Hiring: Director of Foundation Relations Company: Southern Environmental Law Center Location: Greater Charlottesville Area Job Posted Time: 2026-09-03 14:20:42 Employment Type: Full-time / Hybrid About the job Required Skills: •Lead and execute a comprehensive foundation relations strategy that increases philanthropic support from national, regional, and local foundations aligned with SELC's mission and priorities. •Manage, supervise, and mentor the foundation relations team, currently two foundation relations officers and two grant administrators. Oversee hiring and training processes for all new foundation staff. Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture and support continued team growth and professional development. •Lead the strategic buildout of SELC’s foundation fundraising efforts. Design and implement systems and infrastructure to enable the department to operate efficiently, scale effectively, and achieve long-term strategic goals. Engineer solutions to meet capacity needs. •Establish and track performance metrics for the foundation relations program, ensuring progress toward annual fundraising goals and long-term growth objectives. •Oversee a portfolio of major foundation prospects and donors, developing customized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies. •Partner closely with the Chief Development Officer and development leadership to establish fundraising goals and team workplans, establishing clear priorities, goals, and accountability measures while fostering strong collaboration and buy-in across the foundation relations team. •Serve as a strategic partner to organizational leadership in translating SELC’s priorities, emerging work, and impact into compelling foundation funding opportunities. •This is a position with region-wide focus and responsibility that requires occasional travel. Qualifications: •A bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience. •Minimum ten years of professional fundraising, grantmaking, or related experience. •Previous management experience, preferably during a period of revenue growth or institutional expansion. •Demonstrated ability to think strategically, particularly in the context of donor/prospect actions. •Strong knowledge of philanthropic trends, foundation priorities, and best practices in institutional giving. •The ability to quickly grasp and thoughtfully articulate complex concepts while maintaining a sense of intellectual curiosity. •Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Comfortable with picking up the telephone and welcomes face-to-face contact. •A demonstrated ability to work with a wide range of individual styles, both in the office with colleagues, and externally with donors and volunteer leaders. •Highly organized; Demonstrated success in setting priorities, coordinating multiple projects, handling details, and working effectively under pressure. •Commitment to ongoing personal learning and an eagerness to contribute to our organizational efforts in this area. Compensation: •$160,000 - $177,900 / year •Flexible work environment (work from home / hybrid options) •Competitive benefits and rewards package •Actual placement within the range will depend on factors such as relevant experience, education, skills, and internal equity considerations Interested candidates, please apply directly through the job posting on company's career page or try via AI auto apply on this platform. Don't miss this opportunity to join a forward-thinking team!