Community Partnerships & Fundraising Officer – New York / New Jersey

Sudanese American Physicians Association•New York, NY

About The Position

The Community Partnerships & Fundraising Officer builds and leads SAPA’s community fundraising program in the New York and New Jersey market. The role develops relationships with mosques, Islamic centres, schools, student associations, professional and community organizations, and local businesses; organizes fundraising events and appeals; and ensures donors and partners are recorded and followed up. The work is primarily in person across community settings and is part of SAPA’s Global Communications & Fundraising team. The Officer plans and delivers a major annual Ramadan iftar, organizes appeals and collections at institutions throughout Ramadan, and delivers three to five additional in-person events each year. They manage event budgets, venues, volunteers, programming, event materials, and follow-up, coordinating with SAPA’s communications, donor relations, finance, and major gifts teams. The position also builds a local network of speakers and influencers who can represent SAPA and communicate its humanitarian work. Success includes establishing a regular event calendar and an active partner, donor, volunteer, speaker, and influencer base. The role is full-time and ongoing, with flexible hours and local travel covered. Evening and weekend work is expected, particularly during Ramadan.

Requirements

Standing and established relationships in the Muslim community of the New York and New Jersey area, including the ability to identify local imams, board members, and organizers who will take their call.
At least two years of fundraising, community organizing, or event experience, with results that can be described in numbers.
Ability to manage an event end to end, including budget, venue, volunteers, program, and follow-up.
Comfort asking for money in person and on stage.
Reliable record-keeping and willingness to learn and use SAPA’s Salesforce system weekly.
Residence in the New York or New Jersey metro area.
Authorization to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, or another language widely used in the area’s Muslim communities.
Experience raising funds for humanitarian or medical causes and ability to explain a crisis an audience may know little about.
Experience with Ramadan fundraising.
Public speaking experience in mosques or community settings.

Responsibilities

Map mosques, Islamic centres, schools, student associations, professional associations, community organizations, cultural groups, and local businesses in the New York and New Jersey market.
Build relationships with imams, boards, and community leaders and secure agreements to host SAPA appeals, collections, and events.
Develop partnerships and community events beyond the mosque network, and share field updates with partners between events.
Host one major SAPA iftar in the market each Ramadan, including a SAPA speaker, field footage, and a live appeal.
Coordinate Ramadan appeals and collections, including pledge nights, Taraweeh appeals, Laylat al-Qadr, and Eid collections.
Arrange SAPA speakers at mosques during the last ten nights of Ramadan and coordinate on-site collections and follow-up.
Deliver three to five in-person events annually outside Ramadan, such as community dinners, fundraisers, walks, sports events, and student-led campaigns.
Manage each event’s budget, venue, volunteers, program, and run-of-show, with design and promotion support from SAPA’s communications team.
Manage SAPA’s in-person presentation in the market, including banners, tables, collateral, speaker slides, and event appearance in accordance with SAPA’s branding guidelines.
Build and brief a network of local speakers, imams, and community figures who can speak and fundraise for SAPA.
Place SAPA physicians, board members, and returning field staff in khutbahs, panels, and community gatherings, ensuring each appearance includes a way to donate and stay in touch.
Identify and nominate local influencers to visit SAPA projects; SAPA organizes the visits.
Record donors, pledges, and partners in Salesforce after events in coordination with Donor Relations.
Refer donors with higher-level giving potential to SAPA’s major gifts lead with a written introduction.
Report monthly with Finance on activity, funds raised, partners added, and upcoming plans.
Join weekly team calls and coordinate with communications staff and the agency.
Define local visibility-material needs, brief the communications team, and provide feedback on messaging, community trends, and what works in the market.
Request speakers, field footage, project updates, and briefing packs for events and community contacts.