Executive Director, Americas Partnerships & Philanthropy

Position description

Wild Impact Foundation Trust (“Wild Impact”) is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving critical biodiversity landscapes while advancing sustainable development within the communities that steward them. With more than three decades of impact across Africa in its priority conservation regions, Wild Impact integrates conservation excellence with community‑led solutions in education, healthcare, livelihoods, climate resilience and environmental protection.

Formerly known as Africa Foundation, the organization was founded in 1992 alongside the creation of the &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa. Its origins are rooted in a pioneering partnership model in which conservation success was tied directly to community well‑being and economic participation. The founders of &Beyond recognized that long‑term conservation required meaningful benefits to flow to surrounding communities, leading to the formation of a separate nonprofit entity designed to empower those living adjacent to protected landscapes.

The 30+ year co-shareholders of &Beyond are the Enthoven and Getty families. The two families have shared long term financial and impact visions which are delivered by &Beyond and Wild Impact working in lockstep together. The two families, as well as being the shareholders of &Beyond, have been and remain key philanthropic supporters of Wild Impact.

Through its longstanding impact partnership with &Beyond, Wild Impact has expanded from its South African origins into a global organization supporting conservation and sustainable community development impact in wild landscapes and seascapes in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Bhutan and Chile. Over the next 3 years this geographic scope will be expanded to include wild areas in Rwanda, Ecuador and Peru. Wild Impact achieves this by leveraging deep field infrastructure, trusted community relationships, and strong operational capacity. Its Theory of Change is anchored in four core pillars: Conserving Ecosystems, Future Foundations (education & health), Tomorrow’s Leaders and Thriving Communities, reflecting a holistic, systems‑based approach to long‑term conservation and community resilience. The organization’s model is anchored by a “listen, learn and co-create” methodology aimed at establishing long-term community and conservation partnerships.

Through its partnership with &Beyond, Wild Impact benefits from on-the-ground infrastructure support, community and stakeholder relationships, and operational support. This unique partnership positions the organization not only to sustain its current impact, but to significantly expand its reach and ambition over the coming years.

Wild Impact has a team of 160 full-time staff and over 1,000 interns. Annual Restricted Project funding and Unrestricted Overhead funding amounts to a total of approximately $10-12 million per annum over the period 2024-2026. Almost all of the funding and staffing is currently focused on our African footprint, with South Africa, at 75% of the total, being the largest single country element of both donor funding and project deployment.

As Wild Impact accelerates its global reach, now extending into Africa, South Asia and South America, it is prioritizing significant expansion of its philanthropic partnerships, with a particular focus on the Americas, where the organization seeks to deepen donor engagement, institutional partnerships and long‑term funding relationships to support its growing international impact.

The Opportunity

Position: Executive Director, Americas Partnerships and Philanthropy

Location: U.S. based, with structured travel to South Africa and Globally

Reporting Relationship: Chief Executive Officer

Website: https://wildimpact.earth/

Wild Impact is at a compelling inflection point in its evolution. With strong governance, growing organizational maturity, and clear strategic priorities, Wild Impact is now focused on scaling both its programs and its philanthropic resources to meet increasing global demand for conservation-driven development solutions.

To support this next phase of growth, Wild Impact is creating a senior executive role dedicated to building and accelerating its Americas-based partnerships and philanthropy function. The Executive Director, Americas Partnerships & Philanthropy will play a central role in transforming Wild Impact’s fundraising engine, expanding its presence within North & South American philanthropic markets, securing transformational multi-year investments and cultivating strategic partnerships that advance both revenue growth and long-term impact.

Wild Impact’s 5-year strategic aim is for the aggregate annual Restricted Project funding and Unrestricted Overhead funding to rise steadily towards $20 million per annum from the current level of $10-12 million. The objective is for the largest single element of that increase to accrue from the activities and success of the Executive Director, Americas Partnerships & Philanthropy in bringing an additional $5 million of donor funding per annum to the table over his/her first three years in post. As a by-product of this strategic aim, Wild Impact is targeting to achieve a higher proportion of its funds raised and project funds deployed outside of South Africa in order that the impact achievements mirror Wild Impact and andBeyond’s Africa, Asia and South America shared impact strategy.

