Senior Specialist - Fundraising (Remote)

About Udhyam:

Udhyam Learning Foundation (Udhyam) is on a mission towards Making Bharat Entrepreneurial. We believe that entrepreneurship is a powerful way to channelize an individual’s potential. Entrepreneurship enables agency and allows an individual to work on their strengths while creating value for the world.

Our Programs:

• Udhyam Shiksha works on developing entrepreneurial mindsets among the youth and enabling them to achieve their potential, having impacted ~40,00,000 learners across 12 Indian states.
• Udhyam Vyapaar focuses on nano businesses in India, and solving large problems faced by them, at scale; having already enabled an income uplift for close to 10000 entrepreneurs.
• The goal for Udhyam is to build a thriving and supportive ecosystem, where every individual feels empowered to define their own path.

The Role

• Calling all meticulous researchers and aspiring fundraisers!

Do you have a knack for finding key information and organizing it into a powerful resource? Are you excited to kickstart your career in the social sector by supporting an organization dedicated to empowering a generation of entrepreneurs? If so, Udhyam Learning Foundation invites you to be a foundational part of our fundraising success. As Udhyam's Fundraising SeniorSpecialist for Udhyam Shiksha, you will be the engine that fuels our initial fundraising efforts. You will build and maintain the prospect pipeline, ensuring our fundraising team has the strategic information they need to connect with potential partners.

How You'll Contribute and Make a Difference:

1. Prospect Research and Identification:

Identify New Opportunities: Systematically research and identify prospective donors, including CSR arms of corporations, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals, whose funding interests align with Shiksha’s mission and programs. In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into prospect websites, annual reports, and public filings to understand their specific thematic focus areas, geographic priorities, and giving history. Strategic Alignment: Analyze potential funders' mandates against Shiksha's current needs to create a highly targeted shortlist of organizations we should approach.

2. Database Management and Stewardship:

• Build the Pipeline: Maintain and meticulously update an internal database (CRM) of all fundraising prospects, ensuring all information is accurate, up-to-date, and easily accessible.
• Data Integrity: Record key prospect details, including organizational structure, primary contacts, funding cycles, and areas of interest.
• Process Improvement: Help to refine and standardize data entry and reporting processes to ensure the fundraising team operates efficiently.

3. Outreach Support:

• Draft Compelling Communication: Assist in writing initial, tailored, and engaging cold emails or introductory messages to prospective funders and key contacts identified through your research.
• Gather Support Materials: Work closely with the fundraising team to ensure all necessary introductory documents (e.g., initial pitch deck snippets, organizational overviews) are ready for outreach.
• Support Proposal Development: Collaborate with program teams to gather program details, success stories, dat

4. Team Collaboration and Learning:

• Support the Fundraising Team: Provide immediate research support and background checks on potential partners to senior team members ahead of meetings or calls.
• Stay Informed: Keep an eye on sector trends and significant funding announcements to identify timely opportunities for Shiksha.
• Monthly Reporting: Contribute to the monthly tracking of prospect pipeline growth and research progress against set targets.

Qualifications, Experience, and Skills:

• Education: Bachelor's degree (preferably in a related field like social sciences, business, or communications).

Experience: 1-3 years of relevant professional experience, or demonstrated high-level research and data management skills acquired through academic projects, internships, or prior roles. Experience in the social sector or a fundraising/sales support role is a plus.

Must-Have Skills:

• Research Acumen: Exceptional ability to conduct effective and comprehensive online research, synthesize complex information, and identify key takeaways.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous organizational skills with a commitment to maintaining data accuracy and integrity in a database/CRM.
• Written Communication: Strong, clear, and professional writing skills with the ability to draft compelling initial outreach emails.
• Analytical Mindset: The ability to understand and align Udhyam's programs with the strategic giving priorities of potential funders.
• Software Proficiency: Comfort with database management (CRM) and high proficiency in tools like Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets for tracking and analysis.

Good to Have Skills:

• Prior experience in market research, lead generation, or sales development.
• Ability to leverage AI based tools for research and analysis