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.