Head - Fundraising

LOCATION: Remote (with significant travel; requires a 3-month immersion in Kolkata during onboarding).

Role Overview

The Head – Fundraising will lead the organization's efforts to secure financial support to advance its mission of transforming education in rural India. The role focuses on building strong relationships with donors and partners, meeting fundraising targets through strategic enterprise sales, and outreach to NGOs, corporates, and foundations. The ideal candidate will bring strong sales acumen and a deep commitment to rural education.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the establishment and strategic oversight of the Fundraising and Marketing/PR function, with full ownership of fundraising targets and outcomes
• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy to achieve annual and long-term targets
• Build and sustain relationships with individual donors, corporate partners, funds, and foundations
• Conduct presentations and meetings to effectively communicate the organization's mission and programs
• Collaborate closely with program teams to ensure alignment between fundraising efforts and organizational priorities
• Apply enterprise sales approaches to engage stakeholders and secure funding commitments
• Oversee donor relationship management, ensure timely and accurate reporting, and lead donor communications to maintain transparency and engagement

Qualifications

• Experience: 10+ years in fundraising, sales, or a related domain

• Sales Skills: Proven enterprise sales experience; exposure to NGO or philanthropic sectors preferred
• Fundraising Expertise: Prior experience fundraising for education or social impact initiatives is highly desirable

• Soft Skills: Strong communication, interpersonal, and negotiation capabilities

• Educational Background: Degree in Business, Social Sciences, Education, or a related field preferred
• NGO Exposure: Familiarity with the NGO ecosystem; prior NGO experience is an advantage

Preferred Skills

• Understanding of rural education and skill development programs

• Experience managing complex budgets and financial reporting

• Familiarity with national education policies in India