Senior Director, Philanthropy (Remote)

About the role

GiveDirectly is seeking a strategic and results-driven Senior Director, Philanthropy to lead and grow our senior philanthropy efforts across high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, trusts, and foundations, including private and family foundations. This role will be central to mobilizing flexible, values-aligned capital at meaningful scale in support of GiveDirectly's most ambitious goals. You will own the strategy and execution of GiveDirectly's senior philanthropy program, personally steward and close relationships with some of our most significant supporters, and work closely with the CEO on top-priority relationship management. GiveDirectly's philanthropy team is a lean (approximately 4-5 staff), high-performing team that consistently raises $100M+ from major individual donors. Looking ahead, GiveDirectly has set a bold ambition to deliver $5 billion directly to people living in poverty by 2035 - having reached the US$1Bn milestone in 2025. This role will be critical to expanding and diversifying our base of senior philanthropists - particularly donors from technology and finance backgrounds who value evidence, speed, and scalability - while building a durable engine for long-term growth. This role is ideally based in the United States and requires meaningful overlap with New York working hours (minimum 4 hours daily), as well as collaboration with teams in East Africa, and the Bay Area. Reports to: Vice President, Partnerships & Philanthropy Level: Senior Director Travel: ~6-10 trips annually (donor engagement, team retreats, or program visits)

Responsibilities

• Set senior philanthropy strategy and drive results
• Own and evolve GiveDirectly's senior philanthropy strategy (acquisition, close, and upsell) across high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, trusts, and foundations
• Translate organizational priorities and long-term ambitions, including the goal to deliver $5B by 203, into clear fundraising strategies and high-leverage opportunities
• Partner closely with the VP of Partnerships & Philanthropy and the CEO on the highest-priority philanthropic relationships
• Deepen partnerships within the finance and technology sectors while expanding GiveDirectly's philanthropic base to include next-generation wealth holders, trust-based donors, etc.
• Personally steward and close major donors
• Manage and grow a selective portfolio of major philanthropists
• Lead complex, high-stakes donor conversations resulting in significant, multi-year, and transformational commitments
• Serve as a trusted partner to philanthropists engaging with GiveDirectly's most ambitious initiatives
• Lead a high-performing team
• Lead and support a team of approximately 4-5 fundraisers, setting clear priorities and a high quality bar
• Coach team members on donor strategy, relationship management, and deal execution
• Run disciplined portfolio, pipeline, and forecasting using salesforce and other tools
• Build scalable systems and collaborate across teams
• Strengthen end-to-end systems for acquisition, engagement, solicitation, and stewardship of major philanthropists
• Define and implement the right balance between bespoke relationship management and scalable, automated donor engagement, ensuring senior time is focused where it adds the most value
• Work closely with the Special Projects, Partnerships, and Individual Giving teams to drive cohesive fundraising strategies and donor experiences
• Ensure strong Salesforc

Requirements

• A proven track record initiating and securing significant philanthropic commitments from high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and/or private or family foundations
• Experience engaging stakeholders or donors from finance and technology sectors, with strong credibility and networks
• Strategic judgment and the ability to both shape philanthropy strategy and personally close complex deals
• Experience leading and developing fundraising teams, or teams working with similar skills sets (analytics, sales, consulting, start-ups), with a strong quality bar
• Strong systems judgment, including experience determining when high-touch donor management is essential and when scalable, automated approaches are more effective
• Deep alignment with GiveDirectly's values, including recipient choice, transparency, and evidence-driven decision-making

Benefits

Additional Information

GiveDirectly has delivered more than $1B in cash directly to 2+ million people living in poverty across 15 countries since 2011. We believe cash transfers are one of the most scalable, cost-effective, and dignified forms of aid, with the research to back it up. Our work has been covered by The Economist , NPR , TED , and The Washington Post . We are one of Time100's Most Influential Companies of 2026. Our culture is candid, analytical, and non-hierarchical. We support high ownership and real professional growth. Curious about what it's really like to work here? Read our values and hear from the people who do . If they resonate, this could be a great fit!

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