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. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
IRC’s External Relations (ER) department brings together three main and complementary functions – Private Fundraising, Communications, and Advocacy – to ensure the organization has the resources and visibility needed to support more than 18 million people affected by conflict, disaster and displacement worldwide. With a global workforce of over 15,000 staff, ER plays a critical role in advancing IRC’s mission and strategic priorities. The Global Foundations & Trusts pillar within ER leads engagement with a growing portfolio of foundation partnerships across the United States and other key markets including the Middle East and Europe, aligning funder priorities with IRC’s diverse, evidence-based programs around the world.
The Associate Director will sit within the Foundations & Trusts U.S. team and manage a portfolio of U.S.-based partners that provide financial and strategic support to IRC. This new role will be responsible for stewarding existing relationships, identifying and qualifying new prospects, and designing engagement strategies that drive sustained and new revenue while advancing measurable humanitarian impact through innovative, impact-focused partnerships. The ideal candidate brings a strong understanding of U.S. foundation philanthropy; excels at collaboration and communication with internal and external stakeholders; leverages systems and data to strengthen donor relationships; and contributes as a team leader and mentor within a high-performing fundraising team.
Major Responsibilities:
• Collaborate with the Co–Senior Director of U.S. Foundations & Trusts and cross-functional colleagues to identify, shape, and advance high-impact, solutions-oriented foundation partnerships that support IRC’s global priorities.
• Lead the design and execution of comprehensive outreach, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for a portfolio of U.S.-based foundations, driving new business development, proposal submissions, and compelling partnership pitches.
• Proactively identify, qualify, and cultivate new foundation prospects, building and managing a strong pipeline aligned with IRC strategic priorities and funding needs.
• Establish and implement robust stewardship and servicing plans for foundation partners, including clear performance indicators, reporting schedules, and forward-looking engagement strategies to maximize partnership value, revenue growth, and donor satisfaction.
• Engage and support senior IRC leadership, Board members and other key internal stakeholders in high-level relationship management and solicitations, providing strategic guidance, tailored briefing materials, and effective follow-up.
• Monitor and analyze philanthropic and foundation-sector trends to inform prospecting strategies, strengthen value propositions, and position IRC competitively in the funding landscape.
• Serve as a trusted internal advisor on foundation partnership strategy, ensuring open, relevant, and respectful communication between IRC and private sector partners, and effective coordination with global IRC colleagues.
• Line-manage and mentor U.S. Foundations & Trusts officer(s), fostering strong performance through coaching, goal-setting, performance evaluations, and professional development planning.
• Lead and contribute to special projects and cross-team initiatives, as assigned, that advance Foundations & Trusts’ and broader External Relations’ priorities.
• Maintain accurate and timely CRM records to enable effective pipeline management, forecasting, and reporting.
Candidate Requirements:
• 7+ years of progressive frontline fundraising experience and demonstrated expertise in private sector resource development, with particular knowledge of and experience working with U.S.-based foundations
Preferred Experience & Skills:
• Proven track record of closing 6-7-figure grants from a dynamic portfolio of private institutional donors and prospects.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling proposals, pitches, and briefing materials, and to represent the organization confidently with external partners.
• Proven understanding of foundation and private-sector philanthropy, including planning and decision-making processes and key trends affecting the sector.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, assess and manage a foundation prospect pipeline, balancing new business development with stewardship of existing partners.
• Experience coordinating across multiple internal and external stakeholders, and leading complex, multi-partner relationships with diplomacy and influence.
• Track record of working toward ambitious revenue targets and performance indicators, including experience with forecasting, financial projections, reporting, and scenario planning.
• Strong people skills, including the ability to build positive, collaborative, and productive relationships with colleagues at all levels and across cultures; experience mentoring or managing others preferred.
• Experience managing and mentoring staff, including performance management, coaching, and professional development.
• Ability to translate organizational strategy and priorities into actionable fundraising and partnership plans.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret financial data and understand budget models to inform partnership discussions.
• Sound judgment and discretion in handling confidential donor and organizational information.
• Demonstrated commitment to international development, human rights, social justice, and U.S. refugee and immigrant communities.
• Demonstrated experience with CRM platforms, Salesforce in particular.
Working Environment: This role requires working remotely part-time (i.e., telecommuting), as well as flexible working hours as needed. Applicants must have a home or alternate workspace to effectively complete their work during regularly scheduled hours.
Compensation: (Pay Range: $110,000 – $131,000) Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.
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Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.
US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $163 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.
Equal Opportunity Employer: 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.