Job Description
The position
The Philanthropy Manager is a key member of the global team responsible for the delivery of DNDi’s private sector fundraising and will proactively engage and cultivate new donors capable of giving 6 and 7-figure multi-year gifts or grants, as well as managing and growing a portfolio of existing major individual donors and/or foundations.
The Development Manager will build positive relationships with donors and prospective donors, providing an exceptionally high level of donor cultivation and stewardship, working closely with prospect research, report writers, line management, expert scientific staff and organizational leadership as needed to deliver results.
The Development Manager will develop relationships with board members and other high-level volunteers to identify potential new funders and further develop relationships with existing funding partners, and may lead specific projects on behalf of the team aimed at strengthening engagement, cultivation or donor outreach capacity. The Development Manager will develop a strong knowledge of DNDi’s work, mission, vision, and values and will promote these values internally and externally.
This role is accountable for managing smaller scale projects and/or parts of the projects led by upper level, or delivering quality output through expert services or people. This role adapts policies, approaches and models to emerging needs.
Scope of work (results)
This role affects the performance of assigned projects and team and impact on larger programmes.
Specific job responsibilities
- Manage existing donor relationships with major individual donors or foundations, developing individual engagement strategies.
- Prepare, submit, and follow up on new grant opportunities/funding applications to prospective new donors
- Prepare briefings, decks, proposals, concept notes, verbal presentations, and donor reports as needed
- Provide excellence in stewardship not only through regular donor updates and reporting, but through proactively seeking opportunities and providing ideas to refine DNDi’s donor stewardship approach
- Collaborate with the Prospect Research Manager and Development Associate to seek deeper insight into new prospects, their motivations, and interests to maximize chances of engagement
- Maintain accurate information in Salesforce and elsewhere to support ongoing relationships
- Support donor event planning and other activities, as needed
- Work on special projects, if/as requested
- Coordinate with colleagues from other departments such as Communications, Finance, Legal, and R&D located in different DNDi offices worldwide
The above list of responsibilities is not exhaustive, and you may be required to undertake other responsibilities appropriate to your grade. This job description may be subject to review.
Reporting line
- Reports directly to the Senior Manager, External Relations
- Regional Executive Director serves as Contributing Manager
Management
- Provides direction to entry-level staff and interns, may directly supervise the work of junior staff
- Contributes to the development of the annual work plan with strategies, goals, timetables, budgets, and performance benchmarks
Interactions
- Maintains close working relationships with the global private Fundraising team and participants in regular meetings with the broader External Relations and DNDi North America team.
- Also interacts with the Executive Team, R&D, Communications, Finance and Legal departments in the preparation of donor interactions, proposals, reports, financials, contracts, etc.
- Represents DNDi with external contacts, including donors, prospects, consultants, and service providers, and ensures DNDi is a reliable and credible partner
Job requirements
Skills and attributes
- Proven track record of closing multiple 6- and 7-figure gifts
- Demonstrated ability to drive growth by bringing in and renewing new funding partners.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including listening and presentation skills and ability to interact with external stakeholders on behalf of DNDi
- Demonstrated ability to work with and motivate volunteers in their fundraising efforts, including key influencers, senior colleagues and board members
- A strong affinity for the mission, ideally grounded in experience fundraising for international NGOs, medical R&D organizations, or other organizations with global public health relevance
- An unwavering commitment to a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist work environment
- Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment and matrix structure.
Experience
- Minimum 6 years’ relevant experience
- Strong specialized experience with either major individual philanthropists, complex grant management for major foundations, or proactive new business outreach in philanthropic fundraising – or a mixture of the above
Education
- Master’s degree, or undergraduate degree with equivalent relevant work experience
Other requirements
- Fluency in English
- Integrity in dealing with donors, intellectual curiosity and ability to rapidly develop an understanding of DNDi’s work as it pertains to R&D, global health and neglected populations
- Experience with Salesforce a plus
- Experience or academic background in at least one of the following areas would be highly regarded: global health, international development
- Demonstrated ability to work well as part of a multicultural, multi-lingual, multi-time-zone team, including occasional out of hours phone calls
Other information
- Status: 24-month fixed-term contract
- Location: Flexible in the UK, with a preference for London. DNDi shares an office in central London with MSF, however we are open to flexible/hybrid work arrangements.
- When advisable, travel may be required
- As part of a global organization, some regular out-of-hours calls will be required
About the Organization
The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) is an international, not-for-profit research and development organization that develops lifesaving medicines for people with neglected diseases around the world. We use the power of innovation, open science, partnerships, and advocacy to find solutions to a great injustice: the lack of medicines for life-threatening diseases that disproportionately impact poor and marginalized people.
DNDi was launched in 2003 when five leading research institutes from Brazil, India, Kenya, Malaysia, and France teamed up with Médecins Sans Frontières to launch an alternative, not-for-profit model for developing drugs for neglected populations. Together, we are proud to have delivered nine new treatments for six diseases that have saved millions of lives – and we aim to deliver a total of 25 treatments by 2028.
With 250 employees of 37 nationalities located in nine offices on four continents, DNDi is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential parts of our culture and key drivers of our success. We encourage candidates of diverse profiles and backgrounds to apply.
In 2021, DNDi released an ambitious new Strategic Plan 2021-2028, which outlined a funding goal of €1.1 billion. Of this goal, nearly €730 million has already been secured, primarily from governments, major philanthropic foundations, innovative financing mechanisms, and founding partners. As part of this strategy, DNDi aims to diversify its funding base and is investing in increasing private philanthropic fundraising capabilities with the ambition of raising at least €33 million in new philanthropic funding by 2028.