Director, Philanthropic Partnerships & Strategy

Organizational Overview

Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs is an independent nonprofit that works to empower ethics globally to build a better world by identifying and addressing the most critical ethical issues of today and tomorrow. Founded by Andrew Carnegie over a century ago, we set the global ethical agenda and work for an ethical future by convening leading experts, building active communities, producing agenda-setting resources, and catalyzing the creation of ethical solutions to global problems. Carnegie Council is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) institution. For more information, please visit carnegiecouncil.org.

Philanthropic Partnerships & Strategy at Carnegie Council

This team leads resource mobilization initiatives for Carnegie Council by developing both small- and large-scale collaborations with individuals and organizations that share the goal of exploring and addressing emerging ethical issues. Philanthropic partners work with the Council to make a long-lasting and positive difference for current and future generations.

As an organization, we deeply believe that we can achieve greater results by working with partners and sharing knowledge and resources to drive change. Carnegie Council welcomes collaborations with individual philanthropists and foundations that share our desire to take on important ethical challenges and deliver measurable results.

Our partnerships with philanthropists provide economies of scale and complementary expertise that enable us to act on ambitious challenges, design and implement solutions to problems, and build momentum for change. Whether accelerating solutions to climate change, examining the ethical implications of AI and other emerging technologies, designing frameworks for equitable governance, training the next generation of ethical leaders, or providing information about new ethical issues and trends in society, we are stronger and more effective with partners at our side.

Position Description

Carnegie Council seeks an engaging, innovative, and collaborative fundraiser, strategic communicator, and relationship builder to serve as Director, Philanthropic Partnerships & Strategy. The Director will work closely with the Chief Philanthropy Officer, the President’s office, and the broader programmatic teams to grow philanthropic support and strengthen partnerships to advance our organizational strategic priorities.

Carnegie Council approaches fundraising in a collaborative, team-based manner, where no one individual is responsible for revenue generation for the entire organization. Given this, the Director will engage closely with our experts, executive leadership, and other stakeholders to develop compelling funding proposals, messaging materials, and tailored funder and prospect relationship management approaches to support our strategies and advance our mission.

Currently, we are raising $35 million to support our five-year strategic plan to expand the Global Ethics Hub, scale the Carnegie Ethics Fellowship, launch four new programs, and grow our endowment campaign for future generations.

While the role will engage across all our funder segments, this position will focus on building relationships and securing co-investments from individuals, family foundations, institutional foundations, and multilateral institutions. This role will complement the work of the Chief Philanthropy Officer and the President of Carnegie Council.

The ideal candidate is a mid-to-senior career individual with either demonstrated fundraising or grant-making experience, equipping them with familiarity of current trends and actors in the philanthropic landscape. The Director will have strong judgment, discretion, and the personality to deftly navigate the diverse motivations and preferences of donors.

Our ideal candidate will have some familiarity with complex international affairs issues, including but not limited to: AI and emerging technology, climate change and environmental issues, principles of international relations and ethics, education and fellowship programs, and/or international or local governance and development work, including scaling pathways for systems change.

It is essential that the Director has the ability to communicate complex topics verbally and in writing in a concise and compelling manner, and has experience crafting funding proposals, explanatory program collateral, and other communication materials (i.e. email updates, talking points, and presentations). They will also have demonstrated experience building successful working relationships with program staff, leadership teams (i.e. C-Suite Staff and Board of Directors), experts, and other high-level individuals in the academic, government, business, and issue area sectors.

Requirements & Essential Functions

Work closely with the Chief Philanthropy Officer and broader Carnegie Council team to do the following:

Build New Donor Partnerships and Secure New Funding:

