weeks of office closures; one at the end of December and another week during the July 4th holiday. On top of that, you'll have access to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as retirement options that ensure your future is well taken care of. If you're ready to make an impact and be part of something bigger, Clark College Foundation is the place for you!

Position Summary: This position will identify, cultivate and solicit private foundations and occasionally corporations for grants and donations. This position will regularly collaborate with the Clark College's Director of Grants (government) to maximize opportunities. The Senior Manager, Grants and Foundation Relations, will be actively engaged in working to establish long-term associations and strengthen existing relationships that will result in funding for the immediate and long-term needs of Clark College and the Foundation.

This position will coordinate their efforts with various advancement resources and staff as is appropriate, including Advancement Operations, External Relations, other development officers, and Clark College counterparts to create strategies to develop successful philanthropic relationships. In addition, the Senior Manager, Grants and Foundation Relations, will perform other responsibilities that impact cultivation and stewardship of funding organizations including: strategically attending special events for the Foundation, College and community; thanking donors; entering appropriate contact information into Raiser's Edge NXT system to document interactions with donors and potential donors; working with Clark College administrative and academic leaders in support of development activities; reporting/monitoring their activities and productivity; and other related responsibilities as required.

Core responsibilities and duties

1. Develop strategic plans for identifying, cultivating and soliciting private foundations and a select group of high-impact corporate partners capable of making philanthropic contributions and then soliciting those identified potential partners.
2. Potential to supervise contractor working to strategically grow partnerships in the grant-making arena.
3. Create and maintain a schedule of contacts (as determined by the annual goal-setting process) with prospective and current foundation donors with strategic action plans attached to each entity.
4. Develop and write gift proposals, in coordination and consultation with appropriate Foundation staff.
5. Engage and collaborate with Clark College's grants office (government grants).
6. Initiate opportunities for faculty, administrators and deans to interact with prospective and current Foundation donors.
7. Build successful relationships with college faculty and staff, obtain information from college entities with the direct goal of matching their needs to the goals and direction of the most appropriate prospective and current donors.
8. In collaboration with the college, ensure that cultivation, stewardship and reporting requirements are met to sustain successful relationships.
9. Work with the Advancement Operations team to effectively document all contacts with prospective donors in this position's assigned portfolio, utilizing The Raiser's Edge NXT for planning and recording all strategic actions.

• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills, both verbal and written, including the ability to initiate dialogues with new/unknown individuals, speak or make presentations to small and large groups, convey complex major/planned gift concepts in simple language, draft persuasive communications and written materials, and adjust communication style to meet the diverse interpersonal preferences of others.
• Outstanding organizational skills to manage multiple priorities and competing donor needs, including coordinating programs and projects that involve participation with multiple individuals.
• Strong computer skills to draft documents via word processing, use the internet, enter donor information in a database (Raisers Edge NXT), use online calendars, track projects (Asana), etc.
• High attention to detail to meet the personalized needs and preferences of diverse donors and community partners.
• Ability to make decisions within a shared decision-making environment and exercise sound judgment, including knowing when to act independently and when to seek guidance/input before acting.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing and sometimes conflicting priorities.
• Ability to always maintain professional demeanor and service orientation even when participating in stressful situations.
  
  

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience is preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in grant management, foundation relations, fundraising, donor relations, or another related field.
• Proven success in strategic planning, donor cultivation, and vendor management.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, including the ability to initiate dialogues with new or unknown individuals, make presentations to small and large groups, convey complex major and planned gift concepts in clear language, draft persuasive donor communications and written materials, and adjust communication style to meet diverse interpersonal preferences.
• Excellent administrative, organizational, prioritization, and time management skills to manage multiple priorities and competing donor needs, including coordinating programs and projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Strong relational skills and ability to develop connections across various industries and with community partners.
• High attention to detail to meet the personalized needs and preferences of diverse donors and partners.
• Demonstrates strong data management skills; excellent ability to enter, track, analyze, and provide recommendations based on donor and fundraising insights.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), experience with CRM platforms such as Raiser's Edge NXT, and familiarity with project management tools like Asana; adept at using online calendars and internet research.
• Ability to make decisions within a shared decision-making environment and exercise sound judgment, including knowing when to act independently and when to seek guidance/input before acting.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing and sometimes conflicting priorities while maintaining professionalism and service orientation under pressure.
• Self-motivated leader that takes initiative and demonstrates flexibility and receptiveness to constructive feedback.
• Continual growth mindset to develop and improve existing processes to enhance fundraising program efficiencies
• Commitment to the mission of Clark College and the Foundation.