Manager – Catalytic Philanthropy,

Department

Catalytic Philanthropy

Job posted on

Sep 02, 2025

Employment type

Full Time

About Dasra:

Dasra's bold aspiration is a transformed India where a billion thrive with dignity and equity. Established in 1999, Dasra is India's leading strategic philanthropy foundation, working with philanthropists and high-impact social entrepreneurs to bring together knowledge, funding, and talent as a catalyst for social change. Dasra nurtures strategic philanthropy for India and focuses on impactful programs such as empowering adolescent girls, urban sanitation, inclusive economies, and child protection and care. With 25 years of experience in the sector, a depth of knowledge gained from working with over 1,000 non-profits, and having brought $100 million in funding to organizations, Dasra drives collaborative action to accelerate social change in India.

About OneDasra Team:

Dasra achieves its ambitious mission with a collaborative 150-member OneDasra team. This team works on various programs and supports audacious impact-first goals and strategic objectives by collaborating with internal and external stakeholders. The OneDasra organization structure has enhanced agility, learning, and enables pushing professional boundaries, which ensures that talent grows and develops for greater systems change. The recruitment process is unique in that you will be selected to join OneDasra, with a role that best leverages your strengths and be involved in programs that align with your current interests. You will not be joining a siloed-functional team, therefore – please consider these outlined responsibilities and skill-sets required with an opportunistic role that will build cross-functionality and be well poised for individual learning, growth, and development across sectors and stakeholders.

Dasra embraces diversity across people and communities through multiplicity in composition integrated with structures, culture and policies, enhancing inclusion and belonging for all in letter and spirit. We envision a team that includes people across caste, religion, gender, economic status, geography, disability and other underrepresented communities, supported by organizational structures that enable collective, transparent and fair decision making, guided by policies that facilitate growth and authenticity within an environment of openness and listening.

We believe that GEDI in our institutional and programmatic endeavours will enhance, drive and accelerate social impact and social change through an integration of the worldviews of the most marginalized, recognition of their vulnerabilities, rights and potentials and through prioritization of their needs.

Dasra is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees

About Catalytic Philanthropy: The Catalytic Philanthropy (CP) vertical focuses on strengthening philanthropic endeavors

by providing advisory services to funders, capacity-building support to non-profit organizations, and generating research

insights to drive informed decision-making. This includes assisting funders in refining their giving approaches, supporting

NGOs in enhancing their operational capacities, and conducting research to identify sectoral needs and opportunities

for impact.

Objectives of this role

We're searching for a highly qualified Manager who will partner with philanthropists, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to design, implement, and measure initiatives that maximize social impact. This role combines strategy, data-driven insight, stakeholder engagement, and project management to help funders and NGOs worktogether effectively, ensuring resources are channelled into scalable and sustainable solutions.

1. Primary Functions and Responsibilitie:

2. Strategy & Impact Planning

3. Advise philanthropists and NGOs in defining vision, objectives, and focus areas across sectors (e.g.,education, healthcare, livelihoods, climate, arts).
4. Develop tailored strategies, giving roadmaps, and impact frameworks that align funders' intent with NGOs' operational capabilities.
5. Support NGOs in sharpening their strategic positioning to attract philanthropic funding

2.Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Building

• Build trusted partnerships with philanthropists, NGOs, ecosystem leaders, and implementing agencies.
  
  Facilitate dialogues to align expectations, co-create impact programs, and foster collaboration.

• Maintain transparent communication channels, ensuring accountability and satisfaction on both funder and implementer sides.

• Innovation & Knowledge Building

• Stay abreast of global and local trends in philanthropy, CSR, impact investing, and social innovation.

• Introduce best practices, funding models, and collaborative platforms that amplify impact (e.g., blended finance, collective giving, cross-sector partnerships).
  
  Conduct research and publish thought leadership on emerging opportunities and lessons learned.

4.Project & Portfolio Management

• Manage multiple philanthropic and NGO projects, ensuring timely execution, quality delivery, and alignment with agreed goals.
• Track budgets and resource allocation to maximize efficiency and impact.
• Anticipate risks, advise on course corrections, and ensure projects remain sustainable.

5.Capacity Building & Advisory Support

• Support NGOs in building organizational capacity — governance, leadership development, financial sustainability.
• Help philanthropists and HNIs strengthen governance structures (foundations, trusts, donor-advised funds) for long-term impact. Facilitate workshops, training, and advisory sessions to equip clients with the skills and frameworks needed for effective philanthropy and program delivery.

6.Team Leadership & Management

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of consultants, analysts, and project staff to deliver high-quality advisory outputs.
• Conduct regular performance reviews, provide feedback, and support career growth of team members.
• Foster a collaborative, learning-oriented, and impact-driven team culture

7.Candidate Profile

• Experience: 8–12 years in social impact consulting, philanthropy advisory, development sector, or foundation management.
• Expertise: Strong knowledge of the NGO ecosystem, philanthropy trends, fundraising, and impact measurement.
• Skills: Strategic thinking, data analysis, project management, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement.
• Attributes: High integrity, empathy, and ability to build trust across diverse stakeholders (donors, NGOs,communities).
• Education: Advanced degree in public policy, development studies, social impact, or related fields preferred