Key Education Foundation is hiring for a Fundraising Lead.
About KEF
Key Education Foundation (KEF) is a Bangalore-based, not-for-profit organisation working to improve the quality of Early Childhood Education (ECE) for children from low-income communities.
Research indicates that more than 90 percent of brain development occurs before the age of six, yet most children in India begin formal learning only at Grade 1. KEF exists to change this reality.
Our mission is to empower institutions, educators, and parents to drive systemic transformation in Early Childhood Education. We work through direct program implementation in schools and Anganwadis, as well as through partnerships with government systems at the state and district levels.
About the Role
The Fundraising Lead is a senior, strategic hire who will own and drive KEF’s resource mobilisation target. Reporting directly to the CEO, this person will be the primary steward of KEF’s relationships with CSR partners and institutional foundations, lead proposal development for major grants, and build systems for sustainable fundraising.
Role Details
- Position: Fundraising Lead
- Reporting to: CEO
- Commitment: Full-time
- Location: Bengaluru (Hybrid)
- Remuneration Range: 10,00,000 – 16,00,000 INR per annum (based on experience)
- Joining Date: Immediate
Key Responsibilities and Duties
1. Fundraising Strategy & Ownership:
- Design and own KEF’s annual fundraising strategy aligned to the target
- Build and maintain a strong, diversified pipeline of active prospects at all times.
- Track conversion rates, deal velocity, and portfolio mix & report to the CEO monthly.
- Identify new funding trends, government schemes, and emerging CSR priorities relevant to ECE.
2. Fundraising from CSR :
- Identify, research, and cultivate relationships with CSR heads and decision-makers at target corporates.
- Design CSR partnership proposals with multi-year structures, employee engagement options, and impact frameworks.
- Negotiate terms and close partnerships.
- Build a pipeline of at least 8–10 active CSR conversations at all times.
3. Fundraising from Foundations/Institutions:
- Map and approach institutional foundations aligned to ECE, child development, and systemic education reform.
- Lead relationship cultivation with the PoC from application through grant renewal.
- Own the grant calendar; ensure all proposals, reports, and communications are on time and of high quality.
- Develop multi-year relationships that drive consistent, renewable funding.
4. Proposal & Pitch Leadership
- Lead development of all major proposals, concept notes, and pitch decks
- Work closely with Program and Finance teams to build credible, evidence-backed proposals.
- Maintain a proposal library of templates, narratives, and impact evidence that the team can adapt quickly.
- Ensure every proposal is tailored to the specific funder’s priorities, language, and requirements.
5. Donor Stewardship & amp; Relationship Management
- Own relationships with all existing and new major donors; ensure they are engaged, informed, and renewed.
- Organise field visits, leadership meetings, and impact showcases for key funders.
- Collaborate with the Communications team to produce donor newsletters, impact stories, and annual reports.
- Ensure no donor relationship goes cold; maintain a structured touchpoint plan for all active funders.
6. Team Leadership
- Manage, mentor, and develop the team; set clear goals; review work; and build their capabilities.
- Conduct weekly check-ins and monthly structured reviews with the team.
- Allocate work across the team to ensure meaningful ownership and room to grow.
- Represent the FR team in cross-functional meetings with Program, Finance, and Communications.
7. Systems, Reporting & Compliance
- Own and maintain KEF’s fundraising CRM- ensure full pipeline visibility at all times.
- Track all grant reporting obligations; ensure the Associate meets all reporting deadlines.
- Maintain documentation for MoUs, grant agreements, and compliance requirements.
- Prepare monthly pipeline reports and quarterly reviews for the CEO.
Essential Mindsets and Attitude
- Driven by mission — genuinely believes in ECE as a lever for systemic change.
- Owner mentality — takes full accountability for the fundraising target; doesn't wait for direction.
- Builder mindset — comfortable creating systems, processes, and relationships from scratch.
- Collaborative — works well with program, finance, and comms; fundraising doesn’t succeed in silos.
- Resilient — handles rejection and long sales cycles without losing momentum.
Essential Knowledge and Skills
- Deep familiarity with the Indian CSR and Foundation landscape — key sectors, funding windows, compliance (Schedule VII).
- Excellent written communication — can write compelling proposals and donor communication with minimal editing.
- Comfort with financial data, budgets, and M&E frameworks for proposals.
- Proficiency in CRM tools, Google Suite, and presentation design.
- Strong interpersonal skills and comfort engaging senior corporate and foundation stakeholders.
Qualifications and Experience
- Master’s degree preferred (Development, Management, Social Sciences, or related).
- 5–8 years of fundraising experience, with a demonstrated track record of closing grants
- Proven relationships in the CSR and foundation ecosystem in India.
- Prior experience managing a team member or project lead role.
- Experience in the education or child development sector is a strong advantage.
What We Offer
- Impact Visibility: Contribute directly to enabling quality Early Childhood Education at scale.
- Opportunity: Learn and grow in fundraising, donor relations, and social impact work.
- Community: Work in a supportive, values-driven team environment.
- Agency: Take ownership of meaningful work and contribute ideas to KEF’s growth.
Next Steps:
If you are interested in this role, please express your interest by filling out an applicationform.
Process of Interview 4 Rounds:
- 1st Round: Verification and Hygiene Check Call (20 minutes)
- 2nd Round: Call with Hiring Manager: Culture and Alignment to Cause fit (1 hour)
- 3rd Round: Pre-work Assignment and Discussion: Skill, Mindset, Attitude fit (1 hour)
Total time to complete all rounds: 25-30 days from the date of application
Warmly,
Team KEF!