Officer, Foundations and Trusts

IRC Background:The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. 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. At work today in over 40 countries and 20 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure.

The IRC's strategy centers on its ambition to continue to improve the scale and effectiveness of its programs worldwide with evidence of what works best to impact people’s lives in fragile settings. Its External Relations (ER) department is responsible for the global delivery of the IRC’s private sector resources (financially contributing circa US$250M per annum, as well as key partnerships and influence that support our mission) and plays an important role in the creation of IRC’s brand, awareness and support for its advocacy goals. ER teams based at New York HQ and globally deliver marketing, communications, advocacy, and private-sector funding to support this work. 

Job Overview:  The IRC’s International Philanthropy & Partnerships (IPP) team, which sits within External Relations, raises funds from global private foundations, corporate foundations, from business areas including corporate social responsibility, marketing, sponsorship, employee giving and match giving, as well as non-U.S.-based high net worth individuals. IPP maintains a growing portfolio of strategic partnerships in the U.S. and other markets, primarily in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa, and matches funder interests with IRC’s extensive programs globally.

The IRC is seeking to employ an Officer on its Foundations & Trusts team to develop new business for and manage a portfolio of mainly U.S.-based foundation partners that support the organization through financial and other commitments. The Officer develops tailored strategies for productive engagement with foundations, with a focus on sustained revenue generation and humanitarian impact through innovative, outcomes-based partnerships.

The Officer reports directly to the Associate Director of Foundations & Trusts and works with others from IRC’s senior leadership, including IPP’s Senior Director of Global Foundations & Trusts, to develop engagement strategies for prospects and donors. The Officer coordinates closely with colleagues on IRC’s international and U.S. programs teams, both at IRC HQ and in the field, building knowledge of programs and resource gaps, and acting as a liaison between private institutional funders and IRC programming.  This position will understand the characteristics and behaviors of foundation donors and prospects, productively communicate and collaborate with colleagues and partners, make recommendations, offer creative solutions, and manage systems to continually grow and improve the IRC’s donor relationships.

Major Responsibilities:

·Work with the Associate Director, Foundations & Trusts and others to develop and prioritize a series of high-impact, solutions-focused partnership opportunities that serve the IRC’s beneficiaries across the world;

·Design and implement creative and comprehensive outreach, solicitation and management strategies for new business development and partners within the portfolio, leading on partnership negotiations, proposal submissions, and pitches;

·Monitor and analyze philanthropic and foundation partnership trends as they relate to the U.S. market, ensuring that the IRC’s partnership proposition remains compelling and competitive;

·Ensure open and relevant communication is maintained between the IRC and our private sector partners as well as IRC colleagues globally;

·Contribute to a growing knowledge base of resources, processes and workflow for the organization to respond to partnership opportunities;

·Synthesize the IRC’s sophisticated programs into clear, compelling presentations, proposals, and reports for private sector audiences which position IRC as the go-to partner in the humanitarian sector; and

   ·      Maintain clear CRM records for the portfolio that contribute to comprehensive tracking/reporting on IPP’s client universe.

Job Requirements:

Education: Bachelor’s Degree or higher, or equivalent experience

Work Experience: 3-4 years of non-profit fundraising experience in a dynamic work environment 

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills including: speaking to and writing for donors; crafting compelling partnership proposals and pitch materials;

•    Proven knowledge of foundation/private sector philanthropy planning processes, and the particular issues affecting the field;

•    Experience of working to, and meeting, ambitious revenue goals and performance indicators, as well as participating in financial projections, reporting, and scenario planning;

•    Demonstrated ability to maintain positive, collaborative, productive relationships with staff at all levels;

•    Good judgment in maintaining confidentiality of donor information;

•    Ability to translate an organization’s strategy and objectives into operational delivery and, at times, respond quickly to changes in short-term priorities;

•    An understanding of the critical support processes needed to deliver effective institutional funder relationships;

•    Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills, with an ability to devise creative solutions to complex problems and issues;

•    CRM experience – Salesforce preferred;

•    Ability to analyze and interpret financial data with the facility to understand budget models;

•    Ability to identify and develop processes required to support effective partnerships;

•    Passion for the IRC’s mission and dedication to private sector partnerships; and

•    Dedication to fundraising for international development, human rights, social justice and U.S. refugee and immigrant communities.

Language Skills:  English-mandatory; bilingual in Spanish, preferred; French, a plus

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Standard of Professional Conduct: IRC and IRC employees are required to abide by the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct which are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowance.

Working Environment:  Standard office work environment; potential travel in the U.S. and international.

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