Senior Manager, Fundraising

The Role:

The person in the role will be responsible to implement the organization’s fundraising strategies and plans to achieve Akshara’s vision through maintaining and growing its existing donor-base and securing new and sustainable sources of funding. Current fundraising activities undertaken by Akshara include institutional funding – Corporates/Foundations and retail funding – crowd sourcing platforms.

Being part of a team that reports to the Chairman of the organization, the successful candidate will be able to work independently and should possess an entrepreneurial approach to his/her work. Developing and managing both internal and external relationships is a key part of the role.

A necessary qualification will be passion towards development sector and willingness to extend a supporting hand to the needy. Interest in education sector and numeracy in particular will be an added advantage.

Specific Responsibilities: 

• Contribute to develop a comprehensive and coherent fundraising strategy for the organization.
• Enhance existing fundraising activities and channels and investigate and harness new and emerging sources of contributions to Akshara.
• Create and manage a sustainable and diverse fundraising portfolio consisting of existing and new sources of funding, with streams including corporates, community, trusts/foundations and other grant-makers, individuals and other retail platforms.
• Set and achieve realistic time-limited fundraising targets, agreed in consultation with key staff and the Board of Trustees.
• Lead communication with key donors and funders with the aim of cultivating, growing and sustaining long-term funding and collaboration.
• Maintain records of donor information for future use.
• Ensure reporting to funders is accurate, transparent and timely.
• Make impactful presentations and pitches to prospective donors.
• Implement retail fundraising campaigns as required.
• Build strong working relationships with colleagues across the organization, as well as Board Members, in order to engage the whole organization in fundraising drives.
• To oversee the maintenance of necessary systems and processes to support fundraising in conjunction with the Finance Team
• Undertake monthly review of programme-wise expenditure based on the budgets shared with the donors and direct the programme teams accordingly.
• Devise an annual volunteering plan for the organization and engage volunteers from our donor community and others effectively.

Person Specification: 

Education: Though not a must a Bachelors/Masters degree in Marketing is desirable. 

Experience: 

• 5+ years proven track record of fundraising in an NGO or similar environment
• Strong creative, strategic, analytical, organizational and personal related skills and experience delivering plans across multiple channels
• Proficiency in Microsoft products, including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, etc
• Knowledge of Kannada will be a value add.

Skills & Abilities: 

• Strong presentation and communications skills
• Excellent people management and relationship management skills
• Team player, with the ability to work on one’s own initiative as well as part of a small dynamic team
• Ability to be highly organized, in order to manage and prioritize workloads.
• Creative and innovative in thought process and delivery.
• Should be willing to travel as required.

Please send your application to asha@akshara.org.in by June 15, 2022. 

Your application MUST include:

• A covering note explaining your interest and suitability for the position and how your skills match the competencies detailed in the job description;
• Your CV (not more than 3 pages); and your compensation history.

This is a key role at Akshara and we intend filling the role by the end of June 2022. Kindly send your applications at the earliest.