Director – Corporate Philanthropy

Job Description

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement (PAE) seeks an accomplished and entrepreneurial advancement professional to serve as Director, Corporate Philanthropy. Reporting to the Senior Executive Director of Corporate Philanthropy and Foundation Relations, the Director will manage and grow a portfolio of corporate partners whose interests align with the University’s priorities in aviation, aerospace, space, engineering, technology, business, workforce development, and student success.

The Director will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships that generate philanthropic gifts, corporate grants, sponsorships, in-kind support, and other strategic investments. Working closely with career services and academic units, the Director will connect corporate interests with University priorities and develop comprehensive, mutually beneficial partnerships with key companies.

The Director will manage approximately 40 to 60 active corporate prospects, build a strong and sustainable pipeline, and secure $1 million or more annually in philanthropic support once the portfolio is fully established.

Specifically, the Director will:

- Manage a portfolio of approximately 40 to 60 active corporate prospects and partners through all stages of identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Develop and execute written engagement and solicitation strategies for assigned companies, with clear objectives, next steps, timelines, and internal partners.
- Conduct substantive meetings with corporate executives, corporate foundation leaders, alumni, and other decision-makers to understand company priorities and identify areas of mutual interest.
- Prepare and execute corporate campus visits, briefings, solicitations, and stewardship activities involving University leaders and appropriate colleagues.
- Develop concept papers, proposals, sponsorship packages, executive briefings, correspondence, and other materials in partnership with faculty, program leaders, PAE communications, and advancement colleagues.
- Coordinate proposal development timelines, budgets, approvals, and supporting documentation to ensure accurate and timely submissions.
- Partner with Donor Relations, Advancement Services, communications staff, and University program leaders to provide timely acknowledgment, reporting, recognition, and stewardship for corporate partners.
- Represent the University at various cultivation and fundraising events, working in tandem with the Senior Executive Director of Corporate Philanthropy and Foundation Relations.
- Track progress and results in Salesforce, the University’s database, following ERAU’s prospect management guidelines.

About us

For over 100 years, Embry-Riddle has been the world's leading aviation and aerospace university, educating more than 30,000 students across residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona, as well as through a global network of Worldwide locations and online programs. With more than 165,000 alumni around the world, our impact reaches every corner of the aerospace, aviation, defense and technology industries.

Today, our faculty, researchers and professional staff are advancing innovation across aviation, space, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, autonomous systems and next-generation engineering. Working alongside industry leaders, government agencies and innovators, they are solving real-world challenges and shaping the technologies that will define tomorrow.

Whether you are an educator, researcher, administrator, technologist or industry professional, your work at Embry-Riddle will contribute to something bigger than a job. Join a community driven by discovery, purpose and excellence—and help shape the future of aerospace.

- Generous Time Off: Enjoy up to 18 days of paid leave in your first year, including 3 days granted upon hire and 15 days accrued throughout the year. You'll also receive 9+ paid holidays, including the day after Thanksgiving and the week between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day.
- Tuition Coverage: Get 100% tuition coverage for yourself for one undergraduate and one graduate degree, and discounted rates for your spouse and dependent children up to age 26.
- Retirement Contributions: ERAU contributes 6% of your base salary to your retirement plan and offers a 4% matching contribution – with no vesting period.
- Personal Leave: Relax with 15 days of personal leave for non-exempt employees or 18 days for exempt full-time employees in your first year.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in corporate relations, institutional advancement, major gifts, strategic partnerships, business development, consultative sales, or a related field.
- Demonstrated success developing complex institutional or corporate relationships and moving opportunities from identification through commitment.
- Demonstrated experience securing significant philanthropic gifts, grants, sponsorships, partnerships, or comparable revenue-producing commitments.
- Experience using Salesforce or a comparable advancement CRM.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Master’s degree or higher.
- Record of securing six-figure or larger corporate gifts, grants, sponsorships, or strategic partnerships.
- Experience working with aviation, aerospace, space, engineering, technology, business, workforce development, or related industries.
- Experience developing proposals for complex academic, research, or student-success initiatives.

Essential Job Functions, Duties, or Accountabilities:

- Corporate portfolio management and fundraising.
- Comprehensive corporate partnership development and University coordination.
- Proposal development, stewardship, and communications.
- Planning, reporting, events, and team contribution.

To submit your application for this opportunity, please visit the Embry-Riddle Career Site and search for requisition number R312238. Please attach all relevant materials to your application when you apply online. Complete submissions include:

- Cover letter
- Resume
- Contact information for at least three professional references (please note that references may be contacted as part of the interview/screening process)

Current Embry-Riddle employees: Please apply directly through the ERAU Employee Hub Central application within Workday.

Embry-Riddle is committed to fostering a workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. We strive to ensure that all faculty, staff, and students are treated fairly and provided equal opportunities for employment, advancement, compensation, training, and other benefits of employment. Embry-Riddle makes employment decisions — including hiring, promotions, compensation, and other terms of employment — based on individual merit, qualifications, and abilities. Embry-Riddle is strongly opposed to discrimination and harassment, and such behavior is prohibited by university policy. Embry-Riddle does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, veteran status, predisposing genetic characteristics, age, religion, or pregnancy status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law, in its employment, educational programs, admissions policies, financial aid, or other school-administered programs or activities. For further information, please visit our website .

Embry-Riddle is not seeking assistance from staffing or recruitment agencies. All agencies are directed to contact [email protected] and should not reach out to hiring managers or staff.