About us:
Kiva is a global nonprofit, founded in 2005, with a mission to expand financial access and help underserved communities thrive. Kiva unlocks capital for borrowers through crowdfunded loans supported by individuals around the world. Lenders on Kiva can start with as little as $25 to support causes that matter most to them, whether that’s gender equity and support for women, refugees, climate change, small businesses, agriculture, and more. Since our founding, over two million people have invested over $2 billion in real dreams and real opportunity, spanning more than 100 countries and over 5 million borrowers
As we work toward our mission, Kiva invests in building and retaining a global team of talent to add to our values-driven and digital-first culture. Our organization is supported by over 700 volunteers and 130+ full time employees dispersed around the world, as well as within team hubs located in San Francisco, Nairobi, Bogota, and Bangkok. Kiva’s team is growing as we pursue exciting new opportunities to scale our impact and create a financially inclusive world.
Kiva's values:
Impact first - This is why we exist. This is the drumbeat we march to. Every day.
Extreme ownership - Own it; you, your relationships, your impact. Insist that others support you and hold you accountable.
Be curious and bold - Never stop learning. Question assumptions. Take Risks and dream big.
Inclusion. Equity. Diversity. - Without reservation and without caveat. In our hiring, in our workplace and in our impact in the world.
Honor and integrity - Do the most right thing in the most right way. Cherish diversity and respect each other.
Love and kindness always - Say what you mean. Mean what you say. And don't say it mean. Clarity. Courage. Kindness.
Role overview:
The Major Giving Officer plays a pivotal role in advancing Kiva’s mission by cultivating and securing major gifts from individual donors, family foundations, and philanthropic advisors. Managing a portfolio of 100+ high-value donors and prospects, this role will drive at least $2 million annually in unrestricted donations and new deposits.
The ideal candidate combines strategic relationship management with strong communication skills and a deep passion for financial inclusion. They are energized by connecting donor interests to Kiva’s global impact, thrive in a collaborative and data-driven environment, and bring creativity to every stage of donor engagement—from cultivation to stewardship.
At this time, we can only consider applicants with authorization to work in the United States on a permanent, full-time basis; unfortunately we cannot provide visa sponsorship.
Key responsibilities include:
Donor Relationship Management
- Manage a portfolio of 100+ major donor and foundation relationships, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts to achieve an annual fundraising goal of $2M.
- Build and execute customized engagement strategies for donors giving $50K+, including personalized outreach, proposals, and impact reporting.
- Develop and facilitate group engagement experiences—such as virtual and in-person events, site visits, and membership groups—to strengthen donor relationships and community.
- Support Kiva leadership in cultivating and soliciting high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) through research, briefing materials, and strategic outreach planning.
- Maintain accurate, up-to-date relationship records across Salesforce, Google Drive, and Box.
Fundraising Strategy & Campaign Execution
- Collaborate with the Finance team to ensure timely and accurate recording, acknowledgment, and reporting of gifts.
- Support organization-wide fundraising campaigns (e.g., end-of-year, Giving Tuesday) to ensure consistent messaging and alignment across donor audiences.
- Develop and execute strategies to engage Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs), philanthropic advisors, and other intermediaries to unlock new sources of capital.
- Identify and pursue thought leadership opportunities (e.g., articles, conference presentations, sponsored content) to strengthen Kiva’s brand among HNWIs and philanthropic networks.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Marketing, Product, and Engineering to optimize donor journeys, improve engagement, and increase conversion and gift upgrades.
- Collaborate with the Impact Investments and Communications teams to source impact data and borrower stories for proposals, reports, and donor-facing content.
- Work with the Director of Impact Philanthropy to plan and execute visibility opportunities for Kiva leadership (e.g., conference presentations, panels, sponsorships, and webinars).
- Make recommendations to improve online donor experiences, including website UX, communications, and tailored offerings (e.g., Managed Lending).
Tools & Data Management
- Use Salesforce, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Asana, and Looker to manage donor pipelines, track progress, and report on key metrics.
- Contribute insights to improve data accuracy, reporting systems, and overall fundraising effectiveness.
Preferred qualifications:
- 6–8 years of experience in major gifts fundraising or philanthropic partnerships, ideally in a global nonprofit or social enterprise setting.
- Proven success managing a major donor portfolio and closing five- and six-figure gifts.
- Strong strategic thinking, communication, and relationship management skills.
- Ability to work independently in a remote, fast-paced environment, with strong collaboration skills across global teams.
- Comfort using Salesforce, Asana, Looker, and Marketing Cloud, or a demonstrated ability to learn new tools quickly.
- Willingness to travel up to 20% for donor meetings, events, and site visits.
- Passion for Kiva’s mission to expand financial access and empower underserved entrepreneurs around the world.
What we offer:
- An opportunity to improve real lives, solve hard problems, and change the world
- Friendly, supportive, and adventurous environment with a team of engaged colleagues
- A comprehensive, industry-leading benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance, parental leave, professional development, 401k matching, and unlimited PTO. Some of these benefits have eligibility requirements. Many of these benefits are subsidized or fully paid for by Kiva.
- Opportunities to connect with and learn from colleagues and partners around the world
- Salary range: $83K - $115K; a final offer will be dependent upon a candidate’s location, skills, and experience.
- Currently, we are not open to working from home employees residing in the following states: AL, AK, DE, HI, IN, KY, MS, MO, NE, NM, ND, OK, RI, SC, SD, VT, WV, WI, and WY
A diverse and inclusive workplace where we learn from each other is an integral part of Kiva's culture. We actively welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. We are an equal opportunity employer and a great place to work. Join us and help us achieve our mission!
We will only accept applications directly from candidates. Kiva will not be responsible for any recruiting agency fees, absent a formal agreement.
