Director of Development

The Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) is a nonprofit organization of experts, educators, and advisors working to expand international trade and commerce for businesses and governments around the world. BCIU is deeply connected and trusted by 150 member companies, including many global multinationals, and maintains an unparalleled network of government relationships in every corner of the world. For seventy years, BCIU has advanced commercial diplomacy by addressing complex global challenges and delivering transformative engagements that align private sector innovation with government priorities.

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BCIU’s Development Unit (Unit) is responsible for cultivating, soliciting and stewarding executives to join BCIU as corporate members and support the organization’s programming and related services. The remit of the unit has recently expanded to cover fundraising more broadly, engaging new segments such as high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) and foundations. BCIU is in the quiet phase of our first‑ever comprehensive campaign, and the Director of Development (Director) will be joining an organization well‑positioned to build transformative partnerships with individual philanthropists and secure funding from foundations.

With strategic guidance from the Senior Vice President, the Director will be charged with creating and fostering a culture of philanthropy at BCIU, pursuing short‑ and long‑term strategic advancement goals that drive fundraising success and meet BCIU‑wide objectives in a time‑sensitive manner. The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurially minded leader with a proven record in nonprofit fundraising, including managing and growing 6 to 7‑figure multi‑year gifts/grants, systematizing and leveraging data in support of fundraising and external relationship management, and project management success.

He/she/they must also be a compelling communicator and have a passion for international understanding and BCIU’s mission.

• Increase BCIU’s financial support by creating and implementing a strategic development plan focused on HNWIs and foundations, utilizing BCIU‑wide assets
• Oversee and actively manage lists, research and tracking of HNWIs and grant‑making foundations in BCIU’s network
• Qualify prospects on an ongoing basis, helping convert BCIU’s network of HNWIs and foundations into donors
• Generate bespoke campaign proposals for prospective top donors
• Provide briefings/preparation for the President, Senior Vice President, and other key staff who participate in donor meetings and engage key prospects
• Utilize BCIU‑wide assets, ensuring internal coordination and follow‑up with relevant staff
• Steward existing funders by providing frequent updates, managing opportunities to engage with BCIU programming, completing grant reports and impact analyses, and producing compelling renewal requests
• Establish rigorous timelines and deadlines, focusing on cadence and closing of pledges and gifts
• Maintain accurate donor profiles and support the tracking and assessment of major gift fundraising metrics
• Update all reporting documents on a regular basis and develop collateral as needed

• Strong personal and professional integrity
• Superb communication skills, both oral and written
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a goal‑oriented team environment
• Skilled at collaborating across, and play an important role as a liaison with, multiple departments in a complex organization
• Excellent attention to details and follow‑through as demonstrated through effective project management experience
• Exceptional time management skills
• A high degree of sophistication, self‑confidence and self‑motivation, with an ability to keep calm under pressure
• Comfort multi‑tasking and rigorous follow through
• Effective utilization of AI and/or other optimization tools
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; master’s degree preferred
• 5+ years’ experience as a member of a high‑performing development department closing six and seven‑figure commitments