Partnership Lead - Fund Raising & Donor Management

NavGurukul; Pune City; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

A non-profit organization in Pune is seeking a Partnerships Lead to drive fundraising and build lasting partnerships with corporates and donors. This role requires over 10 years of experience in fundraising and partnerships, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to social impact. Compensation ranges between ₹9–12 LPA, reflecting our mission-driven environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in partnerships, fundraising, CSR, or related fields.
• Proven ability to secure and sustain large-scale funding relationships.
• Excellent communication, networking, and negotiation skills.
• Comfort in a fast-growing, mission-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Drive fundraising by securing commitments from corporates and foundations.
• Build and maintain donor relationships that result in repeat funding.
• Convert high-potential leads into large, multi-year partnerships.
• Own the full partnership cycle from outreach to reporting.
• Set clear goals for the partnerships team and mentor them.

Skills

Fundraising experience

Partnerships development

Communication skills

Networking skills

Negotiation skills

Job description

Overview

The Partnerships Lead will drive NavGurukul’s fundraising and donor engagement. You will take charge of building and growing partnerships with corporates, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals. Your work will ensure steady funding, stronger trust with our supporters, and new opportunities for NavGurukul to grow.

Why This Role Matters: NavGurukul exists to make education and meaningful careers accessible to young people from underserved backgrounds. As Partnerships Lead, you will be at the center of this effort—securing the resources and partnerships that make our work possible. The funding and collaborations you build will directly support students in shaping their futures.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive fundraising by securing commitments from corporates, foundations, and individual donors to meet annual and multi-year targets.
• Build and maintain donor relationships that result in repeat funding, advocacy, and stronger engagement with NavGurukul.
• Convert high-potential leads into large, multi-year partnerships that strengthen financial stability and enable program expansion
• Own the full partnership cycle — from outreach and negotiation to stewardship and reporting — ensuring timely closure and follow-through.
• Set clear goals for the partnerships team, mentor them to deliver on targets and support their growth
• Build and manage systems to track donor commitments and pipeline health, while delivering timely, transparent communication that highlight outcomes and ensure accountability
• Represent NavGurukul in external forums and donor meetings, consistently positioning the organization as a credible and high-impact partner.

What This Role Offers You

• Direct influence on impact:Play a central role in unlocking resources that translate into real opportunities for young people from underserved backgrounds.
• Ownership and autonomy:Lead fundraising and partnerships end-to-end — from outreach to closing multi-year commitments — with the freedom to shape how it’s done.
• Relationship building at scale:Work closely with senior leaders from corporates, foundations, and philanthropists, building partnerships that last.
• Leadership opportunity:Mentor and grow a partnerships team, set ambitious goals together, and see the direct results of your work.

Qualifications / Desired Experience

• 10+ years of experience in partnerships, fundraising, CSR, or related fields — exposure to the education or social impact sector is a plus.
• Proven ability to secure and sustain large-scale funding relationships with corporates, foundations, or HNIs.
• Excellent communication, networking, and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage senior leaders and decision-makers.
• Comfort in a fast-growing, mission-driven environment, with the ability to design systems and processes from scratch.
• Strong storytelling skills to effectively convey NavGurukul’s impact to diverse stakeholders.
• Genuine interest in social impact and a deep commitment to student success

Compensation

We are humbled by the interest of professionals who bring their expertise to NavGurukul’s mission. Being a non-profit, our salary structures are often lower than those in corporate careers, which may mean a pay adjustment of around 60–80% from current compensation.

For this role, the compensation range is ₹9–12 LPA. The final offer will be based on your skills, experience, and how you progress through the hiring process. If you feel aligned with our mission and comfortable with this range, we would be delighted to explore the possibility of working together.

Details

• Seniority level: Director
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Other
• Industries: Higher Education