Director of Development

Director of Development

Okoa Refuge | Remote (Southeast U.S.) | Full-Time | Reports to: Stateside Director

Compensation: $90,000-$115,000 (commensurate with experience) + benefits stipend

About Okoa Refuge

Okoa Refuge is a Christ-centered ministry transforming lives and communities across East Africa. Founded in 2008 to care for vulnerable children in Uganda, Okoa now partners with local churches and indigenous leaders across East Africa to strengthen families, protect the vulnerable, provide healthcare, pursue justice, develop communities, plant churches, make disciples, and share the Gospel.

Our mission: In partnership with the local Church, Okoa Refuge exists to glorify Christ through stabilizing the family unit and transforming entire communities.

The Opportunity

Okoa Refuge is entering an exciting season of growth and is seeking a Director of Development to build new relationships and generate new fundraising revenue through major donors, churches, foundations, and Christian businesses.

This is a front-line fundraising role. You'll cultivate relationships, communicate Okoa's mission and impact and invite partners to invest in the work. We're looking for someone who loves Jesus and people, builds trust naturally, casts a compelling vision, and turns new relationships into meaningful, long-term financial partnerships.

What You'll Do

Develop new partnerships

• Build relationships with major donors and high-capacity prospects
• Partner with pastors, church leaders, missions leaders, and congregations
• Cultivate relationships with private, family, community, and faith-based foundations
• Engage Christian business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, and companies
• Proactively identify and open doors to partnerships that generate sustainable new revenue

Fundraise and generate new revenue

• Take direct responsibility for measurable new fundraising revenue
• Conduct approximately 150 meaningful meetings annually with high-capacity prospects and partners
• Clearly communicate Okoa's mission, impact, and funding opportunities
• Confidently make direct financial asks and secure meaningful gifts and commitments
• Manage a disciplined pipeline with clear next steps, projected gifts, timelines, and accurate CRM activity

Represent Okoa Refuge and build lasting relationships

• Represent Okoa at donor meetings, churches, businesses, conferences, and ministry events
• Build authentic, long-term relationships rather than transactional ones
• Collaborate with the Founder & CEO, Stateside Director, Board, and development team
• Work with the Development Operations Manager to transition new partners into excellent long-term stewardship
• Travel as needed to achieve relationship-building and fundraising goals

What Success Looks Like

• Approximately 150 meaningful donor and partner meetings per year
• A growing, qualified pipeline of major-donor, church, foundation, and Christian business relationships
• Consistent direct asks and meaningful commitments secured
• A growing portfolio of new partners producing significant year-over-year new revenue
• Strong follow-through, CRM discipline, and collaboration

Who You Are

• A mature, active Christian who strongly aligns with Okoa's mission and biblical values
• Passionate about serving vulnerable people and advancing the Gospel
• Experienced in building relationships and generating revenue
• Comfortable engaging high-capacity individuals and asking for significant commitments
• An effective communicator with pastors, business leaders, executives, foundation leaders, and major donors
• A compelling storyteller who inspires others to join the mission
• Relational, disciplined, self-motivated, organized, accountable, humble, and coachable
• Able to work independently in a remote environment while collaborating closely with a team
• Based in the Southeast U.S., with willingness and ability to travel throughout the region and beyond, including one annual trip to Okoa Refuge in Africa.
• Reliable transportation in order to travel to and from meetings, local churches, and community locations as required.

Preferred Experience

Major-gift fundraising, nonprofit development, church or ministry partnerships, foundation development, Christian ministry leadership, business development, relationship-based sales, corporate partnerships, or high-net-worth relationship development. A minimum of 5 years of direct fundraising experience required if no degree, minimum 3 years of experience with B.S. or higher.

An exceptional relationship-builder who can build trust, make meaningful asks, and generate significant revenue may be considered even without a traditional nonprofit fundraising background.

Character Matters

At Okoa Refuge, who you are matters as much as what you've accomplished. We're looking for someone humble, hungry, relational, trustworthy, accountable, and passionate about Jesus Christ, someone who serves others well, celebrates the team's success, and sees fundraising as a way to connect people with a mission that changes lives.

Why Okoa?

Every new partnership helps strengthen families, protect vulnerable people, equip local leaders, transform communities, and share the Gospel. If you're passionate about Jesus, love building relationships, aren't afraid to make the ask, and want your work to have an eternal impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Submit a résumé and brief cover letter. Please include:

• Why you’re interested in Okoa Refuge and its Christian mission.
• Your experience cultivating major donors and securing significant gifts.
• Where you are based and willingness to meet the travel requirements.