Fund Raising and Development Consultant

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.