Director of Institutional Partnerships

Role Overview

• Build and manage an institutional giving portfolio, starting with an initial base of 5 partners and growing to 25–50 active corporate and foundation partners at the six
• and seven-figure gift level; own the full funding relationship lifecycle from identification through renewal.
• Drive all phases of the fundraising cycle—prospect identification, research, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship — with a focus on closing gifts and growing the portfolio.
• Set and consistently meet or exceed annual institutional revenue goals; track and report on pipeline activity, revenue projections, and closed gifts regularly.
• Maintain complete and accurate records of all prospect activity, proposals, correspondence, and meetings in the CRM.
• Partner with senior leadership to develop, own, and execute a comprehensive multi-year institutional giving strategy that spans general operating, programmatic, and special project funding.
• Set annual institutional giving goals in collaboration with the VP of Development and other senior leaders; contribute institutional giving projections to the organization’s overall development planning.
• Grow the institutional portfolio year over year by aggressively prospecting new funders while deepening investment from existing partners through multi-year funding strategies.
• Provide regular pipeline reports and revenue forecasts to the VP of Development; contribute to annual budgeting for institutional giving.
• Proactively identify and pursue new corporate funding relationships outside of the footwear and apparel industries, including multi-year philanthropic partnerships.
• Negotiate funding agreements and partnership terms; develop compelling proposals and presentations that communicate organizational impact and value.
• Stay current on corporate social responsibility (CSR) trends and corporate philanthropic priorities to identify alignment opportunities.
• Collaborate with the communications team to ensure corporate partners receive timely, compelling impact reports and recognition that deepens their investment.
• Develop and maintain deep trust-based relationships with foundation program officers and decision-makers at the regional and national level.
• Lead strategy and outreach for major foundation solicitations; identify emerging foundations and new funding priorities aligned with organizational programs.
• Coordinate with program and finance staff on proposal development, grant budgets, compliance, and reporting to ensure all funder requirements are met on time.
• Actively research institutional sources of funding and emerging philanthropic trends to continuously surface new opportunities.
• Work cross-departmentally to identify funding opportunities that align with organizational programs and priorities.
• Collaborate closely with the Community Partnerships team, whose members secure local and regional corporate and foundation support, to identify national escalation opportunities, converting existing relationships from regional to enterprise-level partnerships.
• Collaborate closely with the Major Gifts team to align donor strategy, avoid overlapping, and identify prospects who may have both personal and institutional philanthropic capacity.
• Partner with the Marketing team on funder-facing materials, impact reports, and storytelling that supports cultivation and stewardship efforts.

Requirements

• More than 5 years of progressively responsible institutional fundraising experience, with a clear, documented record of closing six
• and seven-figure gifts from corporations and/or foundations.
• Results-oriented, frontline fundraiser, candidates should be prepared to speak specifically to gifts closed, revenue goals met, and portfolio growth achieved.
• Demonstrated experience developing or contributing to a multi-year institutional giving strategy at an organizational level.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills; able to engage and influence C-suite executives, foundation leadership, and program officers with credibility and confidence.
• Knowledge of CSR trends, foundation grantmaking processes, and best practices in corporate and foundation fundraising.
• Experience with prospect research tools such as Instrumentl, iWave, or LinkedIn Navigator.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to develop compelling proposals and synthesize organizational priorities persuasively.
• Strategic, self-directed, and highly accountable; able to manage a large portfolio and multiple deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Live Soles4Souls’ values – TEAM – Transparent, Entrepreneurial, Accountable, Meaningful
• Bachelor’s degree required.

Benefits

• medical insurance with 80% employer coverage
• HRA account
• 100% dental insurance & vision coverage
• long-term disability
• life insurance
• 401K with up to 6% employer match
• professional development benefits
• open FTO
• paid parental leave