Fundraising Lead

Synnefa is a business focused on developing solutions in agriculture, climate, energy access, and technology, aiming to create significant social and environmental impact.

Synnefa is seeking a proactive Fundraising Lead to drive its funding initiatives, focusing on securing grants, foundation support, and corporate partnerships. This role involves identifying potential funders, cultivating relationships, and developing strong proposals to convert opportunities into successful funding. The successful candidate will report directly to the Founder & CEO, collaborating with finance, technical, and grants compliance teams, and is expected to work autonomously, taking full ownership of their responsibilities.

1. Build and manage a qualified fundraising pipeline, ensuring alignment with Synnefa’s growth priorities and assessing funding fit, eligibility, timing, and delivery requirements.
2. Initiate outreach, secure introductions, and develop relationships with foundations, institutional funders, and corporate partners, exploring opportunities beyond open calls.
3. Lead the development of concept notes, grant applications, proposals, and pitch materials, collaborating with the Finance team on budgets and utilizing verified technical, commercial, and impact evidence.
4. Manage funder follow-ups, due diligence processes, and negotiations through to a funding decision, with support from the CEO for major relationships and commitments.
5. Develop renewals, follow-on awards, and new funding partnerships with existing funders and suitable consortium partners.
6. Maintain accurate records of opportunities and funding forecasts, reporting progress clearly, identifying risks early, and recommending practical next steps.
7. Hand over signed awards to the grants compliance team, ensuring complete budgets, conditions, and reporting requirements are provided, and support the CEO with materials and due diligence for broader capital raising efforts.

1. Possess at least three years of relevant experience in fundraising, grant development, or funding partnerships, with verifiable examples of successful awards and personal contributions.
2. Demonstrate experience in identifying opportunities, approaching funders, and developing relationships, in addition to responding to open calls.
3. Exhibit clear, persuasive writing and confident verbal communication skills, capable of simply explaining a business, its impact, and its funding needs.
4. Have a practical understanding of proposal budgets, restricted funding, co-financing, financial information, and due diligence processes.
5. Show strong organizational skills, reliable follow-through, and proficiency in using spreadsheets and a fundraising database or CRM.
6. Hold a relevant degree or equivalent practical experience; experience in agriculture, climate, energy access, technology, or African social enterprises is considered an advantage.