Senior Fundraising Manager with focus on Foundations & Major Gifts

Institute of Science and Technology Austria; Wien; On-site; EUR 80,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Opportunities for personal growth

Stable working environment

Possible overpayment based on qualifications

Job summary

A renowned research institute located in Vienna is seeking a Senior Fundraising Manager with a focus on Foundations & Major Gifts. The ideal candidate will build and manage relationships with high-net-worth individuals and philanthropic foundations globally to support major capital campaigns. Responsibilities include designing strategies for major gifts and ensuring effective communication with stakeholders. This position offers opportunities for personal growth in a supportive environment, requiring excellent English skills and a strategic mindset.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in major gifts or foundation fundraising (ideally €500k+).
• Experience or strong interest in international science, higher education, or research contexts.
• Excellent English skills; German or additional languages are an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to build and leverage global philanthropic networks beyond Europe.
• Confident in building credible relationships with senior donors and high-level stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Build and nurture a portfolio of high-potential donors and philanthropic foundations.
• Design and execute strategies to secure major and transformational gifts.
• Lead engagement and relationship-building with donors.
• Lead engagement and relationship-building with donors in coordination with the Head of the Unit.
• Drive operational activities of ISTA’s major capital campaign and monitor KPIs.
• Monitor donor activities and implement best practices observed at similar institutions.
• Plan donor visits and events on and off campus.
• Define content requirements and donor targeting for fundraising materials.
• Track international fundraising trends and refresh ISTA’s fundraising program.

Skills

Major gifts fundraising

Relationship building

Communication

Networking

Strategic mindset

Education

Post-secondary education or equivalent experience

Job description

Senior Fundraising Manager with focus on Foundations & Major Gifts

• Full Time (40 h/w)

Your Responsibilities

To further strengthen ISTA’s long-term institutional growth and strategic initiatives, the Unit of Fundraising and Development has recently been established. The unit’s goal is to build and steward strategic relationships with philanthropic, corporate, and foundation partners, securing private financial and in-kind contributions, and identifying mission-aligned external collaboration opportunities in support of institutional priorities. As Fundraising Manager for Foundations & Major Gifts, you will play a key role in building and managing trusted philanthropic relationships, especially with high-net-worth individuals and foundations globally to support ISTA´s major capital campaign and other strategic priorities. Working closely with the Head of Fundraising & Development, you will design and execute strategies to secure major and transformational gifts that advance ISTA’s mission and vision.

• Build and nurture a portfolio of high-potential donors and philanthropic foundations
• Develop thoughtful cultivation and solicitation strategies aligned with institutional priorities
• Contribute to case-for-support development in close collaboration with internal stakeholders like Communications, Events, and Science Education
• Lead engagement and relationship-building with donors, collaborating with the Head of the Unit
• Drive key operational activities of ISTA’s major capital campaign, including monitoring KPIs and coordinating activities
• Monitor donor activities at comparable institutions abroad and deriving and implementing suitable best practice measures
• Design and coordinate donor visits and events both on and off campus
• Define content requirements and donor targeting for fundraising material and coordinate with Communications and Assistant on production and delivery
• Track international fundraising trends and introduce best practices to the ISTA fundraising program
• Provide strategic and operational support to the Head of Fundraising & Development in related projects

Your Profile

• Relevant post-secondary education or equivalent experience
• Proven track record in major gifts or foundation fundraising (ideally €500k+)
• Experience or strong interest in international science, higher education, or research contexts
• Demonstrated ability to build and leverage global philanthropic networks, with established contacts beyond Europe
• Confident in building credible relationships with senior donors and high‑level stakeholders
• Strategic mindset combined with a hands‑on, results‑oriented approach
• Skilled at developing long‑term donor relationships with enthusiasm and persuasive communication
• Strong communicator, adaptable and composed in dynamic environments, capable of managing diverse stakeholders and evolving priorities
• Excellent English skills; German or additional languages are an advantage
• Proven integrity, discretion, and flexibility (including availability for events outside regular working hours)

ISTA is growing. Grow with us!

Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) is a constantly growing international institute forconducting world-class research in mathematics, computer science,life sciences & physical sciences. We strive to recruit passionateprofessionals from across the world over all fields who strive tosupport our goal of excellent research. Located within a beautifulcampus on the outskirts of Vienna, we offer multiple opportunitiesfor personal growth in a stable working environment.

*This position comes with possible overpayment depending on education, qualification and work experience. For more information on how ISTA processes your personal data, please refer to www.ista.ac.at/data-protection.