Remote Partnerships Director with verification

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

POSITION SUMMARY - This will be a remote work position based in London, United Kingdom

The Great People’s Forest is a new initiative launched by Conservation International in 2023. It aims to plant 1 billion trees and protect and restore 1 million hectares of land in the Eastern Himalayas and is one of the most ambitious restoration efforts in South Asia history and a key strategic priority for Conservation International’s work in South Asia. After being designed and launched, we are now expanding the core project team as the initiative is rapidly progressing with implementation. Having secured initial funding and planted the first Great People’s Forest trees in the ground, Conservation International is seeking a Partnerships Director to oversee fundraising for the initiative and ensure its financial sustainability and success.

Responsibilities

This new position is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding new prospects, individual, corporate, and foundation donors globally for the Great People’s Forest. The Partnerships Director is responsible for achieving specific multi-figure short-term and long-term fundraising goals and growing the portfolio to meet yearly and multi-year fundraising targets.

The Partnerships Director will lead the fundraising strategy for The Great People’s Forest, working closely with the Founding Managing Director and fundraising teams at Conservation International. They will represent CI externally, and develop and execute cultivation strategies for prospective high-net-worth donors. Strategies include direct solicitation and cultivation meetings that will lead to large gifts to support operating and restricted program needs.

Revenue Generation

• Identify and approach funding prospects and pitching The Great People’s Forest to HNWIs and senior representatives of private, individual, and corporate donors
• Create a portfolio of major gift and foundation prospects to contribute to developing overall fundraising objectives
• Qualify or disqualify at least 50 prospects annually through meetings and other donor engagement activities.
• Complete multiple (10+) gift solicitations each year for six- to seven-figure donations.
• Lead on proposal development and coordination of information for funding proposals.
• Oversee the development of the long-term financial sustainability strategy for The Great People’s Forest, including public and multilateral funding strategy.
  
  

Portfolio Management (Cultivation /Stewardship)

• Engage donors through in-person or virtual visits, collaboration with GPF colleagues, mailings, emails, etc. to advance solicitation efforts.
• Organize small cultivation events and support the Brand and Communications team on design and fundraising strategy for large events to support existing and new donor engagement and flexible funding goals.
• Work closely with senior development staff and Relationship Managers of Leadership Council members to identify and cultivate new donors.
• Work closely with Communications colleagues on donor communications
• Steward existing donors via written reports and in-person briefings as appropriate.
• Maintain up-to-date records of moves management activity in Raiser’s Edge and provide monthly and ad-hoc progress reports.
• Utilize internal and external research to identify high-net-worth individuals new to CI.
  
  

Manage internal and external relationships related to portfolio management

• Lead GPF fundraising meetings and ensure actions are followed up promptly and reported on to the GPF fundraising group.
• Report monthly to the GPF Executive and leveraging CI senior leadership, and Implementing Partner organizations (South Asian Conservation NGOs) for fundraising as appropriate.
• Attend meetings and conferences on behalf of The Great People’s Forest.
• Work closely with the Development team to ensure a coordinated approach to identifying prospects and soliciting gifts in the context of CI’s other programs.
  
  

WORKING CONDITIONS

• 50% local and regional travel required.
• Ability to work irregular and extended work hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Candidates should be UK nationals or have a valid work permit in the UK.
  
  

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree or up to four years of college-level study.
• 7 or more years of related work experience in directly soliciting major gifts.
• Demonstrated track record of successfully cultivating and securing significant 6-7 figure gifts from assigned prospects.
• Experience working with advisors, senior colleagues, volunteers, board members, or partners in identifying and cultivating prospects.
• Success in this position requires:
• A person who is a self-starter and can work independently and has impeccable professional integrity and confidence.
• The ability to effectively establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within a diverse multicultural environment.
• The necessary gravitas to represent a project to individuals in senior roles, UHNW individuals and VIPs, and answer high-level questions about project details.
• Interest and knowledge of the environment and conservation trends.
• Professionalism, knowledge of protocol, and discretion.
• Exceptional writing and verbal communication skills.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a dynamic environment.
• Fluent English
• Skilled at proposal writing and coordinating information from a variety of teams and sources into a compelling proposal.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain lasting professional relationships with funding partners, with strong communication and stewardship skills.
  

Preferred

• Graduate level study.
• Experience working with or in organizations based in South Asia is a plus.
• Experience fundraising for conservation is preferred, but crossover areas will also be beneficial, for example, sustainability/climate change, disaster relief, international development, socioeconomic development, or public health.
• Small and large event experience is a plus – including large global convenings such as COP, UNGA, New York Climate Week, Davos, etc.
• Proficient in fundraising software and systems.
• French or German proficiency is a plus.
  
  

To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter.

See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE

Conservation International is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility-committed employer. We are proud to have a diverse, global workforce where employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, position requirements, business needs, market conditions, merit, and other legitimate nondiscriminatory factors.