Proximity Designs is hiring a
Reports to: CEO & Co-Founder
Location: Fully remote from any location with at least 2-3 hours’ overlap with the Myanmar time zone (GMT +6:30)
FTE: 100 percent
Salary Range: Competitive salary aligned with rates of compensation and cost of living in the US or Western Europe
Proximity Designs is tackling globally important issues at the nexus of climate change, deep poverty, food insecurity, inequality and political conflict. We do this by helping hundreds of thousands of rural people care for their soils, grow more food, earn better incomes and build resilience against climate change. We address a critical government and market failure, by designing and delivering products and services needed to make farming families more productive, profitable and environmentally sustainable. We offer our low-income customers a suite of innovative and affordable farm solutions such as micro-irrigation systems, bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides, soil health testing kits, on-call crop protection services and farm loans.
Over the past 18 years, we’ve generated USD 782 million in additional income for 1.2 million poor farming households across rural Myanmar. With this income increase, farmers can invest in their future: education for their children, more nutritious food, better healthcare and investments in their farms or other village enterprises.
About the job
You are a talented fundraising and partnerships professional who is eager to head our development efforts. Working closely with Proximity Designs’ co-founders and senior management team, you will be responsible for raising the philanthropic capital needed to serve 150,000-200,000 smallholder farm families living in poverty every year. You have a proven track record of personally raising grants from foundations, governments and high-net-worth individuals. You are a skilled relationship-builder and communicator.
To help you thrive in this role, you will have the following assets available to you:
A leadership team that understands fundraising is a team effort and will support you in executing strategy, including a committed and well-connected CEO and Board.
A team based in Myanmar, skilled at gathering insights from the field, storytelling and communications, donor prospecting and relationship management.
An impactful model that stands out among other social enterprises serving smallholder farmers.
An outstanding group of impact-focused, highly regarded donors who keep us accountable year after year.
Strong graphic design capabilities to develop sharp pitch collateral.
Once You Are Here, You Will:
Strategy setting and implementation
Working closely with the co-founders and senior management team, develop Proximity’s new fundraising strategy, to raise USD 5-6 million a year in grants.
Explore and pursue new sources of funding for Proximity beyond grants, including climate financing mechanisms such as carbon credits.
Donor prospecting and outreach
Identify, evaluate and pursue funding opportunities with new donors and partners.
Work with our in-house Social Impact team to improve how we measure our impact, and develop a new set of impact indicators linked to climate change resilience.
Attend conferences and other networking events on behalf of Proximity.
Donor relations and communications
Manage and grow relationships with Proximity’s donors and partners.
Plan and develop regular donor communications throughout the year.
Team management and development
Must-Haves
You are a clear communicator and can write exceptionally well (in English). Whether drafting a report, strategizing a funding prospectus or explaining our business model to donors, you can easily explain anything to just about anyone.
You have a proven track record in directly raising six-to-seven figures grants and gifts from foundations, corporates or high-net-worth individuals. You have existing networks in the philanthropic community that can be leveraged to build new partnerships.
You have a deep understanding of social enterprise models and the metrics our donors look for (e.g. financial sustainability, impact per donor dollar, cost to serve, grant subsidy per customer).
You have experience juggling multiple projects, deadlines and requests at one time. You have a keen attention to detail and do not overlook the small stuff.
You have worked for an organization (ideally a social enterprise) operating in an emerging economy for a few years.
Added Bonus
You have previous experience living and working in Myanmar, South Asia or South-East Asia.
You are passionate about tackling climate change and have knowledge of climate change financing mechanisms, such as carbon credits.
You have previously managed a remote, multi-cultural team during times of crises and change.
Other requirements
You have independent authorization to work in the country where you are currently based and/or choose to be based for this role.
You are able to travel regularly for in-person donor meetings, conferences and other networking opportunities (roughly 20 percent of the time).
You can commit to this role for at least two years.