FOUNDATION MANAGER SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, AND JOB REQUIREMENTS
Published: Mar 28, 2025 – The Foundation Manager possesses strong experience in development roles with proven success in major gift cultivation, annual campaigns, grant writing, and philanthropic program development. This role requires expertise in planning and managing fundraising projects, special events, and donor relations through strategic communication and data-driven tools. The manager also applies a deep understanding of diverse communities and educational fundraising culture to effectively identify, cultivate, and secure funding resources.
Essential Hard and Soft Skills for a Standout Foundation Manager Resume
- Grant Writing
- Budget Creation
- Contract Management
- Program Evaluation
- Data Reporting
- Project Management
- Event Planning
- Donor Database Management
- Compliance Oversight
- Risk Planning
- Stakeholder Communication
- Donor Stewardship
- Team Leadership
- Volunteer Coordination
- Client Support
- Cross-Department Collaboration
- Prospect Outreach
- Event Facilitation
- Partner Liaison
- Performance Management
Summary of Foundation Manager Knowledge and Qualifications on Resume
1. BA in Nonprofit Management with 6 years of Experience
- Experience working in a grants/contracts, sponsored research, or finance department at a think tank, university, or non-profit
- Proven record of winning five- and six-figure grants through multiple channels
- Deep knowledge of typical grant award/contractual documents, such as grant agreements, subcontracts, modifications
- Existing relationships at major foundations, corporations, family offices, and think tanks
- Ability and comfort with wearing multiple hats - writing grants, administrative tasks, long-term strategy, and relationship-building
- Stellar written communication skills, including experience writing with an emphasis on outcome measurement and data analysis
- Team player with a positive attitude and ability to build strong working relationships
- Attention to detail and excellent time management
- Proficiency in using financial software applications, databases, and spreadsheets, including MS Office
- Experience with financial analysis, financial reporting, cash flow analysis, budget development, and forecasting
- Experience in engaging with countries/research based in the global south (visas, safety issues, hiring translators, etc).
2. BA in Social Work with 9 years of Experience
- Experience in financial accounting and reporting
- Experience with Oracle Financials and Hyperion
- Big 4 audit experience
- Supply chain, Manufacturing, hardware industry, and cost accounting experience
- Experience in project management and solution design
- Experience analyzing large amounts of data, experience synthesizing into a readout for business and accounting management
- Experience building and maintaining relationships across multiple cross-functional teams.
- Proven track record of influencing business partners (at the appropriate level) to effect changes
- Strong leadership and team management skills, including coaching, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams.
- Expertise in fundraising strategy and implementation, with a focus on donor engagement and retention.
- Proficient in managing and maintaining foundation databases, donor management systems, and other relevant software tools.
- Skilled in public relations, media outreach, and promoting the foundation’s brand.
3. BA in Communications with 10 years of Experience
- Relevant work experience within wind and/or other energy sectors.
- Hold PMP Certification
- Knowledge of cost control philosophy and methodologies, estimating, change management, and document control procedures
- Advanced knowledge of the MS Project application, Visio, MS Access, Word, Excel, SharePoint, and PowerPoint.
- Extensive experience with budgets/scheduling, and risk evaluation
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple primes and subcontractor RFPs and relationships simultaneously.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple people from all types of fields of expertise.
- In-depth knowledge of compliance regulations, particularly in the nonprofit sector.
- Proven experience in fundraising, donor relations, and grant writing.
- Outstanding interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills as well as presentation skills
- Ability to work in a multi-cultural context with a high-energy, self-motivated, client-focused individual.
- Advanced data analysis and reporting skills, with the ability to evaluate program outcomes and impact.
- Skilled in project management with the ability to lead projects from inception to completion.
4. BA in Public Administration with 8 years of Experience
- Working experience in a development-related role
- Experience in successfully cultivating and soliciting major gifts
- Experience with planned gifts, fundraising/philanthropic program development, and corporate grant writing experience
- Experience in planning, leading, and managing development projects, special events, and coordinating with peers to achieve desired fundraising goals
- Demonstrated cultural competence, sensitivity to, and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff
- Experience running annual campaigns, event solicitation, and grant writing from multiple donor channels
- Knowledge of how to identify, cultivate, and solicit potential funding resources
- Knowledge of educational fundraising culture
- Experience with donor CRM software, databases, spreadsheets, and a variety of other software
- Skill in written and oral communication, including persuasive communication and public speaking
- Skill in communicating effectively with people at all levels within organizations
- Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate activities and operations related to fundraising campaigns, projects, and special events