Background/IRC Summary: 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 29 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure.
Job Overview/Summary:
With a geographic focus on the Southern United States, the Associate Director will be an entrepreneurial professional who enjoys front-line relationship building and devising prospecting strategies. S/he will craft and execute strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects with the capacity to give 5 and 6+ figure leadership gifts in partnership with IRC Leadership and the IRC’s Board of Directors and Overseers who are themselves engaged in fundraising. The Associate Director will also direct major gift fundraising in the Southern United States, working closely with colleagues, IRC senior staff, and IRC Leadership. The Associate Director will supervise and collaborate with regional Major Gifts Officers focused on the Southern United States with a goal to renew and upgrade gifts of $10,000 or more. Additionally, the Associate Director will support the growth of the US Programs revenue by working with the USP Major Gifts Officer to achieve organizational goals by identifying, cultivating and soliciting donors and prospects.
Reporting to the Senior Director, Leadership Gifts, the Associate Director serves a critical role in helping to develop and implement strategy and analyze results. S/he will be expected to understand the needs and performance of donors and prospects, communicate and collaborate superbly with colleagues, business partners and supporters, think strategically, make recommendations, offer creative solutions and manage systems to continually grow and improve the IRC’s donor relationships and prospecting with high wealth individuals and families.
Major Responsibilities:
- Cultivate, solicit, and steward a high-risk portfolio of leadership donors and prospects;
- Craft, implement, and execute strategies to engage current and expand Southern United States portfolios of leadership donors;
- Supervise regional Major Gifts Officers, inspiring, motivating and challenging the team through active mentorship, fostering an environment that supports new ideas and innovative approaches to donor relationship management;
- Build a strong fundraising structure including a prospect pipeline and donor giving tracks within the Southern United States to support IRC as a whole, and local USP offices;
- Work with IRC’s senior leadership, program staff, and relevant colleagues across IRC to create compelling cases for philanthropic investment and engagement opportunities for donors and prospects;
- Establish and maintain a quick and steady pace of communications and face-to-face visits and track progress utilizing Salesforce and other software applications;
- Work closely with the Senior Director, LG to inform and develop strategic plan, including setting annual goals and key outcomes for LG Southern Region’s efforts, and to develop and implement standards, tools and procedures towards a best-in-class approach to individual donor engagement and fundraising;
- Undertake special projects as requested.
Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: Senior Director of Leadership Gifts
Position directly supervises: Regional Major Gifts Officers
Indirect Reporting: Support staff based in New York
Other Internal and/or external contacts:
Internal: Collaborate with Leadership Gifts team on solicitation and cultivation materials, invitations, and tracking. Work with Senior Director of Leadership Gifts to prepare briefing materials, correspondence, and reports as well as develop strategy for leadership donors and on portfolio management. Receive materials from International Program and US Program staff. Create major donor correspondence for President and other senior staff and assist in briefing and strategizing about donors.
External: IRC donors and prospects. Select Board Members and Overseers.
Job Requirements:
Education: Bachelor’s Degree or higher
Work Experience: 6 – 8 years of progressive non-profit fundraising experience and demonstrated expertise in major gifts and planned giving fundraising.
Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:
- Excellent oral and written communication skills;
- Ability to interpret a broad vision and translate it into actionable steps to drive projects forward;
- Strong Microsoft Office skills, including Word and Excel;
- Demonstrated database management skills;
- Excellent organizational and time management skills;
- A high level of energy, self-confidence, initiative, and follow-through;
- Ability to work effectively in a team environment as well as take initiative independently;
- Ability to multi-task in response to shifting priorities;
- Commitment to respect and maintain confidentiality of donor information;
- Interest in global humanitarian work is preferred; and
MUST include explanation of your interest in your cover letter.
Language Skills:
Certificates or Licenses: Driver’s License.
Working Environment: Headquarters or remote working/work from home. Travel throughout US to visit donors and prospects. Occasional international travel required.
IRC leading the way from harm to home.
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.
If you need assistance in the application or hiring process to accommodate a disability, you may request an accommodation at any time. Please contact Talent Acquisitions at [email protected]. As required by law, the IRC will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with a known disability.