Fundraising Lead

Organization: NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response); Hosted by Adeso – African Development Solutions

Reporting To: NEAR Executive Director

Working With: NEAR’s Leadership Council (i.e. Board of Directors); NEAR Secretariat

Duration: 6 months (with possibility of renewal)

Starting Date: As soon as possible

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ABOUT NEAR

NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response) is a movement of local organizations with a bold ambition – to reshape the top-down humanitarian and development system to one that is locally driven and owned, and is built around equitable, dignified and accountable partnerships.

ABOUT ADESO

NEAR is currently hosted by Adeso, an expanding and vibrant African based international development and humanitarian organization. Adeso and NEAR both aspire to prevent and overcome situations that adversely affect community well-being by: Influencing policy change and enacting systemic change through innovative solutions led by local and national actors.

POSITION PURPOSE

We are hiring a Fundraising Lead to help NEAR expand our portfolio of donors, with two specific growth targets:

1. To increase our annual budget by US $250,000 each year over the next three years.

2. To add three new multi-year grant contracts to NEAR’s funding portfolio in 2021.

Meeting these targets will allow us to achieve the objectives set out in our Strategic Plan for 2021-23. The position will lead relationship building and proposal development with new donors. The role will take advantage of NEAR’s position as the leading voice representing local and national actors, and will focus on Foundations, traditional, and non-traditional donors supporting systemic change and impact.

SPECIFIC ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

· Develop a simple action plan to meet NEAR’s fundraising objectives for 2021. (Should the position extend beyond six months: Create updated fundraising plan for each calendar year, based on previous year’s successes and lessons.)

· Develop a clear cultivation plan that will articulate introductions, presentations, and concept notes for 12 Foundation donors and 5 Traditional donors

· Implement the cultivation plan for each donor.

· Log each of the donors in NEAR’s Client Relations Management (CRM) database, including weekly updates on the status of the cultivation plans for each donor.

· Develop a clear template and generate monthly reports on fundraising for NEAR’s Executive Director and the Leadership Council

· Coordinate with NEAR Secretariat to track and support Expressions of Interest, Concept Notes, Proposals that are program-based (e.g. restricted funding)

· Input program-based fundraising efforts into the CRM, with weekly updates. Include these opportunities in monthly fundraising reports.

· Determine 6 to 8 engagements annually for NEAR’s Executive Director that have high potential to generate donor interest.

· As resources become available, participate in the process of hiring a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning staff to lead on MEAL, with specific responsibility to understand the impact of NEAR’s fundraising.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

· At least 5 years work experience in business development, with a proven track record in fundraising.

· Existing relationships with Foundations and multi/bilateral donors, and knowledge of the donor landscape for international aid.

· Global fundraising experience working in the US, UK, Europe, and/or the Middle East.

· Experience working in a start-up environment and an entrepreneurial spirit.

· Strong writing and communicating skills.

· Passionate, creative, and outgoing, with a strong mind for problem solving, systems, and collaboration.

· Fluency in English.