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Foundation Development Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

Director, Development ( Greater Boston) REPORTS TO: Vice President, Market-Based Development ... Collaborate with national channel teams (Corporate, Foundation, Government, and Individual Giving ...

... foundation and public funding base. The Senior Director of Development will help guide the organization's growth from a $1.3M budget in FY23 to $2.7M by FY28 by building a strong donor pipeline ...

This team builds the multimodal foundation models that underpin WHOOP's next generation of ... In this role, you'll serve as a senior individual contributor driving the research, development ...

This team builds the multimodal foundation models that underpin WHOOP's next generation of ... In this role, you'll serve as a senior individual contributor driving the research, development ...

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Showing results 1-20

Foundation Development information

See Boston, MA salary details

$35.9K

$84.1K

$144.5K

How much do foundation development jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for foundation development in Boston, MA is $84,129.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $63,600.00 and $98,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the main challenges someone might face when working in Foundation Development, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Foundation Development often encounter challenges such as building and maintaining donor relationships, meeting fundraising targets, and coordinating across various departments. Navigating donor expectations and effectively communicating the foundation's mission requires excellent interpersonal and communication skills. To address these challenges, it's important to stay organized, leverage data-driven strategies, and collaborate closely with program staff and leadership to align fundraising efforts with organizational goals. Proactive relationship management and ongoing professional development can also help overcome common obstacles in this field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Foundation Development, and why are they important?

To thrive in Foundation Development, you need expertise in fundraising, grant writing, donor relations, and a background in nonprofit or philanthropic management, often supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with donor management software (like Raiser’s Edge or Salesforce), CRM systems, and fundraising certification (such as CFRE) is highly valued. Strong communication, relationship-building, and strategic planning skills help you engage stakeholders and inspire support. These abilities are crucial for securing financial resources, fostering donor trust, and advancing the foundation’s mission.

What is Foundation Development?

Foundation Development refers to the process of establishing, managing, and growing nonprofit organizations known as foundations. This involves fundraising, donor relations, strategic planning, grant writing, and overseeing charitable programs to fulfill the foundation’s mission. Professionals in foundation development work to secure funding, build partnerships, and ensure the foundation's long-term sustainability and impact. The role requires strong communication and organizational skills, as well as a passion for philanthropy and community service.

What is the difference between Foundation Development vs Foundation Repair?

AspectFoundation DevelopmentFoundation Repair
Primary FocusConstructing new foundations for buildings and structuresFixing and stabilizing existing foundations
Required CredentialsEngineering degrees, construction certificationsEngineering or construction certifications, specialized repair training
Work EnvironmentConstruction sites, new building projectsExisting structures, repair sites
Industry UsageConstruction, civil engineeringBuilding maintenance, structural engineering

Foundation Development involves constructing new foundations for buildings, focusing on design and installation. Foundation Repair centers on diagnosing and fixing issues in existing foundations to ensure stability. While both roles require engineering knowledge and construction skills, Foundation Development is about creating new structures, whereas Foundation Repair is about restoring existing ones.

What are popular job titles related to Foundation Development jobs in Boston, MA? For Foundation Development jobs in Boston, MA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Foundation Development jobs in Boston, MA look for? The top searched job categories for Foundation Development jobs in Boston, MA are:
Infographic showing various Foundation Development job openings in Boston, MA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $84,129 per year, or $40.4 per hour.
Senior Associate Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations

Senior Associate Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations

Northeastern University

Boston, MA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 11 days ago


Job description

About the Opportunity
Job Summary
This position is Boston based and is a part of the One Northeastern network. The Senior Associate Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations manages a portfolio of 100 prospects and, when necessary, partners with One Northeastern colleagues in athletics, gift planning, family philanthropy, leadership giving, annual giving, and alumni relations to develop and support interdisciplinary gift opportunities within the regional structure. The Senior Associate Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations will build, manage, and engage a portfolio of high-capacity prospects in concert with One Northeastern fundraising colleagues to secure major gifts in support of Northeastern's mission.
The role of the Senior Associate Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations, is to be a link between the university and the corporate and foundation community-establishing and retaining relationships for the university at multiple levels. The Senior Associate Director achieves this by developing, implementing, and coordinating outreach, communications, and solicitation strategies for the university in select areas.
The primary mission of this role is obtaining financial and other support for the university. The activities required to pursue this goal include building bridges and relationships between the university and targeted corporate and foundation funders; working with faculty and research administration to develop and submit proposals for funding; developing strategies to advance the university's mission by leveraging funding opportunities; and stewarding existing grants while also providing faculty with funder-related guidance.
The Senior Associate Director works closely with colleges and programs within the Global Campus Network, with guidance from the Director, on corporate and foundation outreach. The projects identified for potential funding may include college- or campus-specific programs, as well as interdisciplinary initiatives. This position requires a balance between strategic, long-term relationship management and the ability to derive ongoing benefit to the university. The role serves as a single point of contact for strategic relationship planning and coordination and interfaces with faculty, university partners, and corporate and foundation representatives through various communication channels.
Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities
Raise Corporate and Foundation Support
  • Manage a pool of 100 local and national foundations and targeted corporate and foundation prospects
  • Advance the One Northeastern agenda by gaining foundation and corporate support of university initiatives through direct funding, gifts-in-kind, or other agreements
  • Develop and execute cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies
  • Focus on supporting work in the biomedical sciences across the university and global campus network
Strategy Development and Moves Management - One Northeastern
  • Develop strategies to engage key foundation and corporate partners to encourage greater involvement with the university
  • Work externally with foundation program officers and corporate researchers and executives
  • Establish and maintain enhanced communication with partners
  • Develop, coordinate, and implement funder site and campus visits
  • Serve as a regional corporate and foundation relations strategic liaison to major and leadership gift officers
  • Partner to increase involvement of alumni and current parents in corporate leadership roles to increase corporate support and individual giving
Proposal Writing
  • Meet with deans, faculty members, and stakeholders to gather information for proposals
  • Develop detailed and targeted proposals
  • Draft letters of inquiry, stewardship reports, and related documents
Teamwork and Tracking
  • Collaborate with the corporate and foundation team and Advancement team to coordinate activities and develop best practices
  • Streamline processes and improve overall fundraising capacity
  • Track cultivation and fundraising activities through existing databases and systems
  • Generate reports on activities to share with colleagues and senior management

Minimum Qualifications
Required
  • Bachelor's degree
  • 5-7 years of front-line fundraising experience or equivalent
  • Expertise in raising funds for higher education
  • Excellent writing skills
  • Ability to communicate and interface effectively with corporate and foundation representatives and university stakeholders
  • Ability to think and plan strategically
  • Self-motivation
  • Strong interest in being a member of a highly interactive and mutually supportive team
  • Customer-oriented training and focus
  • High follow-up and responsiveness
Preferred
  • Master's degree or other professional degree

Required Documents
  • Resume

Position Type
Advancement
Additional Information
Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.
Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Compensation Grade/Pay Type:
113S
Expected Hiring Range:
$113,865.00 - $165,105.00
With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.