How To Run The Un Foundation

Transcription

1 Washington, DC DIRECTOR OF FOUNDATION RELATIONS INTRODUCTION The United Nations Foundation (UN Foundation) is an advocate for the United Nations and a platform for connecting people, ideas and resources to help the UN solve global problems. It was born in 1998 out of philanthropist Ted Turner s $1 billion gift and belief that an independent, entrepreneurial, collaborative organization, supported by philanthropic gifts, could help the UN system unite with non-governmental organizations, corporations and individual donors to jointly address global challenges. The Foundation has become a link between some of the world s most sophisticated philanthropists and corporate leaders, connecting them with causes and allowing them to partner with the network of sophisticated UN agencies to help to meet pressing needs on a global scale, while managing their funds to create lasting good work around the world. It was originally envisioned as a ten-year project, but several years ago, then Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the Foundation s Board asked that the Foundation continue because of the impact and scale of its work. Mr. Turner agreed to stretch his gift over a 15-year period through The remaining $350 million of his gift will help the Foundation prepare for the future by strengthening programs, finding new partners, and building a reserve so the Foundation can continue for another decade and beyond. The Foundation is establishing a professional development team and designing a strategic programmatic, resource development and philanthropic engagement plan to continue its operations for the long term. THE OPPORTUNITY DIRECTOR OF FOUNDATION RELATIONS As the Foundation prepares for the opportunities and challenges ahead, it is strategically building a team of senior-level development professionals, focused on increasing and diversifying worldwide philanthropic revenue. As the fulcrum of partnerships with foundations, the Director of Foundation Relations is an integral part of the development team. The Director will have primary responsibility for worldwide foundation fund raising and partnership development, including the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of foundation support for the UN Foundation itself; UN causes; and in conjunction with the Executive Director of Development and program leaders the UN Foundation s programs in children s health, biodiversity and sustainable development, mobile technology, women and population, and The Better World Campaign. The ideal candidate for this catalytic role will have extensive success in building foundation relations and partnerships, ideally within a dynamic, fast-paced environment. The Director of Foundation Relations will possess the poise and experience to work with global foundation leaders and to cultivate relationships with program officers and decision-makers. The ideal candidate will bring superior communication abilities, intellectual curiosity and agility, and a sincere interest and understanding of global challenges and events. In addition to passion and energy for the mission and work of the UN Foundation, he or she will have strong relationship management skills, creativity, and dedication to best practices. The UN Foundation has retained Freeman Philanthropic Services, LLC to assist on this recruitment.

2 UN Foundation Page 2 of 5 ABOUT THE UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATION We believe that catalyzing positive change on the critical issues facing the world requires engagement by all countries and all sectors. The United Nations provides the platform for cooperation amongst governments, while the United Nations Foundation helps bring the talents and expertise of individuals, corporations, and NGOs into the UN. Together we can help to prevent malaria, eradicate polio, confront climate change, respond to natural disasters and promote human rights. Ted Turner, Founder and Chairman Timothy E. Wirth, President The UN Foundation is an advocate for the UN and a platform for connecting people, ideas and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The UN Foundation builds partnerships, grows constituencies, mobilizes resources and advocates for policy changes to support the UN s work on a global scale. The UN Foundation serves as a bridge between the UN s agencies and programs and the private sector, philanthropy and NGO communities. The UN Foundation helps to ensure that funds are directed in a coordinated manner, reducing transaction costs, and allowing greater flexibility to respond to changing needs. Powerful synergies between the UN and the UN Foundation s partners have empowered them to collaborate, share expertise, and make real progress to overcome some of the world s most pressing problems. The UN Foundation enables its partners to have a much greater impact than any one could have alone. Initially launched by Ted Turner s gift, the Foundation has gone on to facilitate nearly $2 billion in commitment to UN causes, plus significant manpower resources and technical expertise. The Foundation s vision, approach and results are outlined by the Board of Directors, a dozen leading global citizens, including Nobel laureates Kofi Annan and Muhammad Yunus; Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan; health and environment leader and former Prime Minister of Norway Gro Harlem Brundtland; Director of the Institute for International Relations at Peking University Yuan Ming; Indian entrepreneur N.R. Narayana Murthy; former Ambassador of Japan to the UN and member of the International Court of Justice Judge Hisashi Owada; Professor of History at Harvard University and Fellow of King's College Emma Rothschild; Special Advisor to the UN Secretary- General on HIV/AIDS and former executive director of the United Nations Population Fund Nafis Sadik; communications innovator, rancher and entrepreneur Ted Turner (Chairman); former U.S. Senator and Undersecretary of State Timothy E. Wirth; and former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Andrew Young. RESULTS: ACHIEVING IMPACT, SCALE AND LEVERAGE In its first ten years, the UN Foundation has successfully facilitated and leveraged results-driven partnerships to help decrease child mortality, improve disaster relief, create a clean energy future, empower women and girls, preserve precious World Heritage sites and ensure funding for the UN. The Foundation has been a catalyst for initiatives that have helped to: Reduce global deaths from measles the number one killer of children worldwide by 90% in Africa and by nearly 70% worldwide; Bring the incidence of polio to near elimination, a goal which can be met in 2009; Develop advocacy programs on behalf of adolescent girls, to bring their needs and the population agenda to the top of international and national agendas; Support the development of the UN s global climate strategies and clean energy projects in areas of the world most affected by climate change; Provide life-saving mobile technology to 1,500 remote health care workers to improve humanitarian aid and emergency response; Protect World Heritage sites around the globe, including such natural treasures as the Galapagos.

