US Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer for Swiss-based NGO (50% Part-Time Position)

Swisscontact, a Zurich-based international development NGO, (www.swisscontact.org) is looking for a Corporate and Foundations Relations Officer based in the United States. S/he will report to the CEO in Zurich. The Officer will also closely work with the Key Account Management and Fundraising Unit in Zürich and international Swisscontact development experts.

Experience

• At least five to seven years in foundation and corporation relations as a consultant or working for an organization
• Proven track record of soliciting and securing six- to seven-figure gifts
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Experience working with international NGOs and/or multi-country fundraising preferred
• German or Spanish language skills are a plus, but are not required
• Experience in the field of international development in particular SME and VET/ skills development is preferred
• Must be a self-starter and comfortable working independently
• BA degree is required
• Familiarity with 501(c)(3) is preferred

Tasks

In General:

• Implement Swisscontact US fundraising strategy and US business plan.
• Represent Swisscontact in the US and to the board of the 501(c))(3) “American Friends of Swisscontact Inc.”
• Analyze the market.
• Facilitate, establish and maintain contacts with both exiting and prospective donors.

In Particular:

• Manage a portfolio of prospects and donors in the United States and Canada with focus on soliciting gifts of $100,000 and higher. Secure fundraising income of $1M and more annually.
• Facilitate relationships with prospective and existing donors in all aspects of the gift cycle including: identifying, qualifying, and initiating contact with potential donors; developing appropriate cultivation strategies, including working with volunteers; moving potential donors toward solicitation and closure; making solicitations when appropriate; and maintaining stewardship contacts with donors. Visit www.swisscontact.us for information on current and past US donors.
• Identify opportunities to position Swisscontact in the United States for instance through presentation at conferences. Organize all details or these positioning efforts.
• Organize meetings with donors or prospects for senior Swisscontact staff.
• US travel in connection with donor visits and conferences: ½ or 1 day/ month. One trip to Switzerland annually. Additional international trips possible.
• Produce fundraising materials including but not limited to letters, emails, newsletters, proposals, PowerPoint presentations, and reports. This includes drafting original copy and editing documents.
• American Friends of Swisscontact, Inc.: (www.swisscontact.us)
  • Management: Manage board relations and organize two board meetings per year.
  • Administration: File annual tax return, and take care of any other legal or accounting aspects

Start Date: April 1, 2012

This is a part-time (50%) position, based in the US (East Coast: For instance Washington D.C. or New York). It is preferred that the candidate would work from his or her own office. An office can be provided if needed. Remuneration is subject to negotiation.

Application Deadline: March 1, 2012

About Swisscontact
Swisscontact, the Swiss Foundation for Technical Cooperation, promotes economic development in about 25 countries worldwide. We focus on pro-poor economic development by supporting the private sector and in particular small and medium sized enterprises (SME) and economically active poor. Swisscontact follows a holistic approach, based on the principle that knowledge and skills, access to input and output markets and an enabling business environment for SMEs are the basis for a sustainable economic development. Additionally, we build the capacity of microfinance institutions thereby providing SMEs and entrepreneurs access to capital. Our skills development programs focus on labor market-oriented training. We help create and strengthen local training providers as well as comprehensive Vocational Education and Training systems. Our ecological programs reduce the environmental burden by promoting recycling, hospital waste management, and emissions reduction. Founded in 1959, Swisscontact is a politically and denominationally neutral organization. Over 500 staff members are active for Swisscontact in project countries as well as in Switzerland. In addition, the experts of the Senior Expert Corps (retirees) offer their know-how as volunteers. In 2008, the 501(c)(3) American Friends of Swisscontact was created in the United States to strengthen relations between Swisscontact and partners in North America.