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Syracuse University

Director of Corporate Philanthropy

🇺🇸 Syracuse, NY

🕑 Full-Time

💰 $90K - $100K

💻 Development & Advancement

🗓️ August 6th, 2025

Edtech.com's Summary

Syracuse University is hiring a Director of Corporate Philanthropy. The Director drives engagement and philanthropic giving by cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding corporate donors while developing strategic plans to align university programs with corporate partners' needs. This role requires building collaborative relationships with university and corporate stakeholders to increase corporate donations and advance research partnerships.

Highlights

  • Drive engagement, philanthropic giving, research partnerships with external corporations.
  • Develop and implement strategic plans aligning university programs with corporate needs.
  • Cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of corporate donors and prospects.
  • Collaborate across university departments and with corporate executives including C-suite, CFOs, and CEOs.
  • Manage corporate solicitation efforts, proposals, presentations, and stewardship plans.
  • Maintain records in Citrus database and track gifts and solicitations.
  • Require 15% travel to engage and cultivate corporate donors.
  • Must have 7-10 years of experience in corporate partnerships or fundraising with proven major gift success.
  • Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
  • Compensation range: $90,000 - $100,000 annually.

Director of Corporate Philanthropy Full Description

Syracuse University Job Board 


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Director of Corporate Philanthropy
Posting Details
 Posting Details 
Job #  | 042108
Department Code  | 50407-7122
Department  | Advancement and External Affairs
Job Title  | Director of Corporate Philanthropy
Location  | Syracuse, NY
Pay Range  | $90,000 - $100,000
Pay Determination  | Pay rates at Syracuse University are based on a combination of factors including, but not limited to, the job responsibilities; the candidate’s education, training, work experience and key competencies; the university’s strategic priorities; internal peer equity; applicable federal, state, local laws, grant funding and contractual requisites; and external market analyses.
Staff Level  | S5
FLSA Status  | Exempt
Hours  | Standard University business hours

8:30am – 5:00pm (academic year)
8:00am – 4:30pm (summer)
Hours may vary based on operational needs.
Job Type  | Full-time
Campus  | Syracuse, NY
Unionized Position Code  | Not Applicable
Job Description  | Reporting to the Executive Director, Corporate Philanthropy, the Director is responsible for driving engagement, philanthropic giving, research partnerships, and strengthening other holistic opportunities with external corporations on behalf of Syracuse University. This position develops and implements a strategic plan for mapping university programs to the relevant needs of corporate partners in their assigned portfolio. Building upon a strong existing base of funders and the identification of prospects – the Director discovers, cultivates, solicits, and stewards current and new corporate donors to meet and exceed the department’s annual goals.

The position requires collaborative relationship-building with university and corporate stakeholders to strengthen existing relationships, as well as proactive growth, increasing the number of corporate donors and growing the annual revenue of Syracuse University. The Director is responsible for becoming a subject-matter expert on university programs, as well as an expert in their companies’ ongoing business needs and corporate social responsibility focuses to identify and propose engagement and funding opportunities that are mutually beneficial to the university and the company. 15% travel is required to cultivate, steward, solicit corporations and donors.”

The Division of Advancement & External Affairs expresses a shared mission that is collaborative, trusted, respectful, future-focused and is aligned with the overall University. All current and new employees embrace and demonstrate dedication to promoting shared values in an inclusive work culture to propel the future of advancement operations in their everyday work.
Education and Experience  | Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred. Minimum of 7-10 years of corporate partnerships, fundraising, corporate social impact, partnership marketing, business development or related fields. Proven track record of securing major gifts, sponsorships, and grants resulting in 6- figure funding, preferably in a university setting. Exceptional relationship-building and interpersonal skills. Valid driver’s license is required.
Skills and Knowledge  | Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities. Excellent presentation and written and verbal communication skills. Creative, solutions-oriented approach to building mutually beneficial partnerships. Ability to be flexible and adaptable to effectively collaborate across multiple departments. Excellent attention to detail and follow through as demonstrated through effective project management experience. Outgoing and personable, willing to engage and form new business relationships.
Responsibilities  | Identify, cultivate, and steward new and existing corporate support that aligns with Syracuse University priorities through proactive outreach, consistent update and analysis of the inventory of relevant university programs, as well as in-depth analysis of the company’s strategies, results, and prospectus to identify opportunities for engagement and funding. Maintain and further proficient knowledge of university, as well as school/college/unit, priorities and programs. Initiate and manage solicitations to corporations for philanthropy, research, and complex inter-institutional and cross disciplinary initiatives. Collaborate with the divisional partners and schools/colleges/units to create compelling proposals and presentations that communicate the impact and value of partnering with the organization. Achieve annual fundraising targets and contribute to the long-term financial sustainability of the organization. Discover, cultivate, solicit, and steward a dynamic portfolio of 50 key corporate prospects and secure new levels of institutional support and engagement through gifts, grants, sponsored research, sponsorships, philanthropy, in-kind support, joint approaches to funding sources and the like. Record all interactions, gifts and solicitations in Citrus as well as develop, manage, and maintain plans, opportunities and key data and information records. This portfolio includes C-suite executives, executive board members and/or corporate CFO/CEO’s. Coordinate and communicate with central advancement units, college-based development units, athletics, and school/unit career services to advance the University’s multi-faceted relationships with corporate partners. Develop comprehensive, aligned strategies with other campus stakeholders as required. Coordinate with internal corporate philanthropy team to assess current corporate landscape across university-wide corporate portfolio to align strategies, share best practices and maximize resources in support of building out successful proposals and stewardship plans. Direct strategic though-leadership and value-added consultation that identifies areas of need and help guide faculty, deans, and other internal constituents with corporate strategies, project development, proposal submission, and stewardship methods.
Physical Requirements  | Not Applicable
Tools/Equipment  | Not Applicable
Application Instructions  | In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
About Syracuse University  | Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.

The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.
About the Syracuse area  | Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
EEO Statement  | Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans  | Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Commitment to a Respectful and Welcoming Community  | Syracuse University fosters a welcoming learning environment where students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all aspects of campus life reflect a broad range of perspectives and experiences. The University community values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to engage with and appreciate the richness of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences that shape our society. To achieve this, we strive to cultivate a community that respects and encourages open dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect.


Quick Link  | https://www.sujobopps.com/postings/110380
Job Posting Date  | 08/05/2025
Application Deadline  |
Full Consideration By  |
Job Category  | Staff
Message to Applicants  | 
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
  1. Resume/CV
  2. Cover Letter
Optional Documents

Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
  1. * How did you first find out about this position? 
    • sujobopps.com (Syracuse University Online Employment website)
    • Syracuse University HR Recruiter
    • Virtual Career Fair (via NYS Department of Labor)
    • SUNY EOC (Equal Opportunity Center)
    • Women’s Opportunity Center
    • Jubilee Homes
    • Syracuse Northeast Community Center
    • Interfaith Works
    • JobPlus
    • Syracuse.com
    • Chronicle of Higher Education
    • HigherEdJobs.com
    • HERC (HERC Higher Ed Recruitment Consortium)
    • InsideHigherEd.com
    • Indeed.com
    • DiverseEducation.com (Diverse Issues in Higher Education website)
    • LinkedIn Job Posting
    • Facebook
    • Job Fair
    • Search Firm
    • Referred by an SU Employee
    • Other
  2.  If "other", please describe how you first found out about this position. 
    (Open Ended Question)

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