Partnerships Director

Water Mission; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Water Mission seeks a Partnerships Director to cultivate major gifts and steward relationships with donors across the Midwest and beyond. The role builds strategic alliances, invites financial investments, and aligns partner passions with Water Mission’s mission.

The position reports to the Director of Partnerships and is based in Dallas–Fort Worth or Denver, with Chicago consideration. Expect travel and a strong emphasis on fundraising growth and donor care.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; 2–3 years of Major Gift experience.
• Ability to travel 60–80 nights annually (domestic & international).
• Strong donor engagement and stewardship skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a healthy portfolio of ~150 major partners and prospects.
• Meet or exceed $2,000,000 annual fundraising goal.
• Communicate Water Mission’s mission, programs, and impact to partners.

Skills

Major gifts

Donor relations

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor’s degree

CFRE designation beneficial

Master’s degree beneficial

Job description

The Partnerships Director will intentionally build and grow long-term relationships with key partners and prospective partners throughout the Midwest, inviting them into meaningful financial partnerships with Water Mission. As a member of Water Mission’s Investor Partnerships (IP) team, this individual will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individuals and families with the capacity and desire to invest significantly in Water Mission’s mission.

The Partnerships Director will be responsible for developing and managing a healthy, diversified portfolio of partners and prospects with an annual fundraising goal of $2 million or more. Success requires both exceptional care for existing partners and a proactive commitment to identifying and developing new relationships that will strengthen the portfolio and provide sustainable, year-over-year growth. Through intentional relationship-building, the Partnerships Director will seek to understand each partner’s passions, interests, and philanthropic objectives; connect those interests with opportunities to advance Water Mission’s mission; invite partners to make meaningful financial investments; and keep them thanked, connected, informed, and valued. The Partnerships Director will help partners see the impact of their generosity in bringing safe water and the hope of God’s love to people in need around the world.

This full-time position reports to the Director of Partnerships and will be based in the Dallas–Fort Worth or Denver areas, and Chicago may also be considered.

A successful Partnerships Director, Texas & Midwest will:

General Duties

• Maintain a strong Christian witness and model servant leadership to colleagues, partners, the communities we serve, and the public.
• Engage and participate in prayer before and after team meetings.
• Lead and actively participate in biblically based staff devotions and huddle.
• Maintain a strong working knowledge of Water Mission’s organizational objectives, programmatic strategies, projects, and activities in order to effectively communicate Water Mission’s mission, ministry, and impact.
• Stay informed of relevant local, regional, national, global, philanthropic, and financial issues that may support effective partner engagement.
• Faithfully serve existing and prospective partners in keeping with Water Mission’s biblical philosophy of stewardship.
• Effectively communicate the mission, vision, ministry, and impact of Water Mission to a variety of audiences.
• Represent Water Mission at partner meetings, events, conferences, and other gatherings as requested.
• Document partner communications, strategies, commitments, and next steps accurately and in a timely manner using Virtuous.
• Provide portfolio updates, revenue forecasts, and other reports to Investor Partnerships leadership as requested.
• Meet or exceed established annual fundraising and performance goals.

Intentionally Build Relationships and Present Opportunities

• Build and manage a healthy, diversified portfolio of approximately 150 major partners and qualified prospects, with responsibility for raising $2 million or more annually.
• Develop and execute an annual portfolio plan designed to meet or exceed fundraising goals through a balanced focus on new partner acquisition, cultivation, solicitation, retention, and growth.
• Find and proactively develop new prospective partners through referrals, networking, research, events, strategic outreach, and existing relationships. Consistently dedicate time to new partner development and, when appropriate, invite engaged partners to introduce others who may share an interest in Water Mission’s mission.
• Continually build and maintain a strong pipeline of qualified prospective partners to support both current-year fundraising goals and sustainable future growth.
• Win the opportunity for a deeper partnership by identifying areas of shared interest, passion, and alignment, and inviting current and prospective partners into meaningful financial partnerships with Water Mission.
• Personally and confidently make financial asks, presenting giving opportunities that align a partner’s interests with Water Mission’s mission, programs, and greatest needs.
• Deepen partner engagement and grow giving over time while intentionally building a diversified portfolio that is not overly dependent on any single partner or gift.
• Develop and execute thoughtful strategies and next steps for priority partners and prospects, intentionally advancing each relationship through the donor journey.
• Seek opportunities to engage a partner’s influence, network, time, talent, and expertise in addition to financial support.
• Maintain a working knowledge of Water Mission projects, programs, activities, and operations, as well as relevant financial, philanthropic, global, and current issues, to effectively communicate opportunities to partners.
• Collaborate with Water Mission leadership and colleagues to create meaningful partner experiences, funding opportunities, proposals, and engagement strategies.

Serve and Care for Key Partners

• Keep key partners connected, informed, appreciated, and valued through timely, personal, and meaningful communication and acknowledgment.
• Understand each partner’s motivations, interests, philanthropic goals, and desired impact, and honor their preferred method, frequency, and level of communication and engagement.
• Provide excellent and responsive partner care throughout every stage of the relationship.
• Maintain a strong focus on partner retention while intentionally identifying opportunities to deepen relationships and grow giving.
• Create meaningful opportunities for partners to engage with Water Mission’s work through personal meetings, events, project updates, field visits, organizational leadership, and other customized experiences as appropriate.

Lift Partners' Understanding of Their Impact

• Lift partners’ understanding of the impact of their generosity by connecting their giving to the people, communities, and transformation made possible through Water Mission’s work.
• Provide customized impact reporting, stories, project updates, and other meaningful communication that demonstrates how a partner’s generosity is making a difference.
• Help partners understand Water Mission’s broader mission, ministry, and vision and the important role their partnership plays in bringing safe water and the hope of God’s love to people in need.
• Encourage partners spiritually when appropriate and welcomed.
• Identify opportunities to deepen a partner’s connection to Water Mission and inspire continued and increased engagement over time.

Other duties as assigned

What is required?

• Personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Alignment with Water Mission’s Statement of Faith and core values of Love, Excellence, and Integrity.
• Alignment with Water Mission’s principles of biblical stewardship and commitment to its mission.
• Ability to travel approximately 60–80 nights annually, including domestic and international travel as necessary. International trips may include long car rides in rough terrain.
• If remote, a minimum of three annual trips to Water Mission’s Charleston headquarters may also be required.
• Bachelor’s degree required and 2-3 years of Major Gift experience.
• Master’s degree and/or CFRE designation beneficial, but not required.