This role offers a rare opportunity to join an organization with proven field results at a moment when its platform, leadership and vision are aligned for scale. The Executive Director, Americas Partnerships and Philanthropy will have the ability to shape fundraising strategy, build high-impact partnerships and directly influence the trajectory of Wild Impact’s growth. Working closely with the CEO, board members and senior leadership team, this executive will help elevate Wild Impact’s profile, strengthen its financial sustainability and ensure the organization is positioned to deliver even greater conservation and community outcomes in the years ahead.

Purpose of the Position
The Executive Director, Americas Partnerships & Philanthropy is responsible for building and leading Wild Impact’s philanthropic partnerships engine to support the organization’s long‑term growth, financial sustainability, and global impact ambitions. As Wild Impact expands beyond its historic African footprint into South Asia and South America, mirroring the global growth of &Beyond, this role will be central to mobilizing the significant philanthropic investment required to scale Wild Impact’s conservation and community‑development work across continents.

Serving as the organization’s primary architect and driver of major revenue generation across North & South America, the Executive Director, Americas Partnerships and Philanthropy will translate Wild Impact’s proven, community‑anchored model, rooted in more than three decades of partnership with &Beyond and active across 13 landscapes and 70+ communities, into compelling, values‑aligned philanthropic partnerships. This leader will operate as both strategist and hands‑on builder, designing and executing partnership strategies that diversify and expand funding across institutional donors, corporations, family foundations and high‑net‑worth individuals. They will also develop and manage a multi‑year pipeline that delivers near‑term revenue momentum while positioning Wild Impact for sustained multi‑million‑dollar growth and long‑term resilience.

Beyond securing funding, the Executive Director, Americas Partnerships and Philanthropy will play a critical role in elevating Wild Impact’s visibility, credibility, and influence within philanthropic, conservation, and business communities. By crafting a clear and compelling narrative around Wild Impact’s Theory of Change, the Executive Director, Americas Partnerships and Philanthropy will help position the organization as a premier partner for transformational conservation and community investment. Through trusted relationship‑building, persuasive communication and alignment of donor priorities with community‑led outcomes, this leader will deepen Wild Impact’s presence in the North & South American philanthropic landscape.

The Executive Director, Americas Partnerships and Philanthropy will collaborate closely with the Wild Impact CEO, Dr Andrew Venter, its senior leadership team and Trustees and &Beyond’s senior leadership team, Board members and shareholders to shape fundraising strategy, advance organizational priorities and embed a culture of excellence, accountability, and long‑term partnership stewardship within the philanthropy function. Through strategic insight, relationship leadership, and execution discipline, this role will directly support Wild Impact’s ability to scale its global impact and advance its mission to conserve the world’s last wild places, while empowering the communities that steward them, for generations to come.

Key Responsibilities
This leader will step into a pivotal and transformative moment as Wild Impact advances into its next phase of global growth, innovation and philanthropic engagement. With more than three decades of community‑anchored impact and a re‑energized mandate following its evolution from Africa Foundation to a global entity active across Africa, South Asia, and South America, Wild Impact is uniquely positioned to expand its influence and scale proven community and conservation sustainable development solutions. This momentum aligns closely with &Beyond’s own international expansion and the organizations’ shared Scaling Impact 2030 strategy, which has elevated both visibility and demand for collaborative, high‑impact conservation investment.

The Executive Director, Americas Partnerships and Philanthropy will join a forward‑looking, mission‑driven organization known for its integrity, creativity and long‑term partnerships with communities and ecosystems. Through strategic leadership, entrepreneurial thinking, and disciplined execution, this executive will elevate Wild Impact’s profile, unlock new philanthropic investment, and build durable partnerships capable of driving impact at scale.

