Background

Humanity & Inclusion (HI) is an international humanitarian organization that works to improve the quality of life for people living in disabling situations in crisis, post-conflict or low-income countries around the world. Founded in France in 1982 as Handicap International, HI has over 3,200 personnel working in 50 of the world’s lowest income countries. Eight national associations, based in France, the United States, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Great Britain and Canada, provide overall support for the field programs, which are implemented through the headquarters in Lyon, France and Brussels, Belgium. The organization was co-winner of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for its work banning landmines, and won the 2011 Hilton Foundation Humanitarian Award.

HI programs reduce and address the consequences of disabling accidents and diseases; clear landmines and unexploded ordnance and prevent mine-related accidents through education; respond rapidly and effectively to natural and civil disasters, in order to limit serious and permanent injustices, and assist survivors with social and economic reintegration; and advocate for the universal recognition of the rights of persons with disabilities through national planning and advocacy and for the elimination of landmines and cluster munitions, weapons of war that continue to injure people long after conflicts have ended.

The US national association of HI is an independent affiliate of the global HI federation. Our mission is to support the work of HI by mobilizing both private and public funding, representing HI with national and international bi-lateral and multi-lateral institutions based in the US, facilitating the recruitment of personnel and raising the organization’s profile.  HI US has seen 150% growth in our US government and private foundation grants portfolio over the past five years, and expects continued growth. Currently there are $76m in grants under management, with $36m in annual revenue.

This position is based in Silver Spring, Maryland, with a strong preference for candidates living in the Washington, DC, area.  However, a telework arrangement will be considered for the right candidate. The Foundations Officer reports to the U.S. Director of Institutional Funding.

Purpose of the Job

The Foundations Officer will identify and generate new business development opportunities, create and steward partnerships, and manage awards with private foundations, with a particular focus on larger opportunities.  The position is expected to cultivate and grow relationships with potential and current foundation funders, and to track, capture and respond to funding opportunities by coordinating and submitting proposals for and manage grants from private foundations based in the US for the purpose of supporting HI's mission and projects.

This position will work closely with members of the US and global Institutional Funding teams, other US-based personnel (technical, communications, private fundraising, advocacy), HI staff based at headquarters and in field programs, and external donors and partner organizations.

The position will be responsible for managing the coordination and submission of proposals to foundations, including adherence to internal due diligence processes and procedures and donor requirements.   

The Foundations Officer will be responsible for creating and internally disseminating appropriate tools and training materials for private foundation grants related to applications, grant management and reporting, and project closeout. The position will measure progress according to agreed-upon performance indicators and report on this monitoring at regular intervals. The position will ensure that all materials produced will be made available through shared drives or other knowledge management.

Because private foundations regularly revise or establish new procedures, this position will help create and update internal best practices in donor compliance for private foundations, working across teams within HI. The position is expected to communicate regularly with colleagues in HI’s global network and other national associations concerning developments of general interest for foundation grants.

The position will manage the US portfolio of private foundation grants, and steward the HI relationship among private foundations. This includes organizing regular exchanges, briefings, and other contacts between relevant US-based and other HI staff as well as external foundation representatives.

Required Skills

• Existing knowledge of U.S. private foundations providing support to international humanitarian and development activities, preferably those aligned with HI’s mission, with a proven track record of successful proposal submission and grant management.
• Strong English-language writing, verbal and presentation skills; professional level French highly desirable.
• Ability to manage pressure and to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work in multicultural, matrixed team environment and to mobilize key staff based in remote locations through appropriate channels.
• Strong networking ability, and cross-cultural sensitivity; existing network of major private foundation contacts highly desired.
• Bachelor's degree highly preferred in international development, international affairs or a related field.
• At least five years of experience and proven success seeking and obtaining private foundation grants for nonprofits, preferably from those engaged in and supporting international humanitarian and development initiatives.
• Willingness to travel both domestically and internationally (5-10% annually). If teleworking, regular visits to Silver Spring, MD, office required.

Key Duties

Private Foundation Proposal Development

• Stay up to date on trends, priorities and practices of U.S.-based private foundations for funding of international development and relief nonprofit projects;
• Cultivate and manage relationships with foundation representatives, partner organizations.
• Identify, track, assess (for alignment with strategic and country priorities) and disseminate opportunities available from U.S.-based private foundations to fund existing or future HI projects;
• Work closely with HI operational, country-level and technical staff to develop relationships with, create and share relevant information on HI programs, and respond to funding opportunities from private foundations;
• Create, update and disseminate best practices and supportive guidance and tools in private foundation grantseeking for HI staff, with an emphasis on field-level colleagues;
• Vet any potential private foundation against HI's ethical screening principles;
• Coordinate and finalize the submission of proposals to U.S.-based private foundations.

Private Foundation Grants Management

• Manage the portfolio of grants from private foundations;
• Ensure compliance with applicable rules and regulations;
• Ensure timely and accurate programmatic and financial reporting;
• Follow process and procedures such as development of key internal contractual documents and propose new procedures as necessary for organizational efficiency;
• Undertake field visits to support field staff in U.S. private foundation cultivation, as needed and agreed upon with the regional divisions and the U.S. Director of Institutional Funding;
• Maintain complete and up-to-date project files – paper and electronic – for all projects under this position’s management;
• Follow up with other staff to ensure that project files are up to date.
• Contribute to knowledge management about foundation proposal writing and grants management throughout the HI Network, including staff from other national associations, HI headquarters and HI field offices.

Carry out any other tasks as may be assigned by the U.S. Director of Institutional Funding and/or the U.S. Executive Director.

All applicants must indicate that they have read and understood Humanity & Inclusion's safeguarding policies:

• Child Protection
• Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment
• Anti-Fraud, Bribery, and Corruption
  
  

Location: Silver Spring, Maryland* - Telework will be considered for the right candidate.
Type of Employment: Full-time, exempt
Starting date: ASAP
Closing date for applications: January 7, 2022

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People with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply!

Apply

Submit your CV and cover letter via email to [email protected].

*To be based in the U.S., you must be a U.S. citizen, or be in possession of relevant permissions to work in the United States. Applicants without existing work permission in the United States should not apply.

Note: Once a job offer is extended to a candidate, that offer will be contingent on the candidate passing a background investigation.

Humanity & Inclusion is happy to meet any reasonable accommodations that an applicant requires.

To request such reasonable accommodations at any point in the recruitment process, please contact: Diana Hromockyj by email at [email protected] or phone at (301) 891-2138. All self-disclosure is voluntary and personal information is strictly confidential.