European Fundraising Director

Provide fundraising leadership and strategic guidance in IFAW’s key European fundraising countries for all aspects of their fundraising programme, especially major donor fundraising.  Establish, manage and provide effective oversight for the regional IFAW Philanthropy staff, strategic plan and related activities. Improve donor retention rates and generate donor and revenue growth; ensure that the mission and revenue objectives are communicated and attained within the region, making significant contributions to IFAW’s European fundraising goals and objectives.  Work with the VP of Philanthropy and EVP of International Operations to ensure that Country Office fundraising initiatives align with established strategy.

Accountabilities/Responsibilities

• Working with the VP of Philanthropy, contribute to and define individual growth strategies, country by country in Europe.
• Provide strategic guidance to help improve current IFAW direct marketing efforts, e.g. ensure appeals are culturally sensitive, consistent with best practices in a country, etc.
• Lead the growth of major gift and legacy commitments from the current base of IFAW donors. Support the existing major donor and legacy fundraising program. Ensure all efforts, e.g. special event, donor visits, direct marketing, etc. are effective and measurable. Lead or support the strategic pursuit and support of new funding sources, e.g. foundations, EU funding, corporate partnerships, etc.
• Help build the supporter base or regular committed donors and mid level donors in European IFAW offices using all the latest fundraising tools available in a fully integrated manner.
• Increase income and supporter base by ensuring effective integration of fundraising, communications and program strategies.
• Ensure that IFAW in Europe is operating at the cutting edge of fundraising practice in Europe.
• Ensure and manage IFAW compliance with country regulatory regimes and watchdog organization standards so that IFAW maintains the highest possible reputation in the region.
• Design and maintain a world-class donor stewardship program in each country.
• Lead, motivate, and manage European fundraising staff. 
• Conduct regional training and “skillsharing” as needed to Country Office Fundraising staff and Country Director’s.
• Ensure support of the overall IFAW strategic direction of fundraising by maintaining open communication and teamwork between HQ and Country Office fundraising staff.
• Support the development of program initiative case statements that can be presented to donors.
• Represent IFAW to donors and prospects and manage a portfolio of major gift and legacy prospects for contacts and visits.  Report monthly on progress of moves management of prospects.
• Monitor benchmarking against similar NGO’s with fundraising operations in Europe, encompassing current fundraising/marketing trends and innovative opportunities in order to maximize fundraising opportunities worldwide.
• Develop and monitor fundraising budget to ensure cost effectiveness and strategic expenditure of funds.  Provide updates to the VP of Philanthropy as required.
• Establish and maintain critical relationships within the region, including key donors, sponsors, country directors, program directors, member institutions, IFAW vendors, etc.
• Assist in identifying options for timely translation services and/or local writing resources for fund raising appeals in the region. 
• Assist HQ regarding local vendors - identifying which agencies have competencies in non-profit work, which telemarketers have the best reputations, which fulfillment houses specialize in direct marketing, etc.
• Assist HQ in communicating marketing plans for each country and improve acceptance and understanding of the strategy behind the plan.  Help engender a sense of commitment to supporting global fund raising plans.  

Job Requirements and Desirable Qualifications and Competencies

• University degree in ideally in Business Management, Marketing, Communications, Sociology or Administration.
• 7 + years of management experience, with 3 years at a senior level
• Demonstrated skill in working within a complex environment at senior levels with strong capabilities in planning, organization, and management ideally in an international context.
• Proven experience of inspiring, motivating and supervising professional and senior-level development staff with excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize multiple and varied tasks across time zones and culture  and the ability to integrate distant working staff into a team.
• Minimum of 5 years proven expertise in strategic fundraising policy, operations and development.
• Proven knowledge of international fundraising techniques and management including prospect research, proposal preparation, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship.
•  Ability to conceptualize, innovate, plan and execute ideas as well as transfer knowledge and skills.
• Superior interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong network of personal contacts and ability to apply this network to IFAW’s goals.
• Energetic, proactive, capable of working independently and positively with teams.
• International work experience, preferably in the NGO sector.
• Excellent written and spoken English is essential and other European languages desirable
• Experience raising funds for environmental or animal causes and public policy type campaigns is a desirable plus.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally approximately 30-40% of their time.