Senior Director, Philanthropic Partnerships, Counterpart International

Position description

Founded in 2019 by Catherine Carrington,Carrington Talent Grouphas built a reputation for delivering high-quality executive search results that prioritize success for both clients and candidates. We are proud to be managing this search on behalf ofCounterpart Internationaland look forward to engaging with you throughout the process.

About Counterpart International

At Counterpart International, we believe that the people closest to the challenges are best positioned to solve them, but they shouldn’t have to do it alone. For more than 60 years, we’ve partnered with communities around the world to turn local ideas into lasting solutions. We connect local vision with global opportunity, working alongside leaders, organizations, and networks to build inclusive, resilient communities where people thrive.

Our programs focus on long-term impact supporting women to lead and grow their businesses, strengthening food systems so families have access to nutritious food and sustainable livelihoods, and creating pathways for economic and social progress. As a trusted steward of development funding, Counterpart is known for transparency, accountability, and measurable results. We bring together the right partners, resources, and ideas to help communities build better lives and more durable futures, generation after generation. Read more about our programs and impacthere.

About the Role

Counterpart International is seeking a bold, strategic, and entrepreneurial Senior Director of Philanthropic Partnerships with a proven track record of success to build and scale the organization’s foundation and corporate partnerships revenue strategy. Reporting to and working closely with the CEO, and in partnership with senior leadership, this is a pivotal and highly visible leadership role at a defining moment for Counterpart.

To succeed in this role, you must be both strategic and hands-on. You will step into an active, warming portfolio of corporate and foundation relationships and have the opportunity to:

• cultivate high-value partnerships that translate Counterpart’s work into compelling, investable opportunities
• build and manage a multi-million-dollar institutional portfolio and materially grow corporate and foundation revenue year over year (build a modern, high-performing function capable of generating sustained support from institutional partners
• shape how Counterpart positions itself with corporate and philanthropic partners

This leadership role will be based in the Washington DC metro area, utilizing a flexible, hybrid work arrangement.

Key Responsibilities

Institutional Partnerships Strategy, Engagement, and Growth (65%)

• Own and lead Counterpart’s corporate and foundation partnerships and fundraising strategy, building a multi-million-dollar portfolio of institutional support, from solicitation through stewardship. This includes a mix of renewals, expansions and new partner cultivation.
• Lead high-quality proposal development and reporting processes, orchestrating cross-functional teams (program, technical, MEL, writing, budgeting, compliance) to effectively advance opportunities from concept through award.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward high-value foundation and corporate partners, translating Counterpart’s technical strengths into clear, investable opportunities aligned with funder priorities.
• Develop multi-year growth plans that build on organizational strengths and respond to evolving philanthropic and market conditions.
• Represent Counterpart externally across philanthropy and CSR/ESG sectors, advancing strategic relationships and strengthening the organization’s presence.
• Partner with senior leadership and communications partners to strengthen Counterpart’s external positioning by shaping narratives, pitches, and engagement strategies that resonate with current and prospective funders.

Infrastructure and Organizational Leadership (35%)

• Design and strengthen a modern institutional revenue pipeline, including CRM rigor, pipeline forecasting, dashboards, and governance practices that enhance clarity and accountability; set and enforce clear messaging and quality standards.
• Work cross-functionally across teams to ensure funding opportunities are ambitious, realistic, and aligned with delivery capacity and mission.
• Lead and develop internal matrixed contributors and external partners, building a high-performing culture focused on results, responsiveness, and revenue growth.

Qualifications

• 15 years of progressive leadership experience in global/international development, with a functional focus on corporate and foundation partnerships, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated track record of personally soliciting and closing six-figure institutional gifts, leveraging senior leadership and board members for introductions and cultivation.
• Experience building or significantly scaling corporate and foundation fundraising in a growth-stage and/or complex organization.
• Proven ability to provide strategic leadership while also executing, moving from vision to action and results.
• Strong comfort with CRM systems, pipeline management, forecasting, dashboards, and revenue operations.
• Experience leading, influencing, and developing staff and resources in matrixed or distributed environments.
• Ability to represent an organization credibly and confidently with senior foundation and corporate partners.
• An entrepreneurial, solutions-oriented mindset and a values-driven leadership style aligned with Counterpart’s mission and culture.

Location and Salary Information

The Senior Director will work a hybrid arrangement, in person up to three days per week in Counterpart’s office in Washington DC.

Salary: $140,000 – $180,000

Reports to: CEO

Application instructions

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