Major Gifts and Impact Officer

Organization Background

Village Health Works (VHW) is a 501(c)(3) corporation. It is a social justice organization founded on the belief that health equity is not a commodity but a right. Founded in partnership with the communities we currently serve, VHW’s mission is to provide the neediest high quality, compassionate health care and education based on critical thinking in a dignified environment. VHW’s holistic approach integrates clinical services with education, food security, economic development, environmental protection, music and the arts. In the context of where we currently work, this is the only way we can sustainably end the extreme, multigenerational scarcity in a way that uplifts and engages communities with dignity and in their own context. We believe that the lack of access to quality healthcare and education based on critical thinking is the biggest threat to development and world peace.

Currently VHW operates in a wide array of clinical and community programs in a catchment area of over 200,000 people within the provinces of Rumonge and Bururi, though its doors are open to every patient regardless of where that patient is coming from. After 17 years of operation, VHW has made tremendous progress in patient care and education.

Village Health Works has embarked on a plan to expand our clinical services to provide comprehensive quality medical care and training. To achieve this goal, VHW has constructed and officially opened an 85,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art teaching hospital with several services that include surgery, obstetric deliveries, intensive care, pediatrics and neonatology, emergency, pathology lab, medical education and research center. To provide excellent patient care and training we must expand the scope and skills of the healthcare providers through training, teaching and research, hiring through rigorous development and implementation of systems and structures, policies and procedures that are framed by high quality norms and international standards. We are officially working with the University of Burundi. This partnership allows us to combine clinical expertise with academic innovation, creating new opportunities for senior medical students and residents and healthcare professionals to learn in a state-of-the-art facility. Together, we are not only addressing immediate healthcare needs but also building a sustainable future for generations to come. With this initiative, we are crafting a blueprint for healthcare excellence that can inspire similar efforts throughout East Africa.

Additionally, VHW has established the Kigutu International Academy, a grade 9-12 boarding school to equip young minds with an education based on critical thinking to prepare them to become the leaders we wish their country and the continent to have for a better future.

Our core values are as follows:

Every member of VHW's team must value the dignity inherent in each individual, aspire to excellent in all we do, proceed with boldness and perseverance.

Compassion and justice must be at the heart of our organization.

To accomplish the mission of our organization we all must be accountable to each other and to our community.

For more information, please visit : Village Health Works and see our Strategic Plan.

Overview

The Major Gifts and Impact Officer plays a central role in advancing Village Health Works’ (VHW) fundraising strategy by cultivating, stewarding, and expanding relationships with major donors (contributing $5,000+ annually). This role is responsible for delivering personalized donor experiences, developing a portfolio of new and existing supporters, and securing significant philanthropic support for VHW’s global health, education, and community programs—particularly its scholarship fundraising efforts with higher education institutions in the US, Canada, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

The Major Gifts and Impact Officer will collaborate closely with the Director of Partnerships, Partnership Leads, and the Communications team to ensure donor communications are compelling, timely, and aligned with VHW’s strategic priorities. This role is ideal for a relationship-driven development professional who is skilled at building trust with donors and inspiring transformative gifts.

This is a hybrid position based in New York, with an expectation of 2–3 in-office days per week at a shared or designated workspace. The role requires flexibility for occasional travel to meet with donors, attend events, and participate in team retreats. VHW supports a collaborative and mission-driven work culture that values both in-person connection and remote flexibility.

Key Responsibilities

Major Donor Cultivation and Stewardship

• Manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects, cultivating relationships to deepen engagement and increase giving over time.
• Lead stewardship strategies for donors giving $5,000+, ensuring personalized outreach, high-quality reporting, and meaningful engagement.
• Develop individualized cultivation plans for prospective donors, including HNWIs, family foundations, and diaspora philanthropists.
• Coordinate donor visits, events, and one-on-one meetings, serving as a primary point of contact for major donors.
• Track and analyze donor engagement metrics to inform strategies and forecast revenue.

Scholarship Fundraising and Higher Education Partnerships

• Support the design and implementation of fundraising strategies for scholarships, with a focus on partnerships with universities in the US, Canada, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
• Collaborate with academic institutions, Partnership Leads, and the Chief Strategy and Development Officer to match donor interests with scholarship opportunities.
• Manage donor communications and stewardship for named scholarships and other higher education initiatives.

Collaboration and Communication

• Liaise regularly with Partnership Leads to ensure donor communications reflect up-to-date programmatic information and impact.
• Work with the Communications team to develop tailored content for major donor updates, personal outreach, donor spotlights, reports, and social media features.
• Gather and synthesize qualitative and quantitative data from Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) teams to support narrative and data-driven reporting.
• Ensure timely acknowledgement and recognition of gifts, in coordination with relevant team members.

Strategic Input and Organizational Leadership

• Contribute to VHW’s overall fundraising strategy, helping to set revenue targets and refine the major donor pipeline.
• Stay informed on philanthropic trends and best practices related to major donor engagement, international education, and global health funding.
• Work with leadership to explore opportunities for legacy giving, multi-year pledges, and endowment support from major donors.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in fundraising, donor relations, or major gifts, preferably within an international development or higher education context.
• Proven track record of securing and stewarding gifts of $5,000+ from individual donors.
• Experience in scholarship fundraising or university advancement is highly desirable.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a deep commitment to donor service and relationship-building.
• Strong writing skills and ability to translate complex programmatic information into compelling donor communications.
• Proficiency with donor CRMs (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, or similar).
• Comfort working independently in a fast-paced, collaborative, mission-driven environment.
• Willingness to travel occasionally for donor meetings and events (primarily within the US, and occasionally internationally).

Key Competencies:

• Relationship-driven with a donor-first mindset
• Strategic thinker with attention to detail
• Culturally sensitive and adaptable across international contexts
• High integrity and discretion in handling confidential information
• Results-oriented with a commitment to achieving fundraising goals

This role offers an exciting opportunity to work closely with VHW’s most dedicated supporters and to play a leadership role in expanding our global community of donors. The ideal candidate is a proactive, strategic fundraiser with a passion for building relationships that drive transformational change.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $70,000 - 85,000 per year based on experience

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule with the possibility of two days a week of remote work.
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

How to apply:

Qualified candidates are encouraged to immediately submit a CV and a thoughtful cover letter outlining why this position is of interest, exactly how your experience matches the qualifications stated and what you believe differentiates you from other candidates.

Submissions should be sent to: development@villagehealthworks.org. Please include the title of the role in the subject line of your email.

Village Health Works considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran or military status.