Deputy Director, Major Gifts
- Amref Health Africa
- Remote
Job Description
THE OPPORTUNITY
Amref Health Africa in the USA seeks a Deputy Director, Major Gifts to assist in securing funding from individuals and family foundations, with a focus on high-net worth individuals. Reporting to the Director, Development & Communications, this person will support the development and implementation of a strategic major gifts plan, including identifying, cultivating, and managing relationships with individuals to achieve the organization's goals.
AMREF HEALTH AFRICA (Amref)
The Amref Health Africa (Amref) in the USA office raises awareness and critically needed funds for our work across Africa. Amref USA is a 501(C)(3) organization with ten employees and an annual budget of $10-15MM.
With headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, Amref Health Africa is the largest Africa-based healthcare nonprofit, serving millions of people every year across 35 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Amref Health Africa began on the continent as the Flying Doctors, bringing surgical services to remote communities using light aircraft. Our priorities have since expanded to strengthen health systems and train African health workers to respond to the continent’s most critical health challenges. Our approach is community-based and makes the people we reach partners rather than just beneficiaries. Over 97% of our global staff are Africans, so we are always tackling African challenges with African expertise.
Please visit amrefusa.org for more information.
THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Our team raises majority unrestricted funds to strengthen health systems and train African health workers by designing and executing philanthropic partnerships with individuals and family foundations. In the 2026 fiscal year, our goal is to raise $3.3MM.
THE ROLE
As Deputy Director, Major Gifts, you will help plan and implement Amref USA’s major gifts program, managing a portfolio of donors capable of giving $10,000 or more. You will strengthen and expand the major gifts pipeline by identifying and cultivating new prospects, stewarding existing donors, and developing tailored solicitation strategies to meet annual fundraising goals.
The ideal candidate brings proven experience in fundraising or a related revenue-generating or client-facing role, is a self-starter and collaborative team player, and thrives on building meaningful relationships. You are adaptable, strategic, and passionate about international development. A strong understanding of the African diaspora and the ability to engage authentically with diasporan stakeholders and donors will be considered an asset.
IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL
- Secure major gifts by managing existing donor relationships and cultivating new prospects in partnership with the Development team and CEO.
- Collaborate with leadership to shape long-term strategies for increasing unrestricted major gifts.
- Contribute to the annual major gifts forecast and pipeline planning.
- Conduct at least 10–12 meaningful donor interactions per month, including visits, calls, and events.
- Track, analyze, and report on progress toward fundraising goals.
- Develop and execute a comprehensive moves management strategy for major donors.
- Identify and qualify major gift prospects using the CRM, prospect research, and wealth screening tools.
- Plan and support curated events and experiences for major donors.
- Design and implement stewardship strategies to ensure ongoing donor engagement and retention.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
WHO YOU ARE
- Have at least seven years of experience in fundraising or a related revenue-generating or client-facing role.
- Proven success developing and implementing strategies to secure support from individual donors.
- Skilled in prospecting, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-value donor relationships.
- Demonstrated ability to close major unrestricted gifts.
- Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills, with experience engaging diverse audiences.
- A proactive, self-directed professional who also thrives in collaborative, team-oriented environments.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and CRM systems.
- Comfortable, respectful, and educated in working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- Deeply committed to Amref’s mission, vision, and values, and to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and respectful workplace.
- Understanding of African health, social, or development contexts is a plus.
WORKPLACE AND OTHER DETAILS
- This is a remote role based in the United States.
- Occasional early morning calls should be expected to accommodate meetings in East Africa Time. Some evening and weekend work may be necessary to support donor engagement and events.
- Travel is anticipated to be around 10%, primarily for donor meetings, events, and conferences.
COMPENSATION
This is a full-time, exempt position. The salary range for this role is $90,000 – $110,000 depending on experience, plus superior health benefits (medical, dental, vision), ample vacation, personal, and sick time, 12 paid holidays, summer Fridays, and 7% 403(B) match after one year.
TO APPLY
Please submit your PDF resume and cover letter to careers@amrefusa.org, with the subject line “Deputy Director, Major Gifts application” by Friday, November 7, 2025. Only applications who follow these instructions will be considered.
If you require alternative accommodation to participate in our application process, please let us know.
Amref USA is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes a diverse candidate pool. Additionally, we are a fair chance employer and welcome candidates with living experience with the criminal justice system.
The above job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and is not intended to limit the scope of potential work assignments. This is only a summary of the typical functions of the job and duties that may differ from those outlined above.
Hiring Organization
Qualifications
WHO YOU ARE
- Have at least seven years of experience in fundraising or a related revenue-generating or client-facing role.
- Proven success developing and implementing strategies to secure support from individual donors.
- Skilled in prospecting, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-value donor relationships.
- Demonstrated ability to close major unrestricted gifts.
- Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills, with experience engaging diverse audiences.
- A proactive, self-directed professional who also thrives in collaborative, team-oriented environments.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and CRM systems.
- Comfortable, respectful, and educated in working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- Deeply committed to Amref’s mission, vision, and values, and to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and respectful workplace.
- Understanding of African health, social, or development contexts is a plus.
Industry/Service Area
Level
Benefits
This is a full-time, exempt position. Superior health benefits (medical, dental, vision), ample vacation, personal, and sick time, 12 paid holidays, summer Fridays, and 7% 403(B) match after one year.
Application Instructions
TO APPLY
Please submit your PDF resume and cover letter to careers@amrefusa.org, with the subject line “Deputy Director, Major Gifts application” by Friday, November 7, 2025. Only applications who follow these instructions will be considered.
If you require alternative accommodation to participate in our application process, please let us know.
Amref USA is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes a diverse candidate pool. Additionally, we are a fair chance employer and welcome candidates with living experience with the criminal justice system.
The above job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and is not intended to limit the scope of potential work assignments. This is only a summary of the typical functions of the job and duties that may differ from those outlined above.
Apply Now
Amref Health Africa is the largest African-based and African-led health development NGO in the world. On the ground since 1957, with 97% of the staff of African origin and with over 90% working within their communities, Amref Health Africa is an expert in the field of International Development. Working in 35 countries across the continent, Amref Health Africa focuses on the most critical health issues, working in the space of HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, water and sanitation, maternal and family health, clinical and surgical outreach, and the training of hundreds of thousands of health workers.
Amref Health Africa is the only NGO to receive both the prestigious Bill and Melinda Gates Award for Global Health and the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, among others.
Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with offices across Europe and New York, and Toronto.