Sr. Director of Foundation Partnerships

Make a difference with us! At Alliance Defending Freedom, we believe God has brought you here for His purpose—to stand for truth and defend the God-given right to live and speak it. Together, we protect religious freedom, free speech, the sanctity of life, marriage and family, and parental rights. Review our Statement of Faith to ensure we’re a fit for you.

Locations: Scottsdale, AZ / Lansdowne, VA / Dallas, TX

Team Overview

As the Senior Director of Foundation Partnerships, you will report to the VP of Development and set portfolio strategy, carry top tier relationships, broker access across ADF so the whole team can reach funders it could not reach alone, and lastly, coach and lead the Foundation Partnership team, holding the pipeline accountable upward to the SVP of Development. This is a vital role within the Development team as we look to grow the organization and further our mission.

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio Strategy:

• Create and execute a multi-year growth strategy for the Foundation Partnerships team, in concert with the multi-year strategic vision for organizational revenue growth.
• Systematize mining, screening, rating, and qualifying of prospective foundations, and keep the tiering current as relationships move.
• Own the foundation forecast reported to the SVP of Development, including accurate activity and pipeline reporting and revenue forecasts.
• Meet or exceed annual foundation revenue goals, including the $10M+ goal for lead and principal gifts from foundation relationships across the team.
• Determine KPIs for the team and ensure accountability to those metrics.

Owned Portfolio:

• Personally steward a portfolio of approximately 10–20 top-tier foundation relationships: the most closed (foundations currently giving on a grant cycle) discretion-sensitive funders that open only to a peer.
• Lead six- and seven-figure conversations and closings within that portfolio, helping Ministry Friends accomplish their philanthropic goals by finding alignment with ADF’s mission.

Internal and External Relationship Building

• Convert ADF’s institutional relationships (principals, board, allies, program leaders, and senior staff) into access for the whole Foundation Partnerships team.
• Routinely engage organization executives and current ministry friends in peer-prospect identification, visits, and six- and seven-figure closings.
• Establish strong, mutually beneficial relationships with alliance partners and organizations.

Coaching and Leading:

• Develop the team’s ability to build relationships, navigate alignment vetting, and advance foundations through the pipeline.
• Coach and develop emerging fundraising talent among ADF staff and team, and provide spiritual encouragement and mentoring of others.
• Meet regularly with your Team Members to discuss their progress and complete performance reviews.
• Approve PTO requests, timecards, and expense reports.

Minimum Qualifications

• 7+ years of fundraising experience with proven success closing six and seven-figure gifts.
• 5+ years of management experience.
• Understanding of budgets as they relate to proposals and grants.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong computer skills: M.S. Office Word, Excel, Outlook, Salesforce.
• Strong self-motivation and initiative.
• Ability to travel up to 40 nights per year.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree

Pay & Benefits

At Alliance Defending Freedom, we offer competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package to support your well-being and growth. Our benefits include 100% covered medical and dental insurance, medical and dependent care reimbursement, paid disability, long-term care, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan with a 4% company match. We prioritize work-life balance with paid time off and 12 paid holidays each year.

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