Foundations & Corporations Officer

Position Summary

The MDI Biological Laboratory, located in Bar Harbor, Maine, is a 125-year-old independent biomedical research institution specializing in understanding the biology of aging and regeneration. As an organization, we are passionate about the role of basic research in improving human health and care deeply about the wellbeing of our community of scientists, students, staff, and supporters.

The Office of Development and Communications seeks an energetic, goal-oriented and creative self-starter, with talent for building strong and productive relationships with private foundations and corporate partners. The Foundations & Corporations Officer plays a vital role in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding grants, gifts, sponsorships, and in-kind donations.

This is a full-time, exempt position with excellent benefits. Interested applicants should review the complete position description and required qualifications at mdibl.org/careers and submit a cover letter and resume via the online portal.

Responsibilities/Duties/Functions/Tasks

As a key member of the Development and Communications Team, the Foundations and Corporations Officer is responsible for cultivating and soliciting support to implement and sustain the scientific and educational programs of the MDI Biological Laboratory. The candidate will research and identify sources of support, proactively seek opportunities to generate new proposals and maintain effective communication ties with foundation and donor prospects. This position also collaborates with faculty, finance, and senior leadership to build and develop a robust portfolio of institutional funders and carefully integrated grant proposals.

The Foundations and Corporations Officer will work under the supervision of the Director of Development.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive foundation and corporation fundraising program which will generate gifts from private sector foundations, family foundations and corporations.
• Create and maintain an active pipeline of 100+ corporate and foundation prospects through identification, qualification, cultivation, and stewardship efforts, delivering on all aspects of relationship management and funder engagement including timely and accurate submissions, on-site visits, reporting and management of proposals and grant reports.
• Develop letters of inquiry, presentation decks, proposals, and gift agreements with special attention to managing the overall quality, accuracy and timeliness of all written correspondence and responses.
• Establish and maintain collaborative partnerships with the president, key faculty, and staff to foster their involvement in the proposal creation and prospect identification process.
• Partner with colleagues across the institution to ensure all reporting including stewardship reports are submitted to donors in a timely manner.
• Utilize the department’s CRM system frequently to manage and track all donors and prospect engagement and communications.
• Maintain familiarity with issues and trends in the fundraising field.
• Maintain confidential financial and personal information with discretion and the highest ethical standards; and
• Support the Development and Communications department with other fund-raising activities as needed.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent record of professional achievement and qualifications with a demonstrated track record of success.

• At least 3 years’ experience in professional fundraising, grant writing or grants management positions or equivalent in business development or external relations experience.
• Demonstrated success in the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of corporate sponsors and grant writing.
• Authentic passion for the MDI Biological Laboratory’s mission and desire to foster practices incorporating diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
• Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends as the fundraising calendar requires.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills –written and verbal – with internal and external audiences.
• Advanced written communications, analytical skills, collaboration, and project management skills 
• Proven ability to effectively articulate clear and compelling messages
• Strong organizational and time management skills; must meet deadlines.
• Ability to understand and utilize fundraising databases, software, and Internet search engines to identify funding prospects.
• Ability to manage confidential and proprietary information with discretion.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office software package 
• Ability to create and maintain good working relationships with a variety of diverse internal and external team members.
• Strong commitment to teamwork
• Ability to travel locally and out of state as required.
• Ability to pass a criminal background and credit check required.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• A valid driver’s license a plus

Work Requirements

This is a full-time, exempt position with excellent benefits, including health, dental and life insurance, and a generous retirement matching plan. Hours may be variable.