Director of Fundraising - Philanthropy

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities.

IRC UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its global headquarters in New York. Our team in the UK works to raise profile, deliver policy and practice change, and increase funding to help restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Since 2021, IRC UK has also provided integration services directly to refugees in the UK.

Job Overview

The External Relations (ER) department is comprised of three main but complementary functional areas: Private fundraising, Communications, and Advocacy. The main objective of the department is to enable the organisation to have the resources needed to continue serving millions of people worldwide in places affected by war and disaster.

This Role Will Be Responsible For

• Leading a team of fundraising professionals focused on raising unrestricted and restricted contributions from High-Net-Worth Individuals.
• Managing a personal portfolio of significant donors and partners focused on securing six and seven-figure commitments.
• Facilitating cross-functional collaboration and ensuring coordination and alignment across all UK-based fundraising teams.
• Working closely with other team leaders in the UK (e.g. Communications, Advocacy, and Programmes) to ensure aligned planning and delivery.
• Serving as the high-value fundraising representative on the UK Senior Management Team.
• Serving as the principal fundraising and partnerships lead for the IRC's UK Board of Directors.
• Overseeing key Board relationships and providing complex stakeholder management.
• Strategically leveraging Board members’ networks and influence to support fundraising.
• Directly driving the UK Executive Director's engagement in fundraising and external partnership activities.
• Interfacing closely with US-based and other international colleagues in External Relations.

The Director will craft and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies for the UK market, mentor and guide the team to optimise the size and impact of gifts and ensure donor-centric fundraising practices are consistently deployed.

Major Responsibilities

• Manage a focused, complex portfolio of individual high-value prospects and supporters that results in increasing gifts at the six and seven-figure level.
• Design and execute customised fundraising and partnership strategies for their personal portfolio.
• Travel and meet with donors and prospects across the UK and occasionally internationally as required.
• Achieve personal and team-wide goals and metrics related to visits, solicitations, gifts/pledges closed, and other critical key performance indicators.
• Serve as the primary staff liaison and resource for the IRC's UK Board on all matters relating to philanthropy and partnerships.

Leadership and Management

• Lead and directly supervise a team of approximately 3 individuals across the UK-based Philanthropy team.
• Provide strategic oversight and Manage-in-Partnership the UK-based leads of the Foundations and Trusts and Global Corporate Partnerships teams.
• Provide comprehensive thought leadership for the Philanthropy team’s efforts towards increased financial revenue.
• Partner with the Senior Director of International Philanthropy to develop a strategic plan.
• Collaborate as a peer with other UK leaders on the UK Senior Management Team.

Executive and Global Collaboration

• Proactively drive the UK Executive Director's fundraising activities.
• Interface and collaborate with US-based colleagues in External Relations.
• Facilitate the deployment of IRC leaders throughout the donor life cycle.

Candidate Requirements

• Significant demonstrable years progressive experience or proven background of non-profit fundraising experience.
• Demonstrated history of being an empowering and supportive manager to front-line fundraisers.
• Outstanding communication skills.

Preferred Experience & Skills

• Consistent track record of securing 6 and 7+ figure gifts/partnerships.
• Proven organisational leadership experience.
• Experience in international organisational collaboration.
• Proven experience leading and directly supervising front-line fundraisers.
• Ability to develop creative and multifaceted donor strategy.

Working Environment

IRC UK has a hybrid working policy. Occasional travel across the UK and internationally as required.

Standard Responsibilities

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC UK office.
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values.

Recruitment Process

• Screening call online
• First round panel interview online – including assessment / test
• Second round panel interview – in person in the London office – including presentation task

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.