Business Development & Fundraising Manager

Reports to:Programs Director

Contract Type: part-time/voluntary

Duration: 12 months (renewable)

Location: Remote

Application Deadline: 25/08/2025 

Reports to: Programs Director 

Position Overview

Future Africa International (FAI) is an international, youth-centered non-profit organization dedicated to unlocking the potential of young people and their communities through innovative, scalable solutions in health, climate resilience, livelihoods, youth leadership, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment for smallholder farmers. Operating across diverse regions in Africa, FAI advances sustainable development, social justice, and inclusive economic growth through impactful programming and strategic partnerships.

To support its ambitious growth trajectory and ensure long-term sustainability, FAI is seeking a highly motivated, strategic, and results-oriented Business Development & Fundraising Manager. This role will lead the design and execution of a comprehensive resource mobilization strategy, focused on securing both restricted and unrestricted funding from a diverse portfolio of donors and partners.

Reporting to the Program Director, and working collaboratively with the program, finance, MEL, and communications teams, the Business Development & Fundraising Manager will play a critical leadership role in

Cultivating and managing strategic relationships with institutional donors (e.g., USAID, FCDO, EU, UN agencies), private foundations, corporate partners, and high-net-worth individuals.

Leading cross-functional proposal development teams to produce compelling, high-quality concept notes and full proposals in response to competitive funding opportunities.

Positioning FAI as a credible, innovative, and impactful partner in regional and international development spheres, with a strong emphasis on youth-led, community-driven solutions.

Expanding FAI’s visibility and donor base by identifying emerging funding trends, forging new alliances, and showcasing the organization’s impact through tailored knowledge products and thought leadership.

This role demands a strategic thinker and entrepreneurial leader with a solid track record in securing multi-million-dollar grants, developing high-value partnerships, and driving business growth in fast-paced, multi-stakeholder environments. The ideal candidate will bring strong networking, proposal writing, negotiation, and donor stewardship skills, along with a deep understanding of the African development context and funding ecosystem.

 Key Responsibilities

A. Business Development Strategy

• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive business development and fundraising strategy, aligned with FAI’s mission, strategic priorities, and growth ambitions.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to diversify funding sources, including institutional donors, foundations, corporate partners, and individual philanthropists to secure both restricted and unrestricted funding.
• Maintain and regularly update a funding opportunity pipeline, including donor intelligence, application timelines, and income projections disaggregated by donor type.
• Monitor and analyze trends in global philanthropy, regional development financing, and donor behavior, identifying strategic entry points for FAI to position itself for new funding.
• Advise senior leadership on emerging markets, funding gaps, and high-potential areas for investment and donor engagement.
• B. Proposal Development and Grant Acquisition
• Lead the end-to-end proposal development process, including opportunity scoping, go/no-go decision-making, partnership building, proposal writing, technical inputs, budgeting, quality control, and submission.
• Coordinate inputs from relevant departments (e.g., programs, MEL, finance, communications) to ensure the development of technically sound, donor-compliant, and competitive proposals.
• Design and tailor concept notes, full proposals, and pitch decks for a wide array of donors including:
• Bilateral donors (e.g., USAID, FCDO, SIDA, GIZ)
• Multilateral organizations (e.g., UN agencies, World Bank)
• Private foundations (e.g., Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, Skoll)
• Corporate partners (CSR initiatives and shared value partnerships
• High Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) and philanthropic networks
• Support the integration of adaptive learning, innovation, and youth-centered approaches in proposal narratives to reflect FAI’s distinct value proposition.
• C. Donor Engagement and Strategic Partnerships
• Serve as the primary liaison to key donors and funding partners, building trust, maintaining relationships, and ensuring donor satisfaction and long-term engagement.
• Represent FAI in donor briefings, conferences, consortia, sector platforms, and matchmaking events, raising the organization’s profile and identifying collaborative opportunities.
• Negotiate and manage Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), teaming agreements, and consortium frameworks with implementing and funding partners.
• Maintain a comprehensive donor engagement plan, including stewardship protocols, recognition strategies, and donor impact communications.
• D. Individual Giving and Unrestricted Resource Growth
• Develop and implement strategies to expand individual donor engagement, leveraging digital platforms, cause marketing, crowdfunding, and storytelling to attract and retain supporters.
• Design and manage donor journeys, from initial engagement to recurring giving, major gifts, and legacy donations, ensuring personalized outreach and consistent relationship nurturing.
• Explore innovative models for unrestricted revenue growth, such as:
• Social enterprise ventures
• Sponsorship’s and ambassador programs
• Thematic campaigns and donor clubs
• Collaborate with the communications team to align branding, storytelling, and fundraising appeals to targeted audiences.
• E. Systems Strengthening and Capacity Building
• Establish and maintain robust systems, tools, and processes for
• Tracking funding opportunities
• Managing donor information and relationships (CRM systems)
• Quality assurance in proposal development
• Internal coordination workflows and calendars
• Provide training, mentorship, and technical support to staff and partners on:
• Donor engagement best practices
• Proposal writing and budgeting
• Fundraising ethics and compliance
• Coordinate donor reporting calendars and ensure timely, accurate, and compelling donor reports, aligned with MEL data and financial reporting.
• Monitor compliance with donor requirements and internal policies, ensuring proper documentation and risk mitigation across all fundraising activities

