Director or Senior Director, Corporate and Foundations Relations

Description

Who We Are:

Are you ready to work at a dynamic institution that believes in higher education with lower obstacles? Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology (now known as Franklin Cummings Tech) is a nationally accredited non-profit, technical college serving Massachusetts. The college was seeded in 1791 with funds from the estate of Benjamin Franklin given to the City of Boston to proliferate access to apprenticeship and entrepreneurship. Today, that legacy has evolved into an accredited college that delivers accessible tech and trade education to level the playing field for aspiring talent.

With a mission to deliver transformative technical and trade education that leads to economic advancement, Franklin Cummings Tech offers a unique mix of certificates and degrees that appeal to enterprising students from Eastern Massachusetts and respond to employer demand for a well-prepared workforce. Intentional partnerships with the industries we serve coupled with high graduation and job placement rates, recently attracted the largest philanthropic gift in the history of the college from the Cummings Foundation, helping to spur incredible growth in the past four years.

Franklin Cummings Tech educates more than 1,000 learners annually across three student types: 1) certificate and degree seekers, 2) continuing education enrollees, and 3) early college students. As evidence that our mission holds resonance student enrollment is up and Fall 2027 applications have soared 16% year over year.

We seek optimistic, data-informed, and dedicated colleagues who are eager to increase student success outcomes and boost total enrollment to 1,500 learners by 2030. Join us in this mission-driven work!

Position Summary

The Director (or Senior Director), Corporate and Foundations Relations is a key member of the Development team, responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding corporate and foundation funders in support of Franklin Cummings Tech's strategic priorities. This individual will manage a portfolio of current and prospective donors, develop compelling proposals and reports, and help build the institutional infrastructure for sustainable philanthropic growth. The ideal candidate brings a passion for equity-centered education, strong writing and relationship-building skills, and a proven track record of securing grants from corporate and foundation sources.

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio Management

• Manage a dynamic portfolio of 60-80 corporate and foundation donors and prospects at various stages of the giving cycle by taking the lead at every stage from Letters of Intent and Proposal Development and Submission to Stewardship and Reporting. (70 %)
• Conduct prospect research to identify new funding opportunities aligned with institutional priorities. (5%)
• Develop and execute individualized annual cultivation and solicitation strategies for each portfolio entity.

Grant Writing & Reporting

• Lead the development of high-quality letters of inquiry, grant proposals, and stewardship reports.
• Collaborate with academic departments, finance, and program staff to gather data and narratives that support grant applications.
• Maintain a grant calendar/tracker to ensure timely submission of applications and compliance reports.
• Ensure all reports accurately reflect program outcomes and align with funder guidelines and requirements.
• Maintain accurate files of final submissions and balance assignments with support from two external fractional grant writers.

Relationship & Systems Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned major corporate and foundation funders.
• Plan and facilitate donor meetings, site visits, and cultivation events.
• Develop and maintain strong, long-term relationships with program officers and corporate giving representatives.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all donor activity, proposals, and communications in the CRM database (e.g., Raiser's Edge, Salesforce).
• Track and report on grant revenue goals, pipeline activity, and fundraising metrics.
• Support donor acknowledgment processes to ensure timely and meaningful recognition.

Collaboration & Strategy

• Participate in Development team planning and goal-setting to align corporate and foundation efforts with overall fundraising strategy.
• Represent Franklin Cummings Tech and the Development team at external events, conferences, and sector convenings.

Requirements

Required

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree a plus.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in development, grant writing, or corporate/foundation relations, preferably in higher education, workforce development, or a related nonprofit sector.
• Commitment to equity, access, and the mission of Franklin Cummings Tech.
• Demonstrated success securing grants of $25,000 or more from corporate and/or foundation funders.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to translate complex programmatic information into compelling narratives.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.
• Proficiency with CRM databases and Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred

• Experience with workforce development, STEM education, or technical education funding landscapes.
• Familiarity with regional and national corporate and foundation funders in the Boston area.
• Understanding of federal and state grant compliance requirements.

Core Competencies

• Relationship-Centered Fundraising – Builds authentic, trust-based partnerships with funders.
• Strategic Communication – Crafts persuasive and tailored written materials for diverse audiences.
• Project Management – Manages complex workflows, timelines, and competing priorities effectively.
• Data-Informed Decision Making – Uses data and metrics to shape strategy and demonstrate impact.
• Collaborative Leadership – Works cross-functionally and contributes to a positive team culture.
• Equity & Inclusion Mindset – Centers equity principles in all donor engagement and storytelling.

Work Environment

This position operates primarily in a professional office environment, with regular presence on campus required to assist with in-person events and donor tours. Occasional evening or weekend availability is required to support events. The College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state law.

Employee Expectations

All employees are expected to support the college’s student-centered mission, contribute to institutional growth and innovation, and collaborate across departments to improve student recruitment, retention, graduation, and career placement outcomes.

Our college is an in-person institution. Campus presence is the default expectation for all employees. In-person presence remains the expectation and the standard for all staff. Flex arrangements are a discretionary privilege, not a right, and may be modified or discontinued if it is determined that flex arrangements are diminishing service quality, team cohesion, or responsiveness to students, external partners, and colleagues. The student experience and fidelity of institutional operations take priority over individual schedule preferences.

Compensation: The salary range for this role is $80,000-$120,000.

Please note: Franklin Cummings Tech is not able to provide visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States on an ongoing basis without sponsorship to be considered for this position at Franklin Cummings Tech.

Franklin Cummings Tech is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status.