[Hiring] Associate Director, Philanthropy @Co-Impact

Role Description

Co-Impact is seeking an Associate Director, Philanthropy to help deepen and expand our community of philanthropic partners. Reporting to the Vice President, Philanthropy & Communications, this role will steward existing relationships with major institutional funders and philanthropic partners, identify complementary funding opportunities for Co-Impact’s existing commitments, and cultivate new prospects who could join Co-Impact’s collaborative funding model.

The successful candidate will combine strong fundraising expertise with a meaningful understanding of program areas such as gender and rights, health, education, economic opportunity or livelihoods, and climate action in the global south. They will be able to understand a funder’s interests, connect those interests to Co-Impact’s programs and strategy, and turn genuine interest into compelling opportunities and secured funding.

This is both a strategic and hands-on role. The Associate Director will work independently to lead relationships and opportunities, while collaborating closely with colleagues across philanthropy, communications, programs, leadership, and the Board. They will be equally comfortable shaping a strategy, preparing a briefing, developing a program proposal or concept note, managing a pipeline, or coordinating the details of a meeting.

Responsibilities

• Steward and grow existing funder relationships
• Lead a portfolio of relationships with institutional funders, independent foundations, corporate foundations, and major philanthropists.
• Support the VP, Philanthropy & Communications and the CEO on partnerships led by them, to ensure excellence in all partner interactions.
• Partner with the VP, Programs and other program colleagues strategically and collaboratively to ensure an integrated approach to stewardship and growth.
• Build trusted, strategic relationships with funders by understanding their priorities, decision-making processes, interests, and opportunities for collaboration.
• Ensure funders receive a high-quality, thoughtful, and responsive experience of Co-Impact.
• Develop tailored engagement and stewardship plans, including briefings, funder updates, proposals, meetings, events, and programmatic learning opportunities.
• Translate Co-Impact’s programmatic approach and results into clear, compelling narratives for funders.
• Work with program colleagues to identify opportunities for funders to engage meaningfully with Co-Impact’s partners and thematic priorities.
• Support the retention and growth of existing commitments by identifying opportunities for renewed, increased, or expanded support.
• Secure complementary funding
• Identify and pursue funders whose thematic or geographic interests align with Co-Impact’s existing commitments.
• Develop opportunities for side-by-side investment alongside current Co-Impact funders, including in areas such as women’s health, climate and health, education, economic opportunity, and gender-based violence.
• Understand the priorities and funding mechanisms of prospective partners and connect them to relevant Co-Impact programs, partners, and opportunities.
• Partner strategically and collaboratively with the VP, Philanthropy, the VP, Programs and other colleagues to ensure an integrated approach to complementary funding opportunities.
• Work across teams to shape tailored funding propositions, concept notes, proposals, and other materials that demonstrate the value of investing alongside Co-Impact.
• Help move opportunities from initial interest through cultivation, due diligence, proposal development, negotiation, and commitment.
• Coordinate internal colleagues, leadership, and Board members to support prospect engagement and funding outcomes.
• Identify and cultivate new prospects
• Research and qualify new institutional funders, corporate foundations, major philanthropists, and other prospective partners from across the world.
• Build and manage a prospect pipeline, maintaining accurate information, next steps, timelines, and relationship strategies.
• Develop tailored cultivation and outreach plans for priority prospects, drawing on the networks of Co-Impact’s Board, Advisory Boards, leadership, and team.
• Lead selected prospect relationships from initial research and outreach through to funding commitment.
• Lead an integrated approach to proposal development, from ideation to delivery, coordinating closely with program and learning colleagues.
• Prepare high-quality briefings, meeting materials, proposals, concept notes, and follow-up communications.
• Participate in prospect meetings, funder calls, site visits, and other engagement opportunities.
• Articulate Co-Impact’s distinctive value: locally led systems change, gender equality and women’s leadership, pooled funding, large flexible grants, and the ability to support change at scale.
• Contribute to external engagement and communications
• Work closely with the communications team to develop content and engagement strategies that support philanthropy objectives.
• Represent Co-Impact at relevant philanthropic events, conferences, and sector convenings.
• Collaboration and team effectiveness
• Contribute to Co-Impact's collaborative culture, working closely within and beyond Philanthropy & Communications.
• Establish strong, trusted, and collaborative relationships with regional program teams and learning colleagues.
• Bring a strong understanding of programmatic issues and funding ecosystems to Co-Impact’s philanthropic strategy.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of funder relationships and activity in Co-Impact’s systems.
• Contribute to annual philanthropy planning, including fundraising targets, budgeting, and priority-setting, and help organize colleagues and processes to deliver them.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in philanthropy, fundraising, funder engagement, partnerships, or a related field.
• A strong track record of working with large institutional funders, including independent foundations, corporate foundations, or other major philanthropic organizations.
• Demonstrated success securing significant philanthropic commitments, including seven or eight-figure gifts or grants.
• Experience stewarding complex, senior-level funder relationships and moving prospects from interest to action.
• Strong knowledge of at least one relevant program area, such as gender and rights, health, education, economic opportunity or livelihoods, and climate action in the global south.
• The ability to understand complex programs and translate them into compelling, fundable opportunities for different audiences.
• Experience identifying complementary funding opportunities and developing partnerships around existing programs or commitments.
• Strong prospect research, pipeline management, proposal development, and relationship strategy skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to tell persuasive stories and explain complex ideas clearly.
• Experience planning and delivering high-quality meetings, events, and funder engagements.
• Experience working across teams and with senior leaders, Boards, and external partners.
• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; a master’s degree in a relevant field is desirable.

