SENIOR DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION RELATIONS

About the Organization

The Salvation Army is an international movement and an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its mission is to meet human needs without discrimination. National Headquarters (NHQ) supports the work of The Salvation Army across the United States and internationally by providing leadership, resources, and strategic support to territorial and local operations.

The Senior Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations provides strategic leadership for The Salvation Army’s national corporate and foundation fundraising efforts, with a focus on expanding sustainable revenue, strengthening strategic partnerships, and scaling opportunities for nationwide impact. This role leads the development and execution of national corporate and foundation engagement strategies in collaboration with the Assistant National Community Relations and Development Secretary and in close partnership with territorial and divisional leadership across the country.

The position oversees a national portfolio of corporate and foundation relationships whose interests extend beyond a single territory and works collaboratively to secure transformational funding, cause-marketing opportunities, grants, sponsorships, in-kind support, and strategic partnerships that advance the mission of The Salvation Army.

This role also provides leadership and supervision to staff supporting national Red Kettle partnerships, grants management and proposal development, and coordination of corporate partnership initiatives and in-kind support.

The Senior Director serves as a key connector between National Headquarters and the four territories, ensuring strong communication, alignment, collaboration, and coordinated strategic execution through national roundtables, reporting structures, and coordinated partnership efforts.

Key Responsibilities:

STRATEGIC NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

• Develops, implements, and leads a comprehensive national corporate and foundation relations strategy designed to increase sustainable revenue streams, strengthen key partnerships, and maximize nationwide partnership opportunities.
• Works in consultation with the Assistant NCRD Secretary to establish strategic priorities, annual goals,
• partnership growth plans, and national fundraising initiatives.
• Serves as primary relationship manager, in collaboration with territorial and divisional fundraisers, for a portfolio of major national corporate and foundation partners whose interests extend across multiple Salvation Army territories.
• Identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards new and existing national corporate and foundation partners to secure grants, sponsorships, cause-marketing initiatives, in-kind support, emergency disaster partnerships, and other strategic opportunities.
• Pursues and coordinates new national funding opportunities in collaboration with territorial and divisional leadership to ensure alignment, scalability, and shared benefit across the organization.
• a research informed pipeline of prospective national corporate and foundation partners and creates strategic engagement, solicitation, and stewardship plans tailored to organizational priorities and donor interests.
• Solicits corporate gifts and strategic investments for national initiatives that align with corporate philanthropic priorities, co-branding opportunities, and Salvation Army mission objectives.
• TERRITORIAL COORDINATION & NATIONAL COLLABORATION
• Coordinates national corporate and foundation partnership efforts with the four territories through proactive communication, collaboration, and strategic planning.
• Leads and facilitates the Corporate Partnership Roundtable and National Grants Roundtable to strengthen communication, promotes best practices, identify scalable opportunities, and align national and territorial partnership strategies.
• Supports territories through capacity building, training, resource development, strategic consultation, and collaborative fundraising approaches.
• Facilitates improved corporate and foundation donor stewardship practices across territories through the sharing of standards, templates, communication resources, and strategic guidance.
• Works collaboratively with territorial and divisional stakeholders to ensure national partnership opportunities are effectively implemented and scaled locally where appropriate.

STAFF LEADERSHIP & SUPERVISION

• Provides strategic leadership, supervision, coaching, and performance management for assigned staff members.
• Supervises the National Red Kettle Partner Director and supports the expansion and stewardship of national Red Kettle partnerships, including kettle placement agreements, point-of-sale campaigns, round-up initiatives, and other revenue-generating opportunities.
• Supervises the Grants Manager in the management of existing grants, identification of prospective grant opportunities, proposal development, reporting requirements, and grants administration processes.
• Supervises the Corporate Partnership Coordinator in managing smaller corporate partnerships, in-kind donations, project coordination, and operational support for the broader corporate partnership portfolio.
• Ensures all assigned personnel comply with Salvation Army policies, procedures, timelines, and reporting expectations.

COMMUNICATIONS, MARKETING & STEWARDSHIP

• Coordinates closely with the National Communications team regarding corporate and foundation communications, marketing initiatives, public relations opportunities, and partner recognition efforts.
• Works collaboratively with corporate and foundation communications teams to ensure alignment of messaging, branding, approvals, and promotional opportunities.
• Develops effective corporate briefing materials, proposals, presentations, stewardship reports, and partnership updates for use nationally and locally.
• Ensures updates to national partnership resources, website content, and Red Shield Toolkit materials related to corporate and foundation fundraising initiatives.
• Supports the promotion of national corporate fundraising initiatives through National Headquarters communication channels in collaboration with the Communications Department.

NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD & LEADERSHIP REPORTING

• Serves as support to the National Advisory Board Fundraising Committee and other assigned leadership groups.
• Prepares and presents reports, strategic updates, fundraising results, partnership analyses, and activation summaries for National Headquarters leadership, the National Advisory Board, territorial leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Provides regular analysis and reporting related to fundraising performance, partnership growth, grant activity, and strategic initiatives.

