The Women’s Funding Network (WFN) is pleased to invite nominations and applications for its Director of Philanthropy position. WFN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the largest philanthropic alliance in the world dedicated to advancing the essential role of women’s foundations and gender justice funders in the unwavering fight for gender equality and justice. WFN believes that when philanthropy invests in women’s foundations and gender justice funders, it empowers a deeply intersectional movement that fights for policies and standards across lines of race, class, and gender. Their mission as a global alliance is to provide strategies, research, and resources that support the critical agency and influence of women’s foundations and gender justice funders in the movement for equality, justice, and power for all, envisioning a world where just outcomes for all genders, of all races, are regarded as crucial to the creation of dynamic and effective social, political, and economic policies and systems. WFN’s guiding values include relationships, solidarity, integrity, impact, abundance, gratitude, and courage.

The Director of Philanthropy at WFN will have the opportunity to shape the future of the organization by driving strategic growth, fostering donor relationships, and leading innovative fundraising efforts to support the mission of advancing gender equality and justice globally. They will be a highly collaborative, self-motivated, and results-oriented leader and will focus on high-level strategic thinking, team building, and goal setting while also managing day-to-day fundraising tasks and all aspects of development operations. The Director will be a highly skilled written and verbal communicator who effectively inspires donors to support and partner with WFN. Specifically, the Director of Philanthropy will:

Lead Strategy, Development, and Implementation of Development Plans

The Director will be responsible for developing and executing annual and long-term development plans to secure funds for general operations, pooled funds, and campaigns. This comprehensive development plan will include strategies for planned giving, engaging private donors, corporations, foundations, donor-advised funds, and other sources. The Director will execute day-to-day development operations and continuously maintain accurate and timely reporting and communication. They will employ excellent written and verbal communication skills to manage all donor correspondence, including writing and preparation of formal and informal donor reports, grant proposals, solicitation and acknowledgment letters, and responses to donor inquiries. The Director will also manage and maintain the donor database to ensure accurate and up-to-date donor records, information, and correspondence and use strong project management skills.

Manage Foundation Grant Portfolio

The Director will oversee WFN’s foundation grant portfolio, ensuring that the organization meets deliverables and achieves the desired impact. This involves maintaining relationships with foundation donors and ensuring all grant requirements are met.

Oversee Growth and Expansion of Leadership-Level Donors

The Director's main focus will be maintaining and building relationships with existing donors while simultaneously researching, identifying, and approaching new prospective leadership-level donors. The Director will work closely with these donors to achieve their philanthropic objectives. This will also include reactivating previous major donors and establishing new relationships.

Launch and Lead WFN’s Annual Giving Campaign

The Director will provide leadership in developing and executing WFN’s annual giving campaign. This entails creating compelling campaign strategies that engage and inspire donors.

Engage Volunteers in Fundraising Priorities

The Director will actively engage volunteers in fundraising opportunities, leveraging their support to enhance WFN’s development efforts. This includes coordinating volunteer activities and integrating their contributions into the broader development strategy.

Desired Experience

1. A minimum of seven or more years of combined experience in a senior fundraising role with a proven track record of securing major and planned gifts and achieving budgeted revenue goals.
2. Successful experience making asks for six and seven-figure gifts; successful experience writing grant proposals.
3. Experience in the social justice nonprofit field with a focus on gender and racial equality.
4. Experience working with high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, and other entities that consistently support organizations with six- to seven-figure gifts.
5. Excellent leadership and management abilities; a capacity to lead and guide staff with empathy, positivity, and curiosity.
6. Experience working with national teams and state affiliates/members.
7. Record of maintaining the highest personal levels of ethical conduct, confidentiality, and integrity.
8. Professional, diplomatic demeanor with the ability to represent a global organization and interact and collaborate with colleagues from a range of nationalities and backgrounds, including experience and comfort working with transgender and gender non-conforming people and people with disabilities.
9. Impeccable verbal and written communication skills with meticulous attention to detail – grammar nerds with the ability to write eloquently and professionally, driven by excellence and the spirit of service leadership.
10. A well-developed capacity to manage in all directions and proactively seek out new strategy opportunities.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Work Location: WFN staff are working remotely. This is a full-time position and will ideally be based on the East Coast; however, candidates based in any continental U.S. location with the ability to travel are encouraged to apply. To support fully remote staff and sustainable work schedules, the candidate must be available to collaborate online between 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. EST, Monday – Friday, and can adjust work weeks to include evening hours for special events or travel. This position requires occasional travel (up to 30%) to various states and cities for funder, member, campaign, and/or staff meetings.

Salary and Benefits: The salary range for this position is $116,000 – $175,000 and commensurate with experience. WFN has a generous benefits package that includes 100% paid health, dental, and vision insurance, long-term disability/FSA, generous paid time off, a flexible work schedule, and a 401k match.

TO APPLY

To learn more about the Women’s Funding Network, please visit: www.womensfundingnetwork.org.

This search is being led by Ellen LaPointe and Alejandra Villa of NPAG. Due to the pace of this search, candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Candidates may submit their cover letter outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume, a 1–2 page writing sample, and three references via NPAG’s website. (Please combine resume, writing sample, and references into one document.)

Women's Funding Network is a 501(c)(3) organization and an equal employment opportunity employer. We are committed to creating and evolving a work environment that attracts the full spectrum of races, ethnicities, national origins, ages, sexual orientations, gender identities, beliefs, religions, faiths and ideologies, cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, levels of physical ability, parents and caregivers.