3 UN Foundation Page 3 of 5 TOWARDS A PERMANENT FOUNDATION BEYOND 2014 Compelled by the profound impact of the Foundation s first decade of work, the Foundation leadership will stretch Ted Turner s gift over a 15-year period, through 2014, and chart a course toward a permanent Foundation. Ted Turner has honored his commitment by delivering to UN causes more than $650 million, which the Foundation has more than matched by an additional $700 million raised from corporate, philanthropic, government, and NGO partners. The remaining $350 million of his pledge is being used to propel the Foundation s ongoing work and long-term sustainability. The Foundation begins its second decade of work with a renewed sense of purpose and unwavering commitment to mobilize the people, resources, and ideas needed to help the UN and world citizens successfully tackle the greatest global challenges. To help achieve these goals, the Foundation commissioned Global Philanthropic, an international consulting firm specializing in positioning studies, to undertake 150 interviews with high net worth individuals, leading corporations and foundations, bilateral aid agencies, and opinion leaders in 37 countries to shape long-term strategies for resource development and philanthropic engagement in support of the UN. IMPORTANT & REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS The Director of Foundation Relations will report to the Executive Director of Development, Lesli Creedon. He or she will strategically partner with, engage, and support program leaders, senior administration, colleagues, and volunteers in order to meet ambitious fund-raising goals. The Director will cultivate relationships with program officers and decision-makers within foundations. Moreover, the successful candidate will contribute to a team, in which collaboration, teamwork, and communication are requisite. ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES The Director of Foundation Relations is an integral part of the UN Foundation s expanding development team. In close collaboration with the Executive Director of Development and program leaders, the Director will lead, craft, and execute a strategic and operational plan for building and managing comprehensive relationships with foundations worldwide. Key opportunities and challenges include: In collaboration with the Executive Director of Development and program staff, design and implement a strategic and operational plan for building and managing comprehensive relationships with foundations worldwide in alignment with the UN Foundation s plans and priorities; Identify and prioritize programs and initiatives throughout the Foundation that have the most potential to attract significant foundation support; set annual goals for foundation support, both unrestricted and programmatic; Cultivate relationships with program officers and decision-makers; manage strategy for all foundation solicitations; and actively solicit and negotiate gifts; Actively and aggressively build relationships with new sources of institutional support while further engaging the existing foundation supporters; Develop a sophisticated understanding of the Foundation s history, mission, programs, and fundraising goals; embrace Foundation s plan for the future and passionately articulate that vision to the world at large;

4 UN Foundation Page 4 of 5 Engage and effectively support program leadership, senior management, staff, and volunteers in fund-raising activities, as appropriate; In collaboration with UNF program leaders and development staff, develop and manage a pool of foundation prospects, develop strategies for appropriate approaches, and conceptualize, edit and submit funding proposals; Oversee all UN Foundation programmatic approaches to foundations; develop and maintain systems for communicating and coordinating funding opportunities with program leaders to expand the grant proposal pipeline; Build capacity and manage a team to support the UN Foundation s foundation relations efforts, including: o prospect research, o grant writing and reporting, and o prospect tracking and moves management. Develop presentation materials and briefing strategies for senior UN Foundation leadership, the Executive Director of Development, program leaders, and Board members; Assist in the preparation of public/press announcements associated with significant foundation grants; Prepare reports on funding progress and implement other reporting and structural systems that will indicate program progress; Guided by the Foundation s values and mission, contribute to an organizational environment where teamwork, collaboration, and dedication are expected and required. IDEAL QUALITIES, CHARACTERISTICS & EXPERIENCE The UN Foundation seeks an experienced fund raiser with the ability and the demonstrated track record to respond effectively to the opportunities and challenges listed above. The ideal candidate will possess the following attributes and experience: Extensive experience in expanding a foundation relations program, ideally within a dynamic, fastpaced international organization; Proven ability to strategically and effectively build relationships and partnerships with foundations; Ability to coordinate foundation proposals in collaboration with program staff; Track record of successful foundation solicitations; Passion and energy for the mission and work of the UN Foundation; Intellectual curiosity and agility, combined with a sincere interest and understanding of global challenges and events; Highly motivated self-starter, entrepreneurial team player; Stature, integrity, and poise to gain the trust and confidence of the Foundation s senior management, program leadership, volunteer, staff, and colleagues; Superb communication skills, including excellent writing, editing, proofreading, and presentation abilities;

5 UN Foundation Page 5 of 5 Strong background in program planning and strategic initiative development; Ability to work independently, adapt to changing priorities and refine strategies after feedback, and multi-task to meet deadlines; Demonstrated ability to maintain best practices, engage participation from all levels, and generate excitement, shared purpose, and action; Strong personal work ethic, collaborative, and results-oriented; combined with a sense of humor and perspective; Cultural sensitivity and commitment to the highest standards of professionalism; Willingness and ability to travel as needed; Bachelor s degree required; advanced degree preferred. COMPENSATION & BENEFITS The compensation and comprehensive benefit package will be competitive and commensurate with the successful candidate s background and experience. CONFIDENTIAL APPLICATIONS & NOMINATIONS Confidential inquiries, applications, and nominations should be sent to Gail L. Freeman, President, Freeman Philanthropic Services, LLC at UN-FR@glfreeman.com. The UN Foundation is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity among its staff, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.