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Director, Strategic Philanthropy

New York, New York, United States

About MSF USA | Doctors Without Borders

 

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international organization that provides medical care to the people who need it most. The organization cares for people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, disasters, and social exclusion in more than 70 countries. MSF offers medical humanitarian assistance solely based on need, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or politics. Our international project teams include medical, logistical, and administrative staff, most of them hired locally and working with their own communities. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality. We also bear witness and speak out about the experiences of our colleagues and patients. 
 
MSF USA is one of 24 sections supporting the global movement, primarily through staff recruitment, fundraising, advocacy, and communications. We welcome candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us in working toward MSF’s social mission.  

Role Overview

The Director, Strategic Philanthropy leads a growing team to manage donor advised funds (DAF) and third-party aggregators, workplace giving, and to pursue emerging opportunities to create new revenue streams. They will formulate strategies and pilot initiatives to drive innovation. Reporting to the Senior Director, Individual Giving & Strategic Philanthropy, this new role will lead the team in engaging individual donors and key industry stakeholders. This role is a leader in a multidisciplinary subunit and works cross-functionally within the department and across the entity to bolster giving where intermediaries are engaged.

MSF USA is currently a top recipient of DAF grants and is expected to continue growing. The Director will mature our DAF strategy and further relationships in the landscape with DAF sponsors, wealth advisors, and financial advisors.  They will oversee operational advancements and smart-giving marketing optimizations, foster client engagement to drive pipeline, and pursue opportunities for thought leadership.

The Director will also expand our workplace giving program. They will seek new intermediary activities and untapped market opportunities to strengthen and diversify our donor pipeline. They will partner with Market Research and Data & Analytics to discover insights that inform innovations.

The Director will support capacity building and drive a culture of philanthropy.    

Department Accountabilities

Key Account Management 
Take overall responsibility for designing, developing and delivering the organization's account management strategy. May also personally manage a few relationships with the most strategic donors. 

Donor Development
Pursue strategic opportunities in coherence with MSF USA´s strategy, that create long-term value for the movement by cultivating partnerships or identifying and develop new geographies, markets or donors for its mission. 

Donor Relationship Development
Build trust and loyalty with potential donors. At the simplest level, update donors on activities. At a more complex level, build long-term relationships with donors, especially large corporations or foundations.  

Brand Positioning
Develop brand positioning based on the brand strategy and implement brand plans. 

Roles Specific Outcomes

Leadership & Direction
Communicate the function's strategy and its relationship to the organization's mission, vision, and values; clarify the actions needed to implement it within the area of responsibility; motivate people to commit to these and to doing extraordinary things to achieve the organization's business goals.

Donor Relationship Development (Prospecting)
Develop and implement a relationship management plan for strategic, complex global potential accounts to build key relationships at local, national, and corporate levels. Coordinate the engagement of own organization with the donor organization to ensure effective two-way flow of information and resolution of issues.

Marketing
Lead a particular channel, area, product or service within the larger marketing strategy. Involves managing development or delivery (or both).

MSF Representation
Represent the organization or institution in a variety of industry, institutional, and/or professional forums, boards, and committees, in order to promote the company or institution brand or efforts. Focus is on a specific area of the organization, such as a function or department.

Strategy Formation and Implementation
Develop the strategy for a business area of significant function, anticipating mega-trends and complex challenges and opportunities. Ensure the strategy is successfully implemented and meets long-term business need.

Budgeting
Develop and/or deliver budget plans with guidance from senior colleagues.

Complexity and Problem-Solving Skills

  • Collaborative leadership, management, coaching and development of diverse staff.
  • Collaborative approach to working across functions, especially with Principal & Major Gifts and Planned Giving.
  • Team player with strong project management and organizational skills.
  • Applies expertise to act as an authority to quickly and effectively establish trust within the client’s organization.
  • Applies expertise to act as an authority to orient MSF USA around delivering to the key needs of stakeholders and donors.
  • Innovative and strategic thinker with a passion for advancing capabilities.
  • Stays abreast of new trends and open to new ways of working.
  • Familiar with permission-based asking. Utilizes donor-centric approach in managing portfolio.
  • High level of discretion with donor’s private information and motivations.

BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES

THOUGHT: How MSF USA staff understand the organization, manage complexity, and contribute by creating the new and different.

People Focus
Builds strong relationships and delivers solutions geared to aiding others. Solicits feedback and data; conveys a clear understanding of the level of service the team is providing; takes action when standards are not met by team; aligns processes with organizational needs.

Manages Complexity
Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems. Consistently looks at complex issues from many angles; obtains a rich and deep understanding; swiftly cuts to the core issue; skillfully separates root causes from symptoms.

Global Perspective
Takes a broad view when approaching issues, using a global lens. Shows global thinking at work; adjusts organizational practices to meet the unique needs of different regions or countries. Uses a broad perspective when addressing issues and challenges.