At a time when global interest in biodiversity protection, climate resilience and community‑led development is accelerating, Wild Impact is intentionally evolving its partnerships and philanthropy function to match the urgency and ambition of its mission. This includes reimagining how the organization engages institutional funders, corporate partners, and private philanthropists; developing new partnership models that highlight Wild Impact’s unparalleled field infrastructure through its decades‑long partnership with &Beyond; and constructing a diversified, resilient revenue engine capable of supporting global program expansion in its partner communities. With compelling impact narratives and strong performance data, the organization offers donors a rare opportunity to invest in deeply rooted, globally scalable solutions.

The responsibilities that follow reflect the broad, strategic, and high‑impact scope of leadership required to guide Wild Impact’s partnerships and philanthropy function into its next chapter of growth. This role will not only generate critical philanthropic resources but will also shape how Wild Impact shows up in the world, how it tells its story, how it forges transformational partnerships and how it mobilizes the investment needed to safeguard the world’s last wild places while empowering the communities that protect them.

Strategic Partnership Development & Revenue Generation

• Identify, cultivate, negotiate, and close major philanthropic partnerships and multi‑year funding agreements in alignment with Wild Impact’s global conservation and community‑development priorities.
• Personally manage and grow a portfolio of North & South American-based high‑priority donors and prospects across all relevant donor categories: government agencies, NGOs, other institutions, corporates, foundations, endowments, high‑net‑worth individuals and family offices.
• Build and maintain a robust, forward‑looking funding pipeline that reflects organizational growth goals and supports long‑term financial resilience.
• Translate Wild Impact’s proven model, including its deep community integration and long‑standing partnership with &Beyond, into compelling, fundable partnership opportunities rooted in measurable impact.
• Deliver against annual and medium‑term revenue targets, driving consistent year‑over‑year growth in closed commitments.
• Develop innovative co‑investment and blended‑finance‑aligned partnership models that appeal to diverse donor segments seeking high‑impact, globally scalable outcomes.

Fundraising Strategy & Growth Planning

• Lead the development of partnership strategies aligned with Wild Impact’s Theory of Change and long‑term revenue objectives.
• Drive diversification of revenue across foundations, corporations, bilateral partners and private philanthropy to ensure a resilient, multi‑source funding model.
• Provide strategic analysis and recommendations on revenue mix, market positioning, donor segmentation, and multi‑year growth planning.
• Establish early wins while building toward multi‑million‑dollar annual fundraising performance in alignment with the organization’s global expansion into Africa, Asia, and South America.
• Partner with internal teams to ensure impact data, program metrics and field insights are effectively leveraged to strengthen donor confidence and partnership conversion.

Team Leadership, Mentorship & Capacity Building

• Mentor and support fundraising and partnerships colleagues to strengthen partnerships strategy, deal quality and execution confidence.
• Lead structured deal reviews, pipeline strategy sessions and partnership planning processes that elevate organizational rigor and alignment.
• Support proposal strategy, negotiation planning and closure of complex funding structures through live deal engagement.
• Contribute to building a high‑performing, global partnerships function that reflects Wild Impact’s values, collaborative culture and long‑term ambition.
• Model a culture of accountability, transparency and excellence in fundraising practice.

Executive, Board & External Engagement

• Serve as a senior ambassador for Wild Impact with donors, partners, global stakeholders and philanthropic networks.
• Partner closely with the Wild Impact CEO and executive leadership on high‑value opportunities, donor strategy and global revenue planning.
• Engage and support board members in activating their networks and advancing philanthropic efforts as appropriate.
• Represent Wild Impact at key donor meetings, industry convenings, philanthropic forums and international events across Africa, Europe, the Americas and other priority geographies.
• Collaborate with &Beyond’s executive and field stakeholders to align messaging, identify partnership opportunities and strengthen shared impact strategies.

Operational Excellence & Partnership Stewardship

• Ensure exceptional stewardship of all donors through strategic communication, impact reporting and long‑term relationship management.
• Partner with program, finance and field teams to ensure proposals and reports are accurate, evidence‑based and aligned with Wild Impact’s community‑led approach.
• Oversee compliance with donor requirements, partnership obligations and financial reporting standards.
• Support the creation and refinement of partnership collateral, case statements and impact narratives that reflect Wild Impact’s global footprint and measurable outcomes.

