About the role

The Fundraising Specialist plays a key role in advancing Catalyst Now’s fundraising and resource mobilization efforts to support social innovators, systems change initiatives, and network-building activities with far-reaching impact.

This role focuses on developing and supporting fundraising strategies, supporting the cultivation of and strengthening of donor relationships, and identifying opportunities to mobilize resources aligned with Catalyst Now’s mission and strategic priorities. The consultant will work closely with key Catalyst Now stakeholders to support sustainable funding opportunities and strengthen engagement with philanthropic organizations, funders, and strategic partners.

As a member-led organization, several initiatives are generated collaboratively across the network. This role requires someone who can provide facilitative support, identify strategic fundraising and partnership opportunities, and help advance donor engagement and resource mobilization efforts across initiatives and collaborations.

We are looking for someone with a proven ability to single-handedly coordinate fundraising strategies, cultivate donor relationships, and secure funding. The consultant must possess strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders. The successful consultant will be comfortable working within complex and collaborative environments, able to manage multiple priorities, and skilled at identifying opportunities to strengthen fundraising efforts and organizational impact.

Key responsibilities

Responsibilities Will Include:

Fundraising and Resource Mobilization

• Identify, research, and pursue funding opportunities aligned with Catalyst Now’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Support the development and implementation of fundraising strategies, campaigns, and donor engagement initiatives.
• Prepare grant proposals, donor presentations, funding applications, and stewardship reports.
• Maintain accurate donor and partner records within CRM systems and track fundraising pipelines and reporting deadlines.
• Support the planning and coordination of fundraising events, donor meetings, and partnership engagement activities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, philanthropic organizations, and strategic partners to encourage long-term collaboration and renewals.

Campaign Development and Engagement

• Work closely with Catalyst Now members, collaborations, working groups, ecosystem builders, and partner networks to support fundraising and engagement campaigns.
• Support data analysis and contribute to strategic engagement initiatives and funding-related campaigns.

Stakeholder and Partnership Engagement

• Build and maintain relationships with philanthropic support organizations, funders, community leaders, advocacy groups, and other key stakeholders.
• Collaborate with partner organizations and networks to strengthen fundraising, engagement, and partnership efforts.
• Provide facilitative support to collaborative initiatives and partnership activities.

Research and Analysis

• Conduct research and analysis on funding trends, donor priorities, and financing approaches relevant to social innovation and systems change.
• Provide insights and recommendations to support fundraising strategies and partnership engagement.

Communications and Outreach

• Develop compelling messaging, communication materials, presentations, and campaign content to support fundraising and donor engagement efforts.
• Utilize communication channels such as social media, newsletters, events, and stakeholder briefings to disseminate information and engage audiences.
• Organise meetings, workshops, briefings, and events to support fundraising and partnership initiatives.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Track progress against fundraising, partnership, and engagement goals.
• Prepare regular reports, updates, and presentations for internal teams, leadership, partners, and funders on activities, achievements, and impact.

Additional Responsibilities

• Undertake any other ad hoc tasks as requested and demonstrate flexibility in supporting evolving organizational priorities and initiatives

Qualifications and experience

For this senior-level consultant role, we invite applications from people who have:

• Master’s degree in a related field (relevant experience may substitute for formal education).
• Minimum of 6-8 years of experience in fundraising and resource mobilization with strong understanding of donor engagement strategies, philanthropy, and funding mechanisms.
• Familiarity with digital engagement tools, social media platforms, and online outreach techniques.
• An active interest in global issues, systems change, and social innovation.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, multicultural, global environment across multiple time zones.
• Strong time management skills and the ability to adapt to changing priorities and environments.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders and build collaborative partnerships.

This engagement is for six months, with renewal contingent upon the successful delivery of agreed fundraising objectives and outcomes.

Catalyst Now uses a location-sensitive benchmarking approach to determine consultant compensation. Rates are calibrated based on the consultant’s location, local cost of living and labor market conditions, relevant experience, seniority, specialization, and scope of work. Based on the current compensation model, indicative monthly fees range from approximately USD 1,500–2,500 in countries such as India, Kenya, and Brazil; USD 2,000–2,500 in Argentina, Cameroon, and Jordan; USD 3,000–3,800 in France, Australia, and the UK; and USD 5,300–5,500 in the United States. Within each country benchmark, the upper end of the range is typically reserved for consultants who most closely align with the desired profile, demonstrating the highest levels of relevant experience, expertise, seniority, and overall fit for the role.

The opportunity to work with a dynamic team in a fast-paced global environment

Working in a dynamic network of over 7,000 members across the globe, including Skoll Foundation, Ashoka, Schwab Foundation, and Echoing Green

This position is remote and can be carried out from anywhere in the world with 5 hours overlap with CET working hours.

Catalyst Now actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion. We consider the experience of all candidates, irrespective of age, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation, disability, gender, gender identity or gender reassignment.

• Identify, research, and pursue funding opportunities aligned with Catalyst Now’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Support the development and implementation of fundraising strategies, campaigns, and donor engagement initiatives.
• Prepare grant proposals, donor presentations, funding applications, and stewardship reports.
• Maintain accurate donor and partner records within CRM systems and track fundraising pipelines and reporting deadlines.
• Support the planning and coordination of fundraising events, donor meetings, and partnership engagement activities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, philanthropic organizations, and strategic partners to encourage long-term collaboration and renewals.
• Work closely with Catalyst Now members, collaborations, working groups, ecosystem builders, and partner networks to support fundraising and engagement campaigns.
• Support data analysis and contribute to strategic engagement initiatives and funding-related campaigns.
• Build and maintain relationships with philanthropic support organizations, funders, community leaders, advocacy groups, and other key stakeholders.
• Collaborate with partner organizations and networks to strengthen fundraising, engagement, and partnership efforts.
• Provide facilitative support to collaborative initiatives and partnership activities.
• Conduct research and analysis on funding trends, donor priorities, and financing approaches relevant to social innovation and systems change.
• Provide insights and recommendations to support fundraising strategies and partnership engagement.
• Develop compelling messaging, communication materials, presentations, and campaign content to support fundraising and donor engagement efforts.
• Utilize communication channels such as social media, newsletters, events, and stakeholder briefings to disseminate information and engage audiences.
• Organise meetings, workshops, briefings, and events to support fundraising and partnership initiatives.
• Track progress against fundraising, partnership, and engagement goals.
• Prepare regular reports, updates, and presentations for internal teams, leadership, partners, and funders on activities, achievements, and impact.
• Undertake any other ad hoc tasks as requested and demonstrate flexibility in supporting evolving organizational priorities and initiatives

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Comfortable working within complex and collaborative environments
• Ability to manage multiple priorities
• Skilled at identifying opportunities to strengthen fundraising efforts and organizational impact
• Familiarity with digital engagement tools, social media platforms, and online outreach techniques

• Master’s degree in a related field (relevant experience may substitute for formal education)
• Minimum of 6-8 years of experience in fundraising and resource mobilization with strong understanding of donor engagement strategies, philanthropy, and funding mechanisms.
• An active interest in global issues, systems change, and social innovation.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, multicultural, global environment across multiple time zones.
• Strong time management skills and the ability to adapt to changing priorities and environments.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders and build collaborative partnerships.