Lead - Fundraiser and Partnerships

The Lead Fundraiser will be responsible for developing and implementing the organization's fundraising and donor engagement strategy. This includes creating systems and processes for effective donor relationship management, ensuring compliance, and building internal capacities for resource mobilization. The role involves close collaboration with leadership, program teams, and external partners to identify opportunities, develop compelling proposals, and strengthen donor confidence.

Key Responsibilities

A. Fundraising Strategy & Systems Development (40%)

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• Lead the design and execution of a multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with the organization's mission and thematic focus areas.
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• Develop and manage an integrated fundraising information system to map donor priorities, track opportunities, and monitor engagement.
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• Identify and segment donor categories (institutional, corporate, government, philanthropic, individual) and design tailored outreach strategies.
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• Establish processes for donor compliance, financial accountability, and impact reporting.
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• Represent the organization in fundraising forums, partnerships, and collaborative initiatives.
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• Support strategic decision-making related to resource allocation, program scaling, and sustainability.
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• Create SOPs and tools for fundraising operations, including the use of CRM and digital management systems.
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• Analyze funding gaps across programs and co-create strategies with program leads to address them.
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B. Donor Relationship Management

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• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective donors through consistent engagement and communication.
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• Develop high-quality funding proposals, donor reports, and case statements.
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• Organize donor visits, field immersion events, and virtual briefings to strengthen engagement.
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• Collaborate with finance and program teams to ensure timely submissions of donor deliverables.
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• Maintain comprehensive documentation of donor interactions and data to enhance transparency and long-term planning.
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• Proactively identify risks to donor retention or compliance and recommend corrective actions.
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C. Team Capacity Building

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• Strengthen internal capacities in proposal writing, budgeting, donor communications, and compliance.
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• Conduct periodic training sessions on donor trends, fundraising ethics, and reporting standards.
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• Develop standardized internal tools and templates for fundraising processes.
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D. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

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• Track progress against fundraising targets and maintain dashboards to monitor performance.
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• Generate quarterly fundraising reports for senior management and board review.
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• Evaluate fundraising approaches and refine strategies for improved effectiveness.
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Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

Essential:

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• 7-10 years of experience in institutional fundraising, CSR partnerships, or resource mobilization within the development sector.
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• Strong understanding of India's donor ecosystem, including government, CSR, philanthropy, and international donors.
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• Proven track record in successful proposal writing and donor management.
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• Excellent written and verbal communication and storytelling skills.
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• Solid understanding of compliance, financial management, and regulatory frameworks (FCRA, 80G, 12A, etc.).
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• Demonstrated experience in leading and mentoring small teams.
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Desirable:

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• Familiarity with community-driven or tribal development initiatives.
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• Experience in developing or managing CRM and fundraising information systems.
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• Fluency in English and Hindi.
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Other Requirements

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• Commitment to the organization's mission, values, and participatory approach.
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• Willingness to travel frequently to rural and tribal areas.
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• Comfort working in a collaborative, multi-stakeholder environment.
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Compensation and Application Process

Our partner organization offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and a work environment that values continuous learning, innovation, and leadership development.

We strongly encourage applications from women professionals passionate about building an inclusive and equitable development ecosystem.