Managing Director, Private Foundation Relations

About the position The Managing Director of Private Foundation Relations is a senior leader within the Development Department responsible for advancing Truth Initiative’s philanthropic partnerships with private foundations. This role will develop and execute a comprehensive foundation fundraising strategy to secure significant, multi-year support aligned with organizational priorities. The Managing Director will be our frontline fundraiser for private foundations cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding foundation relationships independently, collaboratively, and in concert with key organizational board members, leveraging their networks to identify, engage, and secure new philanthropic opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a strategic plan to grow revenue from private foundations, including national, regional, and family foundations
• Identify, research, and prioritize prospective foundation partners aligned with Truth Initiative’s mission and programmatic goals
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of foundation donors and prospects, managing the full lifecycle of relationships
• Engage the Grants and Proposal Manager to develop high-quality grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and reports in collaboration with program and finance teams; potential to also supervise the Grants and Proposal Manager
• Partner with internal stakeholders to align funding opportunities with programmatic priorities and organizational strategy
• Leverage CRM and other tools to track and manage foundation pipelines, deadlines, and reporting requirements to ensure compliance and strong funder relationships
• Work closely with the Chief Development and Partnerships Officer to liaison with board member(s), working closely with them to leverage their contacts, open doors to new foundation prospects, and support donor engagement strategies
• Cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of key individual donors, primarily as it relates to foundation work and online donations
• Collaborate with senior leadership to prepare for and participate in high-level donor meetings and presentations
• Monitor trends in philanthropy and foundation giving to inform strategy and identify emerging opportunities
• Utilize database management/CRM systems to maintain fundraising activities and facilitate internal reports on fundraising performance
• Represent Truth Initiative externally at meetings, conferences, and events as appropriate
• Travel up to 20% to support donor cultivation, stewardship, and organizational priorities
• Additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or relevant certification is a plus
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive fundraising experience, with a strong focus on private foundation relations and grantmaking.
• Demonstrated success securing six- and seven-figure grants from private foundations.
• Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to translate organizational priorities into compelling funding opportunities.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling abilities, particularly in grant writing.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with foundation program officers and philanthropic leaders.
• Experience working with or supporting boards and leveraging board networks for fundraising.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and donor tracking tools.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
• Passion for public health, youth advocacy, and Truth Initiative’s mission.

Benefits

• performance bonus for eligible roles
• competitive benefits

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