Overview

Head of Philanthropy Jobs in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia at WWF-Malaysia

Title: Head of Philanthropy

Company: WWF-Malaysia

Location: Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Purpose of Job

The Head of Philanthropy is responsible for defining and leading WWF-Malaysia’s (WWF-MY) philanthropy strategy and major donor portfolio at an enterprise level, driving sustainable income growth, managing risk, and ensuring strong governance, performance oversight, and team capability. The role requires strong strategic leadership, financial and performance oversight, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders, build high-level relationships, and drive a disciplined, results-oriented fundraising function.

The role holds end-to-end accountability for portfolio health, strategic direction, and revenue outcomes, overseeing the full philanthropy lifecycle while ensuring institutional integrity, disciplined portfolio management, and alignment with WWF-MY’s conservation priorities.

Together with the Senior Director of Partnership, the Head of Philanthropy partners closely with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Senior Leadership Team (SLT), Board, and Board Committees (hereafter, collectively referred to as “the Board”) to shape fundraising strategy, support informed decision-making, and steward high-value donor relationships, ensuring WWF-MY’s long-term financial sustainability and reputation, and that donor interests remain aligned with WWF-MY’s conservation priorities.

Key Outputs and Major Activities

1. Strategic Leadership and Portfolio Direction

  • Set and continuously refine WWF-MY’s philanthropy strategy, segmentation model, and growth pathways, informed by market trends, donor insights, and organisational priorities.
  • Define portfolio architecture, including donor segmentation, resource allocation, and prioritisation frameworks to optimise return on effort.
  • Establish and oversee performance frameworks, including pipeline coverage ratios, conversion expectations, and lifetime value optimisation.

2. Portfolio Oversight and Performance Governance

  • Hold end-to-end accountability for philanthropy income performance, including pipeline strength, conversion rates, and overall portfolio health.
  • Deliver against agreed annual and multi-year income targets, ensuring performance is proactively monitored, managed, and optimised.
  • Lead forecasting, scenario planning, and income risk management, ensuring early identification of shortfalls and timely implementation of mitigation strategies.
  • Rigorously review and challenge pipeline quality, ensuring disciplined progression, accurate forecasting, and effective prioritisation across the team.

3. High-Value Donor Strategy and Relationship Leadership

  • Own strategy for top-tier, strategic, and reputationally sensitive donors, including HNWIs, family offices, family foundations, and other philanthropic funding structures.
  • Personally lead engagement with priority relationships and complex negotiations, including multi-year or transformational gifts (i.e. high-value contributions that deliver significant, long-term impact)
  • Establish and scale WWF-MY’s planned and legacy giving portfolio, including bequests, trusts, and other structured giving mechanisms, leveraging partnerships with wealth managers, legal advisors, and financial institutions to build a sustainable long-term income pipeline.
  • Guide team on donor positioning, value propositions, and negotiation approaches, ensuring consistency and quality.

4. Governance, Risk and Due Diligence Leadership

  • Define and enforce donor governance frameworks, including due diligence, ethical screening, and reputational risk protocols.
  • Act as the primary escalation point for donor-related risks, complex decisions, and reputational concerns, working closely with the Senior Director of Partnership and, where appropriate, escalating such matters to the CEO and the Board.
  • Advise the SLT and the Board on risk exposure within the philanthropy portfolio, including concentration, dependency, and reputational considerations—in close coordination with the Senior Director of Partnership.

5. Market Positioning and Network Leadership

  • Shape WWF-MY’s strategic positioning within the philanthropy market, identifying emerging opportunities, sectors, and donor behaviours.
  • Leverage senior-level networks to unlock transformational partnerships and new donor segments.
  • Represent WWF-MY at high-level external forums, strengthening brand credibility in the philanthropy ecosystem.

6. Senior Leadership and Board Interface

  • Serve as the primary philanthropy advisor to the CEO, SLT, and the Board.
  • Lead development of Board-level reporting, insights, and recommendations, including performance trends, risks, and strategic opportunities, aligned with the Senior Director of Partnership on cross-portfolio considerations.
  • Support governance committees in evaluating fundraising performance and risks, in partnership with the Senior Director of Partnership where relevant.

7. Cross-Functional and Global Strategy Alignment

  • Ensure alignment between philanthropy strategy and conservation priorities, funding needs, and organisational strategy.
  • Drive integration across functions to ensure compelling, fundable propositions at scale.
  • Leverage WWF global network for strategic co-funding, cross-border philanthropy, and donor collaboration.

8. People Leadership and Function Development

  • Design and evolve the structure, roles, and capabilities of the philanthropy function.
  • Set clear performance expectations, accountability frameworks, and culture of delivery discipline.
  • Build leadership bench strength and succession pipeline within the team.

Overall, the Head of Philanthropy holds accountability for strategy, portfolio performance, governance, and risk management across the philanthropy function, ensuring WWF-MY secures the resources required to deliver its mission and achieve meaningful, lasting impact.

Specifications

1. Experience and Background

  • A degree is preferred (business, sales, marketing) but demonstrated track record and relevant experience will be prioritised.
  • Minimum 15 years of relevant experience in philanthropy, private banking, wealth management, investor relations, public relations, and/or senior stakeholder engagement roles.
  • Proven experience engaging with high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), family offices, or corporate leaders.
  • Exposure to or experience in structured or planned giving (e.g. trusts, endowments, legacy giving) is an advantage.
  • Strong professional network, with the ability to leverage relationships for fundraising outcomes.
  • Demonstrated experience in managing, leading, and coaching teams, with a track record of building capability and driving performance.

2. Skills and Competencies

  • Strong commercial and financial acumen, with advanced capability in portfolio management, income and expenditure forecasting, budgeting, and the rigorous management of fundraising performance and return metrics.
  • Highly developed strategic thinking, with the ability to translate strategy into disciplined execution, while balancing income ambition with reputational risk and organisational priorities.
  • Deep understanding of philanthropy performance drivers, including donor lifetime value, pipeline conversion, income predictability, and portfolio optimisation, alongside robust knowledge of donor due diligence, governance requirements, and reputational risk management.
  • Proven ability to engage and influence at senior levels, including confidence in working with the SLT and Board stakeholders, and delivering clear, insightful, and high-quality briefings and reports.
  • Exceptional communication and influencing skills, with the ability to craft compelling cases for support, shape donor propositions, and secure buy-in from senior stakeholders.
  • Outstanding relationship management capabilities, with a track record of building and sustaining high-value, trust-based relationships with diverse stakeholder groups.
  • High level of emotional intelligence, discretion, and professionalism, particularly in managing sensitive donor relationships and navigating complex stakeholder dynamics.
  • Strong executive presence, credibility, and judgement, with the confidence to engage and influence senior decision-makers and represent the organisation at the highest levels.
  • Highly self-directed and outcome-oriented, with the ability to exercise sound judgement, manage competing priorities, and operate effectively in complex, fast-paced environments.

3. Personal Attributes

  • Passion for conservation and alignment with WWF’s mission and values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration.
  • Mature, resourceful, and resilient in navigating complex stakeholder environments.

Salary Range

RM12,000 – RM15,000

**Applicants whose expectations exceed the posted budget may not be considered. Kindly apply only if the budget is acceptable.

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