Director, Philanthropy & Development

About Kobo and KoboToolbox

Kobo is the international nonprofit organization behind KoboToolbox, the world’s most popular data collection tool for challenging settings. Our mission is to provide highly usable tools for creating data-driven social impact.

Previously a project at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Kobo is now an independent nonprofit organization registered in Cambridge, MA, United States with a dynamic global team working remotely from countries around the world. KoboToolbox is used by more than 32,000 non-governmental and international organizations in 240 countries and territories worldwide. Our tools are used by organizations working in humanitarian action, global development, environmental protection, peacebuilding, human rights, and many other social impact initiatives. KoboToolbox is publicly available as open source software, and we provide the KoboToolbox platform for free to nonprofit organizations, giving countless projects around the world access to high quality data.

Kobo is in its second year of a 5-year strategic plan, and we are focused on building and implementing new features and programs to support KoboToolbox users, expand training for users globally, and position Kobo as the go-to data research tool for industries including and beyond our current user base. Without Kobo, thousands of organizations would not be able to collect and assess their impact and effectiveness, or effectively gather information directly from the communities they serve. 

Position Overview

Kobo is seeking a full-time professional fundraiser to join our global team. We are seeking a dedicated and passionate person to help Kobo expand its access to resources and support its mission of providing powerful and accessible data collection tools to organizations around the world. This is a unique and exciting opportunity for an entrepreneurial fundraiser who can work independently towards goals and objectives, and who thrives in a global team environment. 

In this role, you would be responsible for supporting and executing a multi-faceted fundraising program to build to an annual private sector-based revenue target of $5 million.

Working in collaboration with the Chief Operating and Innovation Officer, you will both lead and support efforts to generate funding for KoboToolbox through foundation and other grants, corporate partnerships and sponsorships, and individual donations. This is not a solo endeavor, you will also have external strategic partners to support your strategy development and execution, as well as provide support for communications and marketing.

This will be a fully remote position, based in the United States.  

Key Responsibilities

• Fundraising Strategy: execute on a comprehensive fundraising strategy, with a focus on securing funding from grants, corporate sponsors, and individual donors. 
• Partnerships: Build, cultivate and maintain relationships with funding partners, including corporations, foundations and family offices.
• Donor Stewardship: Build and maintain strong relationships with individual donors, ensuring regular communication and recognition for their contributions.
• Campaign Management: Organize online fundraising campaigns and initiatives to raise awareness and funds for Kobo’s mission and projects.
• Grant Writing: Identify potential grant opportunities and work with colleagues to craft compelling proposals to secure funding.
• Impact Reporting: Regularly report to donors and stakeholders on the impact of their contributions, highlighting the outcomes and success stories made possible by their support.
• Networking & Outreach: Represent KoBoToolbox at conferences, workshops, and other relevant events to build awareness and attract new sources of funding.
• Data Management. Tracking engagements and outreach in CRM system (Hubspot)

Current travel requirements: we currently anticipate travel requirements at 10%, with the possibility of growth over the years as the donor base and level of engagement grows.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience: 8+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a proven track record of securing individual major gifts ($10,000+), family foundation grants, foundation grants and corporate philanthropic partnerships.
• Knowledge: Passion for Kobo’s mission and an understanding of the broader humanitarian, development, and data collection landscape.
• Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft audience-appropriate compelling outreach and engagement with donors and partners. Excellent relationship-building and networking abilities.
• Self-Starter: Ability to work independently and take initiative in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Tools: Proficient in using fundraising software and CRM systems.
• Passion for Social Impact: A deep commitment to Kobo’s mission and a desire to make a meaningful difference around the world.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with the technology sector.
• Knowledge of the humanitarian and international development sectors, data collection methods, and digital tools in low-resource settings.
• Multilingual skills, especially in French, Spanish, or Arabic, are a plus.

• Genuine Impact: Contribute directly to projects that affect millions globally, working with international humanitarian organizations and community-based partners in 200 countries.

• Meaningful Work Environment: Join a team that tackles global challenges through innovative data collection tools that create lasting change.
• Diverse Team: Be part of a globally diverse, inclusive team that values equity and inclusion across all spectrums.
• Flexible Work Culture: Enjoy mutual flexibility, with a culture prioritizing work-life balance.
• Professional Development: Access generous professional development opportunities.

• Health & Wellness: 5 medical insurance options, dental, and vision (up to 80% premium covered), plus life insurance.
• Financial Security: 401(k) retirement plan with 100% match up to 2%.
• Work-Life Balance: 20 days paid time off, 10 floating holidays, unlimited sick days, and paid parental leave.
• Compensation: Based on location and prior experience, salary range for this role is $120,000-150,000