Development (Fundraising) Officer – Grant Writing at United States International University - USIU Africa in Nairobi, Kenya

    United States International University - USIU Africa logo

    Development (Fundraising) Officer – Grant Writing

    Posted

    6 days ago

    Apply by

    28 Aug

    Full Time
    On Site
    Mid
    Education & Training
    Management & Business Development

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    Job Description

    The Development (Fundraising) Officer will play a critical role in advancing the University's fundraising and resource mobilization agenda by identifying funding opportunities, developing competitive grant proposals, cultivating donor relationships, supporting fundraising campaigns, coordinating corporate social responsibility initiatives, and strengthening partnerships with local and international stakeholders.

    Key Responsibilities

    • Research and identify local, regional and international grant opportunities aligned with the University's strategic priorities.
    • Develop high-quality grant proposals, concept notes and funding applications.
    • Coordinate proposal development with academic schools, research teams and administrative departments.
    • Build and maintain relationships with donors, foundations, corporate organizations, development agencies, alumni and all strategic partners.
    • Support the implementation of fundraising campaigns and donor engagement initiatives.
    • Prepare compelling fundraising cases for support, donor reports and impact stories.
    • Maintain accurate donor, grant and fundraising databases and monitor fundraising performance.
    • Coordinate fundraising events, corporate social responsibility programmes and donor stewardship activities.
    • Recruit and coordinate volunteers supporting fundraising initiatives.
    • Conduct due diligence on prospective partners to ensure strategic alignment and compliance with University policies.
    • Serve as a liaison with community organizations and promote positive stakeholder engagement.
    • Prepare periodic reports on fundraising performance, grants and partnership outcomes.

    Required Qualifications

    • A Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Development Studies, Communications, Marketing, International Relations, Public Relations, Project Management or a related field from a recognized university.
    • A minimum of two (2) years' relevant experience in fundraising, grant writing, donor relations, partnership development, business development or resource mobilization.
    • Demonstrated experience in developing successful grant proposals and fundraising initiatives.
    • Experience working with donor-funded programmes, NGOs, higher education institutions or development organizations will be an added advantage.
    • Excellent grant writing and proposal development skills.
    • Strong fundraising and donor stewardship capabilities.
    • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
    • Excellent relationship management and networking abilities.
    • Strong analytical, organizational and project management skills.
    • Ability to manage multiple deadlines and work under pressure.
    • High level of integrity, professionalism and confidentiality.
    • Excellent presentation, negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills.
    • Strong computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office and database management systems.
    • A proactive, self-driven and results-oriented approach to work.

    Job Details

    Job Function

    Management & Business Development

    Minimum Experience

    2 years

    Education Level

    Bachelor’s Degree

    Area of Study

    Business

    Field of Study

    Business Administration

    Languages

    English

    Additional Information

    How to Apply: Send your application to jobs-advancement@usiu.ac.ke with the subject line 'Development (Fundraising) Officer – Grant Writing'. Include a cover letter, current CV, certified copies of educational certificates and transcripts, names and addresses of three referees (two of whom must be your current and previous employer), current salary and benefits, and telephone and e-mail contacts. Alternatively, apply online at www.usiu.ac.ke.

    Show Donor-Facing Impact in Your CV

    Fundraising roles live on proof. Hiring managers at USIU Africa want to see that you can turn relationships into revenue and ideas into funded proposals. Your CV must show numbers, outcomes, and the arc of a grant from lead to close.

    1. Quantify your wins: Use figures to show the scale of grants you've secured, funds raised, or partnerships built. For example, 'Secured KES 5M from a foundation for a scholarship programme' is far stronger than 'wrote grant proposals'.

    2. Tailor your CV to this role: Highlight grant writing, donor relations, and partnership development. Use keywords from the job description like 'proposal development', 'donor stewardship', and 'resource mobilization' so the screen picks you out.

    3. Prepare a portfolio of writing samples: Bring two or three successful grant proposals or concept notes to the interview. Show how you structured them, the research behind them, and the outcomes they achieved.

    4. Research USIU Africa's strategic priorities: Understand their focus areas like scholarships, research, innovation, and infrastructure. Be ready to suggest how you'd find funding for these.

    5. Practice your stakeholder story: You'll work with academic schools, research teams, and external partners. Prepare examples of how you've coordinated multiple stakeholders to meet a deadline.

    6. Show your database skills: Mention specific CRM or database tools you've used (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, or even Excel) and how you've used them to track donors or grants.

    7. Be ready to talk about ethics: Fundraising involves confidentiality and integrity. Have a story ready about how you handled sensitive donor information or navigated a compliance issue.

    8. Ask smart questions: In the interview, ask about the university's current funding gaps, the size of the advancement team, and how success is measured for this role. It shows you're thinking like a partner, not just a candidate.

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    Tags

    grant writing
    fundraising
    donor relations
    proposal development
    partnership development