Director, Individual Giving, Business and Program Development

About the Milken Institute

The Milken Institute is a globally minded, publicly supported, non-partisan, and nonprofit think tank headquartered in Santa Monica, with offices in Washington, DC, New York, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. For the past three decades, the Milken Institute has served as a catalyst for practical, scalable solutions to global challenges by connecting human, financial, and educational resources to those who need them. Guided by a conviction that the best ideas, under-resourced, cannot succeed, we conduct research and analysis and convene top experts, innovators, and influencers from different backgrounds and competing viewpoints. We leverage this expertise and insight to construct programs and policy initiatives. These activities are designed to help people build meaningful lives, in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities.

About Milken Institute Philanthropy

Milken Institute Philanthropy advises individuals, corporations, and foundations on the most strategic ways to ensure their philanthropic investments make an equitable, transformative impact, and offers tools and recommendations for making philanthropy more effective. In addition to in-depth research, we design and build programs including, funding initiatives, research collaboratives, large-scale innovation programs, and high-level events. Finally, we also foster peer learning communities to accelerate knowledge-sharing and promote partnership. MI Philanthropy’s areas of focus include science & health philanthropy, environmental & social equity philanthropy, and broader philanthropic advising.

The Milken Institute is seeking a Director to support the Milken Institute’s Business and Program Development Center Advancement team, with a focus on individual fundraising. For the candidate with strong intellectual curiosity and a desire to create transformative partnerships, this is an opportunity to work with the Institute’s philanthropy programs and become a key player in an entrepreneurial, growing and dynamic organization involved in some of the most important issues.

This position will report to the Business and Program Development team and work in partnership with the EVP of MI Philanthropy to cultivate and steward ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) philanthropists in order to meaningfully engage individuals in Institute programs. The Director will be instrumental in advancing the already strong growth of philanthropy programming and expanding its reach into new philanthropic communities. The role will work closely with colleagues across the Business and Program Development, the MI Philanthropy pillar, Events, Communications, and international teams and serve on the front lines working with UHNW philanthropists and engagement across the broader Milken Institute.

Responsibilities

• Leading efforts to identify funder needs and advance opportunities for the Milken Institute with a focus on MI Philanthropy. Targeted growth areas include, but are not limited to, crafting philanthropic vision and strategies, mobilizing capital for innovation competitions, investing in biomedical and science philanthropy, and expanding learning community.
• Designing partnership opportunities and closing and stewarding major gifts for the MI Philanthropy programmatic pillar
• Managing relationships with key prospects and funders and coordinating all Milken Institute interactions with those partners
• Working across Milken Institute, the MI Philanthropy Programmatic Pillar, Events, Business Development, and other centers and department teams, as needed, to ensure partners are effectively integrated into convenings and other Milken Institute programs
• Participating in Milken Institute events and representing the Institute in key philanthropic convenings
• Providing insights and support as needed in the development of philanthropic tools, resources, and learning communities to scale strategic philanthropy practices

Candidates should possess the following characteristics:

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• 10+ years of experience in fundraising, business development, partnership building, major gifts, and/or wealth management
• Experience building relationships with UHNW philanthropists that have resulted in transformative and strategic gifts
• Professional gravitas/executive presence that allows you to quickly gain the respect of UHNWIs and key stakeholders
• Ability to inspire enthusiasm about the mission of the Milken Institute and its MI Philanthropy programmatic initiatives
• Experience building funder collaboratives, partnerships, and/or coalitions
• Ability to establish trust and develop strong working relationships with philanthropic partners, leading experts, and across Milken Institute teams
• Superior project management skills, including the ability to proactively problem-solve and identify solutions in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple demands, projects, and deadlines
• Flexibility to travel as needed for meetings and events and to work across various time zones around the world
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams) and Salesforce required.

Working Conditions & Travel Requirements

This position will work in a professional office environment. This person will also be required to travel occasionally to other offices and/or venues to assist with events as needed, requiring occasional work outside of traditional hours. International along with domestic travel is possible.

Note 

We are interested in qualified candidates who are eligible to work in the United States. Please note, we are not sponsoring visas at this time, being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment.

This position will be working a hybrid model, where you will be expected to report to your respective office location 3-days per week (Tuesday - Thursday), this is subject to change.

The statements herein are intended to describe the overall nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

Please submit resume and cover letter illustrating how your experience and skills will contribute to the department and any unique qualities you bring to the position. If applying via Indeed, please upload your resume and any supporting documentation as one attachment. Any application that does not include both a resume and cover letter will be rejected.

Our Culture

The Milken Institute is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran. 

Every person at the Milken Institute is treated with respect, supported with resources and training, and exposed to a broad range of experiences. We foster a space for growth with opportunities to share knowledge and passion with both clients and colleagues. We are committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Our leadership is actively involved in our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and fostering a culture that creates opportunities for everyone. 

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan - 403b (5%)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity & Paternity)
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)
• Training & Development:
  • LinkedIn Learning –over 10,000 classes offered, self-guided.
  • Mentor Program
• Wellness Resources:
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • CALM app membership
  • Gym (Santa Monica)

Additional Perks

• Coffee Chats with the CEO – informal opportunity to chat with the CEO.
• All Staff Meetings – employees from all domestic and international locations come together for a 2-day retreat (occurs every 18 months).
• Prime office locations – Santa Monica office is 4-blocks from the Pacific Ocean, Washington, DC office is across the street from the White House, New York office is on Madison Ave near Central Park, and Miami office is a 5-minute walk from Miami Beach.