Director, Foundation Relations

Who We Are

Since opening in 1998, The Tech Interactive has been an integral part of the San Francisco Bay area and is proud to serve families and young people through hands-on activities, experimental labs, and design challenge experiences. 

Here at The Tech our mission is to inspire the innovator in everyone! We are a team of diverse individuals committed to creating learning experiences that empower young folks to innovate with creativity, curiosity, and compassion. We believe that technology is leading and transforming lives all over the world and we want to help develop the next generation of problem-solvers.

If you join our team, we know you will have a fulfilling and rewarding role focused on giving back to our community, especially those that have been historically marginalized and underserved. 

Position Overview

The Director of Foundation Relations advances The Tech’s mission to inspire the innovator in everyone by building and stewarding strategic relationships with foundations. Working in close collaboration with the Development team and Executive Leadership Team, this role leads efforts to secure funding for The Tech Interactive’s programs, general operating support, field trip scholarships, exhibits, and other STEM initiatives. Through a proactive and strategic approach to identifying, cultivating, and managing foundation relationships, the Director plays a critical role in achieving The Tech’s contributed revenue goals. This exempt role reports directly to the VP of Development.

Responsibilities 

• Manage a portfolio across the full foundation lifecycle, including research, prospect identification, and cultivation, strategy development, LOI submission, proposal writing, grant negotiation, award closure, stewardship, and renewals. Manage grants calendar. 
• Serve, alongside the CEO and VP of Development, as a member of the Campaign Brain Trust, contributing to moves management strategy, meeting preparation, proposal development, and prospect research for upcoming campaigns.
• Initiate and lead visits with foundation personnel both on-site and externally, including preparing briefing materials for Tech leadership, staff, and volunteers, and ensuring thoughtful follow-up and next steps.
• Create, develop, and edit compelling proposals, budgets, and supporting materials.
• Ensure strong stewardship and relationship management for all foundation awards.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to grant administration in collaboration with cross-functional teams; Partner with the Finance team in budget development, monitoring grant process, and post-award reporting.  
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Requirements and Skills

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) English, Communications, Journalism, Business Administration or related field.
• 5+ years of foundation relations/partnerships including research, proposal writing or related experience, with a demonstrated track record of fundraising success.
• Proven ability to build and manage strategic relationships with foundations.
• Strong ability to translate programmatic priorities into compelling, fundable proposals.
• Experience with program design, evaluation frameworks, and detailed budget development.
• Knowledge of STEM-focused philanthropy and current trends in foundation funding; existing foundation relationships strongly preferred.
• Experience with state and federal funding proposals strongly preferred.
  
  

Working Conditions and Schedule

• This is an on-site role with the possibility of flexibility for working some days at an alternative work location. Flexibility will vary depending on the needs of the job.
• Working occasional evenings and weekends will be required.

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) at The Tech

Our success is dependent on building teams that include people from different backgrounds and experiences who challenge each other’s assumptions with fresh perspectives. To that end, we look for a diverse pool of applicants including but not limited to those from historically marginalized groups — women, people with disabilities, people of color, people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or nonconforming, veterans, and people from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

The Tech will provide an equal opportunity in recruitment and employment to all individuals and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law. Any applicant with a disability may contact The Tech Interactive to arrange for accommodations. Please contact the Tech at careers@thetech.org or call (408) 795-6248.

The pay range for this role is: