Vice President, Institutional Giving

Job Description

Title: Vice President Institutional Giving

Department: Business Operations  

Reports to: Chief Business Operations Officer

Supervises: Senior Partnerships Directors and Managers for Governments, Foundations, and Corporate Partners

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Position Summary

This newly created Institutional Giving fundraising position will lead AWF's government, foundations and corporate fundraising teams. The Vice President, Institutional Giving is a senior leadership role responsible for developing and executing strategies to secure funding from government, foundations and corporate entities to deliver on AWF's mission and vision. The position leads teams dedicated to each of these market segments and reports into the Chief Business Operations Officer, who oversees the business operations of AWF including fundraising, finance and administration, and people and culture functions.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Planning

• Develop and implement strategies to grow institutional funding and meet annual and 3-year fundraising goals.
• Create and oversee a comprehensive institutional giving plan, including setting and analysing metrics for success.
• Collaborate with executive leadership, program staff, and the development team to align fundraising strategies with organizational priorities.

Relationship Management

• Frontline functions of relationship management with AWF's most important institutional donors including cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of relationships with current and prospective institutional funders including government, foundations and corporate partners.
• Represent AWF in meetings, presentations, and calls with funders and prospects.
• Build visibility and deepen engagement with institutional partners to expand AWF's impact and resource mobilisation efforts.

Team Leadership and Management

• Build best-in-sector teams for AWF to be the 'go to' partner for key institutional donors.
• Lead, manage and mentor AWF's teams of institutional giving professionals, supporting their professional development, driving compliance with the Account Management Framework and Business Plan, and empowering excellence in performance.
• Foster a collaborative and productive culture within the institutional giving team and between the institutional giving team and other teams across AWF.

Proposal and Grant Management

• Oversee the preparation and submission of technical and cost proposals, reports, and supporting materials for institutional funders.
• Ensure the institutional giving team contributes as outlined in the Account Management Framework and Project Management Guidelines to deliver best-in-class grants management including  compliance, accounting, and stewardship of grant-funded projects.
• Monitor grant progress and reporting requirements to ensure timely and accurate fulfilment of obligations.

 Internal Collaboration

• Work closely with program staff to develop a deep understanding of organisational initiatives and articulate compelling cases for support to funders.
• Support the CBOO, Chief of Staff, and Chief Executive Officer as needed on institutional fundraising matters.
• Ensure accurate tracking and reporting of institutional giving activities in the Balanced Scorecard, Board Dashboards and donor databases.
• Analyse data to inform strategy and report on progress to the CBOO.

Qualifications

• At least 15 years experience in institutional fundraising, including government, foundations and corporate partnerships.
• Knowledge of African conservation issues is a strong advantage.
• Proven track record of raising funds from institutional funders at seven and eight figure levels, especially foundation and government funders.
• Experience leading an institutional giving department generating at least $30 million annually and sustaining a diversified pipeline of opportunities of at least $200 million.
• Proven leadership and management abilities, with experience supervising and developing staff in a cross-cultural context.
• Strong relationship-building, communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to develop and execute strategic plans and meet ambitious fundraising targets.
• Knowledge of best practices in grants management, donor stewardship and compliance,
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Bachelor's degree required. Advanced degree preferred.
• Relevant fundraising qualifications.