PARTNERSHIP ADMINISTRATION & COMPLIANCE

• Facilitates the drafting and coordination of concept papers, agreements, fund distribution documentation, and contractual documents related to strategic alliances, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, and cause-marketing initiatives.
• Ensures all contracts and agreements receive appropriate legal review and internal approvals prior to execution.
• Ensures all monitoring, compliance, stewardship, logistics, and reporting activities for funded projects occur accurately and in a timely manner.
• Maintains positive and professional relationships with corporate partners, foundation representatives, territorial leadership, legal entities, and Salvation Army stakeholders.

FINANCIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Works closely with the Assistant NCRD Secretary to administer departmental operations within approved budgets and according to National Headquarters policies and procedures.
• Ensures authorized expenditures, funding allocations, and operational activities are managed responsibly and in compliance with organizational guidelines.
• Obtains proper authorization for non-budgeted expenditures and strategic initiatives as required.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Performs other related projects and departmental work as assigned by the NCRD Secretary.
• Participation in approved conferences and seminars.
• Travels as needed.

Qualifications

Required

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• CFRE Certification preferred.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience in corporate partnerships, foundation relations, fundraising, philanthropy, business development, or nonprofit leadership.
• Demonstrated success securing and managing major corporate partnerships, grants, sponsorships, and strategic alliances.
• Experience supervising staff and leading collaborative, cross-functional teams.
• Strong understanding of national fundraising strategies, corporate philanthropy, grant development, and donor stewardship practices.
• Excellent relationship-building, communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and project management abilities with attention to detail and follow-through.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple organizational levels and geographic regions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, CRM/fundraising databases, and reporting systems.
• Commitment to the mission and values of The Salvation Army.

Preferred

• Experience utilizing databases; donor or CRM database experience preferred; Salesforce experience especially preferred.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel, for correspondence and mail merges; ability to learn and become proficient in other software applications utilized in this role.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to proof one’s own work for accuracy and completeness.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple, recurring projects with deadlines.
• Strong customer service orientation with the ability to communicate clearly, professionally, and tactfully with donors and staff.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential donor information with discretion and sound judgment.
• Knowledge of general office principles, practices and procedures.
• Excellent knowledge of English grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Ability to analyze information, determine appropriate responses, and identify efficient methods to accomplish work objectives.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and professional relationships with NCRD staff, NHQ departments, and Salvation Army personnel throughout the territories and divisions.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS:

Valid driver’s license.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and follow-up for successful closure of gift.
• Strong and effective interpersonal and persuasive skills, modeling effective relationship management and demonstrating emotional intelligence/situational awareness.
• Excellent strategic assessment, planning and creative proposal development skills.
• Strong organizational skills, follow through and attention to detail.
• Proven leadership in funding and partnership development, especially in the area of corporate relationships and giving.
• Skilled in developing collaborative approaches in harmony with local Army stakeholders for win/win (local/corporation) results.
• Ability to effectively work toward and monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of on-going plans and budgets.
• Knowledge of cause-marketing and product tie-in best practices and how to effectively apply such options to dialogue with prospective corporate funders for the Army’s benefit.
• Ability to apply knowledge of Army policies and procedures and ability to communicate and follow accurate interpretation of the same.
• Ability to travel as necessary to carry out responsibilities and assignments.
• Ability to be a driven self-starter and innovator; to work independently with minimum supervision, while working collaboratively and cooperatively under the direction of department and national leadership
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment while effectively managing multiple competing priorities.
• Team player, engaging effectively and respectfully with other staff for accomplishment of organizational and departmental goals.
• A fundraiser at heart, able to successfully engage with corporate decision-makers and leadership volunteers through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activity.
• Understanding of prospect identification and research and relationship management approaches.
• Ability to communicate effectively with corporate executives and negotiate programs that involve six and seven- figure financial opportunities for The Salvation Army.
• Ability to make sound, logical interpretations of established guidelines and regulations quickly.
• Ability to establish effective and financially productive relationships with corporations and foundations.
• Proven ability to provide effective leadership to multiple internal audiences.
• Ability to work cooperatively with superiors, local and national advisory board members, territorial/divisional officers and staff, and all levels of NHQ staff.

BENEFITS:

• Health insurance (Including Dental, Vision & Hearing)
• Group & Voluntary Term Life Insurance
• FSA
• 403(B)
• Pension plan
• Paid time off
• Free lunch
• Free parking

Ability to Commute:

• Alexandria, VA 22314 (Required)

Work Location: In person

BENEFITS:

• Health insurance (Including Dental, Vision & Hearing)
• Group & Voluntary Term Life Insurance
• FSA
• 403(B)
• Pension plan
• Paid time off
• Free lunch
• Free parking