Director of Philanthropic Partnerships

Position description

For forty years, Thousand Currents has learned from and invested in grassroots groups and movements in Africa; Latin America and the Caribbean; and Asia and the Pacific. These movement formations– working for solutions in food, climate, and the economy–have shaped our path and demonstrated what transformation truly looks like. We support our movement partners with core, flexible, long-term grants and value-added services, and we’ve invested over $60 million in more than 650 grassroots groups and movements across 85 countries.

OUR VALUES

At Thousand Currents, we envision a world in which self-determined and connected peoples share and uphold the abundance of life. To realize this vision, we embrace and practice a clear set of values:

• Courage – We confront injustice and inequality with love, strength, conviction, and integrity.
• Humility – We are part of a greater whole. We are one among many currents. We recognize our place among many forces for good and change that exist in the world.
• Experimentation – In order to take principled actions together, we prioritize learning, commit to self-reflection, embrace trial and error, and honor multiple ways of knowing.
• Creative collaboration – We share power, practices, and resources to reimagine new ways of living.
• Interdependence – With our futures intertwined, we respect all beings and build authentic relationships to move forward together.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Thousand Currents seeks a Director of Philanthropic Partnerships to lead our work with institutional funders and select individual supporters. As an integral member of the Philanthropic Partnerships & Influence (PPI) team, this role mobilizes resources to fuel movements advancing food sovereignty, climate justice and economic justice. Guided by our five‑year strategy, which calls on us to mobilize $175 million and cultivate a robust ecosystem of committed philanthropic partners, the Director will create pathways for new funders to join our community, and current ones to deepen their engagement. This is a senior philanthropic partnerships position that organizes philanthropy around the solutions of movements, expands imaginations and invites partners into deep relationships.

Reporting to the Vice President of PPI, the Director will steward primarily foundations, cultivating long-term and/or transformative commitments. They will manage the Institutional Partnerships Manager and collaborate closely across the PPI team and other teams at Thousand Currents to align narrative, programmatic and philanthropic strategies. This role requires a seasoned fundraiser who understands both the processes of funding cultivation (grant writing, foundational relationships) and the values of solidarity‑based philanthropy, has experience with moves management and CRM systems, and thrives in a remote, globally diverse environment. Travel and occasional evening or weekend work may be required.

Deadline to Apply: By 5pm ET on Friday, January 9, 2026Key Details: Compensation, Location, Travel, & BenefitsPosition:Full time, ExemptTeam:Philanthropic Partnerships & Influence (PPI)Location:Remote, US preferredSupervises:Manager, Institutional Partnerships ManagerTravel:Up to 25%Position Reports to:Vice President, Philanthropic Partnerships & InfluenceCompensation:$141,450Benefits:

• 100% of employee and dependent cost for Health, Dental, and Vision for employee + medical travel insurance for employee
• 10 paid annual holidays + open paid time off policy allowing flexible time off
• Up to 16 weeks of paid parental leave
• Up to $1,000 stipend to set up work space, $2,000 per year wellness stipend, $1,500 per year work from home expenses, and up to $2,000 per year for learning and development
• Remote, flexible schedule
• Retirement contribution allowance of 4% of gross salary
• Life Insurance + Long and Short Term disability insurance
• Possibility of sabbatical leave after seven years of employment
• Paid Parental leave

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Planning (25%)

• Co‑create and implement fundraising strategy. Collaborate with others on the team to design and implement an integrated fundraising strategy that advances our five‑year plan to mobilize $175 million. Ensure that resource‑mobilization goals align with programmatic priorities, and with our vision of moving more and better resources to movements in the Global South.
• Embed narrative and data into fundraising. Partner with the Communications team to ensure all philanthropic engagement is grounded in bold, evidence‑based messaging that positions grassroots solutions as climate and economic strategies. Use impact evidence and movement stories to inspire belief, expand imagination and invite deeper support.
• Plan for big bets, transformative gifts, and core revenue. Develop and lead strategies to secure seven+ figure gifts and multi‑year commitments from institutional partners, as well as some individual donors. Balance pursuit of “big bet” and transformational funding with disciplined growth of our base of major donors and anchor funders.
• Build cross‑team alignment. Coordinate with the Director of Donor Organizing, Director of Communications, the Institutional Partnerships Manager, and others teams at Thousand Currents to synchronize engagement calendars and donor touchpoints. Participate in cross-team strategy meetings and support seamless donor engagement across teams.
• Use data and feedback to refine strategy. Monitor progress toward fundraising and engagement goals through Salesforce dashboards and regular reports. Use data to identify opportunities for growth and adjust tactics accordingly. Share insights and learning across the team.
• Invest in learning. Stay abreast of philanthropic trends, progressive wealth movements, and emerging funding vehicles. Participate in training offered by Thousand Currents and sector partners, and contribute to a culture of curiosity and experimentation.

