Grants and Corporate Engagement Associate

VISION: Transform the university through the power of generosity.

MISSION: Unite donor passions with university priorities to elevate the impact of Oklahoma State University.

DEPARTMENT PURPOSE: We seek private support to enhance the mission of Oklahoma State University.

PRIMARY PURPOSE: The individual in this position is responsible for supporting corporate and foundation activities by managing grants, monitoring deadlines, and ensuring the timely submission of applications and post-award reports. Additionally, the role strengthens donor engagement and stewardship with corporate and foundation partners.


KEY AREAS OF FOCUS:
Grant Management & Compliance – 40%

• Monitor the CFR dashboard to track upcoming grant application deadlines and post-award reporting requirements.
• Assist faculty, college grant managers, unit development officers and CFR development officers in preparing and submitting grant applications, ensuring alignment with funder priorities and compliance with guidelines.
• Collaborate closely with the Grants Development Associate and work with university units to ensure timely submission of post-award reports, including financial and programmatic reporting requirements.
• Maintain accurate records of grant activities, deadlines, and deliverables to support ongoing compliance.
• Manage online grant portal access, including usernames and passwords for CFR team members and university partners.

Donor & Campus Engagement - 40%

• Initiate and manage the grant reporting process, ensuring timely and accurate submissions with input from faculty and college grant managers.
• Create donor impact reports showcasing the outcomes of funding through data, student and faculty stories, and program updates.
• Collaborate with CFR Development Officers to develop, manage, and maintain donor engagement plans for top-level corporate and foundation donors.
• Implement and oversee an acknowledgment process that ensures consistent recognition of corporate and foundation gifts across the OSU system.
• Organize and manage corporate campus visits, coordinating interactions between donors, faculty, students, and OSU leadership.
• Manage corporate and foundation event invitations and hosting, including athletic events, student showcases, seminars, and donor recognition activities.
• Work with campus partners on donor recognition efforts, including press releases, social media announcements, and branded sponsorship materials.
• Coordinate check presentations and other donor-related events in collaboration with university departments and special events teams.

Data Management & Compliance - 10%

• Master Ascend for accurate tracking of CFR proposals, awards, donor interactions, and reporting.
• Monitor the CFR dashboard to track upcoming deadlines for proposals, reports, and compliance.
• Maintain proposal records, stewardship documentation, and compliance data.
• Monitor corporate and foundation gifts for adherence to grant agreements.
• Ensure proper recording of donor correspondence, proposals, and reports in collaboration with the CFR Coordinator and college units.

Other Activities - 10%

• Responsible for submitting personal monthly purchasing card/expenditure reports and cash reimbursements.
• Responsible for developing an annual business plan and achieving set objectives annually.
• Assist in securing appointments internally or externally as needed for the CFR team.
• Other projects and administrative duties as assigned.

Other duties as assigned.

JOB COMPETENCIES AND EXPERIENCE:
Education & Certifications-

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, required.

Experience-

• 3-4 years of professional experience required; experience in non-profit, stewardship or donor relations is preferred.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities
•  Experience in private grant research, proposal writing, and grant application submissions preferred.
•  Strong communication skills (both written & verbal). Excellent business writing and technical writing abilities. Advanced writing, editing, interviewing and research skills are necessary.
• Proficient in research, interpreting, and analyzing diverse data and demonstrates the ability to work collaboratively and independently to achieve goals.

Organizational Competencies-

• Effective Communication: Proactively ensures effective communication throughout the organization; makes relevant contributions to discussions and meetings, giving clear and concise explanations and sticking to the point; chooses language and communication method to suit the audience, reframes and articulates to help others understand; asks questions to check understanding when disseminating information.
• Execution & Initiative: Motivates self and others to achieve the best results, displaying energy, drive and a desire to succeed; enlists the support of others as necessary to overcome resistance; supervises cross-functional project team execution on tasks to meet stated objectives; helps other employees’ gain the skills and experience they need to contribute; pro-actively outlines milestones, outcomes and deliverables and effectively communicates them to internal and external stakeholders.
• Teamwork/Interpersonal Skills: Develops and nurtures formal & informal relationships with a wide circle of people beyond those involved in current activities, including potential donors, stakeholders, and information links; encourages collaboration among colleagues, departments and entire organization to achieve results; compromises, handles conflicts, seeks common ground, articulates own and others goals; stays focused on positive win-win outcomes; seeks input on how to leverage existing processes to improve the donor experience; translates ideas into action
• Problem Solving/Judgment: Gains understanding of how to apply approved policies and procedures; when and why escalation of issues is needed and to whom and communicates decisions and desired outcomes to others; anticipates the outcome of a single decision; recognizes problems in advance, systematically gathers information to define the root cause, breaks down complex information into component parts, develops alternatives, seeks input from others, selects and recommends the best solution
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Embraces complex or first time problems as opportunities to learn and incorporate new skills; flexes style based on immediate needs; accepts responsibility for implementing change; evaluates and manages resources needed to implement change; personally supports (in words and actions) organizational direction and change agenda
• Courage & Conviction: Takes responsibility for individual & project outcomes regardless of success and learns from all results; encourages candid responses, feedback, new ideas and conflicting opinions
• Donor Centered: Takes time to actively learn about the stated needs by asking questions, exploring how to unite the donors and university’s passions and priorities; anticipates customer needs and proactively makes recommendations

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Must use a computer terminal and view a computer screen for extended periods of time. Must talk in person or by phone (frequently and sometimes for extended periods) to people on campus and across the country. Must constantly use visual acuity to check printed and designed materials of various types. Must be able to navigate within the OSU Foundation. Typical office working conditions.