Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations
Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), Milwaukee, WI, United States
About MSOE
Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) is dedicated to cultivating an inclusive community of experiential learners driven to solve complex challenges. Our learning‑by‑doing philosophy extends beyond the classroom, fostering partnerships that empower innovation, advance discovery, and create lasting societal impact.
Who We Are MSOE offers Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in engineering, computer science, machine learning, user experience, construction management, actuarial science, business, and nursing. With about 3,000 students, faculty and staff, MSOE provides big opportunities with personal attention.
A Small University Dedicated to Achieving Big Things MSOE is a supportive environment where everyone is valued. Our distinct learning‑by‑doing method shapes how we teach, learn, and serve, with the top priority of supporting our students.
Our Mission MSOE is the university of choice for those seeking an inclusive community of experiential learners. We are united by six values—collaboration, excellence, inclusion, innovation, integrity, and stewardship—and we are pursuing an ambitious strategic plan, Extraordinary Together.
Our Leadership MSOE is led by Dr. Eric Baumgartner, who began his presidency in January 2026 after serving as Executive Vice President of Academics since 2017.
Summary MSOE invites applications for a full‑time Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, reporting to the Vice President of University Advancement. The Director will develop and manage a coordinated approach that fosters strategic alignment between MSOE and corporate and foundation partners, focusing on philanthropic investment and portfolio execution. Responsibilities include building awareness of MSOE’s strengths and assets, creating and qualifying engagement leads, and identifying strategic opportunities for mutually beneficial engagements.
Essential Job Functions Major Gift Productivity
Manage a portfolio of strategic corporate and foundation partnerships to generate philanthropic revenue, coordinating engagement across multiple units and involving university leadership as appropriate.
Serve as the UA point of contact for incoming information requests from companies and foundations, determining whether engagements should be added to the corporate and foundation portfolio.
Identify and develop new partnerships supporting MSOE’s strategic initiatives with emphasis on philanthropy, including recruitment, internships, sponsored research, student organization support, design projects, and more.
Co‑develop annual metrics with UA for existing corporate partners and new partner qualification and revenue goals.
Conduct a minimum of 120 personal visits that meet the qualified action standard.
Develop proposals and other fundraising communications to support corporate and foundation philanthropy and report on gifts and grants.
Participate in external meetings and events to enhance MSOE visibility and strengthen relationships.
Travel independently and with other development staff, faculty, and administrators as required.
Portfolio Management
Develop a multi‑year strategic plan for the university’s top corporate partners and key foundations, including management plans for new portfolio additions.
Provide timely reports for all interactions with business partners, outlining next steps to advance relationships.
Collaborate with development staff to complete gift agreements, letters of intent, and in‑kind gift forms documenting donor commitments.
Internal and External Development
Internal: Serve as the UA staff liaison to the University Corporate Relations Committee, supporting the VPMSP’s oversight, recruiting cross‑campus members, setting agendas, recording minutes, and updating engagement strategies.
External: Serve as the UA staff liaison to the University’s Corporate Board of industry partners, supporting the VPMSP’s oversight, recruiting corporate members, setting agendas, preparing information, presenting as appropriate, recording minutes, and advancing agreed‑upon next steps.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
Attend all required department meetings.
Provide staff support for events and activities related to the Office of University Advancement, including evenings and weekends.
This list of duties and responsibilities is not all‑inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as management may deem necessary from time to time.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree required; advanced degree preferred. Experience may be considered in lieu of educational accomplishments.
Five years of experience in corporate relations, fundraising, or a similar field.
Skills and Abilities
Read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating instructions, and procedure manuals.
Write proposals, routine reports, and correspondence.
Speak effectively before others.
Communicate effectively in both written and oral form.
Use numbers to solve problems involving concrete variables in standardized situations.
Apply common sense understanding to carry out written or oral instructions.
Collaborate in complex environments.
Physical Demands
The job is largely sedentary; the employee must be able to move, including traversing work and campus areas.
Ascend and descend stairs (the building does not contain an elevator).
Work Environment This job operates in a professional office environment, using standard office equipment including computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets.
Why Join MSOE? MSOE invests in our employees’ professional and personal growth and offers competitive, comprehensive benefits for full‑time employees, including medical, dental, life, disability, vision, 13 paid holidays, paid time off, paid parental leave, and a 403(b) retirement plan with company matching up to 6% of employee earnings and immediate vesting. Educational benefits are available for employees and family members, and employees have access to our state‑of‑the‑art fitness center at no charge. Located in downtown Milwaukee, MSOE is just blocks from the lakefront, theater district, museums, sports and music venues, parks, and shopping.
The above statements reflect the general details necessary to describe the principal functions of the occupation described and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the occupation. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
It is the policy of MSOE to provide equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic characteristics, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law. This policy applies to all jobs at the University and to all terms, benefits, and conditions of employment and enrollment.