The Candidate

Experience and Professional Qualifications
Wild Impact seeks a seasoned philanthropic and strategic partnerships executive who combines strategic sophistication with the ability to personally cultivate, negotiate and close high value philanthropic investments. This leader will bring a proven track record of building complex, trust-based partnerships and translating organizational vision into measurable revenue growth through disciplined pipeline management and hands-on execution.

The ideal candidate will be an exceptional relationship builder; someone who quickly establishes credibility, communicates with clarity and authenticity and engages effectively with diverse stakeholders including major donors, senior executives, board members, field leaders and global partners. They will possess the executive presence and interpersonal acumen required to represent Wild Impact compellingly and to influence decisionmakers toward shared impact goals.

This individual will demonstrate strategic agility and sound judgment, navigate nuanced stakeholder landscapes while balancing donor priorities with organizational realities. They will bring the ability to identify opportunities, structure sophisticated funding arrangements, and adapt approaches as circumstances evolve, without losing sight of results. At the same time, they must be comfortable operating as a hands-on deal owner who models excellence, maintains momentum and delivers outcomes with rigor and accountability.

A collaborative and inclusive leader, the Executive Director, Americas Partnerships and Philanthropy will work seamlessly across teams and geographies, partnering closely with the Wild Impact CEO, its senior leadership and other colleagues to grow fundraising capacity and align partnership strategies with organizational priorities. They will invest in the growth of others, coaching, guiding and strengthening the partnerships’ function while fostering a culture of learning, consistency and high performance.

A global mindset is essential. The successful candidate will bring experience working across cultures and international contexts, ideally with exposure to emerging markets and a deep appreciation for community-led development and conservation-driven impact. They will demonstrate curiosity, humility and adaptability, value diverse perspectives and honor the lived experience of partner communities.

Above all, this leader will be driven by purpose. They will be inspired by Wild Impact’s mission to safeguard critical ecosystems while empowering the communities that steward them. They will bring the resilience, relational savvy and long-term vision necessary to guide Wild Impact’s partnerships and philanthropy into its next chapter of global growth and transformational impact.

Qualifications

• Significant senior‑level experience (ideally 10+ years) in fundraising, strategic partnerships or philanthropy, with a proven ability to personally secure major, multi‑year philanthropic investments.
• Demonstrated track record cultivating, negotiating and closing high‑value partnerships across institutional funders, corporations, family foundations and high‑net‑worth individuals.
• Experience developing and executing multi‑year fundraising or partnership strategies, including pipeline design, portfolio management and revenue forecasting.
• Proven ability to translate complex impact models into compelling funding propositions that resonate with diverse donor audiences.
• Strong relationship‑building skills with the ability to earn trust quickly and engage effectively with senior executives, board members, global partners and donors.
• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills, with the executive presence to represent Wild Impact credibly and persuasively in high‑level settings.
• Experience working with or supporting a Board of Directors/Trustees, including engaging board members in philanthropic strategy and donor activation.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate multi‑stakeholder environments, manage competing priorities and exercise sound judgment in complex partnership negotiations.
• Hands‑on, results‑oriented leadership style with a strong bias toward execution, accountability and follow‑through.
• Experience mentoring or developing fundraising or partnership teams and contributing to a high‑performing, collaborative organizational culture.
• Global mindset with experience working across cultures or international contexts; familiarity with emerging markets or community‑led development is strongly preferred.
• Strong financial and business acumen, with comfort managing budgets, analyzing revenue opportunities, and ensuring donor compliance and stewardship.
• Deep commitment to mission‑driven work, ideally with exposure to conservation, sustainable development, climate resilience or related sectors.
• High integrity, emotional intelligence, adaptability and resilience, with the ability to thrive in a dynamic, entrepreneurial, growth‑oriented environment.

Education

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is required.
• An advanced degree or CFRE certification is preferred.

Compensation

• The estimated base compensation will be $260,000 – $280,000.

Application instructions

Interested and qualified candidates are welcome to submit an application to: [email protected]

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