Philanthropy Advisor

**Context & Mission**

MSF is a non-profit, international, independent, medical-humanitarian organization providing assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, natural disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. MSF’s teams are made up of health professionals, logisticians and administrative personnel, guided by medical ethics and the principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality. MSF was founded in 1971 in Paris by a group of journalists and doctors. Today, it is a worldwide movement of more than 42,000 people, including staff in headquarters and in the field.

MSF Switzerland was created in 1981 and it is headquartered in Geneva. The Philanthropy Unit is one of the eight units at the Communications and Fundraising Department. To ensure a good geographical coverage of the Swiss fundraising market, the Unit is divided into two offices: Geneva and Zurich. The Unit’s mission is to strengthen MSF’s relationship with its private major supporters, including wealthy individuals, foundations, companies, and other philanthropic organisations. It also manages grants and donations from Swiss cantons and communes.

The Philanthropy Advisor for foundations and corporates in German speaking Switzerland is a key member of the Philanthropy Unit, driving the growth of the income. S/he is responsible for raising funds from new business, with a strong focus on foundations, and for stewarding the relationship with loyal donors in German speaking Switzerland. With the Team Coordinator and other team members, s/he’s in charge of ensuring the implementation of annual action plans, offering donors an interesting variety of tailored interaction opportunities and for improving stakeholder relationships through effective networking.

**Responsibilities**

**_ Strategy and action plan_**
- Actively contribute to the development of the annual action plan for foundations and corporates in Switzerland
- In coordination with the foundation team in Zurich and Geneva, implement the strategy for foundations and corporate fundraising in German speaking Switzerland.
- Regularly analyse her/his donor pool to ensure that the donors receive the best possible relationship management according to their potential for giving
- Implement the strategy of acquisition and retention in coordination with the Team Coordinator and considering the advice of the Prospect Researcher.
- Develop and implement an individually donor-tailored action plan for the renewal or upgrading of contributions from current partner foundations and for the acquisition of new ones.
- Drive (transversal) initiatives for improvement of donor acquisition and stewardship, promoting best practices

**_ Cultivation and stewardship_**
- Deliver the best possible experience to MSF key partners in order to increase their engagement.
- Prepare and facilitate one to one meetings, calls, presentations and other meaningful interactions with foundations board members or other relevant staff to reinforce our relationship with partners
- Interact with key spokespersons within MSF (President, General Director, Director of Operations, other management team members), as well as field staff, with the aim of bringing donors closer to the organisation in an attempt to show them our life saving mission and work in the projects.
- Define, propose and organise visits to MSF headquarters in Geneva and other sites for our main partners, according to MSF approved criteria and policies.
- Ensure that all interiM/Final reports are submitted on time to partner foundations and corporates.
- Liaise with Writing Officers for the preparation, including proof reading and editing, of project reports to foundations and corporates

**_ Solicitation_**
- Develop, present and defend MSF’s case for support to foundations and corporates in German speaking Switzerland
- Identify priority projects from within MSF’s medico-humanitarian projects and craft them into donor-centric offers

**_ Acquisition_**
- Develop and execute a tailored acquisition plan for a number of high-potential foundations and corporates by also actively engaging MSF’s network
- Closely collaborate with the Prospect Researcher in identifying the strategically most important prospects and in securing valuable background information to customize the approach

**_ Others_**
- Accurate maintenance of the donor’s CRM “DREAM”, ensuring coherence with the Swiss Data Protection Act
- Proactively contribute to information and knowledge sharing within the Philanthropy Unit
- Contribute and lead unit/department wide communities of practice
- Contribute to the MSF capacity building initiatives at international level
- Active relationship management with key stakeholders within (operations, communications, finance, association, management, other MSF sections etc.) and outside the organization

**_
Education_**
- University degree in Business Management, Marketing, Communications, Political Science, International Relations or ot