Grant and Fundraising Manager at Slum2School Africa

Job Description

• The Grant and Fundraising Manager will be a pivotal member of the Slum2School team, responsible for securing financial support and resources to fuel our mission.
• This role involves developing and executing effective fundraising strategies, identifying grant opportunities, and building and maintaining strong relationships with donors and partners.
• The ideal candidate is a high-energy, proactive go-getter who loves the challenge and is comfortable working in a multi-cultural corporate environment and supporting organization's funding initiatives across distributed teams.

Key Areas of Accountability

• As the Grant and Fundraising Manager, your responsibilities include identifying opportunities, developing proposals, and building relationships with prospective individual donors.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive grant calendar to ensure the timely submission of high-quality proposals.
• Plan and execute marketing and innovative fundraising campaigns across various channels for a cohesive and impactful project.
• Manage overall grant efforts and optimize the grant administration process.
• Review grant proposals for compliance with regulations and manage grant databases.
• Collaborate with program managers to gather data and insights for grant applications.
• Devise and implement a robust fundraising strategy to achieve annual fundraising targets.
• Explore innovative fundraising channels, including individual giving, corporate partnerships, and online campaigns.
• Drive fundraising by creating innovative campaigns to attract both individual and corporate donors.
• Organize and lead fundraising events and campaigns to engage diverse donor segments.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with existing donors, ensuring regular communication, impact updates, and expressions of gratitude.
• Develop personalized strategies for major donors to ensure a high level of engagement and satisfaction.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with existing donors while strategically expanding the donor base through effective engagement.
• Establish and maintain a donor database for effective donor management.
• Coordinate with the communications team to develop compelling materials for donor engagement and storytelling.
• Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to ensure synergy between programmatic goals and fundraising efforts.
• Collaborate with the finance team to develop accurate and realistic budgets for grant applications and fundraising campaigns.
• Monitor fundraising budgets to ensure proper fund utilization and adherence to financial guidelines.
• Prepare and submit regular, accurate, and compelling reports to donors, highlighting project achievements and impact.
• Ensure compliance with grant requirements and reporting deadlines, maintaining meticulous records.
• Research and apply for relevant grant opportunities on both local and international scales.
• Represent Slum2School at relevant conferences, events, and networking opportunities to expand the organization's donor base.
• Ensure compliance with relevant fundraising regulations and ethical practices locally and globally.
• Build and maintain a robust network within the philanthropic and fundraising community.

Team Leadership:

• Managing the day-to-day activities of the team.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to generate innovative ideas for fundraising campaigns and events.
• Lead brainstorming sessions with the team to develop creative approaches to engage diverse donor segments.
• Participate in meetings with the team and stakeholders to gain a comprehensive understanding of ongoing projects and fundraising needs.
• Communicate challenges, assistant needs, or logistical issues to the relevant stakeholders in a timely manner.
• Actively seek feedback, listen attentively, and incorporate stakeholder input into decision-making processes.
• Provide guidance to team members, ensuring their professional growth and maximizing their potential.
• Conduct regular training sessions for team members, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their fundraising roles.
• Conducting quarterly performance reviews.

Key Performance Indicators

• % of successfully secured grants out of the total number of grant applications.
• Number of stakeholder engagement sessions conducted per project phase.
• % of annual fundraising targets achieved.
• Score based on the level of engagement and satisfaction of major donors.
• Percentage of successful fundraising events compared to the total organized.
• Percentage increase in the donor database over the year.
• Number of conferences, events, and networking opportunities attended to expand the donor base.
• Accuracy and completeness of the grant database.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Project Management, Business Administration, or in a related field is required. A higher Degree such as a Master's in Business Administration or a relevant program management certification is an added advantage.
• 5+ years of practical experience in fundraising at a managerial or supervisory level.
• Proven track record of success in grant writing, fundraising, and donor management.
• Membership of a recognized professional body (PMI) is an added advantage.
• Knowledge of grant management software, CRM software (e.g. Dynamics).
• Strong track record of successfully applying for grant or procuring other funding.
• Experience of planning and managing major fundraising projects and campaigns.
• Experience of monitoring grant compliance and managing contracts.

Skill and Competencies:

• Strong relationship, business, and project management skills.
• In-depth understanding of the nonprofit sector and current fundraising trends.
• Exceptional strategic planning abilities, attention to detail, and delivery.
• Proficiency in project management software and tools.
• Exceptional professionalism and interpersonal skills and an ability to work collegially with team members and stakeholders.
• Passion for education, community development, and making a positive impact.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, handle multiple projects simultaneously, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to represent the organization and its objectives in highly professional and responsible manner.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; highly organized with concern for detail and a commitment to rigor.
• Competence in project planning, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure program effectiveness and impact.
• Strong time management skills and the ability to manage teams, departments, and projects simultaneously.
• Professionalism, empathy, and the ability to work as part of a team, maintain a sense of humor, and interact with a diverse array of people from all walks of life.
• Strong relationship, communication, and project management skills.