Director, Foundation Partnerships

Overview
In 2025, the Global Energy Alliance launched a dedicated Philanthropy and Partnerships Division to expand and diversify our funding base. We are pioneering new fundraising pathways, engaging nontraditional funders, and building deep, trust-based partnerships to mobilize resources and drive systemic impact. With more than 50 partners worldwide, the Alliance convenes the right actors with the right expertise to address climate and energy access challenges and to advance sustainable development.

The Director of Foundation Partnerships plays a key leadership role within the Global Energy Alliance’s Partnerships and External Relations Division, focusing on fundraising with foundations. This role centers on building and managing relationships with foundations and collaborative funding platforms to secure major grants and advance the Alliance’s mission. Reporting to the Managing Director, Institutional Partnerships & Strategic Alliances, the Director leads the development and execution of a comprehensive institutional fundraising strategy, managing the full grant lifecycle from prospecting and cultivation through solicitation, stewardship, and reporting.

The role combines strategic vision with hands-on relationship management to build a diversified funding base that supports the Alliance’s long-term sustainability and global impact.

Institutional Foundation Fundraising & Strategy

• Design and execute GEA's institutional fundraising strategy, identifying and cultivating relationships with private foundations, family foundations, and corporate foundations aligned with GEA's climate, energy access, and economic development mission.
• Build and manage a robust institutional donor pipeline, conducting prospect research, developing targeted outreach strategies, and tracking engagement through all stages of the donor journey.
• Secure seven- and eight-figure institutional grants through strategic cultivation, compelling proposal development, and effective solicitation aligned with funder priorities and GEA's programmatic goals.
• Develop customized engagement approaches for foundation partners, including co-design opportunities, impact measurement frameworks, learning partnerships, and recognition strategies.
• Cultivate relationships with program officers, foundation leadership, and trustees, positioning GEA as a strategic partner for systems-change philanthropy in the energy transition.

Partnership Management & Grant Administration

• Lead end-to-end grant management for a portfolio of major institutional funders, ensuring excellence in proposal development, reporting, compliance, and relationship stewardship.
• Collaborate closely with program, finance, MEL (Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning), and communications teams to develop compelling concept notes, LOIs, and full proposals that articulate GEA's theory of change and impact.
• Negotiate grant agreements and partnership terms, ensuring alignment with GEA's alliancing approach, programmatic objectives, and donor requirements while managing risk and compliance.
• Oversee timely, high-quality narrative and financial reporting to foundation partners, highlighting impact, lessons learned, and partnership value.
• Serve as the primary liaison between institutional funders and GEA's technical and programmatic teams, facilitating strategic dialogue and ensuring donor engagement beyond transactional grantmaking.

Collaborative Funding & Philanthropic Networks

• Identify and engage with philanthropic collaboratives, pooled funds, multi-donor initiatives, and sector coalitions focused on climate, clean energy, and sustainable development.
• Represent GEA in strategic funder networks and affinity groups to build visibility and cultivate partnerships.
• Track emerging trends in climate and energy philanthropy, including innovative funding mechanisms, blended finance structures, and cross-sector collaboration models to inform GEA's fundraising approach.

Strategic Leadership & Team Collaboration

• Serve as a senior thought partner within the Partnerships & External Relations Division, contributing to strategic planning, goal-setting, and the evolution of GEA's fundraising model.
• Lead or contribute to cross-divisional initiatives, such as donor engagement calendars, funder convenings, philanthropic advisory councils, or targeted campaigns.
• Champion data-driven fundraising practices by contributing to CRM management (Salesforce or similar), pipeline analysis, forecasting, and performance dashboards.
• Mentor and build capacity among colleagues on institutional fundraising best practices, foundation relations, proposal writing, and impact storytelling.
• Represent GEA externally at conferences, funder briefings, panels, and convenings, elevating the organization's profile and expanding its institutional network.

Skills & Experience

• Master's degree in Nonprofit Management, International Development, Environmental Studies, Public Policy, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in…