Fundraising Lead

Job Description: Fundraising Lead

Job Title: Fundraising Lead

Organization: Project DEEP (registered as One Step Forward Foundation) Location: Preferably Mumbai, with a willingness to travel

Role Overview This role offers an exciting opportunity to lead and grow corporate social responsibility (CSR) fundraising and strategic partnerships for a mission-driven organization focussed on maximising the impact of cash based policies in the country. We seek a dynamic and experienced individual to work closely with the founders in expanding the Fundraising vertical of the organization. The position combines lead generation, concept development and stakeholder engagement to deliver innovative proposals and funding solutions aligned with Project DEEP’s mission. We are looking for a fundraising lead to drive Project DEEP’s fundraising strategy in India’s expanding CSR ecosystem, situating cash transfers in corporate, foundations and philanthropic portfolios.

The role requires a strategic thinker who can see the big picture, identify and develop opportunities for engagement. Additionally, we require an understanding of the funding landscape in India, donor management, and most importantly, an interest in contributing to the growing landscape of various cash transfer programs and policies in the country.

Key Responsibilities Fundraising & Pipeline Development ● Identify, research, and approach corporate CSR programs, foundations, and HNI networks ● Build and maintain a robust pipeline of a minimum of 30 CSR prospects at various stages of engagement ● Map CSR trends, allocation patterns, and budget cycles across India's top 200 corporates and key mid-market companies ● Conduct competitive analysis to understand funder priorities, geographic preferences, impact metrics, and co-funding opportunities Proposal Development & Strategic Pitching ● Craft compelling, data-driven CSR proposals and grant applications tailored to each funder's priorities, geography focus, and impact metrics ● Adapt messaging for different stakeholder groups (corporate boards, foundations, HNI advisors). ● Align proposals with Companies Act Schedule VII compliance (CSR rules, CSR-1 registration requirements) ● Lead or co-lead investor pitches, presentations, site visits, and other engagement sessions, as required ● Develop case studies, impact briefs, and storytelling assets that showcase organisation's programs

Partnership Development & Relationship Management ● Build authentic, long-term relationships with CSR heads, CXOs, sustainability officers, and decision-makers across corporate, family office, and philanthropic ecosystems ● Serve as the primary point of contact for all CSR and major donor partnerships, ensuring responsiveness, transparency, and alignment with organisational goals ● Conduct quarterly stakeholder reviews, gather feedback, and address partner concerns proactively to foster repeat funding and increased commitments

This includes creating systems and processes for effective donor relationship management, ensuring compliance, and building internal capacities for resource mobilization.

Required Qualifications and Skills: ● 8-12 years of progressive fundraising experience in India, with at least 5+ years dedicated to CSR fundraising. ● Bachelor's degree in business, development studies, nonprofit management, marketing, or related fields. ● Demonstrated success in raising INR 25 crore+ annually from CSR or institutional funders. ● Direct experience managing 10+ CSR partnerships simultaneously with strong relationship retention rates. ● Experience engaging ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNIs) and high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) for family philanthropy or impact giving. ● Deep understanding of India's Companies Act 2013, CSR regulations (2% mandatory spending), CSR-1 registration, and NITI Aayog compliance requirements. ● Excellent proposal writing, storytelling ability and pitching skills with a proven track record of securing significant grants. ● Excellent project management, multitasking, and time management to juggle multiple prospects at various pipeline stages. ● Data-driven mindset: ability to track, analyse, and optimize fundraising metrics (conversion rate, average grant size, pipeline velocity). ● Strong organisational skills and attention to detail in compliance documentation, contracts, and reporting. ● Entrepreneurial spirit with comfort in ambiguity; ability to build fundraising infrastructure from scratch or scale existing processes. ● Oversee the entire partnership lifecycle, from outreach to onboarding, co-planning, reporting, and renewal.

Join us in making a difference! If you're driven by a desire to create positive change through rigorous research and evidence-based approaches, we invite you to apply for this impactful role at Project DEEP.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

If we find your profile relevant to the position, we will reach out to you for an introduction call, followed by an assignment request, and then the final discussion round to align our expectations and find mutually agreeable terms. Due to the high volume of applications, we will not be able to give individual feedback but we shall definitely respond with an email in case your application cannot go forward.

About Project DEEP Project DEEP is the only nonprofit in India focused on strengthening cash-based policies to enable an increase in the per capita income of the bottom 20% in the country. We are using evidence-based approaches to reimagine the design and delivery of cash-based policies, which can empower communities and stimulate inclusive growth. Extensive community work through pilots in 5 locations has built our foundational understanding of the model and its impact on communities. We are now using our learnings from the field to engage with policymakers to boost the effectiveness and sustainability of the INR 2,80,000 crore already being allocated to unconditional cash transfers. We have raised a total of INR 10cr in our first three years of operations, and seek to expand our budget to build our direct implementation and policy engagement work.

Our advisors include Amit Garg (Impact Lens), Anuj Mehra (Mahindra Rural Housing Finance), Miriam Laker (Give Directly), Saugato Datta (Venn Advisors), Shailja Mehta (Dasra), and Varun Aggarwal (Change Engine).

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