Lead corporate partnerships and institutional fundraising for Southern India at a leading national non-profit. Manage donor portfolio of INR 10 crore+, cultivate new relationships, and drive revenue towards INR 200 crore target.

About the Company

Smile Foundation is a national level development organization based in India, working for the welfare of underprivileged children and their families through intensive programs focused on education, healthcare, skilling, and women empowerment. Founded in 2002 by a group of young corporate professionals, the organization has grown to impact over 1.5 million underprivileged children across 25 states, with 10 offices and over 650 employees. Smile Foundation holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC) and is accredited by GuideStar, United Way, CAF America, Give2Asia, and others. For six consecutive years, it has been Great Place to Work certified. Currently implementing projects worth INR 80 crores, primarily through CSR-funded initiatives, the organization is on a trajectory to raise over INR 200 crores annually.

Role Overview

Smile Foundation is seeking a dynamic and results-oriented Senior Manager / Manager – Corporate Partnerships to drive corporate and institutional fundraising initiatives across Southern India. Based in Bangalore, this role will be instrumental in achieving the organization’s annual fundraising target of INR 200+ crore by securing and managing partnerships with corporations, foundations, and high-value donors. The position reports to the Regional Head – Southern Region and requires 10–12 years of proven fundraising experience. The ideal candidate will have a strong track record in relationship management, donor stewardship, and securing grants and partnerships in the INR 25 lakh to INR 5 crore range.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and grow a portfolio of corporate and foundation donors, generating approximately INR 10 crore+ in annual revenue.
• Develop and execute annual fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship plans to strengthen donor engagement and retention.
• Identify, cultivate, and secure new funding opportunities including grants, CSR partnerships, and foundation support across Southern India.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective corporate and institutional donors.
• Develop long-term donor engagement strategies to enhance commitment and increase philanthropic investment.
• Stay informed on organizational priorities, program developments, and impact outcomes to align donor interests with funding opportunities.
• Lead donor meetings, presentations, proposal discussions, and partnership negotiations.
• Collaborate with Head Office, Program Operations, Proposal Development, and Finance teams to develop compelling funding proposals, manage grants, ensure compliance with CSR and foundation funding guidelines.
• Work with Donor Engagement team to plan and execute donor visits, events, and engagement initiatives.
• Maintain accurate donor records, revenue forecasts, and stewardship activities through Salesforce or other CRM platforms.
• Analyze donor trends and market intelligence across Southern India to support fundraising strategy and planning.
• Represent Smile Foundation at fundraising events, networking forums, conferences, and donor cultivation meetings.
• Prepare revenue forecasts, donor reports, and performance dashboards for leadership review.

Tech Stack

The role requires proficiency with donor management and CRM systems, specifically Salesforce. Knowledge of other CRM platforms, data analytics tools, and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) is essential for reporting, proposal creation, and stakeholder communication.

What Will Make You Successful at Smile Foundation

• Passionate about creating sustainable social impact.
• Innovative, entrepreneurial, and willing to explore new fundraising approaches.
• Highly ethical, trustworthy, and committed to professional excellence.
• Self-motivated and capable of working with minimal supervision.
• Collaborative team player who thrives in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communicator who can inspire and engage donors, partners, and stakeholders.
• Adaptable and resilient in managing evolving priorities and opportunities.

Bachelor's degree required; postgraduate qualification in Management, Social Development, Communications preferred. 10-12 years fundraising experience with corporations, foundations, CSR partners. Proven success in securing grants/partnerships INR 25 lakh to INR 5 crore. Excellent presentation, proposal writing, negotiation, communication skills. Strong understanding of India's CSR ecosystem. Experience with Salesforce or similar CRMs.