Strategic Partnerships & Donor Impact Lead

International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX); Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 100,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) seeks a senior fundraising leader to cultivate donors, secure funding, and drive strategic partnerships in support of its global education and development initiatives. You will build and steward major donor relationships, craft compelling proposals, and collaborate with program and external affairs teams to align funding with impact.

The role requires 10+ years in philanthropy or related fields, with proven ability to secure funding and manage

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of professional experience, including at least 5 years in philanthropy, partnerships, fundraising, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success securing philanthropic, corporate, or other non-governmental funding.
• Experience developing compelling proposals, concept notes, and donor-facing materials.
• Strong relationship management experience with donors, foundations, corporations, nonprofits, or other strategic partners.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to synthesize complex information and communicate effectively with diverse audiences.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Professional fluency in English.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage relationships with foundation, corporate, and individual donors.
• Support donor engagement strategies aligned with IREX's goals.
• Identify and develop new philanthropic funding opportunities.
• Represent IREX in donor meetings, conferences, and external engagements.
• Support executive and board-level donor cultivation and stewardship efforts.
• Develop and manage proposals for philanthropic and corporate funding opportunities.
• Lead or contribute to donor strategies, prospecting efforts, and funding pursuits.
• Collaborate with technical teams to design fundable solutions that respond to donor interests.
• Support business development initiatives to advance organizational growth and sustainability.
• Build relationships with thought leaders, influencers, and philanthropic organizations.
• Collaborate across IREX to identify partnership opportunities that enhance impact and visibility.
• Work with communications to strengthen donor engagement and brand positioning.
• Support knowledge management and donor engagement systems, including Salesforce.
• Prepare briefing materials, donor profiles, and strategic analyses for senior leadership.
• Contribute to annual planning, donor pipeline management, and fundraising performance analysis.
• Assist in evaluating return on investment and fundraising effectiveness.
• Mentor and support colleagues contributing to fundraising and partnership efforts.
• Promote cross-functional collaboration and capacity building across the organization.
• Foster a culture of innovation, learning, accountability, and shared success.

Skills

Strong communication

Relationship management

Strategic fundraising

Proposal writing

English fluency

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Salesforce CRM

Job description

International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) seeks a senior fundraising leader to cultivate donors, secure funding, and drive strategic partnerships in support of its global education and development initiatives. You will build and steward major donor relationships, craft compelling proposals, and collaborate with program and external affairs teams to align funding with impact.

The role requires 10+ years in philanthropy or related fields, with proven ability to secure funding and manage