About the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative:

The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative (AHI) is a foundation that addresses on-the-ground humanitarian challenges around the world, focusing on assisting the most destitute. Aurora’s flagship program, the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, is one of the world’s fastest-growing and most innovative humanitarian awards, granting $1 million annually to an individual whose actions have had an exceptional impact on preserving human life and advancing humanitarian causes. To date, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative has benefited over 3.2 million people through 427 projects in 56 countries.

The Aurora Prize Selection Committee includes renowned human rights and humanitarian leaders such as Mary Robinson, Ernesto Zedillo, Dame Louise Richardson, Hamdi Ulukaya, Leymah Gbowee, Lord Ara Darzi, Paul Polman, John Prendergast, Dele Olojede, and George Clooney.

In addition to the Prize, Aurora organizes and promotes the Aurora Dialogues, a platform for the world’s leading humanitarians, academics, philanthropists, business leaders, and civil society members to engage in insightful discussions on some of today’s most pressing humanitarian challenges.

It is an exciting time to join Aurora. In 2025, Aurora marks its 10th Anniversary with a series of events co-chaired by Noubar Afeyan, Eric Esrailian, Alice Greenwald, and Dame Louise Richardson that will serve as a powerful platform to elevate and expand Aurora’s global humanitarian efforts. This milestone year will feature high-profile gatherings, including the Human Rights and Humanitarian Forum in Los Angeles on May 6–7 and the Aurora Prize Ceremony on Ellis Island on November 6.

Position Summary:

The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative seeks a dynamic and innovative Director of Development (DoD) with experience in fundraising and organizational planning to further Aurora’s impact globally. This role reports to the CEO, Armine Afeyan, who is charting an ambitious course of growth that will significantly increase action-based philanthropy focused on tangible results. As a member of Aurora’s leadership team, the DoD will serve as a thought partner to the CEO and contribute to the organization's overall strategy and growth. This will include designing and executing annual scalable long-term fundraising plans with a focus on HNWI giving, as well as growing Aurora’s Board giving, and cultivating corporate support to realize the full philanthropic potential of the organization.

As a seasoned major and principal gifts fundraiser, the DoD will inspire, cultivate, solicit and steward five- to seven figure gifts in support of the annual Prize,, programming and 10th anniversary vision. They will have eager fundraising partners in Aurora’s executive team, founders, Prize Selection Committee, and Board, and should guide and coach the CEO and Board members on continually refining the case for support to key constituents. A Development team of currently three- reports to the DoD and includes a database and prospect research manager, a development coordinator and a development officer.

The Responsibilities:

• Manage Aurora’s philanthropic relationships with high-net-worth individual donors and family foundations, stewarding them through the full life cycle of their philanthropic engagements with Aurora.
• Lead all Aurora’s Board member philanthropic relationships including executing a high-impact Board giving strategy, managing fundraising volunteers, executing 1:1 Board member stewardship plans, presenting updates to the Board on fundraising.
• Close gifts through direct solicitation and regularly drive solicitation strategy and preparation for CEO, Founder and Chairman, and select Board members to close gifts.
• Identify, conceptualize, and execute strategic donor engagement events that are right-sized and best-timed to leverage Aurora’s extraordinary network of humanitarian, political and corporate leaders and high-profile supporters (including small dinners, programmatic event add-ons, impact trips, etc.).
• Develop an ideal prospecting plan to take advantage of programmatic innovations in Aurora’s 10th anniversary and beyond; regularly assess pipeline movement to reach long-term fundraising goals.
• Identify, reprioritize, and execute the most timely and impactful strategies for securing more support from all types of donors; monitor and report on progress towards those goals and plans.
• Lead the end-to-end planning & execution of Aurora’s philanthropic revenue generation activities and operations, paying attention to outstanding execution to constantly position and fully prepare the Executive Director, Founder & Chairman, and others for solicitation success.
• Manage, design and present accurate and clear budgets, revenue trackers, pipeline reports.
• Together with the CFOO, ensure Aurora has the policies and procedures in place to protect donor information and meet donor requirements and compliance.
• Lead the Development team to operate with tried-and-true fundraising best practices and to achieve their highest potential.

The Person:

This role is perfect for someone who has 15 years of nonprofit fundraising experience in diverse cultural contexts or has 15 years experience in a combination of fundraising and ultra high net worth wealth management roles, loves frontline fundraising and is:

• A pragmatic optimist who enjoys translating big ideas into actionable plans and results.
• Strategic, curious, and accountable.
• An expert in closing six- and seven-figure philanthropic gifts from individuals, family foundations, and corporate supporters; attracting and retaining new funding sources in varying economic climates.
• Known for their welcoming demeanor to donors, both large and small, and has a strong executive presence.
• A solutions-focused thinker with the ability to work both individually and as a member of a collaborative team.
• Able to align interests through cooperation and collaboration with other groups and cross-functional teams, even where no direct reporting relationship exists.
• An excellent people manager; excels at inspiring their team and leading by example.
• Willing to travel to Washington D.C. monthly to start, and within the US and Europe for donor cultivation and solicitation, team and leadership meetings and events at least once every two months.

What AHI Can Offer You:

• A nimble and creative leadership team that enjoys fundraising.
• A collaborative environment where you can take ownership and drive valuable projects.
• A robust global prospect and donor pipeline and supportive board.
• The opportunity to make a global impact through meaningful humanitarian initiatives.

Location:

United States, East Coast with preference for Washington D.C., New York and Boston.

Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is an Equal Opportunity Employer:

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.