• Design and execute an effective annual fundraising strategy that increases multi-year, unrestricted revenue, with a particular focus on individuals, family foundations, and larger institutional funders.
• Identify, build, and cultivate a high-quality pipeline of prospective new donors.
• Serve as the lead on a fundraising portfolio responsible for raising a minimum of $3m - $5m in both new unrestricted and dedicated program funding each year.
• Serve as a key architect and internal adviser on donor strategies for a portfolio of high-net worth individuals, institutional funders, and other donor sectors.
• Lead and develop creative and content-rich engagement opportunities for new, prospective, and existing major gift donors each year including: three to four issue-specific donor salons, substantive donor communications, and additional donor events and stewardship opportunities designed to keep the Council donor community informed and engaged in our work and to create new funding pipelines.
• External representative: serve as a strong and polished representative for the Council at new donor and funder scoping meetings.
• Grant-writing: lead the development and project planning for concept notes and proposals for both new funding and renewal opportunities.
• Work effectively and seamlessly across the President’s office, and the program and communications teams to evolve and strengthen the Council’s case for support on new strategic funding priorities.
• Identify and build new funding ideas and giving opportunities that match donor interests, in partnership with Program teams, and other important partners (co-funders, peer NGO partners, academic partners, community groups, government agencies, and the Carnegie Council Board).

Strengthen and Steward Existing Philanthropic Partner Relationships:

• Manage and grow an existing portfolio of donors through tailored, fit-for-purpose stewardship strategies that strengthen genuine, collaborative funder relationships.
• Leverage the Council’s existing networks of donors, trustees, and program partners to strengthen relationships that result in continued and new funding partnerships.
• Develop and lead projects to foster strong donor engagement.
• Plan small donor engagements events like dinners and webinars to keep current donors connected to our work.
• Develop presentations, proposals, letters of inquiry, and strategic preparation for funder meetings.
• Review and polish interim and final reports for donors; in some cases lead on drafting.
• Coordinate and track donor engagement activities, proposals, commitments, and reports with others on the team to support real-time fundraising revenue pipelines and revenue projections.
• Connect with donors and partners in-person and online and be a strong external representative for Carnegie Council.

Goal Setting, Planning, and Monitoring Progress:

• Participate in and provide strategic thinking around annual development goals.
• Collaborate with the President’s office, and the communications and program teams to co-create the philanthropic partnerships and strategy team’s annual workplan.
• Participate in monthly and annual budget review and planning to assess whether the team is on track towards meeting its fundraising goals.
• Participate in weekly meetings with senior leaders to track and respond to emerging and anticipated funding opportunities and challenges.
• Provide feedback and input on organizational strategy as it relates to implications for future philanthropic support.

Experience and Qualifications:

• A minimum of ten years’ experience in one of the following areas: fundraising, grant-making, philanthropic advising, complex program management experience, or equivalent.
• Proven track record of successfully cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding significant gifts from individual and institutional philanthropists, foundations, and multilateral and bilateral institutions or advising on philanthropic investments.
• A high level of comfort and effectiveness working with sophisticated donors, executive leadership, and prominent external stakeholders.
• Outstanding interpersonal and relationship building skills and convening capabilities.
• Grant-writing experience and the ability to communicate the Council’s work in a sophisticated and compelling way will be critical.
• Demonstrated ability to produce strategic, concise, and persuasive written and verbal communication products tailored to a funder audience.
• Proven ability to generate proposal content by effectively, persuasively, and briefly summarizing a complex topical issue in writing.
• Proven ability to lead, engage, and collaborate with staff and partners across various cultures and backgrounds to achieve shared goals, and the ability to work collaboratively with others to help a team or work group achieve its goals.
• Experience with and/or familiarity with complex international affairs issues, including but not limited to: AI and emerging technology, climate change and environmental issues, principles of international relations and ethics, public policy, education and fellowship programs, and/or international or local governance and development work, including scaling pathways for systems change, and/or passion for learning more about these sectors and issue areas.
• Excellent judgment and discretion.
• Demonstrated flexibility and adaptability, as well as a kind and collaborative approach.
• A creative and strategic thinker able to think out of the box, challenge conventional norms, and try new approaches.
• College degree or combination of education and relevant experience; advanced education is a plus, but by no means a requirement.
• International experience is a plus, but not a requirement.
• Interest in and ability to work in person with a team in NYC two to three days per week.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary Range: $130,000 – $150,000 depending on experience.

Carnegie Council offers a benefit package that includes three weeks paid vacation per year plus additional sick and personal leave time; health, dental, and vision plans; and generous 401k contributions after one year of employment.

To apply: Please send your resume and cover letter, along with a short writing sample to Melissa Semeniuk at [email protected] with the subject title "Director of Philanthropic Partnerships & Strategy."