Job Description

Director of Foundation & Corporate Relations

Offices for Alumni Relations and Development

Position Summary:

The Director of Foundation & Corporate Relations is responsible for conducting and evaluating research, preparing and analyzing proposal budgets, grant writing, proposal generation, fundraising, grant management support, and working collaboratively with internal and external personnel. The Director develops winning grant and fundraising proposals for foundations, government agencies, corporations, and other organizations to support the mission and overarching fundraising goals of Vermont Law and Graduate School.

Primary programs served by the Director of Foundation & Corporate Relations include: the South Royalton Legal Clinic (SRLC), the Environmental Advocacy Clinic (EAC), the Environmental Justice Clinic (EJC), and the Institute for Energy and the Environment (IEE). Additionally, this position provides grant-writing support to the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems, the National Center on Restorative Justice, and other VLGS programs, centers, clinics, institutes, and departments as needed.

Essential Functions and Principal Accountabilities:

Research and Proposal Writing:

• Research grant and other funding opportunities that match institutional and program-specific initiatives and strategic goals; make referrals for program consideration.
• Work with program directors to develop projects and proposals that are well-planned and appropriate to funder priorities and desired outcomes.
• Draft, review, edit, finalize, and submit inquiries and proposals to funders.
• Counsel and direct faculty and staff in matters related to preparation and submission of grant and other fundraising proposals.

Administration:

• Coordinate all pre-award grant related activities, including proposal compliance with institutional and external funder policies, procedures, and other requirements.
• Coordinate post-award processes with the Director of Advancement Services to ensure proper recording of gifts and grants, and with the Business Office to ensure timely establishment of grant accounts.
• Establish written benchmarks and timelines for program-related grant-funded initiatives and monitor progress towards completion of funded tasks. Review progress on grants on a monthly basis.
• Collaborate with the Director of Advancement Services to ensure that all grant-related information \xe2\x80\x93 documents submitted, phone call summaries, correspondence to and from funders, grant payments, etc. is captured in the development database and on the k-drive.
• Collaborate with the Director of Advancement Services to ensure that all corporate gift and grant-related information \xe2\x80\x93 documents submitted, phone call summaries, correspondence to and from funders, grant payments, etc. is captured in the development database and on the k-drive
• Work with the Vice President of Alumni Relations and Development to develop and/or maintain easy reporting systems, including tracking status of proposals, funds in by fiscal year, etc.

Cultivation and Stewardship:

• In partnership with program directors, develop and maintain strong relationships with funding organizations and related personnel.
• Coordinate post-award processes with the Director of Advancement Services to ensure proper stewardship of gifts and grants, and with the Business Office to ensure timely establishment of grant and gift accounts.
• Investigate and answer questions from funding organizations, fiscal officers, program officers, research administrators and others.
• Provide effective coordination of activities for prospective and current funders through phone calls, meetings, campus visits, off-site visits, and strategic attendance at VLGS events.
• Ensure that all reporting requirements are met. This includes: responding to inquiries, providing updates on programs outside of reporting periods, and collecting and summarizing funded program/project outcomes and budgeted expenses. Work with clinic program coordinators and directors to ensure timely submission of reports to funders.
• Support and participate as a member of the alumni relations and development team in execution of annual fund and other fundraising and/or alumni-related activities as needed.

Planning:

• Develop revenue projections with the VP, Alumni Relations and Development in concert with the Business Office in advance of each fiscal year, based on research and knowledge of foundation prospects.
• Discuss with program directors and corporate funders strategies, goals, relevance and national competitiveness of programs and projects seeking grant support.

Required Education, Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor\'s degree, plus five or more years of relevant experience as a grant writer and/or a proven track record in research and writing. Higher education foundation relations and grant writing/grant-management experience preferred.
• Minimum five years-experience writing persuasive, clear, concise, and visually appealing documents, particularly funding proposals with federal and other organizations of all sizes.
• Understanding of, appreciation for, and commitment to inclusion, including the ability to work with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds,?identities, and viewpoints.?
• Excellent English-language oral and written communications skills, strong organizational skills, project management skills, and strong attention to detail.
• Experience successfully soliciting local, regional and national foundations or agencies, and program officers, board members, and other high-level foundation staff and volunteers.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines and simultaneously manage multiple priorities while maintaining a professional work style.
• Ability to effectively present to prospective and existing funding agencies and organizations at high levels.
• Demonstrated ability to relate well to and understand the needs and interests of funders to develop relationships between them and Vermont Law & Graduate School.
• Ability to promote Vermont Law School\'s fundraising and strategic priorities by developing excellent working relations with faculty, senior academic leaders, foundation executives and with the alumni relations & development team.
• Experience in higher education, environmental, and social justice grant writing preferred.
• Must be able to adapt to new and emerging technology as established and communicated by the law school.

Other Requirements:

• Physical ability to perform all essential functions of the job with or without basic accommodations.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and deadlines and reorganize under pressure.
• Ability to work independently and within a team.
• Ability to manage the pressure of multiple deadlines.
• Must be able to work legally within the United States without sponsorship.
• Remote and/or partially remote work potential to be determined depending upon the needs of VLGS.

Application Requirements:

Please attach a resume and cover letter for consideration.

If you are applying from a third-party website (Indeed, etc.) and are unable to attach additional materials to your online application, please apply directly at or email required documents to Christine Moyer, cmoyer@vermontlaw.edu.

Vermont Law and Graduate School is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness. We grow and learn better together with a diverse group of faculty, staff, and students. In recruiting for faculty and staff, we seek unique backgrounds to enrich and challenge our community. As part of our commitment to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, candidates who meet the qualifications for this position and who require accommodations to apply should contact Human Resources at jobs@vermontlaw.edu. Vermont Law and Graduate School strives to raise the bar for being an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, place of birth, marital status, disability, veteran\'s status, HIV status, pregnancy, genetic information, health insurance status, and crime victim status.

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Vermont Law School