Role Summary
To support Life Africa Mission, we are seeking a results-driven Grants & Resource Mobilization Manager to drive our efforts in securing catalytic funding across institutional donors, corporate CSR, philanthropic partners, and impact-aligned investors. The ideal candidate will be an exceptional grant writer, ecosystem strategist, and relationship-builder who can translate our bold ideas into winning proposals and long-term funding relationships.
- Develop and submit a minimum of 10 high-quality grant proposals per month, ensuring strategic alignment with LIFE Africa’s focus areas.
- Ensure proposal quality reflects strong theory of change, measurable outcomes, budget realism, and alignment with donor priorities.
- Maintain a live grant tracker with details on opportunity mapping, deadlines, feedback, and success metrics.
- Collaborate with programs, M&E, and finance teams to gather content and budgets for timely submissions.
- Support the implementation of a multi-channel fundraising strategy that includes: Institutional donors (foundations, DFIs, multilaterals), corporate social investment partners high-net-worth individuals and diaspora giving, blended finance or catalytic, innovation-aligned ecosystem partners, etc
- Identify and assess new funding opportunities monthly; maintain a dynamic pipeline of prospects
- Initiate and manage strategic relationships with local and international funders
- Coordinate donor engagements including meetings, pitch sessions, field visits, and reporting milestones
- Develop compelling funder-facing communication materials including concept notes, capability statements, and quarterly updates
- Monitor shifts in the philanthropic and development finance space to inform LIFE Africa’s funding approach
- Contribute to thought leadership initiatives (e.g. whitepapers, op-eds, events) to raise the organization’s visibility with funders
Skills and Qualification
- Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, International Development, Public Policy, Economics, or related field (Master’s degree preferred or demonstrable equivalent experience)
- Minimum of 5–7 years of progressive experience in grant writing, resource mobilization, or donor relations within; NGOs, Social enterprises or Corporate institutions, Philanthropic organizations, CSR or development agencies
- Proven success in writing and winning large-scale, multi-year grants or sponsorships
- Familiarity with the funding practices of global donors such as Mastercard Foundation, Ford Foundation, Skoll, GIZ, USAID, FCDO, and UN agencies
- Knowledge of trends in African development finance, diaspora giving, gender-lens funding, and skills for employment financing.
- Excellent grant writing and persuasive communication skills, with consistent delivery in time-sensitive environments.
- Familiarity with frameworks like logical frameworks (logframes), theory of change, and M&E plans.
- Strong budget development literacy and ability to work with finance teams.
- Proficiency in research tools, funding directories (e.g. Devex, Submittable), and CRM databases