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Foundation Program Officer Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Associate Gift Officer

Detroit, MI · On-site

$71K - $92K/yr

Job Purpose The Associate Gift Officer is responsible for development activities including prospect ... foundation grants. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, communicating with program ...

Philanthropy Officer Major Gifts

Petoskey, MI · On-site

$70K - $91K/yr

Coordinates program-specific development strategies and activities to ensure their integration into the overall foundation program. * Makes effective use of the prospect management database and other ...

... foundation programs and services meeting all objectives as outlined by the Foundation board and hospital CEO. 2. Provides oversight to the foundation team and key volunteers to identify, cultivate ...

... foundation programs and services meeting all objectives as outlined by the Foundation board and hospital CEO. 2. Provides oversight to the foundation team and key volunteers to identify, cultivate ...

Chief Development Officer

Detroit, MI · On-site

$150K - $170K/yr

Over 30 program locations throughout Detroit and surrounding areas * 20,000+ individuals benefiting ... foundation grants, and planned giving • Manage and grow a portfolio of high-net-worth donors and ...

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Foundation Program Officer information

See Michigan salary details

$29.2K

$87.5K

$135.5K

How much do foundation program officer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for foundation program officer in Michigan is $87,477.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $62,300.00 and $115,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some typical challenges a Foundation Program Officer faces when managing multiple grant portfolios?

Foundation Program Officers often juggle several grant portfolios simultaneously, each with unique objectives, timelines, and stakeholders. A common challenge is balancing the need to maintain close relationships with grantees while ensuring compliance with the foundation’s guidelines and strategic priorities. Effective time management, strong communication skills, and adaptability are essential for tracking progress, evaluating outcomes, and reporting to leadership. Additionally, officers must frequently collaborate with colleagues across departments to align program efforts and maximize impact.

What are Foundation Program Officers?

Foundation Program Officers are professionals who oversee grantmaking programs at philanthropic foundations. They are responsible for researching, evaluating, and recommending grants, as well as managing relationships with grantees and ensuring that funded projects align with the foundation's mission. Program Officers often monitor the progress of funded initiatives and assess their impact. Their role is critical in helping foundations make strategic decisions and maximize their positive social impact.

What is the difference between Foundation Program Officer vs Grant Coordinator?

AspectFoundation Program OfficerGrant Coordinator
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree; experience in nonprofit or grant managementBachelor's degree; experience in grants or project coordination
Work EnvironmentNonprofit organizations, foundations, grant-making entitiesNonprofits, educational institutions, government agencies
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily in foundations and philanthropic sectorsAcross various sectors including nonprofits and government
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

The Foundation Program Officer and Grant Coordinator roles both involve managing grants and supporting nonprofit initiatives. However, the Foundation Program Officer typically oversees grant programs, develops funding strategies, and builds relationships with grantees, while the Grant Coordinator focuses on the administrative aspects of grant processing, application review, and compliance. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and are found in nonprofit and foundation settings, but the Program Officer has a broader strategic and relationship management focus.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Foundation Program Officer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Foundation Program Officer, you typically need a background in nonprofit management, grantmaking, or a related field, often supported by a bachelor's or master's degree. Familiarity with grant management software, CRM systems, and evaluation tools is essential for tracking funding and measuring impact. Strong communication, relationship-building, and analytical skills help you collaborate with partners and assess program effectiveness. These capabilities ensure effective resource allocation, successful program outcomes, and positive stakeholder engagement.

What Does a Foundation Program Officer Do?

A foundation program officer researches funding proposals and decides who receives grants from the foundation. In this position, you work with nonprofit organizations to get information about their charity projects and other forms of philanthropy. You read proposals, perform additional research on projects and organizations, and make decisions about which grant request to fund. Some foundations focus on a specific cause, such as community development, while others grant funding to projects that the program officer thinks could have the most significant impact. Some foundations award academic scholarships instead of financing charitable projects. Program officers also get donor input to help make their funding decisions.

What are the most commonly searched types of Foundation Program Officer jobs in Michigan? The most popular types of Foundation Program Officer jobs in Michigan are:
What are popular job titles related to Foundation Program Officer jobs in Michigan? For Foundation Program Officer jobs in Michigan, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Foundation Program Officer jobs in Michigan look for? The top searched job categories for Foundation Program Officer jobs in Michigan are:
What cities in Michigan are hiring for Foundation Program Officer jobs? Cities in Michigan with the most Foundation Program Officer job openings:
Associate Gift Officer

Associate Gift Officer

Wayne State University

Detroit, MI • On-site

$71K - $92K/yr

Other

Posted 3 days ago


Wayne State University rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 20 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

248th of 544 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Job Purpose
The Associate Gift Officer is responsible for development activities including prospect and donor identification, cultivation, solicitation of low to mid-level gifts, stewardship, donor acknowledgement and recognition for institutional and individual donors to the University's Office of Economic Development and TechTown (a separate entity in partnership with the University). This position reports to the Director of Economic Development, Fundraising.

Essential Functions
(Essential functions are the primary duties/major job responsibilities that an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation. The essential functions are listed in order of importance.)

Collaborates with Director on all areas of the fundraising cycle from identification to stewardship including planning, development and implementation of fundraising plans and initiatives. Cultivates donors and prospects by identifying engagement opportunities, events and messaging platforms. In collaboration with Director and program teams, assists in the creation and implementation of fundraising strategies that lead to solicitation.

Solicits and stewards a portfolio of donors and prospects with the ability to give low to mid- level gifts including all solicitations, both written and in-person; manages the stewardship and plans for each donor. Ensures that all donor interactions are tracked and that recognition and communication plans are executed including, but not limited to, timely and appropriate acknowledgement; prepares and submits grant applications and impact reports in a timely manner, as required. 

Manages the editing process for grant reporting including collecting, organizing and editing content; strategizes with team to ensure objectives and timelines are met; collaborates with strategy team and Chief Program Officer to ensure key performance indicators (KPI's) are correctly vetted. 

Identifies donors through prospect research, network development and program team relationships to build the pipeline for low to mid-level donors. Develops and maintains donor prospect lists, segmentations and engagement timelines. 

Develops and maintains a comprehensive development "moves management" calendar including individual donors, corporate donors and foundation grants. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, communicating with program staff regarding expectations and deadlines. 

Develops, maintains and grows internal relationships with WSU Corporate and Foundation Relations, other Development and Alumni Affairs units, Fiscal Operations, Marketing and Communications; and TechTown's internal program staff, events and collaborative workspaces teams. 

Maintains donor database including list pulls and segmentation; updates constituent information as needed; analyzes donor trends and provide updates to Office of Economic Development and TechTown program teams. 

Performs related work as assigned. 


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