Head of Partnerships

Reports to: CEO

Location: Preferably Bangalore or Pune. Flexible for other locations for the right candidate

Function: The Head of Partnerships will lead the organizations efforts in fundraising, donor engagement, and communications. This senior role is key to building a strategic approach to acquiring and managing corporate and individual donors, as well as ensuring that the organizations brand, messaging, and outreach are consistent and impactful. The ideal candidate should have extensive experience working within the nonprofit sector and a proven track record of managing teams, driving fundraising campaigns, and maintaining strong donor relationships. As the key member of the management team, the candidate will act as a role model especially to the Partnerships team in driving a culture of teamwork, innovation and excellence. 

Responsibilities and Deliverables:

Fundraising and Donor Management:

• Develop and implement fundraising strategies to source and generate revenue to meet the organizations goals
• Lead and inspire the team to acquire and develop key corporate partnerships. Oversee the performance of Partnership managers responsible for meeting specific corporate fundraising targets.
• Design and execute effective recurring giving campaigns, events and other initiatives that ensure individual donor base growth and retention.
• Establish systems for effective donor relationship management (CRM) to track and analyze donor interactions and improve engagement over time.

Marketing, Communications, and Branding:

• Guide the marketing and communication team to ensure cohesive and engaging external communications that enhance the organization's brand and public image.
• Collaborate with the program delivery and communications teams to be able to showcase compelling stories
• Support the development and implementation of public relations and digital outreach efforts, including social media, website content, and email marketing campaigns.

Team Leadership & Cross-Department Collaboration:

• Lead, mentor, and develop the sales and marketing teams, ensuring a collaborative, high-performing culture with clear goals and accountability.
• Collaborate closely with the Program Development and Delivery teams to ensure alignment between fundraising and the organizations program goals.
• Work with the Finance team and the CEO to to set long-term strategic goals for scaling revenue, building a corpus and supporting the organization expansion plans.
• Hire and develop the right talent for the team based on the strategy for donor acquisition and retention

Strategy Development:

• Leverage data analytics to track performance against fundraising and marketing goals, making recommendations to optimize strategies and improve results.
• Make effective use of CRM tools to manage donor relations and monitor the effectiveness of campaigns.
• Analyze market trends in the non-profit sector and CSR funding landscape, providing insights for future growth.
• Develop and manage the sales and marketing budget, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to maximize impact.
• Oversee the ROI of campaigns and fundraising activities, reporting regularly on financial performance and operational efficiency.

Qualifications and Skills:

Essential:

• 10+ years of experience in sales, marketing, fundraising, or business development, with at least 5 years in people-management roles.
• Proven track record in fundraising and donor management, working with both institutional and individual donors.
• Strong understanding of corporate partnerships and the CSR funding environment with a track record of building and managing successful corporate relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage teams in sales and marketing capacities, with a focus on growth and engagement.
• Experience in branding, communications, and public relations to enhance the organizations visibility and credibility.
• Proficiency with use of CRM systems and digital tools to track donor engagement and optimize outreach efforts.
• Strong leadership and mentorship skills, with the ability to inspire and guide teams toward achieving ambitious goals.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills to identify new opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling pitches, proposals, and reports for donors.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills for driving donor engagement and fundraising

Preferred:

• Experience in the non-profit sector and in donor life cycle management, cultivating, engaging, and retaining both individual and corporate donors.
• Prior experience working with international donors or foundations
• Familiarity with digital marketing tools, email platforms and social media management.