Application Guide
How to Apply for Head of Fundraising
at Amref Health Africa
🏢 About Amref Health Africa
Amref Health Africa is Africa's leading health NGO, founded in Kenya in 1957 and now operating across 35 African countries with a focus on community-led, sustainable health solutions. What makes Amref unique is its deep-rooted African perspective—it's headquartered in Nairobi and 97% of its staff are African, ensuring culturally appropriate health interventions. Working here means contributing to tangible impact in maternal health, disease prevention, and health system strengthening while being part of an organization that champions African leadership in global health.
About This Role
As Head of Fundraising Germany, you'll build Amref's fundraising presence from the ground up in the German market, with full budget responsibility and leadership of a small team. This role is particularly impactful because you'll establish both mass fundraising programs and create a new major donor program specifically for the German context, directly enabling Amref's health programs across Africa. You'll be pioneering Amref's German fundraising strategy while working within an established global NGO with proven health outcomes.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve morning strategy sessions with your small team on mass fundraising campaigns for the German market, followed by researching and prospecting potential major donors in the DACH region. Afternoons could include developing proposals for the new major donor program, analyzing fundraising data with your budget responsibility hat on, and coordinating with Amref's global fundraising team in Nairobi to ensure alignment with organizational priorities.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Amref Health Africa Is Looking For
- Has 8+ years of NGO fundraising experience specifically in German-speaking markets (DACH region), preferably with exposure to health, social, or development sectors
- Can demonstrate concrete achievements in major donor cultivation—not just management—with specific examples of securing five- or six-figure gifts from German philanthropists
- Has experience building fundraising structures or programs from scratch, not just optimizing existing ones, ideally in an international NGO context
- Possesses native-level German and professional English with proven intercultural communication skills, particularly in bridging European donor perspectives with African implementation realities
📝 Tips for Applying to Amref Health Africa
Quantify your major donor achievements using specific Euro amounts and donor retention rates—German NGOs value concrete financial metrics
Highlight any experience with 'Breitenfundraising' (mass fundraising) in Germany, as this is explicitly mentioned alongside major donors in the job description
Demonstrate understanding of German fundraising regulations and donor culture, not just generic international fundraising principles
Show how you've built programs from scratch by describing your process from strategy to implementation, not just outcomes
Reference Amref's specific health focus areas (like maternal health or disease prevention) in your application to show you've researched their work
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your specific experience building fundraising programs in the German market, with examples of both strategy development and hands-on implementation', "How you've successfully cultivated major donors in Germany, including your approach to relationship management and stewardship", 'Your ability to lead a small team while also being hands-on with program development—Amref Germany is a relatively new office', "Why you're specifically interested in African health development and how your skills align with Amref's community-led approach"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Amref's current health programs in Africa—particularly those that might resonate with German donors (e.g., maternal health, clean water, disease prevention)
- → The German fundraising landscape for international health NGOs—who are the key players, what approaches work well, and regulatory considerations
- → Amref's organizational structure and how the German office fits within their global operations (headquartered in Nairobi with European offices)
- → Recent Amref publications or campaigns in German or about Germany to understand their current market presence
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using generic international fundraising examples without specific German market context—this role requires DACH region expertise
- Focusing only on major donors while neglecting 'Breitenfundraising' (mass fundraising), which is explicitly mentioned as equally important
- Showing lack of awareness about Amref's African-led identity by suggesting Eurocentric approaches without cultural adaptation
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Amref Health Africa!