Philanthropy Manager

Reports To: CEO

Location: United States- Virtual position; East Coast is preferred 

WHO WE ARE

Solar Sister is the world’s first scalable, women-led renewable energy distribution model. The communities where Solar Sister works in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have some of the greatest gender equity disparities. They have some of the lowest electrification rates globally and bear the brunt of a changing climate – with 600 million people on the continent lacking basic access to electricity.

When women in these last-mile communities are connected to Solar Sister’s unique community-driven model, they become the infrastructure needed to electrify communities left behind by top-down energy investment.

Solar Sister provides graduated business coaching, mentorship, a tested product pipeline, warranty support, and access to local Solar Sister Sisterhood groups for networking, support, and encouragement. Entrepreneurs use existing woman-to-woman social networks to build their businesses and provide communities access to affordable, clean energy. These products mitigate the negative local/global effects of traditional energy sources and climate change. Along the way, they elevate their own standing and invest in their communities. 

To date, we have empowered 11,000 women, who have reached 5 million people, with clean energy and have mitigated 1.8 million metric tons of CO2e. By 2030, Solar Sister will empower 30,000 women to eradicate energy poverty across SSA and provide 30 million people with clean energy.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are seeking a passionate and results-driven Philanthropy Manager to join our dynamic team. In this role, you will play a crucial part in ensuring Solar Sister’s financial sustainability by growing, developing, and managing a robust donor pipeline. You will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, and stewarding relationships with individuals, foundations, and corporate partners to raise funds for Solar Sister’s operations. The Philanthropy manager will lead the implementation of Solar  Sister’s development and fundraising strategy and increase with a focus on philanthropic grants and/or unrestricted gifts from foundations, corporations, government, and individuals. 

Key Responsibilities

1. Fundraising and Donor Relations
   • Work closely with the CEO to Develop, manage, and execute Solar Sister’s fundraising and development strategy to ensure financial sustainability.
   • Identify, research, and cultivate relationships with individual donors, foundations, corporate partners, and government agencies.
   • Prepare compelling relationship/funding proposals, presentations, and donor communications to secure philanthropic funding.
   • Lead donor stewardship by providing timely updates, impact reports, and ongoing engagement opportunities.
   • Maintain positive relationships with donors at all levels, including writing and sending letters of thanks to donors.
2. Strategic Planning and Pipeline Development
   • Build and manage a robust donor pipeline, ensuring a diverse range of funding sources.
   • Set annual fundraising targets and monitor progress toward achieving financial goals.
   • Collaborate with senior leadership to align fundraising goals with Solar Sister’s strategic priorities.
   • Strengthen and maintain Solar Sister’s donor database to track relationships, contributions, and engagement strategies.
3. Advocacy, Branding, and Collaboration
   • Work closely with the program teams to understand Solar Sister’s impact and funding needs.
   • Collaborate with the communications team to align branding and marketing efforts with fundraising strategies.
   • Support the creation of impactful fundraising materials, campaigns, and promotional content highlighting Solar Sister’s mission and achievements.
   • Manage Solar Sister’s donation page, engage with monthly donors, and deploy a clear strategy and plan to increase individual monthly donations.
   • Develop tailored fundraising strategies for specific programs or campaigns, such as end-of-year fundraising events and donor engagement events.
   • Adopt new processes to fundraise with individuals, including engaging universities, schools, women’s groups etc. 
   • Engaging with potential ambassadors for Solar Sister, including athletes, writers, celebrities, influencers, etc.
4. Leadership and Advocacy
   • Represent Solar Sister at donor meetings, conferences, and networking events to increase visibility and strengthen partnerships.
   • Organise fundraising events, meetings, and opportunities for the CEO to engage with potential donors and partners. 
   • Provide leadership and guidance to staff involved in development activities, ensuring alignment with fundraising goals.
   • Advocate for Solar Sister’s mission, demonstrating passion and commitment to advancing clean energy and women’s empowerment.
5. Reporting and Compliance
   • Prepare regular progress reports for senior leadership and the board of directors.
   • Ensure compliance with legal, ethical, and organizational standards for fundraising activities.
   • Review all new funding agreements before signing both Solar Sister US and Solar Sister Subsidiary agreements; oversee negotiations of terms and conditions of the agreement, as needed. Set organizational standards for agreements;
6.  Other duties as assigned. As a small and nimble team, Solar Sister has a can-do, roll-up-your-sleeves environment that may require taking on tasks that are not explicitly defined above in order to get the job done.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Marketing, or a related discipline.
• At least 5 years of professional experience in fundraising, donor relations, or a related role within the nonprofit sector.
• Proven track record of successfully securing philanthropic grants and unrestricted gifts from individuals, foundations, corporations, or government entities.
• Strong experience in donor pipeline management, strategic planning, and building long-term donor relationships.
• Experience working closely with communications teams on branding, marketing, and promotional campaigns.
• Familiarity with CRM systems and donor database management (e.g., Salesforce).
• Applicants must have the legal right to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives for donor engagement.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with a talent for building and sustaining relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to assess fundraising performance and adapt strategies as needed.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to identify opportunities, set priorities, and execute plans effectively.
• Proven skills in branding and marketing collaboration, including crafting donor-centered materials.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously, demonstrating strong organizational and time-management skills.

Personal Attributes

• Passion for Solar Sister’s mission and commitment to advancing clean energy and women’s empowerment.
• Results-oriented, with a proactive approach to problem-solving and achieving targets.
• High level of integrity and professionalism in handling sensitive donor information.
• Collaborative and team-oriented, with the ability to work effectively across departments.
• Adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Desirable

• Master’s degree in a relevant field or certification in fundraising (e.g., CFRE).
• Knowledge of and experience in the clean energy, gender equity, or international development sectors.
• Familiarity with donor trends and philanthropic practices in Africa or the global South.

HOURS AND LOCATION

This full-time position is available immediately. This position is virtual and can work from anywhere in the United States. US-based team members not located in the Eastern Standard Time (EST) Zone may be required to be available outside of their regular working hours to accommodate meetings with other US and internationally-based team members, donors, or partners. 

There may be domestic and international travel opportunities. 

COMPENSATION 

The salary range for this position is $55,000–$65,000 per year. Successful candidates will start at the lower end of the scale unless they have significantly more relevant experience. Additional benefits include a $500/month allowance for medical insurance, 20 days of personal time off, 10 national holidays, and a two-week organization-wide closure at the end of the calendar year. Solar Sister also offers a flexible work environment that prioritizes the well-being of our team.

TO APPLY

If this opportunity calls out to you, please email the following to jobs@solarsister.org: 

1) A tailored cover letter that explains why Solar Sister’s mission excites you and why this particular role is a fit for you and 

2) Your resume.

We review applications on a rolling basis and strive to get back to short-listed applicants within two weeks.

Solar Sister provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Solar Sister complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Solar Sister expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, disability or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of SolarSister employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.