Philanthropy New Business Lead, UK

BACKGROUND

Over the past 80 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster.

The International Rescue Committee UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its headquarters in New York and London. The IRC is on the ground in some 40 countries, providing emergency relief, resettling refugees and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster. Through 26 regional offices in cities across the United States, the IRC also helps refugees resettle in the US and become self-sufficient.

The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.

IRC-UK

IRC-UK, were established in London in 1997 to support the organisation’s global activities and particularly to diversify its donor base and be able to better advocate with European policy-makers on behalf of the people we serve. Since its establishment IRC-UK has grown rapidly and is now acknowledged for its high-quality project management, technical expertise in governance and rights and economic recovery, and innovative thinking on early recovery and gender-based violence. IRC-UK comprises approximately 120 staff. In Europe, the IRC also has offices in Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Stockholm and Geneva.

External Relations

The External Relations (ER) unit is comprised of four complementary functions: Private fundraising, Mobilization & Marketing, Policy & Advocacy and Operations & Analytics. To enable IRC to deliver our Strategy100 commitments, the ER unit established a bold new approach that enhances our ability to raise diverse and flexible funding aligned with IRC’s top priorities, while raising our profile and influence. The ER unit is international, with colleagues in more than 10 offices globally.

The ER unit has begun delivering a new and ambitious Private Sector Engagement strategy that will enhance IRC’s ability to “punch above its weight” in income, partnerships and awareness. At the same time, believing that the root of our success lies in a high performance team and culture, we need to build our internal infrastructure, a strong global team and forward thinking ethos, as well as establish 21st century analytics, reporting, and operational and business management practices that help us achieve our goals.

The IRC’s International Philanthropy & Partnerships (IPP) department leads on the Organization’s engagement with corporations, foundations and international philanthropists globally. This role sits within the UK Philanthropy team, an integral part of the IRC’s global International Philanthropy and Partnerships (IPP)

The IRC’s private fundraising capability in the UK has grown significantly over the past three years. Ambitious growth plans are in place to deliver increasing income and influence from the private sector as part of an exciting global External Relations strategy.

Purpose of the role

As Philanthropy New Business Lead, UK you play a pivotal role in designing and owning the implementation of the UK Philanthropy team’s new business strategy.

In this role you will identify, establish and develop new networks of individuals, with a particular focus on building networks on professional HNWI advisors/influencers and tax efficient giving vehicles, leading to multi-year gifts of £500,000+. You will also be responsible for identifying and leading on cross-team new business initiatives supporting the development of the wider team’s portfolio. The success of this senior level role will be in the ability to build impactful networks of donors and influencers swiftly and proficiently as a result of significant experience in wealth/philanthropy advisory or UHNWI related field.

Scope and Authority

Authority:

This role is responsible for the co-design of the Philanthropy team’s new business strategy working with the Head of Philanthropy UK delivering £500,000+ gifts from new contacts to the IRC, alongside owning the realisation of the strategy in collaboration with the Philanthropy and Principal Gift Managers. This will contribute to the philanthropy team target and the overall target for International High Net Worth team. They will be responsible to help inform the IPP-wide HNWI thinking in areas such as principal giving but also, Donor Advised Funds (DAF) – related methodology alongside other IPP colleagues who lead in that area.

Key working relationships

• Reports to the Head of Philanthropy UK
• Works closely with members of the UK based Philanthropy, wider IHNWI team and global IPP team
• Close working with Country Programme and regional teams, the Awards Management Unit as well as IRC’s Technical Units
• Engagement with senior IRC staff including the President’s Office, the Executive Director of IRC-UK, Senior Director of IHNWI and Vice President of International Partnerships and Philanthropy.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Partnership identification and development (70%)

• With support from the global research and prospect management function, independently drive forward new business activities that lead to the identification of new prospects with the capacity to support at a £500,000 + level
• Identify and access key new audiences for the IRC-UK and develop bespoke engagement plans and funding opportunities that speak to the interests of the selected audiences and execute in a timely manner
• Proactively develop a network of advisors, influencers and introducers in HNWI circles, growing the IRC-UK’s profile within these audiences
• Work closely with senior internal partners to drive new relationships forward and inform the HNWI reflections on DAFs and board-engagement related activities for the purpose of establishing new income-generating relationships and networks
• Design and lead the implementation of a calendar of new business pursuits for UK Philanthropy
• Collaborate with key internal contacts to ensure timely and accurate project funding opportunities are matched to the requirements of donors and needs of the organisation
• Support partners and country offices alongside GPPS in the delivery of successful field and virtual visits as required, potentially attending the field trips personally.
• Use Salesforce to keep clear and accurate records of communications, interactions and financial information, contributing to the team’s schedule of reporting

Strategy and knowledge (20%)

• Lead on design and implementation of the new business strategy for £500k+ level gifts, in line with the team strategy working with the Head of Philanthropy
• Design and implement a strategy to build a strong network of influencers and introducers in HNWI circles
• Support the creation of a UK board engagement strategy and contribute through deep, existing knowledge the international board engagement strategy as a vehicle to new networks of contact and support for the IRC
• Through a mix of formal and informal channels, advance the overall IHNWI and IPP Strategy more generally.
• Contribute to the progression of the best approaches around new business for the organisation globally, collaborating with other teams within IPP and US Philanthropy as necessary.
• Stay ahead of sector trends and actively seek out opportunities for IRC.

Team collaboration (10%)

• Maximise our prospecting strategy by identifying cross-income stream opportunities for collaboration and referrals, passing new donors into portfolios as appropriate.
• Act as a mentor and coach within the new business space for Philanthropy team colleagues, deputizing for the Head of Philanthropy as required.
• Participate in, and on rotation lead, various team meetings and activities, taking a role as a senior team member.
• Lead by example in championing diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI), team behaviours and shared objectives.
• Play an active role in collaborating within and across global and national fundraising teams in the IRC, facilitating the exchange of cross-border fundraising expertise and internal resources.