3. Required Qualifications and Experience

Education:

• A Master’s degree in Development Studies, Business Administration, Fundraising, International Relations, Non-Profit Management, or a closely related field is required.
• A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline with extensive experience in business development and donor engagement may be considered in lieu of a master’s, depending on the candidate’s track record.
• Professional certifications and technical trainings in any of the following areas are highly desirable:
• Proposal Development and Grant Writing (e.g., Philanthropy University, InsideNGO, MDF Training)
• Resource Mobilization and Fundraising Strategy
• Partnership and Donor Relationship Management
• Project Management (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2, PMD Pro)
• Strategic Communication and Pitch Development
• Monitoring & Evaluation or MEL for Business Development
• Familiarity with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Hub Spot, Boomerang) and other fundraising tools or software is an added advantage.
• Continuous learning and certification in emerging donor trends, social enterprise models, or digital fundraising will be considered a plus.

Experience:

• A minimum of 4 to 7 years of proven experience in business development and fundraising within international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) or comparable development contexts.
• Demonstrated success in identifying, cultivating, and securing funding from a diverse range of donors, including institutional funders (e.g., USAID, FCDO, EU, UN agencies, GIZ), private foundations, corporate partners, and individual philanthropists.
• Proven ability to design, negotiate, and manage both restricted programmatic funding and unrestricted/core support, contributing to both project delivery and organizational sustainability.
• Extensive experience leading end-to-end proposal development processes, including opportunity scoping, partner engagement, technical writing, budgeting, compliance alignment, and submission under tight deadlines.
• Strong background in donor stewardship, donor reporting, budget coordination, and multi-sectoral programming, particularly in sectors such as health, climate resilience, livelihoods, and youth empowerment.
• Africa-wide experience working across diverse country contexts and development landscapes, with a strong understanding of regional funding trends, donor priorities, and partnership ecosystems.
• Experience working with or supporting start-up or early-stage organizations, particularly in designing and executing fundraising strategies from the ground up, establishing donor systems, and cultivating an initial funding base.
• Proven ability to work in collaborative, cross-functional environments, integrating inputs from technical, financial, MEL, and communications teams.

