Development Officer, Animal Welfare Fund

📋 Description

• • The Centre for Effective Altruism (CEA) is seeking a dynamic and strategic Development Officer to spearhead major donor fundraising for its impactful Animal Welfare Fund (AWF). This pivotal role is designed for an individual contributor who will build and execute the fundraising strategy, cultivate relationships with high-net-worth individuals, and establish the essential systems that underpin successful donor engagement. Reporting to the Chair of the Animal Welfare Fund, Karolina Sarek, you will collaborate closely with AWF's grantmakers, EA Funds Leadership, Marketing and Communications teams, and the future Partnerships team. This position offers a clear growth trajectory, with the potential to evolve into a management role as the development function expands.
• • The EA Animal Welfare Fund (AWF) is a critical component of Effective Altruism Funds (EA Funds), CEA's grantmaking arm. AWF is dedicated to significantly reducing animal suffering by rigorously identifying, funding, and catalyzing the most effective interventions for neglected animals globally. The fund supports individuals and programs with the greatest potential for lasting impact, addressing critical gaps in the animal advocacy ecosystem. This includes identifying and supporting work in regions and species where suffering is most acute yet remains neglected, funding promising early-stage projects, scaling proven initiatives that other funders may overlook, and pushing the boundaries of animal welfare by exploring emerging sources of suffering. AWF employs rigorous evaluation to ensure maximum impact per dollar and coordinates with other funders to strengthen the broader movement.
• • Since its inception in 2017, AWF has become a leading force in effective animal advocacy, distributing over $24.1 million across more than 362 grants. The fund experienced remarkable growth in 2025, raising $10 million – more than the previous two years combined. For 2026, the goal is to raise and regrant at least $20 million, with the potential to scale to $50 million or more as opportunities arise. This rapid growth trajectory means your work will directly influence the allocation of tens of millions of dollars towards the most impactful animal welfare interventions. AWF is recognized as a leader in the field, recommended by Giving What We Can and Coefficient Giving for its high potential for impact and focus on tangible outcomes.
• • As the AWF is at a crucial growth inflection point, this role is essential for building a fundraising operation that matches its ambitious goals. You will be the operational and strategic engine, tasked with building the fundraising infrastructure from the ground up. This involves translating strategy into actionable plans, ensuring every donor interaction is thoughtful, timely, and executed with excellence. You will operate at the nexus of high-stakes relationship management, meticulous project execution, and strategic thinking about mobilizing philanthropic capital for large-scale animal welfare improvements.
• • Key responsibilities include co-developing AWF's major donor fundraising strategy, encompassing donor segmentation, gift levels, acquisition, and long-term portfolio growth. You will establish and maintain testing frameworks to evaluate program effectiveness and integrate data-driven insights into strategic adjustments. A deep understanding of AWF's programs, grantmaking strategy, and theory of change will be crucial to ensure all fundraising activities align with the mission and measurable impact.
• • You will own the donor cultivation process, ensuring active and intentional engagement for every donor, with a clear understanding of their journey and next steps. Developing and maintaining individualized engagement plans, from discovery and cultivation through solicitation and stewardship, will be paramount. The goal is to provide donors with an outstanding experience, making them feel informed, appreciated, and genuinely connected to the impact of their contributions. This includes supporting the Chair with donor interaction preparation, such as briefings, discovery questions, and follow-up plans, and collaborating with the Director of Partnerships.
• • A significant aspect of this role involves building AWF's donor engagement infrastructure from the ground up, including its CRM (Bloomerang) and other systems to maintain active cultivation and prevent any details from being overlooked. You will be responsible for CRM ownership, ensuring data integrity, and tracking engagement. Building reporting infrastructure to monitor progress against fundraising goals and ensuring systems are in place for time-sensitive, high-value donor moments are also key duties.
• • You will lead the drafting of all donor-facing written communications, such as impact reports, funding proposals, and general updates, ensuring they clearly articulate AWF’s mission, strategy, and measurable impact in a compelling and audience-appropriate manner for effectiveness-driven donors.
• • Furthermore, you will support the development and execution of specific fundraising initiatives, including thesis-driven funds, from initial concept to donor engagement and administration. Identifying and developing new fundraising approaches aligned with AWF's philanthropic operating model will also be part of your remit. Translating fundraising strategy into concrete plans, timelines, and workstreams, overseeing day-to-day operations, and managing multiple fundraising initiatives simultaneously are essential project management functions. You will proactively flag any necessary shifts in priorities or timelines and manage stakeholders effectively without requiring constant oversight.
• • Depending on your background and interests, there is a potential future opportunity to directly manage a portfolio of donor relationships, encompassing cultivation, solicitation, and ongoing stewardship. This role requires a genuine excitement for the potential of strategic philanthropy to reduce animal suffering at scale, coupled with clear, rigorous thinking, strong analytical and decision-making skills, and the ability to bring structure to ambiguous situations. Thriving in a fast-paced, adaptable environment and taking initiative are key attributes for success.