Lead – Resource Mobilisation & Fundraising
Location :Ahmedabad, Gujarat or Mumbai, Maharashtra (with flexibility for remote/hybrid arrangements)
Organisation :Mahila Housing Trust (MHT)
Employment Type: Full-time or consultant/contract basis, depending on candidate fit
Reports To :Director & Managing Trustee
Experience: Open — proven, demonstrable fundraising track record is the primary criterion, not age or years of service
About MHT
Mahila Housing Trust (MHT) is a women-led, grassroots non-profit that has spent over three decades building the bridge between informal urban communities and the public and private institutions that can change their lives. Working through community-based women's collectives — Community Action Groups (CAGs) and Vikasinis ,MHT strengthens women's leadership at the ward level and helps them negotiate directly with municipal and state governments on housing, water and sanitation, and climate resilience. This community-to-institution model has earned MHT national and international recognition, and now underpins its expansion into public health, building on the same grassroots trust and government relationships that have driven its work in habitat and climate resilience.
Role Summary
MHT is seeking an experienced fundraising lead to grow and diversify its resource base as the organisation expands from housing and climate resilience programming into public health interventions. The role will identify, cultivate, and manage relationships with institutional donors, foundations, and giving-circle or managed-funder platforms, and will play a central part in translating MHT's grassroots track record into fundable, donor-ready propositions for a serious international funding audience.
Key Responsibilities
• Develop and execute a fundraising strategy spanning institutional donors, foundations, multilateral/bilateral agencies, and giving-circle or managed-funder platforms.
• Identify new funding opportunities aligned with MHT's housing, climate resilience, and public health priorities, and track relevant calls, RFPs, and prize/award tracks.
• Lead the preparation of concept notes, proposals, and donor briefs in coordination with programme and technical teams, ensuring funder-ready quality and framing.
• Build and maintain relationships with existing and prospective funders, partners, and anchor donors, representing MHT in donor meetings and due-diligence processes.
• Coordinate with delivery entities and partner organisations on grant structuring, compliance, and reporting requirements relevant to each funding channel.
• Track fundraising pipeline, targets, and conversion, and report progress regularly to leadership.
• Support the development of donor-facing collateral, including impact reporting and communications that make the case for MHT's work to external audiences.
• Represent MHT at relevant donor convenings, panels, and sector events as required.
Qualifications & Experience
• Proven, demonstrable experience in fundraising, resource mobilisation, or donor relations — no fixed age or minimum years of experience requirement. "Proven" is assessed on concrete markers such as: scale of funds raised, calibre of donors managed (institutional, foundation, CSR, multilateral), experience closing multi-year or unrestricted grants, and a track record of donor retention rather than one-off wins.
• Experience working with institutional donors, foundations, or multilateral agencies is strongly preferred; familiarity with the Indian non-profit and CSR/FCRA funding landscape is an advantage.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate programmatic work into compelling funding propositions.
• Comfortable working across multiple entities and funding structures (grants, fee-for-service, giving circles).
• Self-motivated, target-driven, and comfortable operating with a degree of autonomy.
• Willingness to travel as required for donor meetings and sector events.
Reporting Line
This position reports directly to the Director & Managing Trustee.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should send a CV and a brief cover letter outlining relevant experience to careers@mahilahsg.org, with the job title in the subject line.
Application Deadline: Open until filled
Selection Process
The selection process typically includes an initial screening call, a short written task or case exercise relevant to the role, a panel interview, and reference checks. Candidates will be kept informed of timelines at each stage.
Equal Opportunity
MHT is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, caste, religion, disability, or background. Women candidates and candidates from the communities MHT serves are strongly encouraged to apply.