Associate Philanthropy Advisor Foundations and other organizations in Zurich

Join MSF OCG as an Associate Philanthropy Advisor – Foundations and other organizations in Zurich! 

We are looking for passionate candidates ready to contribute to our humanitarian mission.

Below, you will find the job details and the qualifications we are looking for.

Do your qualifications and experience not exactly match all requirements of the job?

At MSF OCG, we are committed to an inclusive culture that supports and amplifies the diverse voices of our staff members. We strive to create workplaces where teams of people with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, perspectives, ideas and experiences work together to advance MSF's social mission and create better outcomes for our patients and the communities we work with.

We understand that some people may hesitate to apply for employment if they don't meet all listed job requirements. Research shows that this is especially true for women. If you believe your profile is a good match for this position, we invite you to apply even if you don’t fulfil every listed qualification.

We encourage applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, ethnicities, background, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics. 

MSF does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment. All selected candidates will undergo reference checks.

Médecins Sans Frontières is an independent, international medical and humanitarian organization that provides care to people in need, people affected by natural or man-made disasters, and victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and without regard to race, religion, creed or political affiliation (MSF Charter).

MSF Switzerland was created in 1981, and it is headquartered in Geneva. The Philanthropy Unit is one of the eight units at the Communications and Fundraising Department. To ensure a good geographical coverage of the Swiss fundraising market, the Unit is divided into two offices: Geneva and Zurich. The Unit’s mission is to strengthen MSF’s relationship with its private major supporters, including wealthy individuals, foundations, companies, and other philanthropic organizations. It also manages grants and donations from Swiss cantons and communes. 

The Associate Philanthropy Advisor for foundations and corporates in German speaking Switzerland is a key member of the Philanthropy Unit, ensuring an efficient and effective one-to-many cultivation approach for foundations, corporates and Swiss cantons and communes in German speaking Switzerland and Liechtenstein. With the Team Coordinator, s/he’s responsible for raising funds by implementing and further developing the one-to-many/one-to-few strategy for foundations, corporates, and Swiss cantons and communes offering donors an interesting variety of interaction opportunities that drive engagement and growth. The Associate Philanthropy Advisor, with the Team Coordinator, is furthermore responsible for developing and organizing tailored engagement opportunities for high-value donors in German-speaking Switzerland and Liechtenstein. 

Donor management and development 

• Actively contribute to the development of the annual action plan for foundations and corporates in Switzerland and Liechtenstein

• In coordination with the Team Coordinator and in collaboration with the Geneva counterpart, implement and improve the one-to-few strategy, ensuring the renewal and upgrading of contributions from current donors

• Regularly analyse the donor pool to ensure that the donors receive the best possible relationship management according to their potential for giving

• Prepare and facilitate meaningful virtual or face to face meetings with foundation members and relevant corporate staff members, presenting MSF’s case for support in alignment with the one-to-few strategy

• Ensure timely submission of donor reports and assist Writing Officers with the preparation, including proof reading and editing, of project reports for foundations and corporates

• Interact with other MSF Switzerland and international fundraising teams to leverage existing stewardship materials and engagement opportunities

• Ensure that the nature / identity of donors is in line with MSF’s Gifts Acceptance Policy and ensure the exact application of MSF’s Corporate Fundraising Statement

Actively contribute to the development of the annual action plan for foundations and corporates in Switzerland and Liechtenstein

In coordination with the Team Coordinator and in collaboration with the Geneva counterpart, implement and improve the one-to-few strategy, ensuring the renewal and upgrading of contributions from current donors

Regularly analyse the donor pool to ensure that the donors receive the best possible relationship management according to their potential for giving

Prepare and facilitate meaningful virtual or face to face meetings with foundation members and relevant corporate staff members, presenting MSF’s case for support in alignment with the one-to-few strategy

Ensure timely submission of donor reports and assist Writing Officers with the preparation, including proof reading and editing, of project reports for foundations and corporates

