Job Description
Job Description
This is a remote position.
Annual Fund Officer
Reports to: Director of Development
Team/Department: Development
Direct Reports: None
Location & Schedule: U.S. Remote | Based in or commutable to the Washington, DC area (DC/MD/VA); occasional travel to the New York area and elsewhere as needed
Compensation: $70,000–$80,000 annually, commensurate with experience, plus comprehensive benefits including health insurance, vision and dental insurance, retirement plan match, life and disability insurance, and generous paid time off.
Who We Are
Kakenya's Dream is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering and educating girls in rural Kenya so they can become agents of change in their communities and beyond. Through education, leadership development, health initiatives, and community engagement, we work to end harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and child marriage while creating pathways for girls to thrive.
Founded by Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya, a globally recognized advocate for girls' education, Kakenya's Dream partners with students, families, educators, community leaders, and supporters around the world to create lasting impact and expand opportunities for girls.
Kakenya's Dream is seeking an Annual Fund Officer to help execute fundraising operations totaling $3M annually, with a goal of growing the organization's fundraising budget to $4M within the next three years.
What We're Looking For
This is a dual-focus role that combines front-facing donor engagement with hands-on fundraising production: the Annual Fund Officer will build relationships and make the “ask” directly with donors and funders, while also leading grant drafting and reporting, and the design and execution of fundraising campaigns and proposals. Reporting to the Director of Development, this person will work closely with the President and Communications team to ensure the organization achieves its annual and multi-year fundraising goals.
Success in this role requires genuine comfort and confidence engaging donors face-to-face — building rapport, leading solicitation conversations, and representing Kakenya's Dream at meetings, events, and community gatherings — paired with strong writing and project management skills to draft compelling grant proposals and reports, and to design and execute multi-channel campaigns and solicitation materials. The ideal candidate is an outgoing relationship-builder who is equally energized by direct donor contact and by the strategic, written work that supports it: extremely detail-oriented, with excellent writing skills and sound judgment, and someone who thrives in a fast-paced, mission-focused environment.
The ideal candidate is someone who:
-
Is a strong writer and storyteller
-
Is a confident, natural relationship-builder who enjoys direct donor contact
-
Is comfortable managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
-
Thrives in a collaborative, mission-driven environment
-
Balances strategic thinking with strong execution skills
-
Is energized by relationship-building and donor engagement
This role is well suited for someone who enjoys connecting data, donor motivations, and compelling communications to drive meaningful fundraising results.
What You'll Do
Annual Fund & Campaign Management
-
Serve as the primary relationship manager for donors in the Kuza and Nguzo Giving Circles ($1,250–$10,000 annually), building personal relationships through in-person meetings, phone calls, and ongoing conversation, and leading direct (one-on-one) solicitation of these donors.
-
Conduct regular donor visits — traveling as needed — to meet with current and prospective donors face-to-face, and represent Kakenya's Dream at donor events, community gatherings, and other external engagements.
-
Manage a portfolio of donors, personally cultivating and soliciting gifts up to $25,000 through direct, in-person and phone engagement.
-
Lead the planning, execution, and evaluation of annual giving campaigns, including annual appeals (e.g., Spring Appeal, Back to School Appeal, Annual Appeal), and monthly giving initiatives.
-
Manage peer-to-peer campaigns and crowdfunding efforts.
-
Develop and lead a Middle Donor Plan and Recurring Donor Plan, including a mid-level donor stewardship funnel focused on upgrading donors — designing and executing in-person cultivation activities, one-on-one meetings, and other stewardship touchpoints.
-
Lead and develop Giving Circle engagement and donor cultivation efforts.
-
Identify and personally cultivate prospective donors, including conducting prospect research to inform outreach for your own portfolio.
-
Join the President, Director of Development, and Board members in cultivation meetings to support engagement of major donors and other prospects.
-
Design donor engagement events and relationship-building activities.
-
Support the President, Director of Development, Board, and other staff in their own donor meetings, solicitation calls, and stewardship activities.
Grants & Institutional Fundraising
-
Build and maintain positive relationships with organizational funders through regular meetings, calls, and site visits, overseeing a portfolio of $5,000+ grantors.
-
Represent Kakenya's Dream in meetings, calls, and check-ins with foundation program officers and grant managers throughout the funding cycle.
-
Draft grant proposals, letters of inquiry, reports, and other institutional fundraising materials.