Cultivates Innovation
Creates new and better ways for the organization to be successful. Approaches professional work in unique or innovative ways. Offers original ideas. Appreciates others' creative ideas and solutions and provides helpful input to enhance them.

Strategic Mindset
Sees ahead to future possibilities and translates them into breakthrough strategies.

RESULTS: MSF USA staff achieve results by cultivating a forward-thinking environment that produces solutions for changing stakeholder needs.

Drives Results
Consistently achieves results, even under tough circumstances. Regularly pushes self to achieve outstanding outcomes; consistently establishes bold goals for own performance; is passionate about excellent results and significant contributions. Shows great tenacity to complete goals/initiatives in a timely way.

Ensures Accountability
Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments.

PEOPLE: MSF USA staff understand their impact on others through collaboration and inclusion of different perspectives to achieve common goals

Collaborates
Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives. Readily involves others to accomplish goals; stays in touch and shares information; discourages "us versus them" thinking; shows appreciation for others' ideas and input.

Communicates Effectively
Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. Listens attentively and takes an interest. Keeps others well informed; conveys information clearly, concisely, and professionally when speaking or writing.

Values Differences
Recognizes the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization. Confronts stereotyping and offensive comments promptly. Consistently behaves with great sensitivity toward differences in cultural norms, expectations, and ways of communicating.

Builds Effective Teams
Builds strong identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.

Manages Conflict
Handles conflict situations effectively, with a minimum of noise.

Builds Networks
Effectively builds formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization.

Drives Vision and Purpose
Paints a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action.

SELF: MSF USA staff demonstrate self-awareness by having an open mindset and by continuously seeking opportunities to learn, grow, and improve

Instills Trust
Gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity. Models honesty and authenticity and encourages others to be up front with one another. Demonstrates reliability and places a strong emphasis on the team meeting its commitments. Fairly represents others' positions.

Manages Ambiguity
Operates effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear. Responds effectively to unclear situations, seeks to resolve ambiguity and make progress. Seeks guidance on how to adapt to changes, responds with appropriate composure and effectiveness.

Situational Adaptability
Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations. Serves as an example of adaptability and provides guidance and support to help others adapt to new situations. Considers the needs of clients, constituents, and the organization; shifts priorities appropriately.

Being Resilient
Rebounds from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations.

Technical Competencies

Plans and Aligns
Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with MSF-USA goals.

Financial Acumen
Interprets and applies understanding of key financial indicators to make better business decisions.

Tech Savvy
Anticipating and adopting innovations in organizational digital and technology applications.

Data Collection and Analysis

The ability and skill to determine and analyze trends from data that is collected to assist in compiling reports that will help in decision-making.

Project Management Skills
The ability and skill to plan and manage small project work assignments within desired cost, time and quality parameters. 

Presentation and Written Communication Skills
Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations. Serves as an example of adaptability and provides guidance and support to help others adapt to new situations. Considers the needs of clients, constituents, and the organization; shifts priorities appropriately.

Organizational Insight
Applying knowledge of MSF USA and the industry to advance the organization’s goals.

Supervisory Responsibility

The Director, Strategic Philanthropy supervises a team.

Desired Qualifications & Experience

  • Minimum 15 years of experience working in nonprofit with successive roles, preferably in large organizations. Or equivalent experience working in the financial services industry for donor-advised fund sponsors, in private wealth, or in corporate social responsibility.
  • Successful track record of attaining key business objectives and revenue targets.
  • Demonstrated track record in forging and maintaining B2B relationships, especially in financial services.
  • Deep knowledge and experience with donor-advised funds, smart giving vehicles, and workplace giving.
  • Knowledge of current trends in charitable giving and high-impact philanthropy.

Preferred

  • Existing relationships with leaders and philanthropy advisors in the DAF landscape
  • Experience working with UHNWI.
  • Experience experimenting with AI to target messaging or donors.
  • Prior experience in vendor and agency management.
  • Knowledge of fundraising databases such as Salesforce NPSP, experience optimizing reports and functionality to meet business needs.

Travel Requirements 

Ability to travel for work as needed, particularly for B2B meetings, MSF events and industry meetings.

Compensation

$149,836 to $224,754; all new employees will be compensated from the minimum to midpoint based on experience

 

MSF-USA is dedicated to creating a diverse, impartial, and inclusive workforce. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, pregnancy status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other differences as per applicable laws. We also provide reasonable accommodation for disabilities or religious beliefs and practices. We encourage individuals from underrepresented communities in the Humanitarian Aid sector to apply.

 

If you have a disability and require accommodations to use our website to apply for a position, please contact Human Resources at employment.msfusa@newyork.msf.org. We consider reasonable accommodation requests on a case-by-case basis.

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