Development Associate – Institutional Partnerships (KickStart International)|Salary $50k-$60k
KickStart International is hiring a Development Associate – Institutional Partnerships to support its global fundraising and partnership development efforts. The role is full-time, remote (United States), with a requirement that candidates reside in an Eastern Time Zone state.
About KickStart International
KickStart International is a nonprofit organization focused on reducing poverty and improving livelihoods across sub-Saharan Africa. The organization develops and promotes climate-smart irrigation technologies that enable smallholder farmers to increase agricultural productivity, build resilience to climate change, and generate sustainable income.
Its work sits at the intersection of:
- Agriculture and food security
- Climate change adaptation
- Economic development
- Poverty reduction
By supporting farmers with affordable irrigation solutions, KickStart helps communities transition from subsistence farming to more stable and profitable agricultural systems.
Role Overview
The Development Associate – Institutional Partnerships will support the organization’s fundraising and donor engagement strategy, working closely with the Director of Institutional Partnerships.
The role focuses on identifying funding opportunities, developing proposals, managing donor communications, and supporting the full lifecycle of institutional partnerships.
This position sits at the intersection of research, writing, relationship management, and strategic fundraising, requiring both analytical and communication skills.
Key Responsibilities
The Development Associate will contribute to institutional fundraising and partnership development across multiple functions.
1. Donor Research and Pipeline Development
- Conduct research to identify foundations, bilateral, and multilateral funding opportunities
- Analyze donor priorities and alignment with organizational strategy
- Maintain and update donor pipelines and prospect databases
- Support prioritization of outreach opportunities
2. Proposal and Content Development
- Assist in writing and developing high-quality grant proposals and concept notes
- Prepare donor presentations, pitch materials, and briefing documents
- Translate technical program information into clear, persuasive narratives
- Collaborate with program teams to gather impact data and field insights
3. Donor Communications and Relationship Management
- Draft donor reports, updates, and follow-up materials
- Support ongoing communication with institutional partners
- Help maintain strong relationships across the donor portfolio
- Ensure timely and accurate reporting to funders
4. Internal Coordination and Strategy Support
- Work across internal teams including country programs, M&E, and product development
- Contribute to institutional fundraising strategy discussions
- Support coordination of donor engagement activities and pipeline management
- Assist in aligning fundraising efforts with organizational priorities
Candidate Profile
KickStart is seeking a proactive and detail-oriented professional with strong writing and research skills and an interest in international development.
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
- 1–2 years of experience in fundraising, development, or international work
- Strong writing skills, especially for grant proposals and reports
- Excellent research and analytical abilities
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines
- Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills
- Interest in agriculture, climate adaptation, or global development
Preferred qualifications:
- Familiarity with international donor systems (foundations, bilateral, multilateral agencies)
- Experience using CRM or donor management systems
- Experience with budget development and financial reporting for grants
- Prior exposure to sub-Saharan Africa or agricultural development contexts
- Strong interest in climate resilience and systems-level impact
Work Environment and Travel
This is a fully remote position, but candidates must be based in a U.S. Eastern Time Zone state to support coordination across global teams.
Some travel may be required, including:
- Onboarding or training in New York City
- Annual team meetings in New York
- Potential travel to Kenya (headquarters) or field sites for coordination and learning
- Additional travel as needed for donor engagement
The role requires flexibility to work across time zones and collaborate with international teams.
Compensation and Benefits
KickStart offers a competitive compensation package, including:
- Annual salary: $50,000 – $60,000 (based on experience)
- Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, pharmacy coverage)
- Opportunity for international exposure and field engagement
- Participation in global development and climate resilience initiatives
Application Process
Applicants must submit:
- A current resume
- A cover letter describing relevant experience and interest in the role
Start date: 1 June 2026
Application deadline: 22 May 2026
Salary: USD $50,000 – $60,000 per year (commensurate with experience)
Location: Remote (U.S., Eastern Time Zone required)
APPLY: info@kickstart.org
Final Summary
This role is suited for an early-career development professional who wants to build experience in institutional fundraising, donor engagement, and international development strategy. The position offers exposure to global climate and agricultural programming while contributing directly to improving livelihoods for smallholder farmers across Africa.
The Development Associate will play a key role in strengthening partnerships that support scalable irrigation solutions, helping advance KickStart’s mission of reducing poverty and promoting climate resilience through innovation in agriculture.
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Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the hiring organization. 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.