Job Code: 222
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Who We Are MSOE offers Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in engineering, computer science, machine learning, user experience, construction management, actuarial science, business, and nursing. With about 3,000 students, faculty and staff, MSOE provides big opportunities with personal attention.
A Small University Dedicated to Achieving Big Things MSOE is a supportive environment where everyone is valued. Our distinct learning‑by‑doing method shapes how we teach, learn, and serve, with the top priority of supporting our students.
Our Mission MSOE is the university of choice for those seeking an inclusive community of experiential learners. We are united by six values—collaboration, excellence, inclusion, innovation, integrity, and stewardship—and we are pursuing an ambitious strategic plan, Extraordinary Together.
Our Leadership MSOE is led by Dr. Eric Baumgartner, who began his presidency in January 2026 after serving as Executive Vice President of Academics since 2017.
Summary MSOE invites applications for a full‑time Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, reporting to the Vice President of University Advancement. The Director will develop and manage a coordinated approach that fosters strategic alignment between MSOE and corporate and foundation partners, focusing on philanthropic investment and portfolio execution. Responsibilities include building awareness of MSOE’s strengths and assets, creating and qualifying engagement leads, and identifying strategic opportunities for mutually beneficial engagements.
Essential Job Functions Major Gift Productivity
Manage a portfolio of strategic corporate and foundation partnerships to generate philanthropic revenue, coordinating engagement across multiple units and involving university leadership as appropriate.
Serve as the UA point of contact for incoming information requests from companies and foundations, determining whether engagements should be added to the corporate and foundation portfolio.
Identify and develop new partnerships supporting MSOE’s strategic initiatives with emphasis on philanthropy, including recruitment, internships, sponsored research, student organization support, design projects, and more.
Co‑develop annual metrics with UA for existing corporate partners and new partner qualification and revenue goals.
Conduct a minimum of 120 personal visits that meet the qualified action standard.
Develop proposals and other fundraising communications to support corporate and foundation philanthropy and report on gifts and grants.
Participate in external meetings and events to enhance MSOE visibility and strengthen relationships.
Travel independently and with other development staff, faculty, and administrators as required.
Portfolio Management
Develop a multi‑year strategic plan for the university’s top corporate partners and key foundations, including management plans for new portfolio additions.
Provide timely reports for all interactions with business partners, outlining next steps to advance relationships.
Collaborate with development staff to complete gift agreements, letters of intent, and in‑kind gift forms documenting donor commitments.
Internal and External Development
Internal: Serve as the UA staff liaison to the University Corporate Relations Committee, supporting the VPMSP’s oversight, recruiting cross‑campus members, setting agendas, recording minutes, and updating engagement strategies.
External: Serve as the UA staff liaison to the University’s Corporate Board of industry partners, supporting the VPMSP’s oversight, recruiting corporate members, setting agendas, preparing information, presenting as appropriate, recording minutes, and advancing agreed‑upon next steps.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
Attend all required department meetings.
Provide staff support for events and activities related to the Office of University Advancement, including evenings and weekends.
This list of duties and responsibilities is not all‑inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as management may deem necessary from time to time.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree required; advanced degree preferred. Experience may be considered in lieu of educational accomplishments.
Five years of experience in corporate relations, fundraising, or a similar field.
Skills and Abilities
Read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating instructions, and procedure manuals.
Write proposals, routine reports, and correspondence.
Speak effectively before others.
Communicate effectively in both written and oral form.
Use numbers to solve problems involving concrete variables in standardized situations.
Apply common sense understanding to carry out written or oral instructions.
Collaborate in complex environments.
Physical Demands
The job is largely sedentary; the employee must be able to move, including traversing work and campus areas.
Ascend and descend stairs (the building does not contain an elevator).
Work Environment This job operates in a professional office environment, using standard office equipment including computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets.
Why Join MSOE? MSOE invests in our employees’ professional and personal growth and offers competitive, comprehensive benefits for full‑time employees, including medical, dental, life, disability, vision, 13 paid holidays, paid time off, paid parental leave, and a 403(b) retirement plan with company matching up to 6% of employee earnings and immediate vesting. Educational benefits are available for employees and family members, and employees have access to our state‑of‑the‑art fitness center at no charge. Located in downtown Milwaukee, MSOE is just blocks from the lakefront, theater district, museums, sports and music venues, parks, and shopping.
The above statements reflect the general details necessary to describe the principal functions of the occupation described and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the occupation. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
It is the policy of MSOE to provide equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic characteristics, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law. This policy applies to all jobs at the University and to all terms, benefits, and conditions of employment and enrollment.
Job Code: 222
#J-18808-Ljbffr