Explore a Career with ServeMinnesota

ServeMinnesota seeks a strategic, collaborative, and relationship-driven Director of Institutional Giving to lead and expand the organization’s institutional fundraising strategy. This newly created leadership role is part of ServeMinnesota’s broader organizational strategy to diversify and grow philanthropic revenue in support of national service, educational opportunity, workforce development, and community impact across Minnesota.

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Director of Institutional Giving will oversee a comprehensive institutional giving program, including foundation, corporate, and government funding partners. This position will supervise the Sr Manager of Institutional Giving and will work across departments to align funding opportunities with organizational priorities, develop compelling cases for support, and ensure strong grants management practices.

The ideal candidate will be:

• Relationship-centered, mission-driven, strategic, and execution-oriented

• Aligned with ServeMinnesota’s values: Community, Partnership, Innovation, and Accountability

• An exceptional writer and relationship-builder who can manage complex projects, navigate multiple funding streams, and translate organizational impact into compelling investment opportunities

This position is based in downtown Minneapolis and currently working a hybrid schedule. The Director of Institutional Giving is required to work in the office a minimum of 2 days per week.

Essential Job Functions

Institutional Giving Strategy

• Lead ServeMinnesota’s institutional fundraising strategy focused on expanding foundation, corporate, and government support aligned with organizational strategy and programmatic priorities

• Identify and cultivate prospective institutional funders, corporate partners, and public funding opportunities

• Partner with the Chief Development Officer to establish annual and multi-year institutional fundraising goals and priorities

• Develop and oversee corporate engagement strategies to deepen relationships with core partners

• Maintain strong awareness of philanthropic trends, institutional funding priorities, and public-sector funding opportunities relevant to ServeMinnesota’s mission

• Contribute to department-wide planning, forecasting, and strategy

Institutional Relationship Management

• Manage a portfolio of 30+ top-tier institutional funder relationships ($100k+), including developing compelling grant presentations, proposals, and reports

• Develop strategy and materials for cultivation meetings, site visits, and briefings

• Coordinate cross-functional proposal development processes involving leadership, finance, programs, evaluation, and communications staff

• Partner with organizational leadership to support strategic funder engagement and external relationship-building

• Engage institutional partners in ServeMinnesota events and gatherings

• Represent ServeMinnesota externally in philanthropic, corporate, and civic settings

Leadership & Collaboration

• Supervise and support the Sr Manager of Institutional Giving, including goal-setting, coaching, and professional development

• Collaborate with ServeMinnesota’s program and communications teams, as well as our implementation partners, to develop compelling funder-centered fundraising messages and materials

• Oversee a grant calendar, reporting schedules, and stewardship activities – ensuring timeliness, accuracy, and compliance

• Collaborate with finance and program staff to support grant budgeting, tracking, and compliance requirements

• Ensure accurate and timely records of institutional activity, proposals, reports, and funder communications

Other Job Functions

• Perform special projects or assignments as directed.

• Provide services that consistently support ServeMinnesota’s ability to inclusively engage Minnesotans from a diversity of backgrounds as grantees, service recipients, AmeriCorps members and partners.

Job Qualifications

Minimum

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience

• 8+ years of progressive fundraising, grant writing, and institutional giving

• Demonstrated success securing foundation, corporate, and government funding support and managing institutional relationships

• Experience managing institutional funder portfolios and meeting fundraising goals and activity metrics

• Excellent interpersonal, writing, and storytelling abilities

• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple complex deadlines and priorities simultaneously

• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams and facilitating collaborative proposal development processes

• Proficiency with donor CRM systems

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines

Preferred

• Experience supporting public-private funding partnerships

• Familiarity with evaluation frameworks, outcomes reporting, or impact measurement

• Experience in education, workforce development, public service, youth development, or community impact organizations

• Knowledge of Minnesota institutional giving landscapes

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary range of $100,000 to $120,000 depending on experience.

• Comprehensive benefits package including 403b retirement plan

• Hybrid work environment with flexibility

• Meaningful work with a mission-driven team

• Opportunities for professional development and advancement

• A welcoming culture of learning and collaboration

About ServeMinnesota

ServeMinnesota is an innovation engine that creates programs that meet communities where they are to improve lives in Minnesota and across the country. We know because we invest in the data to prove it. Our research focus sets the standard for national service. All programs are tested, proven and tested again, verifying that they do what they are supposed to do. Our outcomes boost education, stabilize housing, aid recovery and allow communities to do more.

ServeMinnesota is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment united by our shared mission.

AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.