4. Key Competencies and Skills

• Exceptional writing, editing, and communication skills, with the ability to craft persuasive, donor-aligned content—including concept notes, full proposals, donor reports, pitch decks, and strategic communication materials. Skilled at tailoring messaging to various audiences such as institutional funders, corporates, philanthropic foundations, and individual donors, while maintaining clarity, coherence, and alignment with donor priorities.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities, with a proven ability to synthesize programmatic data, qualitative insights, impact stories, and contextual evidence into compelling investment cases and funding narratives that elevate organizational visibility and attract diverse funding streams.
• Demonstrated ability to build, manage, and sustain donor and partner relationships, ensuring high-quality stewardship through timely communication, mutual alignment of interests, and long-term relationship-building. Applies diplomacy and professionalism in all donor engagements and negotiations.
• In-depth understanding of grant management cycles, donor compliance requirements, and due diligence processes, including risk assessment, eligibility vetting, and audit preparedness—especially for bilateral and multilateral donors (e.g., USAID, FCDO, EU, GIZ, UN agencies) and private foundations (e.g., Ford, Gates).
• Proficiency in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems and fundraising databases such as Salesforce, Little Green Light, Bloomerang, and Hub Spot, supporting efficient donor tracking, pipeline forecasting, reporting calendars, and stakeholder segmentation.
• Experience utilizing digital fundraising platforms, including crowdfunding tools, peer-to-peer giving models, and donor engagement campaigns across digital channels (web, email, social media), with the ability to optimize supporter journeys and scale individual giving.
• Strong multilingual communication abilities, with fluency in English and working proficiency in at least one additional language such as French, Portuguese, Arabic, or Swahili, enabling effective engagement across regional and global donor landscapes.
• High level of cross-cultural competence and emotional intelligence, with the ability to work seamlessly in multicultural teams and navigate complex partner ecosystems across Africa and international contexts.
• Proven initiative, adaptability, and creative problem-solving, with the capacity to thrive in dynamic, fast-paced environments. Capable of independently driving processes while working collaboratively with cross-functional teams across time zones and disciplines.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, with a meticulous attention to detail and the ability to coordinate complex, deadline-sensitive proposal development processes from opportunity scoping through to submission. Skilled in balancing multiple priorities without compromising quality or compliance.
• Desirable Attributes
• Strong understanding of global development financing landscapes, including trends in bilateral and multilateral aid, philanthropic funding, and emerging financing mechanisms such as blended finance, pooled funds, impact investing, challenge grants, and results-based financing. Demonstrates awareness of how these mechanisms can be leveraged for both restricted and unrestricted resource growth.
• Knowledge of social enterprise models and alternative, mission-aligned revenue-generating strategies for non-profits, including hybrid business models that combine programmatic impact with long-term financial sustainability. Familiarity with designing or supporting social innovation or enterprise ventures is a plus.
• Experience working on or managing multi-country, regional, or consortium-based programs, including the coordination of diverse implementing partners, harmonization of donor requirements, and contribution to shared governance and resource mobilization frameworks.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity, humility, and inclusiveness, with the ability to build respectful and effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders—including grassroots organizations, youth-led movements, private sector actors, donor agencies, faith-based groups, and government institutions—across multiple cultural and geographical contexts.
• Preferred experience in engaging or mobilizing local philanthropy ecosystems in Africa, such as partnerships with African family foundations, corporate CSR initiatives, faith-based donors, and community-based giving platforms. Awareness of regional philanthropic behavior and giving cultures is highly desirable.
• Knowledge or exposure to diaspora engagement strategies, including the ability to tap into the African diaspora as a strategic donor and advocacy base. Experience working with diaspora-focused campaigns, fundraising platforms, investment networks, or remittance-linked philanthropy is considered an asset.
• Familiarity with climate financing mechanisms, such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Adaptation Fund, carbon credit markets, and climate-aligned blended finance, especially as they intersect with youth empowerment, smallholder farmer resilience, and nature-based solutions.
• Deep passion for working in a youth-centered, impact-driven organization, with a demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and social justice. A strong believer in African-led development and innovation, with a drive to mobilize strategic partnerships that amplify local leadership and solutions.
• A creative and forward-thinking professional, with the ability to spot and respond to emerging trends, forge new alliances, and capitalize on market shifts and innovative financing opportunities to advance the organization’s mission and scale its impact.

6. Language Requirements

• Excellent written and spoken English is required, with demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders, including donors, partners, and field teams.
• Working knowledge of French is a strong asset, particularly for liaising with donors and partners across Francophone Africa and multilateral platforms.
• Familiarity with an additional United Nations language such as Arabic or Portuguese is considered an advantage, enhancing the organization’s ability to engage across global development networks.

How to Apply:

Send your CV and Cover letter to:

hello@futureafricainternational.org