Director, Partnerships

Raising The Village; Toronto; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Director of Partnerships to lead strategic engagement initiatives aimed at increasing philanthropic revenue. This role involves cultivating relationships with key stakeholders, including ultra-high-net-worth individuals and philanthropic foundations, to support the organization's mission of ending ultra-poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of partnership best practices and exceptional communication skills, enabling them to effectively represent the organization at high-profile events. Join a dynamic team dedicated to making a significant impact in communities and driving organizational growth through innovative partnerships.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of partnership practices and stakeholder engagement.
• Exceptional communication skills tailored for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Drive strategic engagement initiatives to increase philanthropic revenue.
• Cultivate relationships with philanthropic foundations and UHNW individuals.
• Ensure alignment of philanthropic activities with organizational goals.

Skills

Partnership best practices

Effective communications

Stakeholder engagement strategies

Interpersonal skills

Relationship-building

Written communication

Verbal communication

Marketing strategies

Organizational skills

Creative thinking

Job description

Location: Toronto
Reports To: Senior Director of Philanthropy
Terms: Full-Time

About Raising The Village
We are Raising The Village (RTV), an international development organization and a registered charity on a mission to end ultra-poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. Raising The Village is a fast-growing organization on an accelerated growth path. Our team in East Africa and North America works together to lift communities out of ultra-poverty in last-mile villages. We operate at the intersection of direct implementation and advanced data analytics to inform progress, decision-making, and impact.

To date, we have supported more than one million people through our innovative holistic approach. We have achieved this tremendous growth with the support of our incredible partners from all around the globe who believe in our model and impact. Find out more about our programs and impact at www.raisingthevillage.org.

Role Description

The Director of Partnerships is responsible for driving strategic engagement initiatives that increase philanthropic revenue, forming and deepening relationships with stakeholders, enhancing visibility, and cultivating long-term partnerships to support organizational growth. As a key external-facing Partnerships team member, the Director cultivates and stewards new relationships with philanthropic foundations, ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individuals, and other mission-aligned donors. With a deep understanding of the livelihoods sector, the Director develops compelling cases for support, builds strategic alliances, and ensures that all philanthropic activities are aligned with the organization's programmatic goals, values, and long-term vision.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership
   • Develop and implement a comprehensive engagement strategy for existing and new partners which aligns with the organizational strategy.
   • Collaborate with the senior leadership team to align engagement efforts with organizational objectives and mission.
   • Act as a key advisor to the Senior Director of Philanthropy on stakeholder engagement trends and opportunities.
2. Stakeholder Engagement
   • Cultivate and maintain relationships with new key stakeholders, including philanthropic, corporate, DAF, and UHNW partners.
   • Represent the organization at high-profile events, conferences, and public forums.
   • Represent the organization through partner speaking engagements.
3. Partnerships and Fundraising
   • Retention of the existing portfolio with overall portfolio growth of 20% for recurring gifts and renewals, with a turnover rate of <5%.
   • Collaborate with the Partnerships team to identify and secure new major gifts and grants, including leading as the primary and secondary relationship holder throughout the partner journey from pipeline to stewardship.
   • Participate in the development of proposals, cases for support, reporting and recognition with other materials, with active management of partnership portfolio and fundraising priorities.
   • Develop and maintain relationships with new potential donors, partners, and supporters.
   • Build and sustain strategic partnerships with new corporations, NGOs, and other entities.
4. Performance Measurement
   • Ensure partner satisfaction and loyalty metrics, using insights to inform future strategies.
   • Retention of the existing portfolio with overall portfolio growth of 20% for recurring gifts and renewals, with a turnover rate of <5%.
   • Set and achieve KPIs related to philanthropic revenue, engagement, and communications using a "People, Policy, Process, Practice" lens.
   • Use data and stakeholder feedback to evaluate and refine engagement strategies.

Required Skills and Expertise

• Strong understanding of partnership best practices, effective communications, and stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Proven ability to build and maintain philanthropic partnerships.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging for diverse audiences.
• Experience with marketing and communications strategies.
• Passionate about the organization's mission and values.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Creative thinker with problem-solving skills.