Relationship Management & Fundraising (40%)

• Maintain a portfolio of individual and institutional funders, cultivating deep relationships and securing long-term commitments and transformative gifts. Develop individualized engagement strategies rooted in curiosity, solidarity and shared values.
• Steward current funding partners, reengage lapsed funders, and identify new prospects aligned with our mission. Engage various philanthropic networks and spaces to grow our community of supporters.
• Collaborate on strategic solicitations. Partner with the VP PPI, CEO & President, and VP Global Programs to plan and participate in high‑level engagements with institutional foundations and principal donors. Prepare briefing materials, talking points and customized proposals that reflect our movement partners’ solutions and Thousand Currents’ five‑year strategy.
• Leverage immersive engagement. Work with colleagues to design and host salons, webinars, and learning opportunities with partners that bring funders into relationships with movement leaders. Ensure that every engagement deepens supporters’ sense of belonging to a global community and invites them to take collective action.
• Represent Thousand Currents. Serve as an ambassador at philanthropic convenings, conferences and networks. Advocate for solidarity‑based funding practices and promote Thousand Currents as a trusted partner that connects donors with transformative movement solutions.

Community Building & Narrative Alignment (15%)

• Cultivate a community of believers and builders. Facilitate peer‑to‑peer connections and nurture spaces that align funders around movement solutions.
• Engage supporters to deepen understanding of why movement‑led solutions are the most effective and sustainable path to systemic change, and why internationalism and transnational solidarity matter.
• Leverage strategic milestones and spaces such as movement victories to galvanize the community, celebrate progress and invite deeper engagement and commitment.

Team Leadership & Management (15%)

• Supervise and mentor staff. Manage the Institutional Partnerships Manager, providing guidance, feedback and professional development. Foster a positive, collaborative culture rooted in Thousand Currents’ values and practices of care.
• Partner with peers. Work collaboratively with the VP of PPI, Director of Donor Organizing, Institutional Partnerships Manager, VP of the Center for Transforming Philanthropy, Director of Communications, and other colleagues to ensure a seamless experience for all funders and donors. Provide thought partnership and mentorship to colleagues across the organization on best practices in resource mobilization and donor community‑building.
• Strengthen infrastructure and compliance. Oversee accurate CRM data entry and moves management processes. Collaborate with Finance to manage budgets and reporting. Maintain confidentiality and ethical standards in handling donor information, and adhere to organizational policies and partner safety guidelines.

Organization-wide learning, cross-program partnership, administrative efficiency: 5%

• Show up fully for organizational activities, including staff meetings, retreats and training.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues as necessary for cross program activities and functions;
• Support organization-wide activities, such as the Thousand Currents Academy, annual events, etc.
• Manage regular personal administration, including timely submission of receipts, reimbursement requests, scheduling, travel planning, filing HR paperwork etc.
• Take up additional responsibilities as assigned.

Thousand Currents is committed to responding flexibly to changing circumstances and priorities which means that the expectations of every position are dynamic. This description reflects the assignment of essential functions, but does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Role Requirements & Desires

We recognize that people gain skills through a variety of experiences. We encourage applications from candidates who meet most of the criteria and are committed to our values.

• Extensive fundraising experience. At least ten years of progressively responsible experience in resource mobilization, including a strong track record of personally cultivating and securing seven+figure gifts from institutional funders, and ideally, individuals as well.
• Strategic leadership. Experience designing and implementing comprehensive fundraising strategies that balance core revenue growth and transformational “big bet” or transformative gift opportunities. Demonstrated ability to align fundraising with organizational strategy and programmatic impact.
• Commitment to solidarity‑based philanthropy. Deep alignment with Thousand Currents’ mission and values, and a belief that philanthropy should resource and be accountable to movements. Ability to frame fundraising as organizing and community‑building, not merely “development.”
• Relationship‑centered. Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to build trust and rapport across cultures, identities and power differences. Skilled at listening, storytelling and translating complex ideas into inspiring and accessible language.
• Management and mentorship. Experience supervising staff, fostering collaborative teams and supporting colleagues’ growth. Comfort navigating power dynamics with humility and self‑awareness.
• Systems and data fluency. Proficiency with CRM systems (Salesforce preferred), moves management, and data‑driven fundraising. Ability to design and manage budgets and interpret financial and programmatic data.

• Flexible and proactive. Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment with a remote, geographically dispersed team. Ability to travel as needed (both nationally and internationally) and to engage virtually across time zones.
  • Please note: We are unable to provide visa sponsorship or relocation assistance.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands of this position are light and may require walking or standing to a significant degree. The position requires frequent computer use at a workstation. As Thousand Currents staff work in a number of locations and come together for meetings on occasion, all staff must be able to travel by car and plane to meetings at locations nationally and internationally. Availability to travel and maintenance of a valid passport is required. National or international travel represents up to 25% of the time for this position. Thousand Currents will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This job description and its physical requirements will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification.

Application instructions

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