Head of fundraising and partnerships

We Want To Change The World. We Believe It Starts With Education.In India, 100 million children from low-income communities grow up without access to the 21st-century skills they need to thrive — from emotional intelligence and digital literacy to everyday money management. This gap leads to a lifetime of limited opportunity, inter-generational poverty, and rising mental health concerns.What Are We Doing?At The Apprentice Project (TAP), we’re building India’s boldest bet on education equity — using AI, immersive learning, and multilingual content to help students unlock confidence, creativity, and real-world skills.But bold missions need bold fuel. To reach a million children over the next few years, we need a funding engine that’s as visionary and scalable as our pedagogy.Who We’re Looking ForWe’re looking for a mission-driven, results-oriented leader to join us as Director – Fundraising & Partnerships.In this high-impact leadership role, you’ll report directly to the Co-Founders and play a central role in scaling our fundraising capacity 3x over the next two years. You’ll shape and execute a dynamic strategy to secure long-term, outcome-linked funding from CSR, HNIs, philanthropic foundations, and global development partners.You’ll also represent TAP in key donor forums, build a high-performing fundraising team, and drive cross-functional collaboration to align impact with opportunity.If you’re excited about building bold narratives, unlocking multi-crore partnerships, and helping reimagine education funding in India, we’d love to meet you.About The RoleLocation: Pune/Mumbai/Delhi NCR/Bangalore/Hyderabad/ Remote (Hybrid Flexibility)Experience: 10 - 15 years Compensation: ₹20 - 26 LPA (incl. EPF & insurance)Reports to: CEO Type: Full-timeWhat You’ll DoFundraising Strategy Execution & LeadershipLead the implementation of TAP’s 2–3 year fundraising strategy, ensuring alignment with growth goals and execution of key prioritiesOwn annual fundraising targets, set operational KPIs, and ensure timely, transparent reporting on progress and impactDrive the full donor lifecycle, from prospecting and proposal development to grant reporting and relationship managementAct as a key external face of TAP in funder interactions, partnering with the Co-Founders to steward high-value relationships with CSR leaders, philanthropies, and impact investorsChampion operational excellence across all fundraising functions, building systems that ensure agility, compliance, and long-term funder trustPartnership Development & Network BuildingIdentify, cultivate, and manage a robust pipeline of 50+ CSR leads, philanthropists, and ecosystem enablersMobilize an extended network of donors, champions, and sector allies to unlock new opportunities and accelerate conversionRepresent TAP at high-visibility sector forums, donor convenings, and collaborative platforms to expand reach and reputationCommunications & Collateral OversightOversee the development and quality of donor-facing communications — including pitch decks, proposals, reports, and campaignsEnsure consistency and clarity across all fundraising narratives, aligning with TAP’s brand, values, and impact messagingLeverage storytelling, data, and design to create compelling content that speaks to diverse funder archetypes.Team Leadership & Systems BuildingBuild and mentor a high-performing fundraising teamEstablish robust systems for donor CRM, grant compliance, reporting, proposal management, and audit preparednessCollaborate with internal teams to ensure timely, tailored development of grant materials and donor communicationsRelationship ManagementShape high-touch, trust-based donor journeys that build long-term affinity and repeat investmentDesign differentiated engagement pathways for new, existing, and returning funders to deepen connection and commitmentCross-functional CollaborationCollaborate closely with Programs, Finance, and Impact teams to ensure fundraising aligns with evolving programmatic needsCoordinate with M&E and Data teams to define measurable outcomes and deliver on performance-linked funding commitmentsWho You AreYou see fundraising not just as a function, but as a lever for systemic change and deep, long-term impact.You’re a strategic executor, just as confident building a vision deck as you are navigating a complex donor conversation.You bring 12–15 years of experience across fundraising, strategic partnerships, or business development within the nonprofit, CSR, or impact investing space.You’ve led the charge on multi-crore, multi-year partnerships, raising ₹12 Cr+ from CSR heads, foundations, or HNIs, and know what it takes to build lasting trust.You’re a compelling storyteller and sharp writer, able to translate complexity into clarity across proposals, pitches, and reports.You have a strong grasp of India’s social impact ecosystem, and can intuit what funders value, from grassroots innovation to scalable systems.You thrive in high-autonomy, high-accountability environments, and bring a builder’s mindset to everything you take on.Bonus: You’ve worked in growth-stage nonprofits or led fundraising for multi-state interventionsWhy Join Us? Because we’re not just raising funds — we’re raising futures.At TAP, you won’t inherit a stale pipeline. You’ll build the engine, shape the narrative, and unlock the resources that help lakhs of children find their voice, skills, and future.Lead with vision – Own strategy, partnerships, and growthScale with purpose – Help fund one of India’s most scalable and tech-forward education modelsLearn with peers – Collaborate with co-founders, donors, and domain leadersWork from anywhere – Flexible hybrid work with structured outcomesGrow fast, grow real – This isn’t just a role. It’s a path to Chief Growth OfficerWhat You Can Expect?Ownership & trust: You’ll lead strategy, pitch vision, and build your function, not execute someone else’s.Hybrid work, real flexibility: Choose where you work from — Pune, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, or even home, as long as the mission moves forward.Learning & visibility: Represent TAP at national forums, learn from sector leaders, and grow your own influence.Supportive culture: We’re startup-fast but values-first. We prioritize belonging, well-being, and bold honesty.Competitive sector salary and total transparency about future growth paths.You can always reach out to us for any questions on