Skip to main content Skip to accessibility controls

Career Opening

Institutional Fundraising Manager

  • Employment Status: Full-time
  • Department: Advancement
  • Reports To: Vice President of Advancement
  • Salary: $65,000 – $75,000 based on experience and qualifications + benefits
  • FLSA Status: Exempt
  • Supervises: N/A
  • How to Apply: Please send resume and cover letter to humanresources@wfmn.org. Applications accepted through Monday, June 9, 2025, or until filled.
  • Location: Hybrid work environment. Office expectation is approximately 35%. As a community foundation with a statewide focus, community context is an integral aspect to achieve the Foundation’s mission. As such, the incumbent to this position should reside within the state of Minnesota and within a commutable distance to WFM’s office in Minneapolis.
    • This position requires residence in the Twin Cities Metro Area. The incumbent must be available to represent the organization at external-facing events and other engagements within the Twin Cities Metro Area.
  • Access: We encourage interested candidates to submit application materials and indicate in their submission if they need flexibility in the hiring process.

SUMMARY

The Institutional Fundraising Manager will lead and be responsible for all aspects of the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota’s funding from all institution types – corporations and all foundation types. This includes prospecting, outreach, relationship management, impact storytelling, solicitation of philanthropic support, project management, content writing for customized communications, and grant writing. The Institutional Fundraising Manager will play an integral part of the Advancement team, which centers its work on raising funds to support WFM’s mission and programming. The Institutional Fundraising Manager is focused on growing foundation and corporate grant funding and contributing to overall Advancement team goals.

In carrying out this objective, the individual will be responsible for developing and implementing a solicitation strategy, tailored for each prospect, that includes prospect identification, cultivation, proposals/solicitation, and stewardship. The Institutional Fundraising Manager will be externally facing and must have excellent relationship management, fundraising, grant writing, communication and presentation skills, and the be able to manage multiple projects simultaneously. The Institutional Fundraising Manager will also identify, define, and develop funding sources to support existing and planned program activities as well as lead the development, writing, and submission of grant proposals to private funding agencies and institutional funders.

While an integral part of the Advancement team, this individual will play a cross-departmental role in bridging funding opportunities with aligned programming and should thrive in leading strategy conversations. The Institutional Fundraising Manager must be comfortable and confident in dealing with all levels of corporate and foundation leadership.

The ideal candidate will be able to work across departments to identify creative solutions to meet the philanthropic intentions of corporate and foundation donors that align with the Foundation’s mission.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: ROLE SPECIFIC

Grant Writing (35%)

  • Lead grant proposal development and submission by preparing and organizing materials for proposals and submitting and monitoring grant applications.
  • Identify, define, and develop funding sources to support existing and planned program activities.
  • Draft proposals/LOIs, grant application narratives, budgets, and collaborate to finalize with Advancement, Community Impact, and Finance staff. With the Vice President of Advancement, meet with funders and staff to explore funding opportunities.
  • Maintain a master calendar of grants and prospects and all associated files and correspondence.
  • Work with the Senior Manager of Systems and Database Administration and the Finance Team to maintain grant compliance and reporting, including outcome measurement and grant budgets including:
    • Monitoring and maintaining funder reporting schedules and requirements;
    • Lead the Advancement team in drafting compelling progress reports and targeted program updates to funders that fully capture programmatic success; and
    • Assembling all necessary supporting materials and documents including budget reports, outcome measurements, success stories, etc.; submit reports to funders.
  • Coordinate with the Accounting Clerk to manage the Foundation’s opportunities with corporate and foundation funders.
  • Identify and write content to support stewardship, solicitation, and reporting communications.
  • Lead Advancement Team’s content writing.
    • Supervise the work of freelance writers on proposal development, as well as designers and other vendors as needed.

