Fundraising & Development Specialist

Must be based in Boston or the Greater New York Area

About Self Help Africa

Self Help Africa is an international development organization dedicated to ending hunger and poverty in rural Africa. Operating in 7 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, we support and train smallholder farmers, promote climate resilience, implement water & sanitation measures, foster gender equality, and support enterprise development. With headquarters in Dublin, Ireland and offices across the UK, US, and in each of the countries we work in, our work is deeply community-driven, sustainable, and rooted in long-term impact.

Position Overview

Self Help Africa USA is a small, high-impact team — and this role is central to everything we do. As Fundraising & Development Specialist, you will serve as the operational partner to the Executive Director, co-owning the full scope of the US development and fundraising program. From managing our donor pipeline and events calendar to supporting board engagement and foundation relationships, your work will directly fuel our mission across Sub-Saharan Africa.

We are looking for a proactive, detail-oriented professional with 2–4 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, event management, or a related field, who is ready to take ownership, work independently, and grow with the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising & Donor Management

• Accurately track, process, and acknowledge donations using our CRM platform (GoFundMe Pro)
• Manage donor acknowledgment and gift processing as a core daily function
• Support donor engagement strategies, including thank-you outreach and pre- and post-event communications
• Conduct prospect research to identify and profile new individual donors, trusts, and foundations
• Assist in building and maintaining relationships with U.S.-based trusts and foundations (research focus, not grant writing)
• Support the Executive Director in managing the major donor pipeline and stewardship activities

Events Management

• Co-lead planning and execution of annual fundraising galas in NYC and Boston
• Manage event logistics: venue and vendor coordination, volunteer management, guest list tracking, briefing documents, and on-site support
• Support donor cultivation events, and other engagement activities throughout the year
• Required: attendance at all in-person SHA events in the NYC and Boston areas

Board & Executive Support

• Prepare materials, reports, and presentations for board meetings
• Support the Executive Director in board communications and follow-up
• Help coordinate board member participation in events and donor activities

Marketing & Communications

• Design marketing and campaign materials using Canva and Constant Contact
• Coordinate with the Dublin communications team to ensure social media scheduling, website updates, and event materials are aligned and on time.

Operations & Administration

• Manage administrative tasks including scheduling, inbox management, data entry, and record-keeping
• Maintain accurate records in GoFundMe Pro and Salesforce
• Participate in team meetings and provide general administrative support as needed

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, event management, communications, international development, or a related field
• 2–4 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, event management or a closely related role
• Experience working with or for an international development or global nonprofit organization
• Prior experience in an administrative or operational support role in a face paced dynamic environment
• Strong event management experience, including end-to-end logistics coordination
• Proficiency in GoFundMe Pro or similar CRM platforms, Constant Contact, Google Suite, Microsoft Suite, and Salesforce
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple priorities independently
• Proactive self-starter who takes ownership and follows through
• Passion for social impact, international development, and Self Help Africa's mission

Benefits

• Salary: $60,000 – $75,000, commensurate with experience
• Health insurance, 401(k), paid time off, and professional development courses
• Remote/work-from-home flexibility
• Direct collaboration with the Executive Director and global SHA teams across the US, Ireland (HQ), UK, and Africa
• High-impact, high-visibility role with real ownership and room to grow