Institutional Fundraising Specialist

Company Description

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, is seeking an individual for institutional fundraising and partnership development to play a vital role in contracting new institutional funding and developing programs aimed at advancing conservation efforts. We work in close collaboration with a diverse array of partners, including WWF colleagues worldwide, governments, local communities, businesses, and individual donors. This position is crucial for program development and obtaining funds and the implementation of sustainable conservation outcomes by harnessing the strengths of these partnerships. The Institutional Fundraising Specialist will be instrumental in mobilizing resources, developing partnerships and alliances, and driving collaborative initiatives that lead to impactful conservation results in Suriname & Guyana.

Main Responsibilities

The Institutional Fundraising Specialist will be responsible for:

• The development of the program portfolio, focused on achieving biodiversity goals
• Increasing partnerships with public and corporate sectors, including bilateral cooperation, multilateral agencies, Foundations and other WWF offices.
• Identify new collaboration opportunities,
• Maintain existing alliances,
• Support fundraising efforts and program development of colleagues in the Guianas in the Amazon region, and in the wider Americas
• Accountability to donors and reporting under the supervision of the Country Director Suriname & Guyana. This role involves proposal development, in coordination with technical specialists, liaising with donors, and partners, and being accountable to donors through reporting and analysis of compliancy rules.

Major Duties

Institutional fundraising

• Identify strategic opportunities for potential partnerships and funding sources with the WWF-Guianas team to support strategic decision-making and actions.
• Lead the process of development of proposals in close coordination with the program team
• Assist in developing a structured approach to identify, prioritize, and pursue partnership opportunities, including tracking potential partners and ensuring a steady flow of prospects.
• Stay informed about changes in policies, regulations, and trends within the public and corporate sectors, and regularly update the WWF-Guianas team to help identify new opportunities and adapt strategies.

Relationship Building

• Establish and nurture connections with embassies, multilateral agencies, and corporate offices to build strong relationships, develop trust, and support WWF-Guianas's conservation goals.
• Identify potential corporate partners, cultivate relationships, align their interests with WWF-Guianas's conservation priorities, and foster long-term collaboration.
• Act as a liaison to ensure smooth communication and information sharing between WWF-Guianas and its partners, including preparing reports, updates, and other necessary documentation.
• Regularly check in with partners to ensure all commitments are being fulfilled, provide updates, and maintain open lines of communication to support ongoing collaboration.
• Be part of the WWF Amazon group to discuss potential regional fundraising ideas

Representation and Communication

• Attend and participate in meetings, conferences, and events related to the public and corporate sectors to represent WWF-Guianas’s interests and build visibility for its initiatives.
• Clearly articulate the goals, mission, and objectives of WWF-Guianas to current and potential partners, ensuring they understand the value and impact of their support.
• Create and distribute materials such as reports, presentations, and newsletters to keep funding partners and key WWF offices informed and engaged.

Strategic Planning and Implementation

• Contribute to the development of strategic plans for engaging with potential key donors, including WWF offices, create comprehensive plans to secure funding from institutional donors and corporate partners   and implement these strategies to achieve programmatic funding.

Compliance and Coordination

• Monitor compliance with the execution of partnership agreements and report to the donors.
• Adhere to WWF's established guidelines for forming and managing partnerships, ensuring that all partnerships align with WWF's values and standards.
• Monitor and enforce adherence to WWF's partnership guidelines, ensuring that all processes related to partnership formation, management, and reporting are followed correctly.
• Establish and maintain connections with other WWF offices to explore and develop regional and global partnership opportunities, share best practices, and collaborate on joint initiatives.

Environmental and Social Safeguards

• Ensures adherence and implementation of WWF’s Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework (ESSF), and the management of risks within the overall portfolios and projects within defined landscapes.

Other Duties

• Perform any other tasks reasonably assigned by the Supervisor.
• Set up a clear documentation storage system for audit purposes.

• Advanced degree in Social Communication, Conservation, Environmental or Sustainability, Business Administration, Business, Marketing, Economics or Finance, Corporate Social Responsibility, or related fields.
• A minimum of 6 years of experience in similar roles, with experience in institutional fundraising and program development is a must and experience with the EU, bilateral donors, AFD, Bezos Foundation and the corporate sector being a plus.
• Demonstrated experience in conceptualizing and designing effective fundraising and partnership-building strategies,  
• Effective skills in preparing project proposals and budgets, as well as in report preparation.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, with a willingness to represent and speak on behalf of the organization.
• Strong team player and internal organizational networker.
• Excellent relationship-building skills with government, business, civil society, and the donor community, including managing donor relationships and reporting.
• Excellent computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Dutch, English, and Sranan Tongo, Spanish is a plus.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Knowledge of the business landscape and its articulation with conservation efforts
• Strong negotiation abilities
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects efficiently
• Proficient in facilitating meetings, workshops, and discussions
• Effective team member:
• Familiarity with the NGO sector, good understanding of the context and dynamics of non-profit work.
• Ability to work effectively with partners across the NGO, public, and private sectors
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly, including travelling outside of regular office hours.
• Adherence to WWF’s values: Respect, Results, Integrity, and Partnerships.

Working Relationships

Internal

Institutional Fundraising Specialist will work under the supervision of Country Director Suriname & Guyana. And will collaborate with the program team, and finance team across Suriname and Guyana and with other Network Offices. Also link with WWF Amazon countries.

External

Donors, private sector, local communities, NGOs, government agencies, civil society, public authorities, and academic institutions.

**This job description covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are anticipated proactively by staff. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to organizational needs.