KickStart International Hiring Development Manager – Individual Giving | Remote USA Role Paying Up to $70,000

Fundraising professionals seeking a meaningful career in international development have an exciting opportunity to join KickStart International as a Development Manager – Individual Giving. This fully remote position offers a competitive salary of $60,000–$70,000 per year and the chance to help expand life-changing agricultural solutions for smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa.

Applications are open until June 30, 2026, making this an ideal opportunity for experienced nonprofit fundraising professionals looking to combine donor engagement expertise with global impact.

About KickStart International

KickStart International is an award-winning nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to helping millions of smallholder farmers move out of poverty through sustainable agriculture. Since its founding, the organization has helped more than 1.6 million people improve their livelihoods by providing affordable irrigation technologies and agricultural training.

Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, KickStart operates across 17 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, empowering farmers to grow high-value crops year-round, increase household income, strengthen food security, and adapt to climate change.

Through innovation and community-centered development, KickStart continues to create long-term economic opportunities for vulnerable farming communities.

About the Development Manager Role

The Development Manager – Individual Giving will play a central role in advancing KickStart’s fundraising strategy by building strong relationships with current and prospective donors.

Reporting directly to the Chief of Staff, the successful candidate will collaborate closely with organizational leadership and development colleagues to expand individual giving programs, strengthen donor stewardship, and increase philanthropic support for KickStart’s mission.

This position is fully remote and open to candidates located anywhere in the United States with legal authorization to work in the country.

Key Responsibilities

The Development Manager will oversee several critical fundraising activities that contribute to the organization’s long-term growth.

Donor Research and Cultivation

The role includes:

• Conducting detailed prospect research.
• Identifying potential major and mid-level donors.
• Building donor profiles and engagement strategies.
• Supporting donor cultivation efforts.
• Preparing briefing materials for donor meetings.

The successful candidate will help leadership strengthen relationships with supporters who share a passion for sustainable development and poverty reduction.

Managing the Evergreen Circle Program

A key responsibility of the role involves managing and growing KickStart’s recurring donor program, known as the Evergreen Circle.

Responsibilities include:

• Recruiting new recurring donors.
• Retaining existing supporters.
• Developing donor communication strategies.
• Creating engagement campaigns.
• Enhancing donor stewardship experiences.

The goal is to build a reliable and growing base of supporters committed to long-term impact.

Donor Communications and Stewardship

The Development Manager will help ensure donors feel informed, valued, and connected to the mission.

Responsibilities include:

• Writing personalized donor communications.
• Crafting compelling fundraising messages.
• Coordinating donor meetings and outreach.
• Ensuring timely acknowledgment of gifts.
• Supporting donor recognition initiatives.

Strong storytelling and communication skills will be essential for success in this area.

Event Planning and Donor Engagement

The position also supports donor engagement activities and fundraising events.

These may include:

• House parties.
• Virtual donor gatherings.
• Cultivation events.
• Donor trips and field visits.
• Special fundraising campaigns.

The Development Manager will work closely with leadership to design experiences that inspire deeper donor commitment.

Database Management and Reporting

Accurate donor data is critical to successful fundraising operations.

The successful candidate will:

• Maintain donor records in Bloomerang.
• Generate fundraising reports.
• Track donor engagement metrics.
• Monitor fundraising performance.
• Support strategic planning through data analysis.

Experience working with CRM systems and donor databases is highly valued.

Required Qualifications

KickStart International is seeking candidates with a strong background in nonprofit fundraising and donor relations.

Ideal candidates should possess:

• Three to five years of nonprofit fundraising experience.
• Proven success in donor cultivation and stewardship.
• Experience conducting prospect research.
• Strong written communication skills.
• Knowledge of donor management systems such as Bloomerang.
• Excellent organizational and project management abilities.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to leverage technology and AI tools to improve fundraising effectiveness.
• Passion for international development and poverty alleviation.

A bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience is required.

Salary and Benefits

This opportunity offers a competitive compensation package designed to attract talented fundraising professionals.

Salary

• Annual salary range: $60,000–$70,000
• Based on qualifications and experience

Benefits

Employees receive:

• Comprehensive medical insurance.
• Dental coverage.
• Pharmacy benefits.
• Remote work flexibility.
• Professional growth opportunities.
• Mission-driven work environment.

Travel Opportunities

While the role is remote, occasional travel may be required.

Potential travel opportunities include:

• Onboarding visits to San Francisco.
• Annual team meetings in New York City.
• Visits to KickStart headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
• Donor engagement events across the United States.

These experiences provide valuable opportunities to connect directly with colleagues, donors, and program impact.

Why Join KickStart International?

This role offers more than a fundraising career—it provides the opportunity to help transform lives across Africa.

By supporting donor engagement and philanthropy, the Development Manager contributes directly to programs that increase farmer incomes, improve food security, and build climate resilience in vulnerable communities.

Professionals seeking meaningful work with measurable global impact will find a rewarding opportunity within KickStart’s growing team.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit:

• A current resume.
• A tailored cover letter highlighting relevant experience and interest in the role.

Applications should be emailed to:

info@kickstart.org

Candidates should apply before June 30, 2026 for full consideration.

Final Thoughts

The Development Manager – Individual Giving position at KickStart International is an exceptional opportunity for fundraising professionals who want to use their skills to create lasting change. With competitive compensation, remote flexibility, international exposure, and a powerful mission, this role offers both professional advancement and meaningful impact.

If you are passionate about philanthropy, international development, and helping communities overcome poverty through sustainable agriculture, this could be the perfect next step in your career.

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Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of  emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.