Position: Fundraising & Development Consultant Reports to: Founder & CEO
Grade Level: Senior Consultant
Employment Type: Part-Time (Consultancy)
Work Arrangement: Remote, Flexible
Location: Remote (Preferably United States; experience working in Africa required)
Fund Raising & Development Consultant
Job Summary
Optimal Greening Foundation (OGF) seeks a highly experienced Fundraising & Development Consultant to support the organization on a part-time, remote, and flexible basis in mobilizing resources for its programs in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH), climate resilience, and environmental sustainability.
The Consultant will play a critical role in strengthening OGF's access to U.S.-based and international funding opportunities, supporting the development of high-quality proposals, donor engagement strategies, and partnerships. The role requires a strong understanding of climate and WaSH financing landscapes, as well as experience securing funding for programs in Africa.
The Consultant will work closely with the Founder & CEO and program teams to position OGF as a competitive and impactful organization within the global development and climate funding ecosystem.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Fundraising Strategy & Resource Mobilization
- Develop and implement a targeted fundraising strategy focused on WaSH, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability programs.
- Identify and prioritize funding opportunities from U.S.-based donors, climate funds, foundations, and development agencies.
- Provide strategic guidance on accessing climate finance mechanisms (e.g., Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, climate-focused foundations).
- Advise on innovative funding approaches, including blended finance, carbon-linked initiatives, and sustainability-driven partnerships.
Donor Engagement & Partnership Development
- Build and maintain relationships with key donors, including U.S. foundations, climate funders, bilateral agencies, and multilateral institutions.
- Support virtual donor engagement, including presentations, concept discussions, and follow-ups.
- Position OGF's WaSH and environmental programs effectively to align with donor priorities.
- Facilitate partnerships with organizations working in climate adaptation, water security, and environmental sustainability.
Proposal Development & Grant Acquisition
- Lead the development of high-quality, competitive proposals and concept notes for WaSH and climate-related funding opportunities.
- Ensure proposals clearly articulate climate impact, environmental sustainability, and community resilience outcomes.
- Coordinate inputs from program, finance, and technical teams to produce strong submissions.
- Review and strengthen proposals to align with donor priorities and compliance requirements.
Funding Pipeline Development
- Develop and maintain a pipeline of funding opportunities focused on WaSH, climate adaptation, and environmental sustainability.
- Track funding calls, deadlines, and proposal progress.
- Provide periodic updates and recommendations to leadership on pipeline strategy and priorities.
Program Alignment & Impact Positioning
- Work closely with program teams to align funding proposals with OGF's programmatic priorities.
- Translate technical program outcomes into compelling, donor-friendly narratives.
- Integrate monitoring and evaluation (M&E) insights into proposals and donor communications.
- Ensure strong alignment between impact metrics and donor expectations.
Capacity Building & Systems Strengthening
- Provide mentorship and guidance to staff on proposal writing and fundraising strategies.
- Develop tools, templates, and systems to strengthen OGF's fundraising processes.
- Support capacity building in climate and WaSH funding positioning.
Reporting & Coordination
- Provide regular updates to the Founder & CEO on fundraising activities and progress.
- Support donor reporting processes where required.
- Collaborate remotely with teams across different time zones.
Competencies and Skills Requirements
Technical Competencies
- WaSH and Climate Funding Expertise: Strong understanding of funding landscapes in water, sanitation, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability.
- Donor Knowledge: Experience with U.S. donors, climate funds (e.g., GCF, Adaptation Fund), and development agencies.
- Proposal Development: Proven ability to develop successful grant proposals for environmental and development programs.
- Donor Mapping & Pipeline Development: Ability to identify and prioritize high-impact funding opportunities.
Project Management Skills
- Ability to manage multiple proposals and deadlines effectively in a flexible work structure.
- Experience supporting program design and aligning fundraising with project implementation.
Analytical Skills
- Ability to assess funding opportunities and align them with OGF's strategic priorities.
- Strong problem-solving skills and strategic thinking.
Communication and Collaboration
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, particularly in proposal writing.
- Ability to communicate technical concepts (WaSH, climate) to donor audiences.
- Strong virtual collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills.
Leadership and Teamwork
- Ability to provide strategic guidance to leadership.
- Experience mentoring teams and strengthening organizational capacity.
- Strong collaboration skills across program and technical teams.
Ethical and Cultural Sensitivity
- Commitment to ethical fundraising practices.
- Strong understanding of African development contexts.
- Ability to work effectively across diverse cultural and stakeholder environments
Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
Fundraising Performance
- Number and value of WaSH and climate-related funding opportunities secured or advanced.
- Number of proposals submitted to targeted donors.
Pipeline Development
- Strength and relevance of funding pipeline in climate and WaSH sectors.
- Timeliness in identifying and responding to funding opportunities.
Proposal Quality
- Competitiveness and alignment of proposals with donor priorities.
- Proposal success rate (where measurable).
Donor Engagement
- Number of donor relationships established or strengthened.
- Engagement with climate and environmental funding partners.
Capacity Building
- Improvement in internal fundraising systems and processes.
- Staff capacity development in fundraising and proposal writing.
Minimum Qualifications
- Master's degree in international development, Environmental Management, Public Policy, or related field.
- Minimum of 8–12 years of experience in fundraising, resource mobilization, or business development.
- Proven track record of securing funding for WaSH, climate, or environmental sustainability programs.
- Experience working with or supporting non-profits in Africa, preferably in Nigeria or similar contexts.
- Strong proposal writing and donor engagement experience.
- Experience working in a remote, part-time consultancy role.
Additional Requirements
- Based in the United States (preferred) with strong connections to U.S. donor networks.
- Availability for part-time engagement (e.g., 10–20 hours per week or as agreed).
- Ability to work across U.S.–Africa time zones.
- Strong remote working capability and communication tools proficiency.
- Occasional travel may be required.