Interact with other MSF Switzerland and international fundraising teams to leverage existing stewardship materials and engagement opportunities

Ensure that the nature / identity of donors is in line with MSF’s Gifts Acceptance Policy and ensure the exact application of MSF’s Corporate Fundraising Statement

Donor engagement and events

• Deliver exceptional experiences to MSF donors, fostering deeper connections and increasing their engagement

• Create and implement tailored engagement and experience opportunities for high-value donors that demonstrate the tangible impact of their contributions

• Plan and coordinate compelling in-person and virtual events, offering donors a deeper understanding of how their support is driving change

• Oversee all logistical aspects of donor events, ensuring seamless execution across physical venues and virtual platforms

• Provide impactful post-event follow-up to reinforce donor relationships, drive long-term loyalty, and encourage continued support

• Collaborate with MSF Switzerland’s fundraising and events/engagement teams to leverage existing event formats and innovate new donor engagement opportunities

• Exchange and collaborate with colleagues from other MSF sections in relation to donor event and engagement opportunities

Deliver exceptional experiences to MSF donors, fostering deeper connections and increasing their engagement

Create and implement tailored engagement and experience opportunities for high-value donors that demonstrate the tangible impact of their contributions

Plan and coordinate compelling in-person and virtual events, offering donors a deeper understanding of how their support is driving change

Oversee all logistical aspects of donor events, ensuring seamless execution across physical venues and virtual platforms

Provide impactful post-event follow-up to reinforce donor relationships, drive long-term loyalty, and encourage continued support

Collaborate with MSF Switzerland’s fundraising and events/engagement teams to leverage existing event formats and innovate new donor engagement opportunities

Exchange and collaborate with colleagues from other MSF sections in relation to donor event and engagement opportunities

Others

• Accurate maintenance of the donor’s CRM “DREAM”, ensuring coherence with the Swiss Data Protection Act

• Proactively contribute to information and knowledge sharing within the Philanthropy Unit

• Contribute to unit/department wide communities of practice

• Contribute to the MSF capacity building initiatives at international level

• Active relationship management with key stakeholders within (operations, communications, finance, association, management, other MSF sections etc.) and outside the organization

Accurate maintenance of the donor’s CRM “DREAM”, ensuring coherence with the Swiss Data Protection Act

Proactively contribute to information and knowledge sharing within the Philanthropy Unit

Contribute to unit/department wide communities of practice

Contribute to the MSF capacity building initiatives at international level

Active relationship management with key stakeholders within (operations, communications, finance, association, management, other MSF sections etc.) and outside the organization

Education

• University degree in Business Management, Marketing, Communications, Political Science, International Relations or other relevant areas 

University degree in Business Management, Marketing, Communications, Political Science, International Relations or other relevant areas 

Experience

• First professional experience in the non-profit sector or in the fields of marketing/sales/communication or client relationship management

First professional experience in the non-profit sector or in the fields of marketing/sales/communication or client relationship management

Languages

• German & English

• French and Italian an asset 

German & English

French and Italian an asset 

Skills/ Technical competencies

• Proven writing skills (drafting and editing)

• Strong client orientation

• Experience in using CRM is a plus

• Strong prioritization and time management skills

• Strong Analytical skills

• Knowledge of the humanitarian and development sector in Switzerland 

Proven writing skills (drafting and editing)

Strong client orientation

Experience in using CRM is a plus

Strong prioritization and time management skills

Strong Analytical skills

Knowledge of the humanitarian and development sector in Switzerland 

Personal Abilities/Qualities

• Excellent interpersonal skills

• Service oriented

• Dynamic, proactive and autonomous

• Rigorous and good organizational skills

• Empathic team player

• Respectful curiosity

• Feels comfortable in a fast-paced environment

Excellent interpersonal skills

Service oriented

Dynamic, proactive and autonomous

Rigorous and good organizational skills

Empathic team player

Respectful curiosity

Feels comfortable in a fast-paced environment