Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer - Urban Land Institute : Job Details

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and education organization supported by its members. Founded in 1936, the Institute has more than 48,000 members worldwide representing the entire spectrum of land use and real estate development disciplines, working in private enterprise and public service. As the preeminent, multidisciplinary real estate forum, ULI facilitates the open exchange of ideas, information, and experience among local, regional, national, and international industry leaders and policy makers dedicated to creating better places. The mission of ULI is to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer is responsible for identifying, securing, and stewarding institutional philanthropic support to advance ULI's mission. This role manages the full lifecycle of institutional fundraising—from researching prospective funders to drafting proposals, overseeing submissions, and preparing impact reports. Serving as a key member of the ULI Foundation team, this position also supports cross-functional collaboration across the organization, with a specific focus on national and global fundraising efforts that require coordination across ULI business units and geographies. The Officer provides leadership in grant writing strategy and ensures proposal quality and consistency across the Advancement team.

The role is hybrid, with in-office presence required three days per week at ULI's headquarters on L Street in Washington, DC. Occasional travel for events or donor meetings is also expected.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Funder Research & Qualification

• Identify and evaluate potential foundation and corporate funding partners.
• Analyze funder priorities, guidelines, and giving history to support alignment with ULI initiatives.

Proposal Strategy & Development

• Write persuasive, high-quality proposals, letters of inquiry (LOIs), and supporting documentation.
• Tailor content to specific funder interests while clearly articulating ULI's impact and goals.

Grants Lifecycle & Pipeline Management

• Manage timelines and submission processes to ensure timely delivery of grant materials.
• Track proposal status and maintain organized records of communications and outcomes.
• Maintain accurate grant records in CRM and tracking systems.
• Generate reports to monitor grant success rates, pipeline progress, and overall fundraising performance.

Budget Development & Financial Alignment

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to develop accurate, funder-compliant proposal budgets.
• Align financial narratives with project goals and ensure clarity and transparency.

Internal Coordination & Donor Communication

• Liaise with internal teams, including program staff and leadership, to align proposals with programmatic needs.
• Serve as a central point of contact for institutional donor-related communications.

Monitoring, Reporting & Stewardship

• Prepare compelling narrative and financial reports to demonstrate impact and fulfill funder requirements.
• Coordinate internally to collect program data and outcomes for effective reporting.
• Develop long-term relationships with institutional funders to support multi-year commitments and renewals.

Advancement Team Enablement & Proposal Quality Assurance

• Provide tools, guidance, and best practices for proposal development across the Advancement team.
• Review all team-generated proposals to ensure accuracy, clarity, and alignment with ULI standards.
• Develop and maintain internal templates, training materials, and tools to support consistent, high-quality proposal development across the team.

Institutional Collaboration & Global Integration

• Lead cross-functional proposal efforts that span national and international business units.
• Ensure cohesive messaging and coordinated engagement across departments and geographies.
• Coordinate with District Councils, and partners to support collaborative or pooled grant opportunities that align with shared priorities.

OTHER KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform other duties as requested by the Vice President or Chief Fundraising Officer.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
• 5-7 years of experience in institutional fundraising, grant writing, or foundation relations.
• Proven track record of securing funding from corporate and foundation donors.
• Excellent writing, editing, budgeting, and project management skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to collaborate across teams.
• Familiarity with donor databases, CRM platforms, and proposal tracking systems.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in the nonprofit, urban planning, sustainability, or real estate sectors.
• Familiarity with funder compliance requirements and grant administration best practices.
• Experience supporting global or multi-regional fundraising initiatives.

Working Conditions & Compensation

• Salary Range:$ 106,000 – $120,000, commensurate with experience
• Location: Hybrid role based in Washington, DC – three days per week in-office required
• Periodic travel to headquarters and occasional travel to donor meetings or conferences
• Ability to lift up to 30 lbs. and support event logistics as needed

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

If you are passionate about advancing the mission of a respected global organization and thrive in a collaborative, high-impact environment, we encourage you to apply follow the link. Please submit a résumé and a letter of interest/cover letter.

ULI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion/creed, sex, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran or active military status, non-citizenship or citizenship status, arrest or conviction record, credit history, salary history, caregiver status, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or partnership status, familial status, unemployment status, status as a victim of domestic violence or sexual violence, or any other status protected by applicable law.

EOE/m/f/d/v. No relocation reimbursement is offered at this time.