Kakenya's Dream - Annual Fund Officer

This is a remote position.

Annual Fund Officer

Reports to: Director of Development

Team/Department: Development

Direct Reports: None

Location & Schedule: 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.
  

• Identify and cultivate new foundation, corporate, and institutional funding opportunities.
  

• Participate in funder convenings, briefings, and site visits as needed, including occasional travel.
  

• Coordinate with internal program and leadership stakeholders to gather the outcomes data, budgets, and supporting content needed for proposals and reports.
  

• Support development of a strong institutional funding pipeline aligned with organizational priorities.
  

• Partner with the Director of Development and President to advance institutional fundraising strategies.
  

Collaboration & Organizational Support

• Work closely with Development, Communications, Leadership, and Board stakeholders to support fundraising priorities.
  

• Represent Kakenya's Dream professionally with donors, funders, and external partners.
  

• Partner with the Development Operations & Administrative Coordinator to ensure fundraising data, donor records, and reporting needs support donor strategy and decision-making.
  

• Support fundraising-related events and donor engagement activities as needed.
  

• Contribute to a collaborative, solutions-oriented team culture.
  

Immediate Priorities (First 6–12 Months)

In the first year, the Annual Fund Officer will focus on:

• Successfully managing annual fund campaigns — including and monthly giving — and donor communications.
  

• Designing and beginning implementation of a middle-donor strategy, and building out the Recurring Donor Plan and stewardship strategy.
  

• Expanding the organization's grant prospect pipeline and institutional funding opportunities.
  

• Developing a deeper understanding of donor history, fundraising performance, and organizational priorities.
  

• Managing a portfolio of donors, personally soliciting gifts up to $25,000.
  

• Building collaborative relationships across Development, Communications, Leadership, and Program teams — including close partnership with the Development Operations & Administrative Coordinator on data and reporting needs.
  

• Identifying opportunities to increase donor engagement and annual fund growth.
  

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role will look like:

• Annual fundraising campaigns are executed successfully and achieve revenue goals.
  

• Grant proposals, reports, and institutional fundraising materials are submitted accurately and on time.
  

• New funding opportunities are consistently identified and pursued.
  

• Donor communications are timely, compelling, and aligned with fundraising strategy.
  

• Strong middle-donor and recurring-donor stewardship strategies are in place and gaining traction.
  

• Donor and campaign insights are shared with the Director of Development to inform strategy.
  

• Internal teams — including the Development Operations & Administrative Coordinator — experience strong collaboration and support.
  

• The organization builds stronger donor relationships and sustainable revenue growth.
  

Who You Are

Must-Have Experience & Skills

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
  

• Minimum of three years of hands-on development/nonprofit fundraising experience, including approximately two to three years designing annual appeals and donor cultivation; candidates with less traditional tenure but meaningful, direct outward-facing fundraising exposure are also encouraged to apply.
  

• Experience developing fundraising campaigns, donor communications, or annual fund initiatives.
  

• Previous experience in donor cultivation & direct (one-on-one) solicitation in any capacity.
  

• Strong grant writing and proposal development experience.
  

• Exceptional writing, editing, research, and communication skills.
  

• Experience conducting donor, prospect, or foundation research.
  

• Strong organizational and project management abilities; ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines simultaneously.
  

• Previous experience managing or working within a fundraising database.
  

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
  

• Positive attitude, sense of humor, and ability to work efficiently and effectively with a partially remote team.
  

Preferred Experience & Skills

• Three to four years of experience designing and executing fundraising campaigns.
  

• Experience working in a small, collaborative nonprofit environment.