Philanthropy Associate

Philanthropy Associate

GiveWell is a research organization that identifies and funds cost-effective giving opportunities, focusing on global health and well-being. Our work is funded by tens of thousands of donors who rely on our research to inform their giving. We've grown from directing $1.5 million in 2010 to directing ~$400 million in 2024.

The Role

We're hiring a Philanthropy Associate to manage and cultivate relationships with a portfolio of our six-figure donors. This is a critical role in expanding GiveWell's personalized, one-on-one support for major donors, helping us direct more funding to cost-effective programs that save and improve lives. You'll own 1 : 1 relationships with approximately 100 donors. You'll serve as their advisor, understanding their charitable goals and values to help determine how GiveWell's researched and vetted high-impact opportunities align with their giving priorities. In close collaboration with our philanthropy team, you'll design personalized stewardship experiences that help donors better understand and trust our research, deepening their connection to GiveWell's mission and the impact their giving can have.

Why We're Hiring Now :

We're scaling our donor advisory services to reach more major donors with the same thoughtful, personalized approach that has made our philanthropy work successful. Building deep donor relationships takes time, and we're investing now to ensure this person can help us expand our capacity for individualized donor support as we work toward our multi-year goals.

Specific duties will include :

Donor Relationship Management

• Manage and grow a portfolio of ~100 six-figure donors, building trust-based relationships that increase donor confidence and knowledge in our work, ultimately leading to increased retention and giving levels
• Hold regular calls and in-person meetings to understand donors' values, interests, and goals
• Offer personalized giving advice and help donors see how GiveWell's recommendations align with their priorities
• Create and carry out individualized stewardship plans
• Share tailored updates that highlight GiveWell's work and show donors the impact of their support
• Support donors through giving decisions, helping them feel confident and informed
• Identify and coordinate opportunities for deeper engagement, including exposure to our research and in-person and virtual events

Cross-team Collaboration

Database and Process Management

About You

The strongest candidates will bring at least 3 years of professional experience in fundraising, donor relations, customer success, high-net-worth client management, or similar relationship-building roles. You're a trusted advisor. You have experience helping individuals think through decisions and can guide donors in exploring their philanthropic goals while presenting relevant opportunities that align with their interests. Prior experience working with six-figure donors or clients is preferred. In addition to the right experience, we'll be looking for someone with the following characteristics :

Key Questions & Information

What does success look like in this role? Success means retaining and growing your donor portfolio by building strong, trust-based relationships and deeply understanding donor goals. Top performers will combine excellent relationship skills with the ability to translate GiveWell's complex research into clear, compelling narratives that support donors' philanthropic decision-making.

What does the current team look like? You'll be joining GiveWell's approximately 10 person philanthropy team, which is part of our broader 15-person outreach function alongside communications. The philanthropy team includes frontline fundraisers and operations staff supporting donor relationships and database management. This role reports to the Manager, Philanthropy, and offers significant opportunity for learning from experienced advisors and fundraisers while contributing to systems and processes that support GiveWell's growth goals.

How is this different from traditional fundraising roles? This role is centered on genuine advisory work, grounded in our values of truth-seeking and transparency rather than traditional sales tactics. You'll primarily work with existing donors, helping them understand our work and think through their charitable goals. We're not driven by donation numbers alone : if a donor decides to give elsewhere because it better aligns with their values, and you helped them reach that decision with clarity, that's a success in our book. You'll build strong relationships focused on maximizing long-term impact rather than using high-pressure tactics. This approach is intellectually demandingyou'll need to master complex global health research, navigate nuanced donor conversations with high emotional intelligence, and communicate both our impact and our limitations with honesty and clarity. It's a thoughtful, high-context role that blends analytical rigor and strong interpersonal judgement.

What are some reasons this role might not be a good fit? This role requires genuine enthusiasm for fundraising and relationship buildingspecifically donor-facing work that demands you genuinely enjoy connecting with people. You'll need drive and persistence to push initiatives forward, combined with the tact and interpersonal skills to navigate sensitive donor conversations with care. The role requires being quick on your feet as donor needs and priorities shift, and you'll need to quickly master complex global health topics to engage credibly with sophisticated, analytical philanthropists. You should thrive in an environment with frequent feedback, high standards, and ambitious, measurable goals. You'll also need to be comfortable with ambiguity and change as our philanthropy team continues to grow and evolve our approaches.

Details