Barbara Gerold-Wolke

Fundraising & Marketing I Organisational & Leadership Development

Barbara Gerold-Wolke has been International Fundraising Coordinator at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) since April 2023. In this position, she is responsible for the strategic coordination of fundraising in 41 countries to enable emergency medical aid worldwide. She is also Co-Chair of the International Fundraising Leadership Forum (IFLF), a platform for leaders of international organizations dedicated to international fundraising and conducting joint benchmarking studies to gain innovative approaches and insights into donor behaviours.
Barbara's international career began at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva after studying Cultural Studies and European Studies and a scholarship in the Carlo Schmid Program of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Her professional career took her to other international organizations such as the UN World Food Programme in various locations, as well as Transparency International, before she joined MSF in Germany as Head of Fundraising in 2017.
She combines her expertise in fundraising with her passion for organizational development, intersectional feminist leadership, and is committed to ensuring that fundraising meets the changing needs of donors. As a mentor, she also supports young professionals to pass on her experience. She emphasizes that donors' motivations and priorities are changing and that organizations need to respond appropriately and comprehensively. She sees the need to communicate in a contemporary way and to continuously improve to gain and retain the trust of donors. In a rapidly evolving world, it is crucial to communicate relevant and coherent messages and positions.