Senior Fundraising Manager

You can be based in either The Hague or in London – please indicate in your application which location you are legally able to work.

This is a limited term position ending 1st May 2022 – with a desire to extend.

Job Summary

In this role, you will lead major fundraising initiatives in support of a large and rapidly growing Food and Water program portfolio. You will be directly responsible for Foundation, Government, Corporate, and Individual donor relations managed through the Global Food and Water Programs. In coordination with our Global Development team, you will guide engagement with foundations, corporations, and major individual donors to advance our programmatic goals and objectives, and work with directors and project leads in developing and implementing fundraising strategies.

Along with other Development staff, you will oversee prospect research, donor stewardship, proposal writing, and will lead/participate in joint fundraising-efforts across the organization to produce compelling multi-faceted proposals for major awards, and enhance individual project and international office development strategies and proposals related to our Food and Water portfolio.

You will serve as the program point person to the Global Development team and work with other Programs, Centers, and International Offices whose work also addresses issues related to our Food and Water strategies. This is a year-long limited term position, with the desire to renew, pending institutional resources The Senior Fundraising Manager will jointly report to the Vice President of Food, Forests, Water & the Ocean and the Director of WRI’s Global Water Program, with a dotted line into the Global Development Team. Some international travel may be required.

Job Responsibilities

Funding Strategy Development & Donor Stewardship (60%)

• Develop and implement strategies to achieve continuous, sustainable funding that scales to the ambition and opportunities of WRI’s Food and Water programs’ mission and objective

• In partnership with Program Leadership and the core Development team, develop and manage a robust donor pipeline for the Food and Water programs: currently approximately 30 active grants, 20 active donors, with 5 awards over $1M of prospects and proposals, and fundraising contacts and engagement in Salesforce database

• Support Program Leadership in donor cultivation efforts, to include: developing contacts and relationships with current and prospective donors, arranging meetings, leading preparation efforts for key meetings, and tracking donor engagement with an emphasis on enhancing relationship-building efforts

• Identify and research new major prospective donors in the six- and seven-figure range

• Engage in direct fundraising and proposal pitches, meetings, and donor cultivation efforts

• Provide expert advice and assistance on proposal development and donor engagement, to managers across WRI’s Food and Water program teams

• Coordinate, develop and maintain regular outreach and communications with current and prospective program donors and partners, including writing and editing of funder reports

• Ensure appropriate and timely follow-up on donor requests

Proposal Development and Internal Coordination (40%)

• Develop and implement a robust proposal development process within the Food and Water programs

• Track the development of proposals in all WRI program and centers that address Food and Water issues across the Institute to identify possible synergies and avoid overlaps

• Work closely with the Food and Water program directors and managers to develop and secure 3-4 six figure proposals annually and 1-2 seven figure proposals annually

• Lend expertise in development training materials and presentations for program staff on fundraising best practices, prospect research, proposal development and donor stewardship

• Support annual and multi-year project planning efforts to ensure the development of aligned projects, compelling offers, and early engagement on fundraising priorities and opportunities

• Be the point person for the Program with the Global Development Department

• Maintain up-to-date contacts and engagement tracking in Salesforce to monitor prospect progress, capture synergy opportunities, and avoid any institutional conflict

Job Qualifications

• Master’s degree (or two additional years of relevant work experience)

• Minimum of 7 years of external fundraising experience, preferably in large, international organizations. Experience working in a Non-Governmental Organization and prior engagement on environmental or international development focus area is desirable

• Proven track record of securing 6-figure grants from foundations, foreign governments or multi-lateral organizations

• Exceptional writing and proofreading skills; ability to translate technical information into lay language; experience in developing and organizing proposals for varying audiences

• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills; a demonstrated ability to diplomatically and effectively guide peers and directors though strategy conception to concrete proposed deliverables focused on impact at global scale

• Ability to take initiative, work independently, and be flexible on changing priorities

• Experience working in international team environment a plus; must be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, with a diverse staff, across multiple time zones, and within tight and often parallel deadlines

How to Apply: Please submit a resume with cover letter. Applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. Deadline for applications has been extended to 26th April 2021.

Potential Annual Salary: The Hague  € 69,810 – € 87,265  (including 8% holiday allowance) London £59,083- £73,854. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors. 

WRI Overview 

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 in order to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. 

We are passionate. We value our diversity of interests, skills and backgrounds. We have a flexible work environment. And we share a common goal to catalyze change that will improve the lives of people. Our shared ideals are at the core of our approach. They include: integrity, innovation, urgency, independence and respect. 

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.  

We have been growing rapidly: our staff has doubled in size over the past 5 years and our operating budget is now $150 million. Founded in 1982, WRI has a global staff of 1,000+ people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico and the United States as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.   

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.