The University of the Free State (UFS) has appointed David Marupen as Head: Fundraising and Alumni Relations, effective 1 January 2026. He brings to the university more than 25 years of experience in institutional advancement, global fundraising, and strategic partnership development across the higher education and non-profit sectors. 

Marupen is widely recognised as a strategic and collaborative advancement leader, with a proven track record of building effective partnerships across universities, industry, civil society, and alumni communities. His work has consistently focused on strengthening relationships that support teaching, research, and student development, while fostering a shared culture of engagement and philanthropy within institutions. 

Commenting on his appointment, Marupen said he was enthusiastic about joining the university at a pivotal time. “I am thrilled about my appointment as Head of Fundraising and Alumni Relations at the University of the Free State. I am eager to leverage my experience to foster meaningful partnerships, drive innovative fundraising strategies, and nurture our alumni community in support of UFS’s mission and growth. I look forward to collaborating with the UFS team,” he said. 

He joins UFS from Stellenbosch University, where he has served since 2023 as Director: Major Gifts and Global Fundraising in the Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) Division. Over the course of his career, Marupen has held several senior advancement and partnership roles across South African universities and within the non-profit sector. He served as Executive Director of the Institutional Advancement Office at the former Technikon Pretoria (now Tshwane University of Technology), and later as Chief Executive Officer of the University of Fort Hare Foundation. During his tenure at Fort Hare, he also contributed to governance and cultural development initiatives linked to the Miriam Makeba Performing Arts Centre and the Hunterstoun Academic Retreat Centre. 

Marupen’s subsequent roles at the University of Johannesburg and as Deputy Director of the Resource Mobilisation Centre at the University of Limpopo further strengthened his experience in supporting institutional priorities through strategic partnerships and donor engagement. In parallel, he has held leadership positions in the non-profit sector, including at the New Lovelife Trust, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority Consumer Education Foundation, and Johannesburg Child Welfare. He currently serves on the board of the Morongwa Foundation, which supports youth development initiatives.

Marupen holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Management in African Philanthropy and Resource Mobilisation from Wits Business School. This qualification complements his extensive practical experience and underscores his commitment to advancing philanthropy within the African higher education context. 

In his new role at the UFS, Marupen will lead the integration of fundraising and alumni engagement to strengthen donor engagement and prospect pipelines, cultivate long-term partnerships, and embed a culture of philanthropy across the institution. His appointment signals UFS’s continued commitment to building sustainable advancement strategies that support the academic project student success, research excellence, and meaningful societal impact.