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.