Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 28 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 55 countries, our 8,990 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Action Against Hunger USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network. As an independent NGO, Action Against Hunger USA currently manages operations in 8 countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia and Haiti.

I. Job Summary

Action Against Hunger seeks a highly experienced and strategic Foundation Relations Lead (FRL) to play a pivotal role in expanding our institutional giving portfolio. This is a critical position within Action Against Hunger’s External Relations team. As part of the Institutional Development Team, the FRL will work to strengthen and expand the organization's institutional funding from private foundations. Based in our New York City or Washington DC offices and reporting to the Associate Director of Strategic Partners, this individual will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding leading foundations. The FRL will focus on building strategic partnerships and designing compelling programs that align foundation interests with Action Against Hunger's mission, with a proven ability to secure seven-figure grants and above ($1,000,000+). This is a senior role requiring deep expertise in the foundation landscape, an ability to manage relationships at a high level (both internal and external) and a passion for ending global hunger.

Purpose:

To expand Action Against Hunger’s foundation fundraising strategy by cultivating high-value partnerships with private foundations. This role is instrumental in securing transformative funding that advances the organization’s mission to end global hunger.

Engagement:

The Lead, Foundation Relations will engage with internal stakeholders across departments and geographies to design fundable programs, and externally with foundation leaders, program officers, and philanthropic networks to build strategic, mission-aligned partnerships.

Delivery:

Responsible for developing and executing a foundation engagement strategy, crafting compelling proposals, and managing a portfolio of high-value donors. The role ensures timely, high-quality submissions and stewardship that result in sustained, multi-year funding relationship

II. Essential Job Duties

1. Strategy Development & Implementation:

• Support the development and lead the execution of a foundation engagement strategy that aligns with Action Against Hunger’s institutional fundraising priorities and business development framework.
• Identify and research prospective foundation partners whose priorities align with Action Against Hunger's strategic objectives. Focus on securing multi-year, high impact grants at the seven and eight figure level.
• Analyze giving trends and identify new opportunities within the foundation sector.
• Works closely with the Associate Director of Strategic Partners and Director of Institutional Development to align private foundation fundraising with overall institutional resource mobilization goals and strategies.

2. Relationship Building & Portfolio Management:

• Manage and grow a portfolio of high-capacity foundation prospects and existing donors.
• Initiate, cultivate, and maintain strong relationships with foundation program officers, trustees, and key decision-makers through meetings, correspondence, and strategic engagement. Represent Action Against Hunger effectively at external meetings and events.

3. Proposal Development & Grant Writing:

• Lead the development and writing of highly competitive, sophisticated letters of inquiry, concept notes, proposals, and grant applications tailored to major foundation prospects.
• Collaborate closely with Program, Finance, and Technical, Monitoring & Evaluation teams globally to design impactful, fundable programs and projects that meet both organizational needs and foundation requirements.
• Ensure all submissions are compelling, accurate, and submitted on time.

4. Grant Management & Stewardship:

• Oversee the successful management of secured foundation grants, ensuring compliance with all reporting requirements and grant deliverables.
• Develop and implement bespoke stewardship plans for major foundation donors, ensuring they are informed of impact and recognized for their contributions.
• Prepare high-quality, timely narrative and financial reports for foundation funders.

5. Collaboration & Internal Coordination:

• Work collaboratively with the broader External Relations team (Fundraising, Communications and Advocacy), senior leadership, and program staff to align foundation fundraising efforts with overall organizational goals.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of foundation interactions, submissions, and results in the organizational Salesforce.
• Coordinate closely with the Associate Director of Strategic Partners to ensure foundation-related initiatives are integrated with broader institutional fundraising efforts, and contribute to team-wide planning and performance tracking

III. Supervisory Responsibilities

N/A

IV. Fiscal Responsibility

The Lead, Foundation Relations is responsible for contributing to the organization’s revenue goals by securing significant multi-year grants from private foundations. This includes developing high-value proposals, ensuring accurate budget alignment in collaboration with Finance, and overseeing compliance with financial reporting requirements for secured grants. The role requires sound judgment in managing donor funds and ensuring responsible stewardship of philanthropic investments.

V. Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with interruptions.
• To travel to the field, the employee must attest to a level of physical fitness capable of enduring physically difficult, highly stressful situations which may include the necessity to walk long distances, to eat a limited diet and/or to reside in potentially uncomfortable housing or tents.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

VI. Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required by contact with the missions, mission security, or other obligations.
• Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business travel as well as to the missions if appropriate. While visiting the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well is to infectious diseases.

VII. Gender Equality Commitments & Zero Tolerance to Abuse

• Foster an environment that reinforces values of people of all genders equal access to information.
• Provide a work environment where people of all genders must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
• Promote a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all stakeholders, particularly for children, beneficiaries, and members of staff.
• Help to prevent any type of abuse including workplace harassment and sexual abuse and exploitation.
• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.
• Value and respect all cultures.

VIII. Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., International Development, Non-Profit Management, Public
• Administration) preferred.

IX. Required Skills & Experience

• 8–10 years of progressive experience in non-profit fundraising, with a strong focus on foundation relations and institutional giving.
• Proven track record of designing fundable programs and securing seven-figure and above ($1,000,000+) grants from major national and international foundations.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward high-level foundation relationships.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives and articulate complex programs clearly and persuasively.
• Strong understanding of program design, logic models, budgets, and monitoring & evaluation frameworks.
• Deep knowledge of the foundation funding landscape, research techniques, and philanthropic trends.
• Excellent strategic thinking, analytical, and project management skills.
• Ability to collaborate across departments and cultures within a global organization.
• High level of professionalism, initiative, and attention to detail.
• Proficiency with fundraising databases/CRM systems like Salesforce and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience securing grants for international development, humanitarian aid, global health, or food security programs preferred.
• Established network within the major foundation community preferred.
• Experience working within a large international NGO preferred.
• Willingness to work from the New York City or Washington, DC office and travel up to 25% domestically and internationally for donor engagement and team collaboration.
• Language skills in French, Spanish, or Arabic are a plus.