Philanthropy Advisor

The Philanthropy Advisor Role

Reporting to the CEO, the Philanthropy Advisor (PA) plays a critical role in guiding new philanthropists to the bold, outsized impact needed to address one of the most consequential challenges of our time: ensuring access to global reproductive health for women and girls.

The PA will focus on three primary goals:

1. Draw in and cultivate relationships with new donors to the global reproductive health sector.
2. Advise and support these donors in crafting strategies, portfolios, and networks to achieve large-scale impact.
3. Engage and coordinate with experienced peer ambassadors who can help new donors accelerate their giving.

More concretely:

Draw in New Donors

• Develop and execute pipeline strategies to identify and engage high-net-worth individuals and families in global reproductive health philanthropy.
• In collaboration with the Communications team, create and manage engagement materials (e.g., presentations, proposals, investment briefs, and events) that move donors from learning to action.
• Cultivate relationships through networks, convenings, and tailored outreach.

Philanthropic Advising and Engagement

• Manage a portfolio of donors/prospective donors, creating customized plans for their philanthropic learning and giving.
• Collaborate with the Program Investments team to source tailored opportunities that align with donors’ interests, such as women’s health initiatives in specific geographies (e.g., the Global South) and/or cross-sector strategies with climate, education, and civil society.
• Support donors in scaling their giving from initial contributions to transformative investments (often eight- or nine-figure commitments).
• Coordinate and track activities, proposals, commitments, and reports using Prysm’s donor engagement database (Salesforce).
• Maintain visibility and relationships with key networks to continually identify new prospects and inspire sustained giving.

Support Experienced Peer Ambassadors

• Manage relationships with select peer ambassadors who are experienced global reproductive health philanthropists.
• Coordinate with ambassadors’ family offices and staff to engage new donors.
• Provide ambassadors with briefing materials, strategies, and follow-up support to maximize their influence.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of ambassador engagement strategies and adapt approaches accordingly.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Operating as a credible champion and a trusted advisor to philanthropists, the PA will support a sophisticated global ecosystem to move hundreds of millions into the global reproductive health sector in the coming years. To be successful, candidates must understand how donors operate at this level of giving, how to build relationships with them that are authentic, and how to spur them into action with the speed and scale the sector requires through engagement, learning, listening, and advising.

Expertise (at least 8-10 years) in principal development work or donor advising is critical for this role. For those attracted to a dynamic start-up venture and who are focused on mission-driven work, this is an unparalleled opportunity to contribute to an important global effort addressing issues affecting reproductive health.

The ideal candidate will enjoy analyzing big ideas and solutions, understanding what is needed for impact so that new waves of philanthropists will fund what is needed to move the needle on global reproductive health, and translate these ideas into actionable plans for philanthropists. The ability to advance complex strategies when information is imperfect, and the agility to adapt and change direction or navigate evolving circumstances is essential in order to effectively guide philanthropists towards impactful giving.

Defining personal characteristics for the PA include creativity, humility, diplomacy, transparency, professionalism, graciousness, discretion, and trustworthiness. Candidates must have a strong work ethic, intellectual curiosity, a sense of humor, and an ability to map uncharted territory in order to achieve desired outcomes. Outstanding communication skills (verbal and written) as well as active listening and convening capabilities are all critical for this role.

Other Key Attributes and Competencies:

• Advisory Orientation: Enjoys working in both a consultative and action-oriented environment, using strategy, persuasion, and influencing skills to mobilize philanthropists and networks. Demonstrated agility and flexibility in ambiguous or changing circumstances. Appreciates the iterative process for evaluating and scaling strategies and solutions. A diligent learner around outcomes and results.
• Driving Results: Translates priorities into operational reality; aligns communication, accountabilities, resource capabilities, internal processes to ensure efforts yield results; a solid project manager who is organized and clear with work plans and goals, including tracking priorities and progress.
• Entrepreneurial and Hands-on Spirit: Self-starter with a strong entrepreneurial orientation who thrives in a fast-paced venture that is in start-up mode. Energized by helping to build something new and innovative. Capable of being both a strategic contributor and hands-on implementer. Highly adaptable and flexible and embraces a culture that requires responsiveness and elasticity in the operating environment.
• Embrace Collaborative Teams: Brings a genuine respect for Prysm Initiative’s powerful collaboration model, working in a participatory way across the organization and through Prysm’s extensive global networks to achieve shared goals. A demonstrated track record of being an excellent collaborator on high performing and matrixed teams.
• Leadership & Action: Active inquiry and learning; thrives by creatively synthesizing ideas and input from multiple sources, and an ability to recognize excellence; can pinpoint key questions, distill frameworks, and weigh competing points-of-view.
• People Intelligence & Inspiration: Considers multiple points of view with ease and encourages constructive, balanced discussions to drive innovation and progress, while simultaneously being able to hold onto the bigger picture. Sophisticated understanding of what motivates someone and how to build solutions that are inspiring and responsive to their needs. Invites candor and a temperament that deploys a sensitive touch in teasing out points of disagreement.