Fundraising (30%)

  • Own, drive, and achieve the fundraising goal for corporate and foundation giving each year.
    • The corporate and foundation annual fundraising goal is agreed upon in strategy planning with the Vice President of Advancement.
    • Goals of raising/securing/retaining $3.8 million in grants; on average, $4 million a year.
    • Identify other projects and programs at WFM that fit the funding interests of specific corporations and foundations and plan the solicitation of those prospects.
    • Expand potential revenue sources by expanding national foundation network.
  • Identify prospects for funding of the Foundation’s highest priorities and plan the solicitation of those prospects. This includes working with the Community Impact team, prospect researchers, the Executive Team, and volunteer leadership.
  • Build the corporate and foundation solicitation program by achieving ongoing growth in both cash and future commitments of support.
    • This includes developing both long-term solicitation strategies and an effective stewardship effort to maintain support from existing funders.
  • Work with other staff while developing funding proposals and carrying out all the documentation required by prospective funders. Review all proposal budgets with Operations and Finance team.
  • Manage the development and execution of the Foundation’s sponsorship strategy to create mutually beneficial opportunities for the Foundation and corporate partners.
  • Coordinates with Advancement staff and volunteer leadership on solicitations for events and special projects.

Relationship Management (20%)

  • Develop and maintain professional relationships with institutional funder staff members before, during, and after grant cycles. Oversee the timely reporting of progress and evaluation of all grant-funded programs. Plan and conduct routine funder visits with WFM.
  • Develop a networking and communication process for keeping volunteer leadership informed of corporate and foundation activity. Engage volunteer leadership in that activity when appropriate.

Administrative (5%)

  • Develop, recommend, and manage budget for the areas managed. Coordinate the assignment of tasks for the efficient utilization of available resources.
  • Perform other similar and related duties as required or directed.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: ORGANIZATIONAL (10%)

  • Participate as an active member of the WFM team by working collaboratively with other team members, and by communicating openly and honestly with staff and volunteers.
  • Attend Women’s Foundation of Minnesota events as well as external community events, as required and/or as requested by the Vice President of Advancement.
  • Perform all other projects and tasks as assigned by the Vice President of Advancement.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

  • Experience generating over $3 million a year in grant funding.
  • Experience writing grants and a track record of winning grants of $35,000 or more.
  • Five to seven years of project management experience.
  • Experience with and comfort in meeting large funders on your own, hosting them for site visits, and visiting their place of business as needed.
  • Strategic thinker, proven track record of being able to connect the dots and take action.
  • Budget forecasting and support experience. Experience in strategic plan implementation.
  • 7+ years’ experience in development (fundraising), or comparable experience in corporate sales, marketing, or public relations environment, or experience in a similar grant writing role for large grants.
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
  • Demonstrated experience and commitment to working with diverse community partners.
  • Commitment to and experience working in a collaborative, team environment. Strong interest in gender equity, racial equity, and participating in a learning culture through evaluation.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Strong, proven communicator: ability to communicate complex frameworks, both orally and in writing to diverse stakeholders. Excellent writing skills.
  • Advanced experience in storytelling and writing for impact.
  • Strong ability to read and understand financial reporting.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Ability to work within the Microsoft Office Suite for project management and most business needs.
  • Familiarity with Raiser’s Edge, or proven ability to learn Raiser’s Edge through mastery of similar software.
  • Confidence in ability to learn new software as necessary.
  • Demonstrates initiative and a solution-focused attitude while positively contributing to our teamwork environment. Works as an effective and proactive team player.
  • Commitment to actively participating in the Foundation’s learning culture, including topics that increase understanding of diversity, gender and racial equity, and inclusion.
  • Understands confidential nature of organization information and maintains confidence.
  • Anticipates and works well in a changing environment, adapting to the needs of communities and organization.

Physical Requirements Necessary to Perform This Job

  • Hear and speak in order to use telephone and communicate with people inside and outside the office.
  • Sit at a desk for extended periods of time and perform long hours of work sitting at a computer.
  • Apply manual dexterity and visual acuity for computer keyboarding and office equipment use and light maintenance.
  • Visual ability to review detailed reports and information.
  • Physical ability to move around office area repeatedly throughout the day.
  • The person in this role will also need to frequently attend external meetings and events, including outside of traditional business hours.

Tools and Equipment Used

  • Incumbent must be able to use multi-line telephone, calculator, copy machines, facsimile machines, computers, postage machine, and other office equipment.
  • Able to become proficient in Microsoft 365 applications.

To Apply: Send resume and cover letter to humanresources@wfmn.org. Applications accepted through Monday, June 9, 2025, or until filled. Please note that WFM participates in E-Verify, which is a service to confirm employment eligibility. This process will occur after an offer of employment is extended.

View all openings
z