Foundations and Institutional Philanthropy Advisor

UN Atlas; New York (NY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

UN Women in New York seeks a Foundations and Institutional Philanthropy Advisor to lead the implementation of its strategy, convene teams, and cultivate high-value partnerships with philanthropic foundations worldwide. This senior role guides governance, sets priorities, and coordinates across offices to mobilize resources for gender equality.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in strategic partnerships, a Master’s degree, and a track record advising leadership on funding opportunities, portfolio

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in international relations, public policy, development studies, business administration, philanthropy, social sciences, or related field.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic partnerships, resource mobilization, philanthropy, or programme development, with international-level experience.
• Experience developing high-quality partner propositions and working within the UN system is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of the Institutional Foundations and Philanthropies Strategy, translating priorities into workplans and accountabilities.
• Advise senior leadership on philanthropic market trends, portfolio choices, and growth opportunities.
• Establish and monitor portfolio performance indicators, leading periodic reviews to identify and address bottlenecks.
• Develop and manage a strategic portfolio of priority institutional relationships, building and qualifying a global pipeline of foundations and philanthropic actors.
• Maintain disciplined account planning, relationship intelligence, and forecasting.
• Cultivate, negotiate, and steward high-value institutional partnerships, emphasizing multi-year, flexible funding.
• Develop tailored engagement strategies and coordinate outreach.
• Shape fundable offers aligned with the Strategic Plan and partner priorities, convening multidisciplinary teams for proposition development.
• Strengthen engagement pathways and institutional learning by overseeing a coherent One UN Women engagement model and building capacity across the organization.

Skills

Strategic understanding

Portfolio prioritization

Account-management standards

Negotiation skills

Multidisciplinary coordination

Analytical skills

Education

Master’s degree

First-level degree + 2 yrs experience

Job description

Organizational context

UN Women is dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. The Strategic Partnerships Division focuses on diversifying funding and building sustained partnerships. This role supports the implementation of the Strategy on Partnerships with Institutional Philanthropic Foundations (2026-2029), aiming to strengthen engagement with foundations and advance UN Women's Strategic Plan.

Job purpose

The Foundations and Institutional Philanthropy Advisor provides senior-level, organization-wide leadership for the implementation of UN Women's Strategy on Partnerships with Institutional Philanthropic Foundations. This role serves as the organizational convenor and principal advisor for this portfolio, setting priorities, establishing account-management standards, guiding governance, and cultivating high-value relationships. The Advisor advances strategic funding opportunities, coordinates institutional support across all UN Women offices, and strengthens systems to secure more structured, sustained, and scalable partnerships with philanthropic foundations, ultimately contributing to the organization's resource mobilization efforts and the advancement of gender equality.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of the Institutional Foundations and Philanthropies Strategy, translating priorities into workplans and accountabilities.
• Advise senior leadership on philanthropic market trends, portfolio choices, and growth opportunities.
• Establish and monitor portfolio performance indicators, leading periodic reviews to identify and address bottlenecks.
• Develop and manage a strategic portfolio of priority institutional relationships, building and qualifying a global pipeline of foundations and philanthropic actors.
• Maintain disciplined account planning, relationship intelligence, and forecasting.
• Cultivate, negotiate, and steward high-value institutional partnerships, emphasizing multi-year, flexible funding.
• Develop tailored engagement strategies and coordinate outreach.
• Shape fundable offers aligned with the Strategic Plan and partner priorities, convening multidisciplinary teams for proposition development.
• Strengthen engagement pathways and institutional learning by overseeing a coherent One UN Women engagement model and building capacity across the organization.

Education

A Master’s degree or equivalent in international relations, public policy, development studies, business administration, philanthropy, social sciences, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted.

Work experience

Requires at least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic partnerships, resource mobilization, philanthropy, or programme development, with international-level experience. Essential experience includes developing/managing significant partnerships with foundations and philanthropic organizations, advising senior management, coordinating complex processes, and leading innovative partnership strategies. Experience developing high-quality partner propositions and working within the UN system is desirable.

Skills

Strategic understanding of institutional philanthropy and partnership financing; Ability to set portfolio priorities and advise senior leadership; Ability to establish account-management standards and improve portfolio discipline; Strong representational, negotiation, and influencing skills; Ability to convene and guide multidisciplinary teams; Strong analytical, results-management, and learning skills.

Required languages

English

Desired languages

Arabic, French, Russian, Spanish