Assistant Director, Foundation Relations

Special Instructions to Applicants:

All interested applicants should attach a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice's culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

Position Summary:
The Assistant Director, Foundation Relations will work on the Foundation Relations team and engage with faculty members, university leadership, and Development and Alumni Relations colleagues to identify, investigate, analyze, organize, and evaluate foundation prospects for research and university funding by researching relevant databases and information sources, analyzing emerging trends in foundation philanthropy, and understanding Rice University's priorities and strengths. In addition, the Assistant Director, Foundation Relations will support stewardship communication efforts on the Foundation Relations team.

The ideal candidate is curious and excited about emerging trends in philanthropy, is experienced in converting research into effective strategic recommendations, possesses strong written and verbal communication skills, understands university research and grant development, and thrives in a collaborative working environment.

Workplace Requirements:
This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime. 

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree
• 1+ years of related professional work experience researching foundations and grant opportunities, working in a fundraising environment, and/or working in library sciences, information sciences, or a related field

Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to efficiently and effectively search, retrieve, and synthesize information from public databases and filings, particularly IRS Form 990-PF and 990-T, to extract key details on private foundation structure, assets, giving history, grantmaking patterns, trustee/staff affiliations, and financial capacity
• Proficiency with specialized prospect research tools (e.g., Foundation Center/Candid, etc.) and a foundational understanding of their underlying methodologies
• Ability to navigate complex, non-standardized private foundation websites, annual reports, and digital repositories to identify specific program interests, funding priorities, eligibility requirements, application processes, and strategic plans that align with university research
• Skill in utilizing advanced search engine techniques and monitoring tools (e.g., Google Alerts, specialized news aggregators) to track foundation news, leadership changes, grant announcements, and emerging philanthropic trends in real-time
• Skill in developing clear, concise, and persuasive written research briefs, profiles, and pipeline reports for varied internal audiences (faculty, foundation relations officers, deans, and vice presidents)
• Ability to utilize time management and project management skills to work well under pressure and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Experience working with Microsoft Office Suite and Google products
• Strong verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to meet expected deadlines and schedules

Preferences:

• Master's degree
• 2+ years of professional work experience in one or more of the following:
  •  Prospect research
  • Corporate or foundation fundraising
  • Grants writing and management
• High level of maturity and emotional intelligence with the capability of exercising good judgment
• Understanding of the structure, mission, and funding landscape of a major Research I (R1) university, including familiarity with diverse research disciplines (STEM, humanities, social sciences, medicine, etc.) and common institutional priorities
• Knowledge of fundraising database software and public records

Essential Functions:

• Takes part in faculty and research staff meetings to understand funding needs and inform research funding strategies
• Builds actionable and strategic prospect research plans and documentation in collaboration with faculty and Foundation Relations team members
• Collaborates with Foundation Relations team members to understand foundation RFP cycles and deadlines, plan action items and next steps, and prepare background materials for foundation visits and meetings
• Maintains an actionable record of institutional priorities and foundation opportunities
• Assists with university-wide communication of requests for proposals, emerging funding opportunities, etc.
• Assists in preparing stewardship reports conveying institutional history and giving
• Performs other duties as assigned

Additional Functions:

• Collaborates with campus partners in the Office of Research
• Manages multiple projects effectively while executing tasks and meeting deadlines
• Updates and monitors data in OwlConnect, the campus-wide CRM
• Works in an open office environment
• Involves limited local and infrequent out-of-town travel

Rice University HR | Benefits:

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University's Disability Resource Center at or for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.