[Hiring] Senior Associate - Fundraising & Communications @Global Development Incubator

Role Description

NurtureFirst is in an active narrative-building phase: positioning HBCC as a priority, establishing its distinct voice in the HBCC and systems-change space, growing its funder base, and building the Global HBCC Alliance's public profile. The Communications & Fundraising Senior Associate will contribute to the day-to-day execution of this work, shaping how NurtureFirst tells its story and engaging funders with increasing autonomy and a growing role in setting team-level communications and driving fundraising priorities.

This role reports to the Director of Operations for management and accountability, but is directly responsive to the priorities of the Executive, Programs, Learning, and Alliance teams, whose work generates the evidence, stories, and relationships this role turns into external-facing content and funder engagement.

Strategic direction, organizational positioning, and major funding decisions remain with NurtureFirst leadership and relevant strategic advisers. Within that direction, the Senior Associate is expected to:

• Identify communications and fundraising opportunities proactively.
• Shape how NurtureFirst's narrative is told across channels.
• Manage the systems and high-quality outputs that keep fundraising and external engagement on track.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, International Development, or a related field.
• 4–6 years of relevant experience in fundraising, communications, proposal development, grants, or business development, with increasing autonomy and responsibility.
• At least 3 years of experience raising grants from foundations, governments, and/or individual donors within the 4-6 years of overall experience.
• Experience working in the nonprofit, development, or social impact sector.
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with the ability to analyze and translate complex ideas, program information, and evidence into clear, compelling narratives.
• Strong grant writing and reporting experience, including developing high-quality proposals, donor reports, and communications collateral.
• Experience developing audio-visual and multimedia content, including content for digital platforms and social media channels.
• Proficiency in key design and content creation tools, such as Canva and/or Adobe Creative Suite.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with funders, partners, and internal teams.
• Strong project coordination and deadline management skills, with excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously.

Requirements

• Experience with institutional fundraising and/or foundation funding.
• Experience managing a donor/funder database or CRM.
• Experience in early childhood development, childcare, education, gender, or related fields.
• Experience with advocacy and policy communications.
• Familiarity with website CMS platforms, social media management tools, and basic digital analytics.

Key Responsibilities

• Fundraising and Funder Engagement (Core)
  • Manage NurtureFirst’s funder pipeline, directory, engagement history, and fundraising calendar.
  • Lead the development of proposals, concept notes, expressions of interest, renewal requests, and other fundraising materials.
  • Conduct funder research, prepare funder meeting materials, including briefing notes, talking points, one-pagers, and presentations.
  • Coordinate and produce narrative funder reports, progress updates, and impact summaries.
  • Monitor funding opportunities and proactively flag those aligned with NurtureFirst’s priorities.
  • Track funder actions, agreements, reporting requirements, grant expenditure deadlines, and renewal milestones.
  • Maintain a library of up-to-date organizational information, evidence, case studies, and standard proposal content.
  • Support the development and stewardship of funder and partner relationships.
• Narrative, Content, Storytelling and Advocacy (Core)
  • Translate NurtureFirst’s strategy, evidence, and core messages into clear and compelling communications across channels.
  • Work with Programs, Learning, and Alliance teams to identify and package evidence, insights, and stories for external audiences.
  • Develop and manage content for social media, the website, newsletters, campaigns, and other external platforms.
  • Develop organizational decks, fact sheets, case studies, advocacy materials, policy briefs, knowledge products, conference materials, and other publications.
  • Identify opportunities to turn program evidence, organizational milestones, and priority engagements into compelling communications and advocacy content.
  • Manage the communications calendar and ensure consistent messaging, tone, and visual identity.
  • Monitor audience and digital engagement and use insights to strengthen content and communications.
• Communications Systems, Capacity and Coordination
  • Manage NurtureFirst’s website and digital presence, ensuring content remains accurate, current, and aligned with organizational priorities.
  • Maintain core communications assets, templates, brand guidelines, organizational materials, and an organized repository of source content.
  • Coordinate external designers, photographers, videographers, and other communications suppliers as required.
  • Support implementation of NurtureFirst’s internal communications capacity-building plan.
  • Maintain communications and fundraising workplans, calendars, trackers, and records.
  • Track key fundraising and communications activities and use performance data and learning to strengthen approaches.

Success Measures

• The fundraising pipeline and funder directory are current and serve as the team's single source of truth for funder status.
• Funder meeting materials and follow-up are consistently ready ahead of deadlines, with no dropped commitments.
• A recognizable, consistent NurtureFirst narrative is visible across website, social, and funder-facing materials.
• Growing autonomy over time: by month six, this role independently identifies and proposes communications/fundraising opportunities.