Associate Director, Principal Giving West

International Rescue Committee; California, Glendale (MO, CA); Remote; USD 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a seasoned fundraiser to join their External Relations team as the Associate Director of Principal Giving. This role involves managing a portfolio of ultra-high net worth individuals, developing creative cultivation strategies, and collaborating with senior leadership to secure significant multi-year commitments. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in fundraising, excellent communication skills, and a passion for humanitarian work. Join a dynamic team focused on making a meaningful impact and supporting vital causes worldwide.

Benefits

Paid Time Off

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Retirement Plans with Matching

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Qualifications

• 6-8 years of progressive fundraising experience or equivalent in sales.
• Proven experience as an inclusive manager to frontline fundraisers.

Responsibilities

• Manage a dynamic portfolio of ultra-high net worth individuals.
• Create strategic correspondence and engagement strategies for donors.
• Supervise and coach frontline fundraisers to guide their growth.

Skills

Fundraising Experience

Relationship Cultivation

Communication Skills

Financial Data Analysis

CRM System Navigation

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree (Preferred)

Tools

CRM Software

Job description

Job Overview/ Summary:

The External Relations (ER) department is comprised of three main but complementary functional areas: Private fundraising, Communications, and Advocacy. The main objective of the department is to enable this organization of more than 15,000 staff to have the resources needed to continue serving 18 million people worldwide in places affected by war and disaster. The Philanthropy unit, part of the ER department, leads on the organization's work with High-Net-Worth Individuals. Positioned within USA Philanthropy, the Principal Giving West team has a goal of improving private individual support for the IRC by engaging, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding significant, multi-year commitments from ultra-high net worth individual supporters based in the Western region of the United States.

The IRC is seeking a seasoned fundraiser and relationship cultivator to serve as the Associate Director of Principal Giving in the Western United States. The Associate Director will work closely with the Senior Director of USA Philanthropy West and the Director of Principal Giving West to build strategy supporting a growing portfolio of ultra-high net worth individuals.

Working across fundraising teams and with senior leadership, the Associate Director will develop creative and comprehensive cultivation strategies, complete engagement plans, and manage solicitations of individuals with sensitivity to broader partnership discussions and status. The ideal candidate has demonstrated experience in understanding philanthropists' motivations and assessing their willingness to make principal (seven to eight-figure) gifts to the IRC over several years. The Associate Director may also manage and coach up to two front-line fundraisers and/or support staff.

Major Responsibilities:

1. Manage a dynamic portfolio of 30-50 ultra-high net worth individuals through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
2. Participate in active prospect discovery via relationship and network mapping, qualifying prospects through research and discovery to uncover new donor relationships.
3. Create strategic correspondence, including solicitations, cultivation pieces, reports, and stewardship materials to engage donors and prospects.
4. Design tactics and long-term engagement strategies to deepen donor dedication and increase giving.
5. Prepare strategy, briefing, and debriefing materials for face-to-face meetings and solicitations with Principal donors, conducted personally and/or by senior staff and Board leadership.
6. Supervise and coach frontline fundraisers/support staff, mentoring them and guiding their professional growth.
7. Collaborate across the IRC, including with institutional fundraising colleagues and field staff, to align donor and organizational priorities, increasing income and building deep engagement with the organization.
8. Work with Account Managers to strategize, track, and measure progress toward financial goals and the movement of prospects and donors through the donor lifecycle.
9. Undertake special projects as requested.

Candidate Requirements:

• 6-8 years of progressive fundraising experience or equivalent in sales, with demonstrated expertise in private sector, major gifts, or principal gifts fundraising.
• Proven experience as an empowering, supportive, and inclusive manager to frontline fundraisers.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Track record of closing multiple 7-figure gifts from a diverse portfolio of donors and prospects, including qualifying and upgrading donors.
• Experience developing multi-year funding opportunities.
• Excellent communication skills—writing, listening, verbal presentation.
• Ability to develop creative, nuanced donor strategies often in partnership with program staff or senior leadership.
• Adaptability to a fast-paced environment with a focus on donor priorities.
• Strong collaboration skills across teams and internal support for initiatives.
• Ability to implement and support effective donor relationship processes.
• Financial data analysis and CRM system navigation skills.
• Dedication to causes related to international development, humanitarian work, human rights, gender and racial equality, social justice, and US immigrant communities.

Working Environment:

Remote/flex-time work required.

Compensation:

Posted ranges apply to US-based candidates, based on various factors including location, experience, and skills. Exact offers will be calibrated accordingly.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

IRC considers all applicants on merit, without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

US Benefits:

Comprehensive benefits include paid time off, medical, dental, vision insurance, FSA, retirement plans with matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program.

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Standard of Professional Conduct:

IRC staff must adhere to the IRC Way - our Code of Conduct, emphasizing Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.