Principal Gifts Manager - US (Based on the East Coast)

Job Description

PURPOSE

The Principal Gifts Manager is a vital member of the Development team at the WHO Foundation, responsible for advancing strategic fundraising and engagement goals. The role will appeal to a talented principal gifts fundraiser motivated by the opportunity to make a transformative impact on the Foundation’s fundraising at a pivotal moment in its history.

By cultivating relationships with individuals, trusts, and corporations, this role will secure $3M+ funding from a diverse and growing community of supporters. The Principal Gifts Manager will connect these stakeholders to our mission through a blend of face-to-face meetings, events, tailored proposals, and compelling presentations. This role may also serve as a multi-market specialist, managing select portfolios.

REPORTS TO

 The Principal Gifts Manager will report to the Director of Development US for the WHO Foundation.

ACCOUNTABILITIES & FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising and portfolio management:

• Increase philanthropic gifts to WHOF and build a sustainable pipeline of prospects and fundraising income.
• Manage a portfolio of 30-40 prospective donors and deliver multiple gifts at the $3 million + level.
• Meet or exceed targets, including dollars raised, asks made, meetings secured, and gift closure rates.
• Develop strategies for multi-year transformational funding etc to : Develop strategies for multi-year transformational funding, working collaboratively with the Development Team to expand UHNW networks and corporate partners. Build plans to engage family offices, donor-advised funds, wealth advisors, and family foundations at the principal gift level.
• Efficiently use the CRM to track and report activity, support campaign data, and provide management information for senior leadership.
• Cultivate deep and meaningful principal gift relationships with prospects and donors.
• Develop strong working relationships with WHO and WHOF ’s staff and senior volunteers.

Relationship management:

• Design and execute effective cultivation/ solicitation strategies with potential donors that inspire major gifts to match fundraising priorities.
• Initiate and grow a personal network of senior influencers and connectors to strengthen and expand the principal gifts pipeline..
• Build mutually beneficial relationships with WHOF and WHO colleagues, particularly in relation to [around] fundraising projects, and align programmes of activity where appropriate.
• Create shared opportunities that support and advance the Foundation’s fundraising priorities: replace: Identify and leverage shared opportunities that advance the Foundation’s fundraising priorities.
• Translate complex ideas into compelling messages tailored to supporters..
• Work with leadership and fundraisers from across the Foundation to identify potential funding priorities of interest to principal gift donors and prospects.
• Where assigned, lead on a geographical focus region’s overall engagement strategy, leveraging existing and planned foundation-wide activity to increase regional engagement, whilst collaborating with stakeholders, advocates and ambassadors to further identify new philanthropic funding opportunities

Collaboration:

• Work in partnership with the Finance team, Legal, Communications and wider WHOF teams to ensure gifts are processed in line with donor wishes and financial regulations
• Work with senior stakeholders to secure transformational gifts.
• Ensure the highest standards of donor care through effective stewardship, timely reporting, gift acknowledgment and continued engagement.
• Demonstrate tact, discretion and resourcefulness in all areas of performance.

Job requirements

• A minimum of 10+ years to attract senior-level US fundraisers. of experience in fundraising 
• Significant experience of managing principal gift portfolios and closing 7- and 8-figure gifts
• Proficient in building relationships and negotiating with UHNW and HNWI donors
• Demonstrable experience of working to and achieving challenging financial targets
• Demonstrable experience of designing and executing successful fundraising strategies
• Excellent knowledge of best practice in philanthropic fundraising applied successfully in international development, higher education, health, or nonprofit sectors
• Strong experience in health partnership with health emergencies and corporate partners is also welcome
• Thorough knowledge of IT systems, database management and Salesforce.
• Experience working in an international organization and/or in international development within a complex stakeholder environment
• Knowledge of US philanthropic networks and organizations
• Self motivated, target driven and aptitude to work with flexibility and autonomy both individually and as part of a multi-stakeholder team
• Comfort with and/or experience of operating in a lean, start-up and remote environment
• Excellent attention to detail and applied successfully in international development, higher education, health, or nonprofit sectors
• Ability to juggle and prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines
• Experience of applied successfully in international development, higher education, health, or nonprofit sectors
• Fluency in English (excellent writing skills)
• Politically astute with a tactful and diplomatic communication style
• Proficient at developing relationships and influencing and negotiating at a senior management and board level, internally and externally

WHAT WE OFFER

Rewarding work in a dynamic non-profit environment

A collaborative workplace within a multicultural team

An agile and flexible environment 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Type of contract: Permanent contract

Location: Based on the East Coast, remote working 

Working rate: 100%

Estimated start date:  Asap

Application deadline: 20.10.2025

About the Organization

ABOUT US

The WHO Foundation (WHOF), launched in May 2020 and headquartered in Geneva, was created as an independent Swiss foundation affiliated with but independent of WHO. Its mission is to mobilize greater private capital and partnership to advance the mission of the World Health Organization (WHO), enabling catalytic impact on the people whose lives rely on WHO’s work and facilitating innovation to maximise the impact of the resources we invest.

WHO plays a singular role in leading the global health ecosystem, acting as a first-responder to health crises — including the current conflict in Ukraine and on behalf of the 15+ million people in urgent need of aid in Horn of Africa; producing technical guidelines and tools to prevent and treat disease; and acting as a country-level convener with an unparalleled level of trust. The crises of the 21st century, including COVID-19, have made clear both the inequity of access to effective and affordable healthcare and the indispensable role of WHO. Yet WHO lacks sufficient resources to fulfil its mandate. And, beyond funding, its vision cannot be achieved by the public sector alone.

The WHO Foundation was therefore created as an independent Swiss foundation affiliated with but independent of WHO to marshal new resources from philanthropists, foundations, businesses, and individuals to support its mission: promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable, while protecting the neutrality and independence of WHO as the world’s leading health authority. WHOF is a nexus for unique opportunities in global health, facilitating game-changing opportunities between the private sector and WHO. Our focus is on mobilizing grant income, shared value partnerships, and investment to power WHO’s work.