Director, Foundation Relations - Europe

Development London, UK

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This position will be hybrid requiring 8 days per month in the office and can be based in the WRI office in The Hague or London. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position. 

About the Program:
 
The WRI Global Development Department leads the development and implementation of the Institute’s resource mobilization strategy. Under WRI’s 2023-2027 strategy, "Getting the Transition Right for People, Nature and Climate", our goal is to build strategic partnerships that generate long-term sustainable, flexible and fully aligned income towards ensuring its effective delivery. WRI’s development function model is decentralized – meaning that fundraising is undertaken and managed both within the Department and within WRI’s Programs and Country Offices. The Department itself is organized into four teams grouped by fundraising sector: corporate, government (bi- and multi-lateral), foundation, and individual philanthropy with significant collaboration between them. The Department leads the cultivation and stewardship of a select number of donors that are centrally managed; provides strategic insights on trends and priorities across the donor landscape, coordinates fundraising for multi-year, cross-matrix initiatives, and builds capacity on and champions excellence in managing donor relations across the Institute. The Department leads and oversees all efforts to raise unrestricted and core institutional funding, which we aim to double by 2027 compared to 2022. 

Job Highlight:

In this role, you will manage high-value partnerships with European foundation donors and ensure sustainable and flexible income generation towards the effective delivery of WRI’s strategy. You will be taking on an exceptional institutional role in a global, impact-driven organization focusing on tackling some of the most urgent issues the world faces today. As Director, you will lead an ambitious strategy to unlock institutionally flexible support from major European foundation partners through multi-year strategic partnerships; build a robust pipeline to secure large, multi-year cross-program grants to advance WRI’s systems- and country transition goals; champion excellence in donor communications and stewardship; and contribute to enhancing WRI fundraising practice, policies, and processes.
 
You will co-lead a small and dynamic foundation sector team and have direct management responsibility for at least one program-embedded fundraising lead. Reporting to the Executive Vice President for Governance & Development, you will be part of the Global Development Department leadership. You will manage Foundation Relations jointly with the Director of North American Foundations. 

What will you do:


Leadership, Strategy Development & Communication (40%): 
  
  • Lead a five-year foundation sector strategy and annual planning efforts, with priority focus on building high-value partnerships with European foundations towards increasing flexible revenue and on securing multi-year support for large, cross-program strategies 
  • Leverage and support WRI’s leadership and Board Members to cultivate new and steward existing European foundation partners, and to continue to shift from mostly restricted program grants to increased flexible funding 
  • Elevate to senior leaderships any risks or needed adjustments to enable continuity in funding mobilization
  • Champion centralized engagement with key institutional donors through the centrally managed donors’ policy, ensuing high level internal coordination and adherence to key related policies 
  • Manage and review fundraising pipelines and revenue forecasts on a regular basis to inform WRI’s leadership and influence decision-making 
  • Co-lead enhancement of foundation relations’ knowledge products, systems and tools and ensure these are socialized and adopted across WRI 
  • Collaborate with the entire Department to develop effective donor communications, materials and shape and leverage strategic donor engagement events and moments 
  • Track and analyze philanthropic trends and priorities to identify points of intersection with WRI’s goals and position the institute strategically for investment where it has clear comparative advantage 
  • Liaise across Development Department sectors as needed to ensure strong collaboration in strategic engagement with the increasing number of hybrid donor collectives and campaigns 
  • Represent WRI within the philanthropic landscape in Europe, including corporate and individual donors, as skills and opportunity allow. Contribute to raising the visibility of WRI’s brand and thought leadership among European donors 
  • Facilitate WRI Engagement with current and prospective donors to influence their strategies and programs in ways that align with WRI mission and program goals
  • Mentor and participate in successful donor engagement across different geographies and programmatic areas. Lend expertise in development training materials and presentations for program staff on fundraising best practices, prospect research, proposal development and donor stewardship
 
Donor Relationship Management and Proposal Development (30%): 
 
  • Instill excellence in stewardship and reporting related to centrally managed donors, with a particular focus on multi-year flexible and cross-program investments 
  • Prepare WRI leadership and experts for cultivation, solicitation and/or stewardship engagement with donors, and ensure that communications, briefers, submissions, reports, and other relevant materials are recorded in WRI’s relationship (Salesforce) and shared library (SharePoint) (Dynamics), ensuring information is accessible across WRI 
  • Lead or support directly the development of core institutional as well as multi-year, cross-program proposals that meet donor priorities while ensuring close alignment with WRI institutional strategy 
  • Creatively leverage the knowledge, experience, and passion of program colleagues to develop crisp and effective concepts and presentations for donor engagement 
  • Advise program and operations staff in constructive engagement with donors conducting organization assessments 
  • Champion use of Salesforce across the institute to track key donor relations 
Prospect Research (10%): 
  • Provide strategic direction on prospect research on European foundations across WRI; steer prioritization of new sources of support or new program areas within current partners, including emerging environmental and/or development-focused European foundations 
  • Co-create new funding opportunities with prospective and current donors by identifying areas of mutual interest, involving program leadership.
  • Oversee mapping of relationships amongst philanthropies to identify new opportunities for engagement. Research, document, and track WRI leadership and Board Member networks with European foundations  
Management (20% time): 
  • Co-manage Foundation Relations team with Director of North American Foundation Relations 
  • Develop and manage sector budget in partnership with Senior Manager, Development Operations
  • Serve as outcomes manager for embedded development leads (Program, Regional orCountry Office) 
  • Lend expertise to enhance fundraising practice across the institute, including on prospect research, proposal development and donor stewardship 
What will you need: 
  • Education: You have a completed Master's degree
  • Experience: At least 15 years of experience in fundraising or in philanthropy with 5 years of supervisory experience is required
  • Demonstrated experience developing, implementing and/or participating in a successful foundation relations strategy and a track record of securing new gifts at the six-figure, seven-figure, and eight-figure level from foundations
  • Extensive network of relationships with foundation, demonstrated experience initiating and closing solicitations, and a proven understanding of the engagement and accountability expected by foundation donors. Experience in helping foundations shape program strategies or evaluating grants a plus
  • You are a highly organized individual with excellent writing and interpersonal skills, and experience defining and sharpening program strategy. Must be able to prioritize projects and deadlines and balance a focused approach with a flexible attitude
  • Ability to work with a diverse staff, across multiple program areas and geographies, and negotiate competing demands and interests. Experience working on global environment and socio-economic development issues a plus
  • Strong collegial interpersonal skills; ability to diplomatically and effectively communicate in person, in writing, and by phone and video
  • Excellent writing skills; ability to translate technical information into lay language; experience in developing and organizing proposals for varying audiences
  • Proven self-starter and problem-solver; ability to take initiative and devise creative solutions – with a commitment to pan-organization cooperation and support
  • Working knowledge of Microsoft Office is required. Knowledge of Salesforce or a comparable CRM database is a plus

Potential Salary: UK: 106K – 133K GBP. Netherlands: 105K -131K Euros. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors. 
  
How to Apply: Please submit a resume with a required cover letter. You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. 
  
What we offer: 
 
  • Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US
  • The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities. 
  • A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
  • The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI
  • Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours. 
  • Generous leave days that increase with tenure
  • Medical Coverage, Dental Coverage, Vision Coverage, retirement plan access and employer contribution, Paid Time Off 
  
About Us: 
 
Founded in 1982, World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the United States, as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.
 
The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps, and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business, and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.
  
Our mission and values: 
 
WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.
 
Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence and Respect.
  
Our culture: 
 
WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment; we embrace all diversity and encourage women, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. Recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.
  
Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications. 

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