Requirements

• Deep commitment to gender equality, women’s leadership, locally led change, and improving lives at scale in the Global South.
• Strategic and analytical thinking, with the ability to connect program priorities, funder interests, and funding opportunities.
• Strong judgment about how to build mutually valuable philanthropic partnerships.
• A proactive, entrepreneurial approach to prospecting and relationship development.
• Ability to communicate a compelling vision for philanthropic partnerships and to inspire and motivate colleagues and partners.
• Ability to work independently, take ownership, and make progress in an evolving environment.
• Ability to collaborate generously and effectively across functions, cultures, geographies, and levels of seniority.
• Strong listening skills, empathy, curiosity, and respect for different perspectives.
• High levels of responsiveness, precision, organization, and follow-through.
• Comfort moving between strategy and implementation, from developing a fundraising approach to managing the details required to deliver it.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and relationships with sound judgment.
• Flexibility, resilience, and comfort working with ambiguity and incomplete information.
• Strong personal ethics, integrity, and commitment to responsible stewardship of philanthropic resources.
• Willingness to work flexibly across time zones and travel internationally, including to the US and countries where Co-Impact works.
• Fluency in English; additional language skills are desirable.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Salesforce, Slack, and related tools.

Benefits

• Co-Impact’s compensation philosophy is guided by the principles of equity and fairness, transparency, and accountability.
• The role is remote and flexible for candidates authorized to live and work in the UK, US, or Kenya.
• The annual gross salary is USD150,000 (paid in applicable local currency based on FX rate determined at the point of offer) plus a generous benefits package.

Application Details

You are welcome to express your interest by submitting a tailored CV and cover letter that speak directly to this role and highlight your relevant experience. Applications that are generic, non-specific, or clearly AI-generated will be less competitive.

Please apply online by 5:00 PM ET on 30 November 2026. In your cover letter, please confirm that you are authorized to live and work in one of the locations listed above. Please note that Co-Impact cannot cover relocation costs.

As we are a small team, we regret that we can only respond to applicants selected for an interview, and we are unable to participate in informational calls prior to interviews. Thank you for your understanding. We will review applications on a rolling basis. The position may close early if we receive a strong pool of candidates, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Shortlisted candidates can expect to hear from the recruitment team by early December 2026.