Director – Strategic Relationships
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Job Description
Strategic relationships director securing major philanthropic gifts for Heifer International’s global anti-poverty programs. Managing donor portfolios, proposals, partnerships, and fundraising strategies across international operations.
Responsibilities:
- Lead strategy, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and retention for a portfolio of strategic partners
- Establish annual fundraising goals and integrated short- and long-term strategies for securing strategic 7-8 figure gifts
- Manage and grow a portfolio of prospects and funders through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and retention
- Develop tailored donor engagement plans, proposals, concept notes, and fundraising materials
- Translate programmatic information into compelling funding opportunities aligned with donor priorities and Heifer programs and geographies
- Coordinate co-management of donor relationships across programs, geographies, and strategic funding opportunities
- Build knowledge of Heifer’s mission, program model, and impact to present funding opportunities and respond to donor questions
- Segment and prioritize partners and implement individualized engagement strategies
- Contribute to the organizational approach to strategic partnerships and long-term funding opportunities
- Partner with country teams to develop and operationalize tailored fundraising strategies
- Identify high-potential funders, open doors to prospective partners, and shape initial engagement and funding asks
- Document donor engagement, correspondence, next steps, and proposal activity in CRM systems
- Use CRM data, pipeline reporting, and donor intelligence to manage portfolio health, forecast revenue, and identify risks and opportunities
- Influence global communications strategies positioning Heifer as a partner of choice
- Share donor intelligence, coordinate strategies across teams, mentor colleagues, and identify collaborative engagement opportunities
- Partner with senior leadership, communications, programs, and internal stakeholders on donor-facing opportunities
- Participate in internal planning discussions and special initiatives
- Support special projects and strategic initiatives
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent education and experience
- Minimum of ten years of progressive experience in large gift fundraising
- Proven track record of securing 7-8 figure gifts from a variety of funders
- Minimum of 7 years of fundraising management and leadership
- Experience and proven success working with funders in the international development space
- Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-capacity funders or institutional partners
- Experience developing tailored asks based on partner interests
- Strong record of building and managing relationships leading to measurable fundraising results
- Excellent writing, presentation, relationship-building, and project management skills
- Experience with CRM systems and disciplined recordkeeping
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and CRM systems
- Ability to independently manage a portfolio, set priorities, and move opportunities forward in a fast-paced environment
- Strong proposal writing and donor communication skills
- Ability to collaborate across functions and influence without authority in a highly matrixed, networked organization
- Demonstrated change management leadership ability
- Comfort navigating ambiguity, evolving priorities, and organizational complexity
- Commitment to Heifer’s mission, values, and model
- Proven interpersonal and communication skills
- Willingness and capability to work effectively from a home office
- Willingness and capability to travel frequently both nationally and internationally
- Knowledge of international development and the nonprofit sector
- Cover letter required
- Equivalent education and experience may substitute for the bachelor’s degree
Benefits:
- Health and wellness benefits including Flexible Spending Account and/or Health Saving Account
- Employee assistance program
- 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching and discretionary contribution
- 22 vacation days
- 12 statutory and discretionary holidays
- 10 sick days per year
- Employer-paid life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D)
- Professional development opportunities
- Annual merit increase opportunities
- Optional critical illness insurance
- Legal assistance plan
- Pet protection
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