Director of Fundraising, North America

Director of Fundraising, North America

Entity: Aga Khan University

Introduction to the Aga Khan University:

Chartered in 1983, Aga Khan University (AKU) is a private, autonomous, and self-governing international university with 13 teaching sites in 6 countries distributed across three continents. As an integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network, AKU provides higher education in several disciplines, carries out research pertinent to the countries in which it operates, and has campuses, programmes and/or teaching hospitals in Afghanistan, Kenya, Pakistan, Tanzania, Uganda, and the UK. As an international institution, AKU operates on the core principles of quality, relevance, impact, and access; it stands as a model of academic excellence and an agent of social change.

As an equal opportunity employer, AKU believes in promoting a diverse and inclusive culture and is committed to adopting appropriate standards for safeguarding and promoting a respectful relationship with and between its faculty, staff, trainees, volunteers, beneficiaries, and the wider communities it serves, including children and vulnerable adults. All employees, trainees, and partners are expected to uphold these principles.

Job Role / Responsibilities:

• providing strategic leadership for major and principal giving across North America.
• developing and executing an integrated fundraising strategy aligned with AKU’s institutional priorities.
• establishing measurable annual and long-term philanthropic targets.
• identifying, engaging, and stewarding high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and corporations.
• developing personalized donor engagement plans and strengthening long-term philanthropic relationships.
• collaborating with stewardship teams to communicate the impact of giving.
• securing strategic partnerships and philanthropic grants to support AKU’s academic, research, and community initiatives.
• representing AKU across relevant philanthropic networks and professional platforms.
• managing a targeted portfolio of major gift prospects with six- and seven-figure giving potential.
• overseeing all phases of the donor cycle, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• leading proposal development and supporting the creation of compelling cases for support.
• working closely with the Alumni Relations team to engage AKU graduates as advocates and donors.
• fostering philanthropic relationships within Pakistani and East African diaspora communities across North America.
• leading and participating in high-profile fundraising events, cultivation gatherings, and networking activities
• representing AKU at external forums to enhance the University’s philanthropic presence.
• preparing and monitoring budgets, revenue goals, and financial outcomes.
• tracking and reporting donor activity through CRM systems.
• ensuring adherence to ethical, legal, and professional fundraising standards.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Management, Fundraising, Business Administration, Communications, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• minimum 5 years of progressive experience in major and principal giving within higher education, healthcare, or the nonprofit sector.
• demonstrated success in securing significant gifts from individual and institutional donors.
• experience managing fundraising teams and working with senior leadership, advisory boards, and volunteers.
• strong understanding of US and Canadian philanthropic environments, laws, and practices.
• proven ability in donor cultivation, proposal development, and relationship management.
• excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.
• proficiency in CRM platforms such as Raiser’s Edge or equivalent.
• established philanthropic networks, especially within diaspora communities.

Personal Attributes:

• mission-driven, with a strong commitment to AKU’s vision and values.
• strategic and entrepreneurial, with the ability to design and implement innovative fundraising approaches.
• collaborative leader, skilled in cross-cultural communication and relationship-building.
• results-oriented, with strong discipline and follow-through.
• culturally fluent, with awareness of North American, South Asian, and East African philanthropic contexts.
• resilient and adaptable, comfortable working in dynamic environments.
• committed to upholding AKU’s values of Impact, Quality, Relevance, and Access (IQRA).

Comprehensive Reference Checks will be conducted.