Senior Manager, Philanthropic Partnerships

  • BrusselsBelgium

Job Description

Organisation:                                 WeForest asbl/vzw

Scope:                                              WeForest Global (Brussels HQ + entities in Ethiopia, Zambia, and Malawi)

Location:                                         Belgium, Netherlands, UK, or Europe

Reporting to:                                 Director of Fundraising

Work percentage:                         100%

Expected start date:                     ASAP

Type of contract:                           Employee or consultant (depending on preference and country of residence)


ABOUT: 

WeForest is a dynamic NGO restoring and conserving forests on a landscape scale, maximising the impact of trees for People, Nature, and Climate. We adopt a holistic Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) model with a three-pronged approach: Stewardship, Restoration, and Economic Resilience. Through four global programs and 17 tailored, community-led projects across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, we're regenerating 53,000 hectares of forest, growing 82 million trees, and uplifting the livelihoods of 67,000 families. 


By recognizing the vital role of forests in mitigating climate change, enhancing water resources, promoting biodiversity, and improving rural livelihoods and resilience, we strive to make a lasting positive impact on the environment and communities. [1]


OPPORTUNITY:  

We're seeking a Philanthropy Senior Manager, eager for the next step in their career, to play a key role in raising €13 million annually to meet our goal of planting 100 million trees by 2025. [2]


Reporting to the Director of Fundraising, the Senior Manager plays a pivotal role in securing and nurturing high-impact partnerships with philanthropic foundations, institutional donors, and HNWI that make substantial investments in WeForest. This role is intricately tied to both strategy and relationship management, connecting in-depth program understanding with high-value, personalised funding initiatives. You will have a key role in exploring new sectors and geographies to enhance our portfolio and diversify our income streams.


JOB DESCRIPTION

In the role of Philanthropy Senior Manager, your task is twofold: cultivating new relationships and strengthening existing ones to grow both our visibility and your portfolio - reaching €3M annually in the next two years. Beyond that, your priority will be leading a team that manages the sharing and consolidation of project details and data - acting as a core nexus between fundraising and the rest of WeForest.


SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

  • Fundraising: Build and maintain a €4M portfolio from Day 1.
  • High-Value Donor Cultivation and Stewardship: Develop and maintain relationships with foundations, institutional donors, and HNWIs, securing six- and seven-figure gifts. 
  • Networking: Engage in networking to build new relationships, attend key events, and prepare the Director and CEO for high-level engagements, ensuring that WeForest is represented effectively at all levels.
  • Pipeline Development: Proactively build and manage a robust pipeline of high-value prospects, identifying new opportunities and addressing any gaps to drive long-term, sustainable funding.
  • Organisational Fluency: 
    • Be able to effectively communicate WeForest’s business model, ensuring donor investments support both WeForest's core costs and project needs.
    • Lead and mentor a team that acts as the nexus between fundraising and the rest of WeForest, ensuring alignment in donor communications, proposal development, and project reporting.
  • Compelling Communication: Collaborate with Marcomm on crafting and communicating compelling narratives that resonate with donors. Address donor feedback and reinforce WeForest’s value proposition.


REQUIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS: 

  • Experience: At least 7-10 years of experience in philanthropy and fundraising, securing and managing high-value donor relationships and securing six- and seven-figure investments.
  • Networking and Relationship-Building: Strong skills in building and maintaining networking and relationship management.
  • Excellence in Proposals and Reporting: Expertise in creating high-quality proposals and reports that clearly demonstrate the impact of donor contributions.
  • Strategic and Analytical Thinking: Ability to develop data-driven strategies to build and manage a high-value donor pipeline, ensuring sustainable and diversified funding.
  • Sector Knowledge: Deep understanding of environmental conservation, nature restoration, and the philanthropic landscape, including key trends in sustainable development funding.
  • Innovation and Resilience: Creative problem-solving skills and resilience to navigate challenges, ensuring continued growth in a dynamic environment.
  • Cross-vertical: Experience in leading cross-functional teams, ensuring alignment between fundraising efforts and organisational goals.
  • Language Proficiency: Fluent in spoken and written English; proficiency in additional European languages (Dutch, French, or German) is a significant asset.


TERMS & CONDITIONS: 

  • Position: Full-time employee contract, preferably based in Belgium or neighbouring countries. 
  • Start date: As soon as possible. 
  • Competitive package for an NGO.


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