Job Title: Major Gifts and Impact Officer

Reporting to: Chief Strategy and Development Officer

Organization: Village Health Works (VHW)

Location: USA

Visit https://www.villagehealthworks.org/careers for more information.

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 internationalstandards. 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 excellence 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.

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 personalised

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 tomeet 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 personalised outreach,

high-quality reporting, and meaningful engagement.

Develop individualised 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 analyse 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 synthesise 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 Organisational 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.

Village Health Works

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Major Gifts and Impact Officer