Organization Overview

UNICEF USA (UUSA) is a private, independent, U.S. nonprofit that exists to deliver impact for children. UNICEF USA advances the global mission of UNICEF by rallying the American public to support the world’s most vulnerable children. We are driven by a shared objective that every child is healthy, educated, protected, and respected. Headquartered in New York City, UNICEF USA has nearly 300 employees across the U.S. with nine regional offices. This year, UNICEF USA raised over $1B in private sector support, advanced legislation, and secured government resources to deliver impact for children. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

Position: Senior Managing Director, Principal Giving

Location: Nationwide / Remote

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary: NYC's minimum salary for this position is $123,000. This may be adjusted to reflect the cost of labor of a candidate’s work location, if outside of NYC.

Position Description

Reporting to the Vice President, Principal Giving, the Senior Managing Director, Principal Giving will be a driving force enabling ambitious fundraising goals in line with the organization’s Strategic Plan and fostering a culture of philanthropy, collaboration, and innovation within the organization. The Senior Managing Director will manage a principal gift portfolio of approximately 50 seven-, eight-, and nine-figure prospects, with a special focus on qualifying new prospects and enhancing all individual fundraisers’ ability to build transformational gift strategies.

The Senior Managing Director, Principal Giving will co-create qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies with prospect managers across the Individual Philanthropy continuum as guided by the Vice President, Principal Giving. The Senior Managing Director, Principal Giving will be a team player and partner to all individual fundraisers. Their dual role will include securing and retaining new principal gifts and amplifying the principal gift work of all Major Giving team members, respecting each prospect manager’s ability to close a principal gift.

Key Responsibilities/Outcomes (include but are not limited to):

Fundraising

• Manages Principal Giving portfolio, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding portfolios of approximately 50 seven-, eight-, and nine-figure individuals/families and their related charitable giving vehicles, with a specific focus on unqualified prospects new to UNICEF USA

• Builds a pipeline of principal solicitations, submitting at least 12 proposals each year, and securing at least $5M in new commitments annually; retain and grow existing principal donors

• Develops a deep understanding of UNICEF’s program areas and uses this knowledge to build innovative funding proposals to inspire transformational partnerships

• Leverage relationship mapping, referrals, networking, event follow up, etc., to build the Principal Giving program holistically across the Individual Philanthropy team

• Leverages connections of UNICEF USA’s Senior Management Team, UNICEF leadership, UNICEF USA’s national and regional boards, and committees, special events, and the Philanthropy Stewardship, NextGen, and Prospect Development & Campaign Planning team resources

• Collaborates with the Planned Giving team and the Impact Fund for Children to develop and implement blended solicitation strategies for high-net-worth individuals/families

• Participates in regular pipeline and prospect strategy meetings to support Individual Philanthropy’s optimization of strategies and progress on their principal prospects

• Informally (and formally where appropriate) builds the capacity of individual fundraisers including professional development and training opportunities, including foster learning, inspiration, awareness of philanthropic trends, and sharing of best practices

Strategy

• Contributes to cross-cutting Principal Giving strategy sessions with Philanthropy colleagues as appropriate

• Advances other prospect managers’ qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies by recommending proven techniques and identifying connections and resources; serves as an advocate for transformative process improvement, addressing barriers to a donor-centric culture of philanthropy throughout UNICEF USA

• Implements plans to support UNICEF USA’s billionaire strategy, partnering across the Individual Philanthropy continuum and driving intersections with Institutional Philanthropy. In addition, collaborates with UNICEF Private Fundraising and Partnerships team and other National Committees to identify and collaborate on engaging new billionaires around the world who have a footprint in the U.S.

• Identifies and leverages UNICEF’s International Council opportunities for appropriate UNICEF USA donors and prospects

• Provides input to Vice President, Principal Giving, and Prospect Development on best practices for collaborative Principal Giving structures, processes, and business rules

• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree

• 8-10+ years of fundraising or relevant experience

• Experience personally cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding seven-figure gifts (at a minimum). Experience with complex and blended gifts, requiring negotiation and collaboration with institutional leaders.

• Proven track record of creating multi-layered, transformational gift proposals for donors at the Principal Giving level.

• Ability to build effective relationships internally and collaborate with staff and share team successes

• Ability to work independently but also be a highly engaged team player on a small, close-knit team of top-tier fundraisers

• Familiarity with broader philanthropic community, influencers, and trends

• Experience in a complex, multi-team environment

• Strong organizational and time management skills, with exceptional attention to detail

• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral

• Ability to influence and engage a wide range of donors and build long-term relationships

• Knowledge of fundraising best practices, including all aspects of donor qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship

• Must possess a strong work ethic, and be a motivated, enthusiastic team player who deeply embraces the mission of UNICEF USA

• Must demonstrate a strong interest in the programmatic work of UNICEF’s work for children around the world, and must be willing to invest significant time upon arrival in learning about the work in depth

• Experience with CRM databases and data-driven decision strategies

• Must be willing to travel domestically and occasionally internationally (25%)

• Must embody UNICEF USA’s Core Values: Trust, Respect, Accountability, Innovation, Teamwork, and Service

Must possess current and valid US Work Authorization and be eligible to work for any US employer without sponsorship.

Salary is commensurate with experience. In addition, UNICEF USA offers a comprehensive benefits package.

UNICEF USA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer
We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. UUSA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at peopleandculture@unicefusa.org.