Institutional Partnerships Officer

Environmental Defense Fund; United States; On-site; USD 98,000 - 104,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Robust benefits

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Environmental Defense Fund is seeking an Institutional Partnerships Officer to lead strategic fundraising with foundations and donor collaboratives. You will manage a portfolio of institutional donors, prospect new prospects, and coordinate across Global Development and program teams to drive transformative support.

The role emphasizes proposal development, donor communications, and coordinating engagements with executive leadership to expand EDF’s donor base and impact.

Qualifications

• Six+ years of nonprofit fundraising success, preferably with foundations or institutional donors.
• Experience identifying, qualifying, and cultivating new donor prospects.
• Experience with donor collaboratives, funder networks, or pooled funds is preferred.
• Exceptional writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• High integrity, discretion, and professional standards; comfortable with donor interactions.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, goal-oriented, entrepreneurial environment.
• Strong relationship-building skills and cultural competency across diverse groups.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Salesforce.
• Willingness to travel 5–10% nationally.

Responsibilities

• Prospect and qualify institutional donors not previously engaged with EDF, coordinating with research and Development teams.
• Develop and execute donor cultivation plans aligned with EDF priorities.
• Assist with donor collaborative strategy, engagement coordination, and relationship advancement.
• Manage and steward a small portfolio of existing foundation donors, with growth planned.
• Prepare compelling proposals, reports, and donor materials with program staff and grant writers.
• Provide strategic talking points and briefing materials for donor meetings.

Skills

Writing

Communication

Presentation

Analytical skills

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Advanced degree considered for substitution

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Office

Job description

Location: Remote, Hybrid near our office locations

Overall Function

The Institutional Partnerships Officer will manage fundraising efforts for a select portfolio of foundation donors and prospects (five-to-seven-figure gifts). The portfolio will initially emphasize prospective institutional donors, including foundations and donor collaboratives that have not previously supported EDF or are significantly lapsed, alongside a small group of existing donors that is expected to build over time. This position is part of the Institutional Partnerships team within EDF’s Global Development Department, which works to secure transformative support for EDF’s mission. This individual will also help shape and execute EDF’s strategy for engaging donor collaboratives, working across Global Development and program teams to identify, assess, and advance opportunities for alignment. The ideal candidate will be a development professional with the skills and drive needed to make a significant contribution to a dynamic results-oriented Global Development program. The Institutional Partnerships Officer reports to a Senior Director of Institutional Partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

• Conducting proactive prospecting, qualification, and outreach for institutional donors that have not previously supported EDF or are significantly lapsed, in close coordination with research and Development colleagues.
• Developing and executing donor cultivation plans to inspire and engage foundations and institutional prospects in alignment with EDF’s strategic priorities.
• Helping assist with EDF’s donor collaborative strategy, including assessing fit, coordinating internal engagement, and advancing relationship strategies.
• Managing and stewarding a small portfolio of existing foundation donors, with responsibility expected to grow over time.
• Preparing compelling proposals, reports, and donor-facing materials in collaboration with program staff, grant writers, and development colleagues.
• Providing program and executive staff with strategic talking points and briefing materials for donor interactions.
• Attending meetings with foundation and institutional donor representatives to develop and deepen relationships.
• Contributing accurate financial forecasts and donor records in Salesforce, collaborating with research, donor engagement, and communications teams as appropriate.
• Build and maintain a thorough understanding of EDF’s diverse environmental programs to effectively communicate their impact and potential to donors.
• Work closely with Global Development team colleagues, program staff, finance, and executive leadership to ensure cohesive and aligned fundraising strategies.
• Utilize donor management software to monitor engagement metrics, prioritize outreach activities, and analyze portfolio performance.
• Participate in advancing EDF organizational effectiveness and culture goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.
• Actively participate in achieving assigned fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship goals.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with at least six years of demonstrated success and progressive responsibility in nonprofit fundraising, preferably with foundation or institutional donors. An advanced degree or equivalent may substitute for up to two years of experience.
• Demonstrated experience identifying, qualifying, and cultivating new donor prospects, preferably within a foundation or institutional fundraising context.
• Experience working with or assessing donor collaboratives, funder networks, pooled funds, or other collective philanthropic vehicles is preferred.
• Exceptional writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• The highest level of personal and professional integrity, discretion, and quality standards; poise and comfort with donor interactions.
• A high degree of proficiency working in a fast-paced, flexible, goal-oriented, and entrepreneurial environment.
• Excellent planning, organization, time management, and analytical skills; experience working with a team to successfully manage multiple projects with competing timelines.
• Capacity and confidence to work easily and effectively with a wide range of people; adept at building relationships.
• Demonstrate self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across all cultures and backgrounds.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and donor tracking software (preferably Salesforce).
• Commitment to the mission of the Environmental Defense Fund.
• Travel Expectations: 5%-10% national travel may be required.

• We offer a strong total rewards package encompassing competitive salary, robust benefits, and professional development opportunities consistent with a modern global organization. We take into account factors such as candidate experience, skills, training, internal team equity and local norms.

Please note that pay ranges are country specific. As a result, the stated currency is not meant be converted into any other currency.

98,000 - 104,000 USD