Senior Manager - Resource Development at Aga Khan University (AKU)

Reporting to the Director, Principal Gifts and the Vice-Provost for East Africa, and working closely with key academic leaders, and volunteers, the Senior Manager, Resource Development will use their keen sense of initiative to spot fundraising opportunities by developing and implementing a comprehensive plan for identification, cultivation, solicitation, and engagement of donors contributing gifts of KSh. 200,000 or greater to support the University’s Undergraduate Nursing (UGNE) and Undergraduate Medicine (UGME) programmes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive, written, fundraising plan.
• Research, identify, and prioritize donor prospects for solicitation of targeted financial support.
• Personally, manage a growing portfolio from 50 to 100 gift prospects: devise cultivation, solicitation, and closure strategies for each prospect for the purpose of raising funds for UGNE and UGME in East Africa.
• Draft and customize correspondence, proposals, and other written materials to cultivate assigned prospects.
• Perform direct solicitations independently, or in tandem with academic leaders or volunteer leadership; work collaboratively to maximize donor interest.
• Be accountable for input of pertinent information into database.
• Travel as required; attendance at evening and weekend activities is required.
• Other duties may be assigned to meet the institution’s needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required (in communications, business, or a related field), advance degree preferred.
• Certificate in Fundraising, Diploma in Fundraising, or similar qualification with a Minimum of 5 years of direct fundraising experience in complex organizations. 
• Competence in Microsoft Office suite and Raiser’s Edge donor management systems.
• Experience writing grant proposals, and/or fundraising letters. 
• Confidence with public speaking.
• Legal or accounting experience a plus.
• Demonstrated success in raising six and seven figure gifts and have in-depth knowledge of all aspects of a comprehensive fundraising operation. 
• Show evidence of setting and achieving goals and will have a successful track record of working with internal and external constituents, as well as volunteer and committee management with professional demeanour, self-reliance, and resourcefulness. 
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to lead and motivate colleagues and volunteers.
• Demonstrated ability to carry out effective prospect identification and assessment, engagement and cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. A passion for research.
• Adept at managing tasks, planning events, and balancing priorities.
• Motivated, professional, and organized, with a knack for research. 
• Adhere to established protocols, such as AKU’s gift acceptance policy. Ensure reporting requirements are completed in timely and accurate manner; record and manage donor/prospect and event data, activity in fundraising technology system.
• Superior drive, a sense of urgency, and a desire to create and build.
• Positive attitude, empathetic disposition and demonstrated perseverance.

Applications should be submitted latest by September 4, 2022