Mercy Corps
Location Portland, OR
Position Status Full-time, Exempt, Regular
Salary Level The salary range for this position is $53,000-57,667
About Mercy Corps
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.
Program / Department Summary
In support of Mercy Corps’ mission, the Corporate and Foundation Partnerships team manages Mercy Corps’ fundraising relationships with major US companies and foundations. 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, financial services for the poor, technology for development, youth employment, climate change, addressing root causes of violence and building community resilience. We work across many teams at Mercy Corps, including marketing and communications, mass market fundraising, the executive office, and with our program and field-based colleagues around the world.
General Position Summary
The Development Officer, Foundation Partnerships provides partnership management support and team operations support to advance donor cultivation and stewardship and ensure smooth and efficient fundraising operations. This includes responsibility for activities including partnership materials editing and formatting; updating donor background materials for executive meetings; meeting scheduling, logistics, and notetaking; coordination and execution for donor events and travel; thank you letter processing, invoice tracking and operations logistics. In addition, a portion of the position is dedicated to supporting foundation and corporate research briefs, including due diligence briefs. This position requires outstanding project management skills; the ability to multi-task and manage to deadline; and great communication & collaboration skills. We are seeking someone who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and is looking to grow their skills in foundation fundraising.
Essential Job Responsibilities
PARTNER STEWARDSHIP – 40%
- Provide partnership management support for 3 portfolios of foundation partner accounts (each managed by a Director) including but not limited to contact management, inputting proposals into online submission forms, collecting required proposal attachments, meeting scheduling, planning and notetaking, and invoicing.
- Support Directors & Deputy Directors in compiling, editing and formatting high quality donor materials such as proposals, concepts, pitch decks, digital communications and other general program informational materials.
- Assist relationship managers / Senior Director in maintaining their donor strategy / moves management / performance indicator tracking files
- Support relationship managers in keeping records in Raiser’s Edge current and accurate (in partnership with Database Coordinator)
OPERATIONS – 20%
- Maintain a team-wide knowledge management system to store and organize relevant team resources and proposal development tools
- Support the team in organizing and preparing materials and logistics for events and donor travel (internal team retreats and workshops as well as external donor-related events)
- Manage the acknowledgement and receipts process for foundation giving
- Manage team subscriptions and invoices
- Support onboarding of new team members (in partnership with relevant hiring manager), including developing onboarding schedule, securing IT supplies and preparing relevant onboarding materials
- Maintain schedule, agenda, and meeting notes for weekly team meeting and other regular meetings
RESEARCH – 40%
- Update briefs in support of executive meetings or event participation
- Conduct in-depth due diligence research for partners and prospects
- Assist in targeted research in the foundation portfolio
Supervisory Responsibility
None
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Research Manager, Corporate and Foundation Partnership ServicesWorks Directly With: Directors & Deputy Directors of Corporate and Foundation Partnerships, Senior Communications Strategist, and other Corporate and Foundation team members, as well as other team members across Resource Development
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
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.
Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills
- BA in related field (International Relations, Business, Communications & Marketing, etc.) required
- 3+ years of experience in supporting donor relations and stewardship – preferably foundation partnerships
- Demonstrated ability to project manage to deadline
- Experience in conducting in-depth research
- Excellent problem-solving skills and a demonstrated ability to work independently
- Outstanding interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate with colleague in both remote and in-person work environments
- Excellent computer & tech skills (MS 365, Sharepoint, Google Suite, project management software), including remote communication and project management platforms
- Experience in international development work or a demonstrated interest in this field preferred
Success Factors
The Development Officer, Foundation Partnerships will be detail oriented, comfortable with multi-tasking and have superior project management and organizational skills. They must have the ability to think critically, problem-solve and make good decisions that contribute to the team’s success. They must have a proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations, to understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details and maintain a calm approach under stressful situations. The ideal candidate will also be able to conduct in-depth research on foundation and corporate entities and present succinct and clear summaries. Awareness of and sensitivity to multicultural international development work is required.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Portland, Oregon and it requires up to 5% travel to domestic locations. The expectation is that the position will be available to work in the Portland office in-person 2 or more days per week, with the flexibility for work from home the other days. Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.
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
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
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.
Safeguarding & Ethics
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 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.
Covid-19 Vaccine Policy for US-Based Employees
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.