Director, Principal Gifts, Strategic Partnerships

Summary

Join the U.S. Energy Foundation as the Director, Principal Gifts, Strategic Partnerships! This new position oversees identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-net-worth individual (HNWI) funding partners. You will design and implement bespoke, long-term engagement plans, collaborating with the Strategic Partnerships team to broaden EF's reach. Responsibilities include leading the HNWI fundraising process, maintaining relationships with current funders, and collaborating with senior leadership. The ideal candidate possesses at least 10 years of experience in fundraising with HNWIs at the seven-figure level, strong relationship-building skills, and project management expertise. This full-time position offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and a remote-first work environment.

Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years of experience fundraising, advising and collaborating with and from HNWIs and their organizations at the seven-figure level
• Experience communicating and collaborating with people from a wide diversity of backgrounds and cultures with a focus on High Net Worth Individuals
• Experience advancing multiple projects that involve complex issues, various stakeholders, and deadlines to successful completion. Demonstrated background in tracking action items and ensuring detailed follow-through on existing and new initiatives. The ability to anticipate the needs of team members and colleagues, donors, external stakeholders, etc., is essential. Attention to detail is a must
• Experience supporting multiple priorities and juggling a variety of tasks for one or more individuals in a team environment. Exhibiting flexibility and adaptability to a variety of systems and approaches that align with EF and external stakeholder needs
• A minimum of intermediate skill level using PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook, preferably in a Mac environment; familiarity with Google Drive/Docs. Experience using a relational database, preferably Salesforce
• Ability to travel four to six times a year for three to four business days at a time

Responsibilities

• Lead the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship process for a portfolio of HNWI funders across EF’s program areas, including identifying new donor prospects, evaluating and accessing key networks and other avenues to help individual donors and their families see EF and EAF as priorities for their philanthropic giving, and designing long-term sophisticated plans for engagement and expanded funding
• Create and maintain comprehensive Funder Engagement Plans for renewed philanthropic support from EF’s current portfolio of HNWI funders across program areas, in collaboration with SP’s external fundraising team
• Maintain highly sophisticated relationships with EF’s current HNWI funding partners and prospects by engaging in regular contact with them through meetings, convenings, and other activities, thereby ensuring existing donors’ long-term commitment to EF and the field as a whole
• Collaborate closely with the Senior Vice President, SP (SVP), and CEO to develop long-term funding plans and opportunities with HNWIs
• Coordinate with the SVP to support the EF Board of Directors in their efforts to cultivate HNWIs for membership and funder engagement generally
• Advise and prepare EF’s Senior Leadership and Program Teams for key funder meetings and events within their portfolio by providing expert guidance on relationship management, approach, and strategies for engagement
• Collaborate with the SP Funder Operations Team in the oversight of the grant proposal processes within their portfolio, including donor reporting, and sharing relevant, timely communications about updated grant revenue projections to EF’s Leadership
• Ensure follow-up issues and action items that emerge from external donor and stakeholder convenings, as well as internal EF meetings, are proactively captured and tracked for implementation and progress monitoring purposes
• In collaboration with SP Communications and other team members, support the development and management of materials to support funder engagement, including tailored fundraising packets, presentations, proposals, and letters of inquiry
• Support the building of systems and infrastructure to ensure effective operations and collaboration in a cross-functional manner. This includes aiding in the design of new systems to manage relationships with partners, consultants, and other stakeholders who are supporting the work of the SP team
• Serve or participate in cross-functional teams – including those focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – to improve and integrate SP into foundation processes as well as implement new systems
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Disability
• Retirement benefits
• Paid time off