Vice President, Breakthrough Partnerships & Foundations

International Rescue Committee•San Jose, CA

5d•$300,000 - $350,000•Remote

About The Position

The Vice President of Breakthrough Partnerships and Foundations will build relationships to support IRC’s goal of raising $700 million in annual private revenue by 2033. The role owns a pipeline of transformational prospects capable of commitments of $100 million or more, while leading IRC’s established Foundations and Trusts team. It will develop new philanthropic relationships, particularly among technology founders, philanthropists, family offices, foundations, evidence-driven giving networks, and the advisors who shape philanthropic decisions. The VP will personally shape and lead tailored donor pitches, drawing on IRC’s programmatic work, impact evidence, and Impact at Scale offerings. The role will strengthen internal capacity to develop ambitious, credible donor-facing narratives and transparent ways for funders to understand the impact of their support. It will also contribute to Campaign 2033 strategy, represent IRC in relevant external forums, and lead, mentor, and develop a global Foundations and Trusts team. The position is open to remote work, but the employee must live in the Bay Area, LA area, or Greater Seattle Area. Regular domestic travel is required, with some international travel expected. The role reports to the Chief Operating Officer and works closely with IRC’s President/CEO, philanthropy leadership, research leadership, program colleagues, and other teams. Compensation is $300,000–$350,000.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required.
15 or more years of relevant experience in major gift fundraising, strategic relationship development, investment, or a closely adjacent field where closing large, complex partnerships was central to the role.
Demonstrated track record of closing private transformational gifts or partnerships at the $50M+ level.
Deep knowledge of leading philanthropic ecosystems, including AI and technology founders, emerging foundations, family offices, and advisors who shape giving decisions.
Strong strategic and narrative thinking, including the ability to turn complex programmatic content into ambitious, evidence-grounded arguments that withstand sophisticated donor scrutiny.
Disciplined pipeline management and sound judgment about where to invest time.
Strong collaborative instincts and organizational intelligence, including the ability to convene, influence, and bring others along across functions.
Comfort with ambiguity and long cultivation timelines, managed with patience and structure.
Genuine conviction about IRC’s mission.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including comfort presenting and influencing at board, CEO, and major donor levels.
Must live in the Bay Area, LA area, or Greater Seattle Area.
Regular domestic travel is required; some international travel is expected.
Adherence to IRC Way standards and applicable professional conduct policies.

Nice To Haves

An existing network among philanthropists, technology-sector foundations, or first-generation family offices, particularly on the US West Coast.
Familiarity with impact-first philanthropic networks, major data-driven foundations, key advisors, and frameworks shaping evidence-based giving.
Experience at the intersection of humanitarian or development programming and private philanthropy, or demonstrated ability to become fluent in IRC’s programmatic work quickly.
Experience working alongside a prominent institutional leader, President, CEO, or equivalent as a strategic partner in donor engagement.
An MBA, Master’s degree, or equivalent in a relevant field.

Responsibilities

Identify, qualify, and develop a portfolio of prospects capable of making $100M+ multi-year commitments, maintaining at least 20 active relationships across cultivation stages.
Develop firsthand intelligence on emerging wealth and new ideas in the foundation sector, using IRC’s existing prospect list as a starting point.
Build relationships with foundations, advisors, and evidence-driven philanthropic networks, and communicate IRC’s programmatic rigor, scale, and cost-effectiveness.
Work with Global Corporate Partnerships and Philanthropy teams to identify pipeline synergies, especially in AI and the broader technology sector.
Manage the prospect pipeline with discipline, prioritizing prospects and regularly assessing the pipeline against Campaign 2033 needs.
Build tailored, compelling asks for significant prospects, drawing on IRC program expertise, impact evidence, and Impact at Scale teams; personally convene and shape programmatic direction for breakthrough opportunities.
Present ambitious, evidence-backed proposals with intellectual rigor and specificity, translating IRC’s work into language that resonates with sophisticated donors.
Prepare and involve the President, COO, or program leadership in donor engagement when appropriate.
Foster greater ambition across External Relations, program staff, and senior leadership regarding what philanthropic partners can fund and how funders can form coalitions around impactful interventions.
Improve donor-facing narratives and package Impact at Scale offerings so they are credible and bold.
Work with program colleagues to ensure donors can track the impact of their engagement compellingly and transparently.
Collaborate across IRC, bringing colleagues into the work and developing the organization’s long-term model for transformational giving with the COO and philanthropy leadership.
Help shape the multi-year fundraising campaign strategy, including how breakthrough gifts anchor and accelerate broader revenue goals.
Serve as a senior thought partner on the External Relations leadership team regarding IRC’s positioning and philanthropic offer.
Represent IRC at external forums, networks, and events that can help build the breakthrough pipeline.
Partner with executive staff and senior program leadership to shape Foundations and Trusts strategy, deepen institutional engagement, and grow revenue across existing and new portfolios in line with Campaign 2033 targets.
Lead, mentor, and develop the global Foundations and Trusts team, fostering ambition and accountability and coordinating with program and technical colleagues.
Strengthen existing foundation relationships and track philanthropic landscape changes that create opportunities for IRC.

Benefits

10 paid sick leave days
10 U.S. holidays
20–25 days of paid time off, based on role and tenure
Medical insurance starting at $163/month
Dental insurance starting at $6.50/month
Vision insurance starting at $5/month
Flexible spending accounts for healthcare, dependent care, and commuter expenses
403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match and immediate vesting
Non-elective employer retirement contribution based on age and years of service, with three-year vesting
Disability insurance
Life insurance
Employee Assistance Program offering confidential counseling and support services for employees and their families