The Corporate and Foundation Engagement Associate supports the growing Corporate and Foundation Engagement (CFE) efforts focused on Medicine & Health (MedHealth).  The role reports to the Director of Corporate and Foundation Engagement, Medicine and Health and works closely with unit leaders, faculty, staff, and CFE officers to qualify, cultivate, manage, and steward a portfolio of corporate and foundation partners.  The Associateâ™s primary focus is to qualify new corporate prospects and manage a group of growing partnerships, research collaboration, branding visibility, and executive engagement for MedHealth.  They are also responsible for supporting the development and management of gift/charitable grant proposals to corporate and foundation prospects and assisting in the development and management of relationships between the private sector and MedHealth. 

The Associate needs to be collaborative and have a desire to better the university through corporate and foundation relationships. They will connect UMN researchers to external technical experts to develop basic research and licensing collaborations.  They will also work with internal and external stakeholders to cultivate and solicit philanthropic gifts. 

Hybrid Work Model:

The University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF) operates under a hybrid work model, with the expectation that all staff be onsite at least 2-3 times per week. Our office is located in McNamara Alumni Center on the East Bank of the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Corporate portfolio management and pipeline building (40%)

• Partner closely with the MedHealth development officers in managing a portfolio of corporate prospects.
• Serve as a team member on select strategic corporate portfolio companies related to MedHealth. Partner closely with the primary manager to implement strategy and action items.
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit corporate investments in coordination with MedHealth partners   
• Work closely with prospect development to identify and qualify new corporate prospects, research documents, and research requests. Pipelining with an early focus on sponsored research, recruiting, and sponsorships
• Assist with and manage sponsorship solicitations in support of MedHealth CFE strategies
• Serve as the primary manager for a portfolio of Corporate prospects capable of making gifts and major gifts of $25,000 and above

Private Foundation portfolio management and support (40%)

• Partner closely with the Foundation Engagement team and MedHealth development officers to solicit private foundation prospects
• Track RFPs to identify, cultivate, and solicit private foundation proposals in coordination with MedHealth partners and faculty   
• Work closely with prospect development to identify and qualify new foundation prospects
• Guide University partners through the proposal application and funding process
• Pursue private foundation grant proposals of $25,000 and above. This includes drafting LOIs, writing grant proposals, submitting grant proposals and managing overall charitable grant solicitations in partnership with MedHealth foundation engagement officers
• Respond to daily inquiries and questions about proposals and gifts in process

Collaborative Advancement Efforts (20%)

• Track foundation proposal activity, documentation, and grant reporting as necessary 
• Develop and manage internal partnerships
  • Work closely with MedHealth development officers, unit leaders, board members, fellow benefactors, faculty, staff, and volunteers to develop and implement corporate and private foundation strategies.       
• Provide support and planning for MedHealth related campus visits and MedHealth activities 
• Other initiatives as assigned

 Metrics

• Set portfolio goals with manager around qualifications, solicitations, substantive contacts and revenue generation (approximately $500,000 annual goal)
• Develop annual individual and team goals contributing to key CFE and MedHealth projects and committees

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelorâ™s degree
• Minimum of two years of professional development experience with demonstrated ability to promote and successfully solicit gifts or sponsorships in corporate or private foundation setting; or two or more years of experience in marketing, consultative sales, public relations, financial advisement, real estate or related field where cultivation/solicitation and maintenance of client relationships for provision of services was a primary responsibility. 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to match initiatives and strengths to a corporate or foundationâ™s goals.
• Proficiency with Windows, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint software and other Database Management software is essential 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Proven ability to work effectively with a diverse group of internal and external constituents.
• Prior work or background in the medicine, health, science, engineering, and/or medicine technology fields
• Demonstrated ability to successfully solicit gifts and manage a prospect portfolio
• Self-motivated and strong personal commitment to the organization's mission
• Experience working in an academic environment
• Creative thinking, flexibility, and problem solving skills
• Ability to engage faculty, staff, and industry partners and variety of organizational levels

AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTS:

Office environment including standing and sitting at desk, use of computer, occasional lifting of approximately 10#.

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

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