Donor Relationship Officer

Do your skills and experience not precisely match the requirements? At MSF EA, we strive to create a safe, diverse and inclusive workplace, recognizing the need to increase access to professional opportunities for historically underrepresented groups. If you're interested in this position but your experience doesn't align perfectly with the selection criteria, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might be the ideal candidate for this or other positions. 

Firmly committed to safeguarding patients, community members, staff, and all those in contact with the organization from all forms of abuse, including sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH), we will take all necessary steps, through rigorous vetting processes, to ensure that confirmed perpetrators of abuse do not join the organization.

For this position, contact level with patients and children is categorized as Low Risk and will be monitored with this in regard.

Introduction

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is an international independent medical humanitarian organisation that provides assistance to people affected by conflicts, epidemics, and natural or human-made disasters and excluded from healthcare. We provide this assistance without discrimination, irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation. 

About MSF Eastern Africa

MSF Eastern Africa is the regional institutional office of MSF. It focuses on representation and networking, recruiting and supporting staff from the region, communications and fundraising, as well as working on other dossiers of importance to MSF such as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Data Protection, mutualization, training, medical operational support and environmental health.  

Rationale/Objective for Position

The Donor Relationship Officer is responsible for advancing the cultivation, donor acquisition, stewardship, and growth of donor relationships across the region, with a particular focus on Islamic philanthropy.

This position will be hierarchically and functionally accountable to the Donor Relationship Manager.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Donor Acquisition, Engagement & Stewardship 

• Support acquisition, donor engagement and stewardship for individual, corporate, foundations and major donors, with priority focus on Islamic philanthropy. 
• Build and manage a personal portfolio of high-value and prospective donors, supporting in development of tailored cultivation and stewardship plans for each. 
• Draft and oversee personalised donor communications, thank-you letters, impact reports, and stewardship materials. 
• Support in Planning and coordinating donor touchpoints, including one-on-one meetings, cultivation events, donor briefings, and field or site visits. 
• Track engagement outcomes and donor satisfaction and adjust stewardship approaches based on donor feedback and giving behaviour. 

Islamic Philanthropy Strategy & Partnerships 

• Contribute to the Implementation of MSF Eastern Africa's Islamic philanthropy strategy, including annual targets, priority segments, and channel plans. 
• Identify, map, and build lasting relationships with Islamic philanthropy networks, Zakat institutions, Waqf funds, mosques, and Muslim foundations relevant to MSF's work. 
• Support in designing and implementation of Ramadan- and Zakat-specific fundraising appeals and campaigns, working closely with Communications, and Programmes and fundraising teams. 
• Represent MSF in negotiations and support in management of partnerships related to Islamic charitable organizations, faith-based community groups, and diaspora networks. e.g. Somali diaspora 
• Ensuring all fundraising materials and messaging are culturally and theologically sensitive, accurate, and aligned with Islamic giving principles; act as the organisation's internal reference point on Islamic philanthropy practice. 
• Represent MSF at relevant faith-based, philanthropic, and community forums, strengthening MSF’s profile and credibility among Muslim donors, Islamic charitable organizations, Zakat institutions, and other Islamic philanthropy networks. 

Business Development & Revenue Growth 

• Identify and pursue new donor prospects and partnership opportunities to grow income against agreed annual targets. 
• Develop compelling funding proposals, concept notes, and pitch materials for individual donors, foundations, and institutions. 
• Contribute to the wider Fundraising team's income diversification and long-term donor pipeline planning. 

Research, Reporting & Compliance 

• Lead prospect research on Islamic philanthropic organisations and high-net-worth Muslim donors across Eastern Africa. 
• Maintain accurate, complete, and up-to-date donor records and activity in the CRM system and ensure data quality across the donor portfolio. 
• Prepare regular briefing notes, performance reports, and presentations for senior management and the Fundraising team. 
• Ensure all donor engagement and gift acceptance activity complies with MSF policy, relevant due diligence requirements, and applicable regulations. 

Team & Organisational Contribution 

• Support the professional development of interns or junior team members contributing to Islamic philanthropy and donor relations work. 
• Collaborate closely with Communications, Programmes, and Finance to ensure donor-facing materials accurately reflect MSF's operations and impact. 
• Contribute to broader Fundraising team strategy, planning, and continuous improvement initiatives. 
• Representing MSF EA in different platforms with the MSF movement when advised to 

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Integrate EDI & Safeguarding aspects in area of work responsibility, including policies and practices. 
• Recognize, respond, and document any form of abuse or inappropriate behaviour and alert the safeguarding unit of any suspected potential abuse. 
• Proactively participate in the individual performance management process including objective setting, performance monitoring and performance evaluation. 
• Embed duty of care principles into all initiatives, CRM administration, and staff relations.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Development Studies, International Relations, Communications, Islamic Studies, Business Administration, or a related field
• Strong, demonstrable knowledge of Islamic philanthropy mechanisms- including Zakat, Sadaqah, and Waqf; and of faith-aligned giving practices is a core requirement of this role.

Experience

• A minimum of 2 years' professional experience in fundraising, donor relations, business development, or partnership management, ideally within an international NGO or humanitarian context.
• Experience with reporting and donor management tools like CRM, Mailchimp is preferred. 

Competencies

• Technical Competencies
• • Proven track record of building major donor relationships and securing or growing philanthropic income.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; Arabic proficiency is a strong asset.
  • High level of cultural and theological sensitivity, with the ability to engage respectfully and credibly across diverse faith communities.
  • Strong stakeholder networking, negotiation, and presentation skills, with confidence engaging senior donors and institutional partners.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
  • Excellent organisational skills, sound judgement, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines with a high degree of autonomy.
• Behavioral/General Competencies
• • Commitment to MSF principles
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Planning and Organizing
  • Results and Quality Orientation
  • Teamwork and Cooperation
  • Initiative and Innovation
  • Networking and Building Relationships
  • Service Orientation
  • Ethics: High ethical standards and a commitment to protecting the data of individuals and furthering MSF mandate.