Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.
In support of Mercy Corps’ mission, the Corporate Partnership team manages Mercy Corps’ fundraising relationships with major US and European companies. We set bold visions for the positive social change we can create with our partners, provide outstanding partner services and relationship management, and together build meaningful partnerships that provide value to all parties while creating lasting impact for the local communities where we work. Our partnerships span areas including emergency response, economic and market development, food and water security, climate change, and peacebuilding. We work across many teams at Mercy Corps, including marketing and communications, mass market fundraising, the executive office, and with our program and country-based colleagues around the world. This team is within Mercy Corps’ broader Development team, also encompassing major and mid-level giving and strategic philanthropy.
Mercy Corps is recruiting for a Director, Corporate Partnerships to join a dynamic team that is responsible for corporate partnership development and fundraising in support of Mercy Corps’ global operations. The Director of Corporate Partnerships will oversee and expand a portfolio of corporate partners, to 1) Raise unrestricted and strategic restricted funds for Mercy Corps priority program areas; 2) Grow existing partnerships and develop new ones that raise Mercy Corps’ profile and introduce Mercy Corps to new supporter audiences; and 3) Increase Mercy Corps’ profile and credibility as a 21st century partner that can deliver breakthrough solutions at scale. In order to successfully reach these goals, they will be the primary salesperson bringing Mercy Corps’ mission and corporate giving and engagement opportunities to partners and manage all elements required for successful partnership.
The current donor portfolio has a particular focus on technology companies, with room to expand into consumer goods as well as corporate donors aligned with efforts to advance global climate resilience. The successful candidate will have major corporate donor relationship management experience, an understanding of industry trends in corporate social responsibility, and a successful track record of securing six and seven figure philanthropic gifts.
RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Actively steward and cultivate an existing portfolio of strategic corporate partners to develop and expand their annual giving, regularly securing six and seven figure gifts from corporations in support of Mercy Corps’ global and domestic programs.
Grow the corporate portfolio; identify, cultivate, solicit new donors, and deliver bold and significant partnerships with major corporate donors
Lead and direct day-to-day communications with a portfolio of corporate donors
Collaborate with Mercy Corps Program, Technical and Innovation Team Leaders to identify priority funding opportunities and develop complex funding proposals
Write or edit concepts, proposals, pitch decks and stewardship materials.
Optimize partnerships, ensuring that Mercy Corps uses its limited partnership resources as effectively as possible.
STRATEGY & VISION
Formulate and implement individual strategies for developing key partnerships and initiatives around Mercy Corps programmatic priorities, mobilizing necessary internal and external resources, and leading processes across teams, to ensure all partnerships are effectively executed and partners’ needs are fully met. Includes significant proposal development work.
Make significant contributions to the development of evolving multi-year corporate fundraising strategy as part of the broader resource development vision and help expand the efficiency, quality and quantity of corporate partnerships, including longer term planning and closer alignment with programmatic objectives.
INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION
Effectively represent Mercy Corps to external audiences for both fundraising and profile elevation.
Pitch, lead and prep Mercy Corps executive team members for high level donor meetings, events and communications.
None
Reports Directly To: Senior Director, Corporate Partnerships
Works Directly With: Directors of Corporate Partnerships; Country Teams; Regional Program Team, Marketing, Fundraising and Brand teams; Technical Support Unit; Finance Team
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
BA in related field desirable or equivalent experience.
6+ years increasingly responsible work in corporate fundraising, strategic partnerships, partnership/coalition development, private sector sales or corporate responsibility.
Demonstrated track record of fundraising success with major corporations or building strategic partnerships in a way that maximizes value for donor and recipient and builds profile with external audiences.
Demonstrated track record of negotiating and securing six-seven figure corporate partnerships.
Successful track record in business development and overall relationship management, including personally prospecting, cultivating and closing large partnerships
Strong oral and written communications skills; particularly adept with public speaking
Excellent problem solving and interpersonal skills
Ability to work independently and to work collaboratively with other teams
Understanding of international aid and development preferred
Demonstrated ability to create compelling presentations.
The successful Director of Corporate Partnerships will be an outstanding relationship builder, particularly with corporate leaders and internal stakeholders across Mercy Corps. They will skillfully apply their entrepreneurial mindset and belief in our mission to focus their time, energy and insights on building best in class partnerships with leading corporations in support of Mercy Corps’ mission and global operations. They will demonstrate creativity and innovative thinking and be highly organized and results-focused. They will represent both the programs and heart of Mercy Corps to external audiences with passion and professionalism. Lastly, they will demonstrate empathy, strong emotional intelligence and ability to collaborate successfully with others.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position can be based remotely anywhere in the US, with a strong preference for candidates based in the San Francisco Bay Area. This position requires up to 20% domestic or international travel, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential US-Based employees. This is done following the conclusion of recruitment and prior to assuming full employment.
Our screening process is designed to be transparent and completed in partnership with new Team Members. You will have the opportunity to disclose any prior convictions at the conclusion of the recruitment process before the check is initiated. We ask that you do not disclose any prior convictions in your application materials or during the recruitment process.
Mercy Corps has determined that, in an effort to protect the health, safety, and well-being of all Mercy Corps employees working in the United States, all U.S.-based employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, regardless of prior COVID-19 infection status. This policy is necessary to ensure not only the safety of our workforce, but the ongoing functionality of the organization.
This policy will be revised as needed to comply with federal, state, and local requirements, and to respond to changing guidance from public health authorities.
For new employees this requirement goes into effect within 10 business days of employment. Team members that travel are expected to comply with host-country requirements, including vaccinations. Failure to comply may impact your employment. Proof of vaccination or exemption must be provided.