Foundation Partnerships Manager

ISD is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to safeguarding democratic integrity, freedom, national security, public safety and individual rights by reversing the rising global tide of polarization, extremism, foreign interference and authoritarianism.

For 20 years, ISD has been at the forefront of analyzing, exposing and combatting all forms of terrorism, extremism, foreign interference, digital manipulation and authoritarianism, helping equip institutions, communities and the private sector with the tools, policies and skills to achieve impact at scale. Combining research and analysis with government advisory work and the design and delivery of training, education and communications programs, ISD works to implement real-world, evidence-based responses to these challenges.

Why work for ISD?
ISD's Guiding Principles of  integrity, collaboration, agility and courage  define who we are as a team and an organization. These principles reflect our culture and guide the way we work and the choices we make.

ISD is not your ordinary think tank. We turn research into action that changes the world. Our insights don't gather dust on shelves - they power the fight to protect democracy and human rights on the front lines. We're committed to delivering real change, from the grassroots to the highest levels of global institutions. And we're looking for passionate individuals who share our commitment to making a difference. Join us and be part of an organization that's making an impact.

Our benefits

• Flexible and remote working based on ISD's ‘Time Principles’ of trust, communication and flexibility

• 20 days paid time off plus an average of 11 public holidays observed annually

• Up to 6 weeks of paid sick leave per year

• 1 week of additional paid time off over Christmas, outside of your annual leave entitlement

• Company-sponsored health insurance policy including comprehensive health, vision, and dental plans

• Other ancillary benefits such as FSA/HSA and commuter savings in certain metro areas

• 401k including competitive company match

• Annual personal development budget, remote working allowance, and more!

Salary

$65,000 - $85,000 per annum, depending on experience

Location

Preferably Metro D.C. area, hybrid remote working arrangement preferred. Candidates who are US based working fully-remotely will be considered. Please note that we are unable to provide Visa sponsorship or to accept applicants living outside of the US for this role.

Hours

This is a full-time salaried (exempt) position, 40 hours per week.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

ISD is committed to promoting diversity throughout its workforce and aims for its team to be truly representative of all sections of society. We make a concerted effort to ensure our workplace, employment policies and organisational culture creates an inclusive, positive and progressive environment in which all members of our team are treated with dignity and respect. For further information about this policy or our recruitment practices, please email [email protected].

The role

The Foundation Partnerships Manager will play a central role in expanding ISD’s foundation funding portfolio in the United States by identifying, cultivating and advancing relationships with private, family, community, and corporate foundations aligned with ISD’s mission. The post holder will lead the development of a strong pipeline of foundation opportunities across ISD’s US priorities, including efforts related to strengthening resilience to extremism and political violence, countering hate and targeted harassment, and addressing the impact of emerging technologies on the information environment, including AI.

Working closely with the US Executive Director and program teams, the Foundation Partnerships Manager will lead the development of compelling, funder-facing concept notes, proposals, and engagement materials that translate ISD’s technical expertise into clear and persuasive narratives for external audiences. This role is primarily focused on external engagement strategy, pipeline development and proposal leadership. As this role focuses on philanthropic fundraising rather than government contracts or procurement-based funding, we seek someone with experience in philanthropy who can work with colleagues on budgeting of restricted grants where necessary.

Key responsibilities include:

Pipeline  Development & Foundation Engagement (35%)  

• Proactively identify and prioritize new foundation prospects aligned with ISD-US programmatic priorities, including:  

• Strengthening local resilience to extremism and political violence (including through Strong Cities) 

• Countering hate and targeted harassment, including antisemitism and technology-facilitated gender-based violence and harms to minors 

• Addressing the impact of emerging technologies on the information environment, including AI 

• Lead foundation landscape analysis and develop actionable prospect pipelines, with clear recommendations on positioning and approach 

• Support the US Executive Director & Business Development team in go/no-go decisions based on strategic fit and funder alignment 

• Initiate and support relationship-building with foundation program officers, in coordination with senior leadership 

• Identify and leverage opportunities within ISD’s existing networks to expand foundation engagement 

• Organize small briefings, roundtables, or convenings (virtual or in-person) to engage prospective and current funders 

Proposal  Development & Grant Management (45%) 

• Lead development of high-quality concept notes, LOIs, and full proposals for foundation funders, in close collaboration with program and leadership teams 

• Translate technical programmatic work into clear, compelling, funder-facing narratives 

• Coordinate inputs across teams, including technical narratives and supporting materials, in collaboration with ISD’s Operations team for budget development

• Ensure proposals align with donor priorities and ISD strategy 

• Track proposal pipelines, submission deadlines, and reporting requirements 

• Support grant reporting processes in coordination with program teams 

Internal  Coordination & Quality Assurance (20%) 

• Manage proposal development timelines and ensure effective cross-team coordination 

• Serve as a key liaison between program, operations and leadership to ensure compliance with donor requirements 

• Maintain high standards across all external materials, including proposals, concept notes, and donor communications 

• Use ISD’s CRM (Monday.com) to track foundation engagement and pipeline progress

• Facilitate regular internal updates on funding opportunities and pipeline status 

Please review the full job description for all of the expected responsibilities required here.