Associate Director, Innovation Philanthropy

International Rescue Committee•Oakland, CA

4d•Remote

About The Position

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future. Note: This position is open to relocation. Preferred candidates are based in -or willing to move to - the Bay Area, CA, the greater LA Area, CA, or the greater San Diego area or in the Seattle Area, WA. The Airbel Impact Lab is IRC’s Research and Innovation team: Our mandate is to develop and rigorously test new solutions in aid, driving towards the most effective and cost-effective approaches. Our work has yielded results: We’ve pioneered breakthroughs in treatment of acute malnutrition, in edtech, and in seed security for farmers; In 2025, we were named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Non-Profits. Now, as the landscape of aid shifts, we’re embarking on a new chapter: We’re focusing on bringing the best technology and innovation - wherever it exists - into the aid sector to drive towards the highest impact at scale we can achieve for the 305M people in humanitarian need today. To fund this work, as a team our philanthropic goal is $10M+, coming from a variety of sources, including private philanthropy, government support, public partnerships, corporate and foundation support, and innovative philanthropic investment vehicles. We are hiring an Associate Director of Innovation Philanthropy for Airbel Impact Lab to primarily build as well as steward relationships with high-net-worth individual philanthropists, family offices, and family foundations, particularly within innovation-forward ecosystems (e.g., tech, Silicon Valley). We have a growing network of engaged, innovation-minded donors and a global, high-impact fundraising team. This role is for someone who can build on this foundation, bringing their own connections and creativity to deepen and diversify our reach. We are seeking someone with exceptional relationship-building skills, an ability to work collaboratively across multiple teams, and a proven track record of cultivating, soliciting and stewarding major gifts. You would be responsible for raising donations from $100K to $2.5M+. The Associate Director of Innovation Philanthropy will own the full lifecycle of philanthropic partnerships—from prospect identification and cultivation through solicitation and stewardship. You will translate complex technical innovations into compelling narratives that resonate with philanthropic audiences, working closely with technical teams to ensure accuracy while maintaining accessibility. This role requires someone who can quickly become conversant in diverse humanitarian challenges, from immunization and malnutrition to emerging crisis response innovations, and distill key messages with the right mix of nuance and storytelling. The ideal candidate combines entrepreneurial instincts with systematic relationship management, thrives in building trust with sophisticated donors, and has a track record of closing high-impact gifts. They understand how to navigate the philanthropic landscape with both strategic patience and tactical urgency, building a robust pipeline while stewarding existing relationships for long-term partnership. As part of the IRC fundraising team, you will collaborate with colleagues on strategies to engage new donors and grow revenue, as well as work with a range of programmatic, leadership, and technical stakeholders to align donor interests with high-impact opportunities.

Requirements

6-8 years of experience in resource mobilization, development, or philanthropic partnerships, with demonstrated success securing major gifts ($100K+) dedicated to research and innovations from high-net-worth individuals and family foundations.
Demonstrated access to networks of high-net-worth individual philanthropists, particularly within tech and Silicon Valley (like) communities, with strong familiarity with Silicon Valley type of philanthropic culture and ability to leverage these relationships for new partnership opportunities.
Proven track record of managing complex gift cycles from identification through closure, including experience with proposal development, donor cultivation, and stewardship.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to translate technical content into clear, compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
Strong ability to quickly develop substantive knowledge across new subject areas and engage meaningfully with technical experts and program staff.
Experience working in global nonprofit, humanitarian, or development contexts with understanding of philanthropic landscape and donor motivations.
Ideal to have experience of working within complex large organizations to accomplish goals.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in family office, foundation, or corporate philanthropy roles providing insider perspective on philanthropic decision-making.
Existing relationships within humanitarian, development, or social innovation networks.
Background in tech industry or innovation.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a strategy in partnership with Airbel and ER targeting individual philanthropists and family foundations—particularly within the tech and innovation ecosystems of Silicon Valley and beyond.
Leverage and expand high-value networks across technology and philanthropy to identify, engage, and secure funding partnerships aligned with IRC’s mission and Airbel’s innovation agenda.
Lead the full lifecycle of major gift development—from prospect identification and first engagement through proposal design, negotiation, and close—driving multi-year, high-impact commitments.
Strategically leverage AI tools for prospect research, donor communications, and pipeline management while ensuring all AI-generated content is reviewed for accuracy, authenticity, and alignment with IRC's mission.
Craft compelling, donor-facing materials and narratives that translate complex technical and programmatic work into clear, inspiring pitches, collaborating closely with program and research teams to ensure accuracy and credibility.
Build and manage a robust, high-potential pipeline of individual and family foundation prospects, ensuring systematic cultivation, disciplined follow-up, and thoughtful long-term stewardship.
Forge strategic relationships with key influencers and networks within the IRC network and externally that can facilitate introductions and broaden access within priority philanthropic communities.
Engage with Airbel’s Advisory Board to maximize strategic input, networks, and fundraising opportunities.
Collaborate across IRC’s global fundraising, program, and leadership teams to align donor interests with high-impact opportunities and contribute to broader corporate and foundation partnership efforts.
Represent IRC and Airbel externally at major philanthropic, innovation, and industry events, positioning the organization as a trusted and forward-thinking partner for high-impact giving.

Benefits

10 sick days
10 US holidays
20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure
medical insurance starting at $143 per month
dental starting at $6.50 per month
vision starting at $5 per month
FSA for healthcare and commuter costs
a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching
disability & life insurance
an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.