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Foundation Relations Officer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

$39K - $49K/yr

Reporting to the Executive Director of Foundation Relations and working closely with other ... Interface and build fruitful relationships with foundation officers and between foundation officers ...

Showing results 41-60

Foundation Relations Officer information

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$45.5K

$88.8K

$130.5K

How much do foundation relations officer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for foundation relations officer in the United States is $88,807.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $68,000.00 and $100,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Foundation Relations Officer vs Grant Writer?

AspectFoundation Relations OfficerGrant Writer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree, experience in fundraising or developmentBachelor's degree, strong writing skills, experience in grant proposal writing
Work EnvironmentDevelopment or fundraising department, often in non-profits or educational institutionsGrant writing teams, development offices, or freelance settings
Employer & Industry UsageNon-profits, educational institutions, healthcare organizationsNon-profits, research institutions, government agencies
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles in fundraising and donor relationsLearning about grant proposal processes and writing skills

The Foundation Relations Officer focuses on building relationships with foundations and securing funding through strategic engagement, while the Grant Writer specializes in crafting compelling grant proposals to obtain funding. Both roles are essential in the fundraising process but differ in their primary functions and daily tasks.

How does a foundation relations officer typically collaborate with internal departments to develop grant proposals?

A Foundation Relations Officer works closely with various internal teams—such as program staff, finance, and communications—to gather essential information and ensure proposals are comprehensive and aligned with both organizational needs and funder priorities. This collaborative process often involves coordinating meetings, clarifying project goals, and compiling supporting documents. Effective communication and project management skills are crucial, as the officer must synthesize input from multiple stakeholders and present a unified, compelling case to potential foundation partners.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a foundation relations officer?

To thrive as a Foundation Relations Officer, you need strong grant writing, fundraising, and research skills, typically supported by a bachelor's degree in communications, nonprofit management, or a related field. Familiarity with donor management databases (like Raiser’s Edge), prospect research tools, and grant tracking systems is often required. Outstanding relationship-building, communication, and organizational skills distinguish top performers in this role. These abilities are crucial for securing funding, building long-term partnerships, and advancing an organization's mission.

What is a foundation relations officer?

Foundation Relations Officers are professionals responsible for managing and cultivating relationships between an organization and philanthropic foundations. Their main role is to identify funding opportunities, write grant proposals, and ensure effective communication with foundation representatives. They also track grant requirements, report on project outcomes, and help align organizational goals with foundation priorities. Foundation Relations Officers play a key part in securing funding for nonprofit initiatives and maintaining long-term partnerships with grant-making bodies.
What states have the most Foundation Relations Officer jobs? States with the most job openings for Foundation Relations Officer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Foundation Relations Officer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, and 6% Part Time. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $88,807 per year, or $42.7 per hour.

Senior Director, Foundation Relations

BoardSource

Washington, DC • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 12 days ago


Job description

Company Description

BoardSource is a globally-recognized nonprofit focused on strengthening nonprofit leadership at the highest level - the board of directors. With expertise cultivated over more than three decades, BoardSource strengthens nonprofit leadership through research, thought leadership, and practical supports that help transform board structures, dynamics, and perspectives. It is widely recognized as the go-to resource for nonprofit boards, and reaches more than 500,000 leaders each year.

Over the past five years, BoardSource's leadership footprint in the nonprofit sector has expanded beyond "board leadership essentials" to research and proactively address critical issues that are impeding the nonprofit sector's ability to achieve its full potential for impact. In addition to an expansion of its signature research study, Leading with Intent, BoardSource has also prioritized initiatives to address:

       The urgent need for more diverse nonprofit boards that are committed to doing their work in a way that helps advance equity and justice.

       The importance of understanding and engaging in public policy issues that impact or impede an organization's ability to fulfill its mission, serve its community, or otherwise do its mission-driven work.

       The opportunity to structure organizations for greater resilience and impact through strategic alliances and mergers.

In collaboration with the President & CEO and Executive Strategy Officer, the Senior Director of Foundation Relations is responsible for planning and implementing BoardSource's foundation fundraising strategies and activities with the goal of deepening relationships within the philanthropic community and increasing philanthropic support for BoardSource on a year-over-year basis.

Job Description

The Senior Director of Foundation Relations will serve as a key external representative of BoardSource's work within the foundation community and engage with foundation funders and prospects at every stage of the solicitation process, identifying, researching, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual funders to secure philanthropic dollars. This includes strategically engaging the Board and the President & CEO in support of those key relationships, as well as developing proposals and agreements, overseeing grant stewardship, communication, and reporting. This will include hiring and managing a development coordinator to take on essential functions in support of a strong and efficient fundraising shop.

The Senior Director of Foundation Relations will primarily be responsible for the following:

       Develop a multiyear fundraising plan that identifies a diverse base of support for BoardSource's research and leadership agenda

       Manage relationships with all of BoardSource's foundation donors and prospects, with a focus on deepening relationships with existing funding partners and increasing the number of $25,000+ funding relationships that provide general operating support

       Represent BoardSource and its work within the philanthropic community, working to establish reputation and relationships in ways that cultivate increased philanthropic support

       Partner with, guide, and support the President & CEO in her role as the chief spokesperson and fundraiser for BoardSource

       Partner with the President to engage and support the Board in their fundraising activities on behalf of BoardSource

       Establish a firm understanding of BoardSource's work - especially its leadership initiatives and research agenda - to support strategic and effective foundation fundraising strategies

       Leverage and manage the development coordinator around prospect research, grant reporting, and tracking

       Oversee the foundation fundraising budget. Create and implement tracking mechanisms to ensure goals are on target

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree and a minimum of 7 years of experience in nonprofit organizations. Additionally the ideal candidate will have:

       At least 5 years in foundation fundraising, ideally in an organization that is focused on research, leadership, or nonprofit sector support

       Demonstrated track record in personally identifying and closing foundation grants

       The ability to effectively represent BoardSource as a writer, thinker, and speaker under a variety of circumstances, including interactions meetings with funders and networking opportunities at conferences

       Excellent proposal-writing skills and demonstrated attention to detail with strong project management

       Broad knowledge of the nonprofit sector including an understanding of sub-segments within the sector and knowledge of emerging trends within the sector; past or present service as a member of a nonprofit board a plus

        An existing portfolio of relationships funders interested in nonprofit leadership desirable, but not expected

       Past or current nonprofit board service a plus

       An optimistic outlook and a flexible, innovative approach to problem-solving

       This position requires up to 25% travel

Additional Information

Come be a part of our team and help us to advance the work of nonprofit organizations across the country! To apply for this role, please submit a cover letter and resume. BoardSource is an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

The hiring salary range for this position is $90,000-$105,000