Fundraising Director

About GRI 

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) provides standards, services, tools, and training that empower organizations of all sizes to assess and report on their environmental, social, and economic impacts. We engage in a multi-stakeholder process to develop our standards, setting best practices for sustainability reporting.  

The GRI Standards are widely used around the world and contribute to the establishment of a global sustainability reporting system. Our priorities and partnerships support long-term value creation, benefiting people and planet.   

GRI is an independent nonprofit organization, headquartered in the Netherlands, with multiple regional networks. With staff in more than 20 countries, we embody global perspectives while enabling local relevance.  

Working at GRI, you will be part of a team - One GRI - that is committed to unlocking positive change in the world. 

About the role 

The Fundraising Director leads the organization’s resource mobilization efforts, to secure and sustain donor funding. This role focuses on building strategic partnerships, expanding and diversifying the donor base, and ensuring that all fundraising efforts are aligned with the organization’s mission and strategy. The Fundraising Director ensures that organizational fundraising targets are met, coordinating fundraising efforts across GRI in pursuit of set goals.  

Responsibilities 

Fundraising plan & donor acquisition 

• Lead the design and execution of the organization’s fundraising plan, aligned with GRIs strategy, with a focus on identifying and securing new donors (institutional, corporate, and philanthropic) and gifts.

• Set and achieve fundraising goals for GRI.

• Develop up-to-date donor mapping, drawing on resources across GRI, including prospect research and intelligence gathering to identify emerging opportunities.

• Establish a fundraising relationship tracking system. 

• Develop and maintain a robust pipeline that supports both core operations and programmatic growth.

• Translate programmatic priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities.

Donor and stakeholder engagement  

• Lead the development and implementation of a global outreach strategy for the adoption of and alignment with GRI standards/impact reporting, engaging with policy makers, regulators and those who influence them, such as industry bodies, civil society, investor groups and/or multilateral institutions.

• Guides priority setting across jurisdictions, processes and organizations, delivering targeted engagement strategies and progress reports on engagement outcomes.

• Cultivate and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with key donors.

• Represent the organization externally, ensuring visibility and credibility for GRI.

• Coordinate donor engagement, ensuring staff and governance body members are involved as appropriate.

• Facilitate continuous engagement and feedback loops with donors to strengthen relationships and funding continuity.

Cross-functional coordination 

• Align fundraising priorities with program delivery capacities and operational realities. 

• Collaborate with Communications and relevant teams to align messaging, storytelling, and brand positioning for greater impact.

• Coordinate with Finance and Program Implementation teams to ensure budgets and proposals are feasible, cost-effective, and compliant with donor expectations. 

• Build internal awareness of the philanthropic cycle, donor expectations and foster a culture of proactive fundraising engagement across teams.  

Planning, compliance & reporting  

• Support timely reporting on grants and ensure that appropriate communication to funders is maintained.

• Track grant pipelines, fundraising performance, and achievement of fundraising targets.

• Maintain strong coordination with Finance and Leadership teams to ensure accountability and transparency.

Data, insights & learning  

• Ensure that learning from implementation and reporting is captured and used to improve proposal design and donor communication.

• Support the process of gathering and articulating evidence of impact, outcomes, and lessons learned from program teams to strengthen donor engagement.

Leadership & team development  

• Lead, mentor, and develop the fundraising team to achieve its objectives.

• Foster collaboration, accountability, and innovation across teams.

• Strengthen internal capacity for donor relationship management, proposal writing, and reporting excellence.

• Model a culture of engagement, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.

Requirements 

Work experience  

• 10+ years in fundraising, including fundraising leadership experience

• Proven success in securing large (more than EU 1million) donations. Experience securing government grants. Experience in EU fundraising an advantage 

• Proven success raising funds from private foundations 

• Experience in developing and executing fundraising plans, managing donor pipelines, and preparing proposals 

• Track record in financial oversight, compliance, and donor reporting 

• Experience leading teams and coordinating across multiple regions or functions 

Knowledge and abilities 

• Expertise and extensive networks in philanthropy, international development funding and corporate giving 

• Knowledge of corporate sustainability reporting 

• Strong strategic thinking and ability to translate strategic priorities into fundable initiatives 

• Excellent proposal writing, communication, and relationship management skills 

• Ability to analyze funding trends and integrate learning into strategy 

• Strong organizational, project management, and team leadership skills 

• Commitment to ethical fundraising, transparency, and sustainability-aligned practices 

• Ability to work in a dynamic environment 

• Affinity with the mission of GRI 

Perks of the role 

• Location: Remote (Hybrid if in the Netherlands; within +/- 6 hours CET; (candidates must have an existing valid permit to work in the country they will be based) 

• Work hours: Full-time (40hrs/week; flexible)  

• Contract type: 1-year contract with the possibility of renewal

• Salary:  €78,844 - €109.505 (European based range) per annum on full-time basis 

• Generous leave allowance 

• Access to the GRI Academy 

The application deadline for this position is 12 January 2026 at 12:00 (noon) CET. Applications received after this date will not be considered.

GRI aims to create a recruitment process that champions diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring all candidates have equal opportunities and are evaluated based on their unique skills and experiences. If you need any support or adjustments during the application process, please reach out to us.