Director, Foundation Partnerships

Position description

The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (Global Energy Alliance) The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (Global Energy Alliance) works for a world where everyone has access to affordable, reliable, clean electricity and the means to use it to improve their lives. Our Alliance builds transformative public, private, philanthropic partnerships to end energy poverty and accelerate green economic opportunity. Founded in 2021 by The Rockefeller Foundation, IKEA Foundation, and Bezos Earth Fund, we design innovative projects/programs, unlock finance, strengthen institutions and transform markets, delivering progress anchored in deep community engagement. By uniting actors across the value chain, from households to heads of state, we go beyond individual projects to drive lasting systems change. With work in more than 30 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, our Alliance aims to reach 1 billion people with clean electricity, prevent 4 billion tons of carbon emissions and create or improve 150 million jobs.

In 2025, the Alliance launched a dedicated Philanthropy and Partnerships Division to expand and diversify our funding base. We are pioneering new fundraising pathways, engaging nontraditional funders, and building deep, trust-based partnerships to mobilize resources and drive systemic impact.

With more than 50 partners worldwide, including governments, businesses, investors, development banks, community groups and philanthropies, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet convenes the right actors with the right expertise to match the challenges we face.

Duties

The Director of Foundation Partnerships plays a key leadership role within the Global Energy Alliance’s Partnerships and External Relations Division, focusing on fundraising with foundations. This role centers on building and managing relationships with foundations and collaborative funding platforms to secure major grants and advance the Alliance’s mission.

Reporting to the Managing Director, Institutional Partnerships & Strategic Alliances, the Director leads the development and execution of a comprehensive institutional fundraising strategy, managing the full grant lifecycle from prospecting and cultivation through solicitation, stewardship, and reporting. The role combines strategic vision with hands-on relationship management to build a diversified funding base that supports the Alliance’s long-term sustainability and global impact.

Accountabilities

Institutional Foundation Fundraising & Strategy

• Design and execute GEA’s institutional fundraising strategy, identifying and cultivating relationships with private foundations, family foundations, and corporate foundations aligned with GEA’s climate, energy access, and economic development mission.
• Build and manage a robust institutional donor pipeline, conducting prospect research, developing targeted outreach strategies, and tracking engagement through all stages of the donor journey.
• Secure seven- and eight-figure institutional grants through strategic cultivation, compelling proposal development, and effective solicitation aligned with funder priorities and GEA’s programmatic goals.
• Develop customized engagement approaches for foundation partners, including co-design opportunities, impact measurement frameworks, learning partnerships, and recognition strategies.
• Cultivate relationships with program officers, foundation leadership, and trustees, positioning GEA as a strategic partner for systems-change philanthropy in the energy transition.

Partnership Management & Grant Administration

• Lead end-to-end grant management for a portfolio of major institutional funders, ensuring excellence in proposal development, reporting, compliance, and relationship stewardship.
• Collaborate closely with program, finance, MEL (Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning), and communications teams to develop compelling concept notes, LOIs, and full proposals that articulate GEA’s theory of change and impact.
• Negotiate grant agreements and partnership terms, ensuring alignment with GEA’s alliancing approach, programmatic objectives, and donor requirements while managing risk and compliance.
• Oversee timely, high-quality narrative and financial reporting to foundation partners, highlighting impact, lessons learned, and partnership value.
• Serve as the primary liaison between institutional funders and GEA’s technical and programmatic teams, facilitating strategic dialogue and ensuring donor engagement beyond transactional grantmaking.

Collaborative Funding & Philanthropic Networks

• Identify and engage with philanthropic collaboratives, pooled funds, multi-donor initiatives, and sector coalitions focused on climate, clean energy, and sustainable development.
• Represent GEA in strategic funder networks and affinity groups to build visibility and cultivate partnerships.
• Track emerging trends in climate and energy philanthropy, including innovative funding mechanisms, blended finance structures, and cross-sector collaboration models to inform GEA’s fundraising approach.

Strategic Leadership & Team Collaboration

• Serve as a senior thought partner within the Partnerships & External Relations Division, contributing to strategic planning, goal-setting, and the evolution of GEA’s fundraising model.
• Lead or contribute to cross-divisional initiatives, such as donor engagement calendars, funder convenings, philanthropic advisory councils, or targeted campaigns.
• Champion data-driven fundraising practices by contributing to CRM management (Salesforce or similar), pipeline analysis, forecasting, and performance dashboards.
• Mentor and build capacity among colleagues on institutional fundraising best practices, foundation relations, proposal writing, and impact storytelling.
• Represent GEA externally at conferences, funder briefings, panels, and convenings, elevating the organization’s profile and expanding its institutional network.

Qualifications

Skills & Experience

• Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management, International Development, Environmental Studies, Public Policy, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in institutional fundraising, foundation relations, or philanthropic partnerships, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role managing complex donor portfolios and driving revenue growth.
• Proven track record of securing seven- and eight- figure grants from private foundations, family foundations, and institutional donors, particularly in climate, energy, environment, or international development sectors.
• Deep knowledge of the foundation landscape, including major climate and energy funders, emerging philanthropic trends, and collaborative funding models.
• Exceptional relationship management skills, with demonstrated ability to cultivate long-term partnerships with foundation program officers, leadership teams, and trustees.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including proven ability to develop compelling proposals, concept notes, and case statements that translate complex programmatic work into fundable narratives.
• Strong project management capabilities, with experience managing multiple grant cycles, deadlines, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Experience working in or with global organizations focused on clean energy, climate action, or international development highly desirable; familiarity with systems-change approaches and alliancing models a plus.
• High digital fluency, including proficiency with CRM platforms (Salesforce preferred), grant management systems, and data analytics tools.

Qualifications & Competencies

• Partnership and Relationship Building: Strong professional presence with established foundation networks; intercultural knowledge and appreciation; strategic partnership building skills; demonstrated ability to build trust-based relationships with complex institutional funders.
• Communication: Excellent interpersonal abilities including active listening, persuasive writing, and compelling verbal presentation; ability to distill complex technical content into accessible narratives; effectiveness in presenting to diverse audiences from program officers to foundation boards.
• Decision-Making: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to assess funder fit and prioritize opportunities; takes initiative and drives results; understands how fundraising strategy aligns with GEA’s mission, programs, and organizational objectives.
• Execution: Excellent project management skills; manages multiple priorities and deadlines effectively; provides clear guidance to cross-functional teams; demonstrates urgency and takes ownership of deliverables and outcomes.
• Integration: Collaborates effectively across program, finance, communications, and leadership teams; accesses expertise throughout the organization; works inclusively to achieve shared goals.

Application instructions

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