Director of Grants and District Foundation

Director of Grants and District Foundation

 

Job Category:

 

Job Type: Administrative/Professional Staff

 

Supervisor's Title: Chief Communication Officer

 

Location: District Office, Davenport (05)

 

Salary

 

$70,600.00/YR - $88,200.00/YR

 

Job Description

 

The Director of Grants and District Foundation provides strategic and operational leadership for districtwide fundraising, grant development and management, alumni engagement, and foundation collaboration across Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC). This role is both strategic and hands-on, with direct responsibility for planning, implementing, and executing fundraising initiatives, events, and grant activities-not solely oversight.

 

Serving as the principal grant writer for the district, the Director leads the identification, development, submission, and management of all major grant proposals and oversees the administration and compliance of all state, local, federal, and private grants across the district.

 

Working closely with the foundation directors at Muscatine Community College, Clinton Community College, and Scott Community College, the Director fosters coordination, innovation, and shared purpose to strengthen and expand EICC's advancement and external funding efforts.

The Director also serves as the executive leader for the District Foundation Board, ensuring districtwide fundraising, grants, and foundation initiatives align with and strengthen the goals of each college foundation and EICC's strategic priorities.

 

Required Qualifications

 

• Bachelor's degree required

• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, grant development, nonprofit leadership, or higher education advancement.

• Demonstrated success as a lead or principal grant writer, including state, local, federal, and private grants.

• Proven experience managing grants post-award, including compliance, reporting, and coordination across multiple stakeholders.

• Strong collaborative, organizational, leadership, and communication skills.

• Experience implementing fundraising, CRM, or grants management systems preferred.

 

Preferred Qualifications

 

• Master's degree preferred.

 

Physical Demands

 

This position operates in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment including computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines. The role requires the ability to lift and move up to 10 pounds occasionally, open and access filing cabinets, and bend, reach, or stand as needed. The position requires prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer, as well as the ability to perform essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodation.

 

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

 

Leadership and Collaboration

 

• Provide vision, direction, and active leadership for districtwide advancement, fundraising, and grant initiatives.

• Work collaboratively with college foundation directors to align strategies, share best practices, and co-plan and co-execute initiatives that benefit all colleges.

• Facilitate consistent communication and coordination among foundations to improve efficiency, impact, and donor experience.

• Lead and support the District Foundation Board, ensuring its activities complement college foundation goals and advance EICC's mission.

 

Fundraising and Resource Development

 

• Directly plan, develop, and implement districtwide fundraising strategies to increase philanthropic support and strengthen partnerships with business, industry, and community stakeholders.

• Actively lead the planning and execution of district-level fundraising events and campaigns, including donor engagement activities, sponsorship development, and post-event stewardship.

• Collaborate with foundation directors on donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and targeted fundraising initiatives.

• Design and implement innovative fundraising approaches that elevate EICC's mission, tell the district's story, and expand donor participation.

 

Grants Leadership, Writing, and Management

 

• Serve as the principal grant writer for Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, with primary responsibility for writing, coordinating, and submitting major grant proposals.

• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive districtwide grants strategy to increase the number, diversity, and size of grants pursued and awarded.

• Identify, evaluate, and pursue funding opportunities from federal, state, local, corporate, and private philanthropic sources aligned with district priorities.

• Collaborate directly with faculty, staff, administrators, and foundation directors to develop competitive grant proposals and supporting documentation.

• Oversee and manage all state, local, and federal grants across the district, ensuring compliance with funding requirements, reporting obligations, and audit standards.

• Establish and maintain consistent districtwide grants management, tracking, reporting, and compliance protocols.

• Maintain a centralized database of grant opportunities, applications, awards, expenditures, and reporting deadlines.

• Provide hands-on technical assistance, guidance, and training to staff involved in grant development and post-award management.

• Monitor grant outcomes and performance metrics to ensure accountability and alignment with intended objectives.

 

Alumni Engagement

 

• Lead the development and implementation of a districtwide alumni engagement and networking strategy.

• Collaborate with foundation directors to design and deliver alumni programs, communications, and events that foster long-term connection and philanthropic support.

• Oversee the development and management of a shared alumni database to support consistent outreach and engagement.

 

Scholarship Management

 

• Lead efforts to standardize and automate scholarship processes across the district to ensure consistency, efficiency, transparency, and equity.

• Work closely with the college foundations and district financial aid staff to align scholarships with donor intent and student needs.

• Strengthen scholarship reporting, impact assessment, and donor stewardship practices.

 

Technology and Systems Development

 

• Identify, recommend, and implement a districtwide fundraising and foundation management software platform.

• Ensure the system supports donor relations, grant tracking, event planning, alumni engagement, and reporting.

• Coordinate training and ongoing support to promote consistent and effective use of shared systems.

 

Strategic Communication and Reporting

 

• Serve as the primary liaison between the District Foundation Board, the Chancellor, and college foundation directors.

• Prepare and present regular reports on fundraising outcomes, grant activity, alumni engagement, and foundation collaboration.

• Support district and college leadership in identifying emerging funding trends and aligning external resources with institutional priorities.

• Other related duties as assigned.

 

EICC Non-Discrimination Statement

 

It is the policy of Eastern Iowa Community College District not to discriminate in its programs, activities, or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, religion, and actual or potential family, parental or marital status, as required by the Iowa Code §§216.6 and 216.9, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d and 2000e), the Equal Pay Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 206, et seq.), Title IX (Educational Amendments, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-1688), Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794), and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq.).

 

If you have questions or complaints related to compliance with this policy, please contact EICC's Equal Employment Opportunity Officer/Equity Coordinator, Eastern Iowa Community College District, 101 West Third Street, Davenport, Iowa 52801, 563-336-5222, equity@eicc.edu or the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building, 1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204-3582, Telephone: 303-844-5695. FAX: 303-844-4303; TDD: 800-877-8339 or Email: OCR.Denver@ed.gov

 

Posting Number: S189P

 

Number of Vacancies: 1

 

Close Date:

 

Open Until Filled: No

 

Special Instructions Summary:

 

To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/6900920

 

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