Resource Mobilization Lead at Akili Dada

Job Purpose
As the Resource Mobilization Lead, you will be responsible for cultivating, qualifying, soliciting, and stewarding Akili Dada’s funding portfolio. In addition, you will play an integral role in developing and instituting a resource mobilization strategy to support the diversification of Akili Dada’s support base by targeting new institutional and program-based donors – leading
donor cultivation and management in collaboration with the Senior Management Team and Interim Executive Director. Candidates must have a heart for advancing girls’ and young women’s rights.
**Self Identifying feminists are encouraged to apply.

Primary Responsibilities
Developing Resource Mobilization strategy

• Provide independent advice and support in developing and/or executing strategic, operational plans to meet defined fundraising targets, objectives, and aspirations
• Develop clear goals in line with findings and agreed strategies, identify priorities, foresee risks and make allowances accordingly
• Develop and improve the effectiveness of the organization-wide oversight, monitoring, and coordination of resource mobilization and stakeholder reporting/accountability
• Together with the Finance Manager review and refine Akili Dada’s forecasting model and develop accurate benchmarks to guide the projections of funding needs.

Donor cultivation and partnership building

• Lead networking and resource mobilization efforts, pursuing opportunities aligned with Akili Dada’s institutional growth and sustainability strategy.
• Research potential donors to gain insight into values alignment and institutional priorities vis-a-vis Akili Dada’s needs and priorities.
• Accurately profile Akili Dada’s work to various target audiences including donors and funding partners of interest, ensuring the availability of relevant packaged programmatic and impact data
• Lead donor cultivation activities, including identifying possible funding partners and initiating relationships with key decision-makers
• Lead all grant writing efforts, presenting solicited and unsolicited proposals to new funding partners.
• With input from the Senior Management Team and the Interim Executive Director, lead the identification and development of relationships with non-traditional funders, including but not limited to corporates and bi-lateral organizations who share Akili Dada ideals.

Spearhead fundraising initiatives

• Leverage technology and social media to improve online
  giving/fundraising activities.
• Take the lead in planning and coordinating events meant to
  raise funds and coordinate activities of volunteers and
  interns related to event planning and execution.
• Create resource mobilization materials such as flyers, decks,
  and brochures to promote events and other fundraising
  pushes.
• Analyze the performance of events and other fundraising
  activities for effectiveness and identify areas where money
  can be saved and return on investment.
• Collaborate with other organizations and groups within the
  feminist/women’s and girls’ rights movement to build
  partnerships and enhance fundraising activities.

Donor Management

• Maintain complete and orderly records of Akili Dada’s partner/donor portfolio and manage regular donor communications.
• Produce, develop and deepen individual donor relationships, ensuring that the organization maintains effective communications and good relations with donor partners, ensuring they are updated on our work and achievements and up-to-date reports for staff and management.
• Organize donor round tables and develop an understanding of grant cycles and preferences of different donors.

Requirements

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and demonstrated track record of grant writing, proposal development, and fundraising.
• Demonstrate a good understanding of fundraising in the philanthropy, bi-lateral and corporate space.
• Industry knowledge of the education sector and a good understanding of girls’ and women’s rights.
• Versatile fundraiser with demonstrated ability to work with corporates, feminist funders, philanthropists, and bi-laterals.
• Entrepreneurial, demonstrates solid financial understanding, and can identify and exploit fundraising opportunities.
• Strong team working orientation, with the ability and social skills to work collaboratively with staff at all levels.