About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.
Program / Department Summary
The Development department works to raise revenue from private donors, including companies, foundations, and major individual donors. We are passionate about Mercy Corps' mission and dedicated to supporting our worldwide team that is improving the lives of 30 million people in more than 40 countries.
In support of that mission, the Foundation Partnerships team raises funds from, and manages Mercy Corps' relationships with leading global foundations by co-creating strategically restricted grants and elevating Mercy Corps' brand profile and influence. We set bold agency-wide strategies to secure financial support from foundation partners and successfully steward, manage, and grow those relationships.
General Position Summary
The Senior Director of Foundation Partnerships is responsible for developing, managing and leading a bold and comprehensive strategy to build and advance strategic foundation partnerships and raise significant revenue and brand profile in support of Mercy Corps' global programming. They work across teams to identify and develop key agency-wide funding priorities and strategies, and drive fundraising teams and strategies forward, ensuring the most efficient and effective contribution of time and resources with an eye towards deepening partnerships and increasing revenue year-over-year.
The Senior Director of Foundation Partnerships will: a.) provide overall strategic leadership for Mercy Corps' global foundation partnerships strategy; b.) manage the global foundation partnerships team; c.) manage a small portfolio of donors; and d.) serve on the management team of the Development department.
The Senior Director of Foundation Partnerships also represents Mercy Corps and the global foundation partnerships team and strategy with key stakeholders externally and internally and acts as an internal expert on foundation giving to other Development department leaders, the Executive Leadership Team, Regional Program Leaders and others across the broader agency.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Develop, manage, and lead a comprehensive strategy to increase strategic revenue and brand profile for the organization with leading global foundation partners. Track and report on progress against goals.
Manage the global Foundation partnerships team, including setting and managing individuals' annual workplans and priorities, completing regular performance reviews, and hiring and on-boarding as required.
Provide strategic guidance and oversight for major foundation strategies, business development pipeline and grants management.
Manage a portfolio of Foundation partners
In partnership with the head of Major Gifts and Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships, identify and ensure cultivation of top individual prospects who participate in philanthropy collaboratives or who are closely associated with foundations.
Represent Mercy Corps to external audiences for both fundraising and profile elevation.
As a team lead, contribute to Development-wide priorities and strategies as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibility
Foundation Partnerships team: four Directors and two Deputy Directors
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Chief Development Officer
Works Directly With: Corporate and Foundations Partnerships teams, all teams in Development, Technical Resources and Quality Unit, Global Policy& Advocacy, program teams in over 40 countries, and executive leadership.
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills
Ability to develop and lead foundation strategy.
Strong leadership and representational skills
Experience managing and leading a fundraising team
Demonstrated track record of fundraising success with major foundations in a way that maximizes value for donor and recipient and builds profile with external audiences.
Deep knowledge of the international relief and development and philanthropic sectors
Experience mobilizing executives and senior stakeholders for strategic donor engagement.
Strong written & oral communication skills for effective collaboration internally and successful proposals to donors.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to create and follow timelines for complex research, writing and editing.
Success Factors
The successful Senior Director, Foundation Partnerships will be an outstanding fundraiser, manager and relationship builder, particularly with executive Mercy Corps stakeholders and external donors. S/he will develop an ambitious strategy and manage a team to execute it.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position can be based in the United States and requires occasional domestic and international travel.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development
Team Engagement and Effectiveness
Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.
We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out different backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).
