Fundraising Officer – Proposal Writer

Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) is hiring a Fundraising Officer – Proposal Writer in Pune, India. The role involves creating grant proposals, pitch decks, and concept notes to support the organization's mission of addressing rural poverty and enhancing community resilience. Responsibilities include coordinating with teams, mentoring junior writers, and engaging with donors. The position requires strong communication skills and strategic thinking to effectively convey complex community needs.
A little bit about who we are:

At WOTR, we are committed to tackling the key causes of rural poverty by rejuvenating ecosystems and building the community’s resilience to climate change by enhancing water availability, increasing land and agricultural productivity, diversifying livelihoods, empowering women, and strengthening the health and well-being of vulnerable rural communities.

WOTR brings together practitioners, academics, researchers, trainers, and policy makers to work collaboratively in building the resilience of rural communities. Our partners, including donors and government agencies stand resolutely behind us to affect this.

Over the course of 32 years, we have already made a significant impact, having worked in 10 states and 7,255 villages, and positively impacting the lives of about 8 million people. We remain dedicated to continuing this important work and expanding our efforts to make an even greater difference in the lives of those we serve.

ABOUT W-CReS: The WOTR Centre for Resilience Studies (W-CReS) Pune was established in December 2016, with a focus on Research-into-Use. It subsumes and builds on the Knowledge Management Unit’s work of the preceding 7 years. W-CReS closely engages with local communities, practitioners, scientific, governance and other institutional actors so that insights and good practices derived from ground experience contribute towards shaping effective policies and efficient program implementation.

W-CReS aims to bridge some of the gaps between science, policy and practice through rigorous trans-disciplinary applied research, policy engagement and capacity building leading to behavioral change. The studies and research undertaken at W-CReS aim to promote adaptive responses and mitigate the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, water resources, agriculture, food and nutrition, health, livelihoods, gender, governance and local institutions. This is imperative in a country like India, whose nature-based and agriculture sector as well as water resources are expected to be severely affected by climate change in the years to come.

A brief snapshot of the role:

We are seeking a strategic thinker and skilled communicator (writing and speaking) to join our team as a Senior Fundraising Officer (Proposal Writer). In this full-time role based at WOTR’s Pune office, you will lead the development of compelling grant proposals, pitch decks, RFP responses, and concept notes that align with WOTR/ W-CReS’ mission and resonate with donors. You will work closely with fundraisers, program directors, senior management, researchers and regional leads to create high-quality, data-driven narratives that effectively communicate complex field interventions, knowledge gaps and critical community needs. This role involves coordinating with in-house project development teams to craft the narrative portions of technical, financial, and commercial proposals, mentoring a junior writer, contributing to fundraising strategy, and engaging with donors to support the organization’s mission of uplifting vulnerable rural communities.

As a Fundraising Officer – Proposal Writer,you will be responsible for:
• Proposal Design and Creation
• Serve as the lead writer coordinating across the fundraising team and regional project development teams to drive proposal creation.
• Develop and edit high-quality, customized content for competitive proposals, pitch decks, and related documents, using existing boilerplates and inputs from project teams.
• Gather and synthesize information from technical, field, and research teams to craft clear, persuasive, and logically structured proposals that align with donor priorities and comply with application requirements.
• Translate field realities, project strategies, and methodologies into compelling narratives that position WOTR’s and W-CReS’ works in innovative and donor-aligned ways.
• Mentor a Junior Writer
• Supervise and support a Junior Writer, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality content.
• Provide regular feedback, guidance, and editorial support to help strengthen writing, structure, and storytelling.
• Allocate tasks, manage workflow, and build the Junior Writer’s capacity in proposal development, research, and donor communications.
• Foster a collaborative and growth-oriented environment that encourages learning and skill-building.
• Develop a Deep Understanding of WOTR’s and W-CReS’ work
• Build a thorough understanding of WOTR’s core themes and interventions through reading, media materials, and regular engagement with field teams, researchers and management.
• Leverage this knowledge to respond to donor inquiries via calls and emails, deliver introductory pitches when needed, and route opportunities internally to the right teams.
• Act as the central point of contact for remotely based fundraisers, supporting internal coordination, ideation, and proposal development aligned to donor interests.
• Maintain and update due diligence documents to ensure that all standard organizational information is accurate, up-to-date, and readily available for inclusion in proposals as and when required.
• Secondary Research and Sector Intelligence
• Track and identify relevant funding opportunities, taking ownership of the grant application process from assessment to submission.
• Stay abreast of shifting donor priorities, emerging funding frameworks, and contemporary development approaches to ensure proposals remain relevant, impactful, and well-aligned.
• Regularly update yourself and the team on policy changes, sector trends, and evolving concepts in the development landscape to strengthen strategic thinking and proposal quality.

Apply if you have:
• A deep passion and curiosity for rural development and a strong commitment to uplifting vulnerable rural communities from poverty.
• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications, Economics, or a related field.
• 2-4 years of experience in proposal writing, content writing, communications, grant writing, or secondary research.
• A talent for reporting and documentation, combined with a creative mindset and exceptional writing skills.
• Excellent visual communication skills, with the ability to distill complex information into clear and engaging slides or info graphics.
• Proficiency in at least one visual tool such as Canva.Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, and Google Suite.
• The ability to work independently, demonstrating diligence and initiative without requiring constant supervision.
• A curiosity to explore innovative storytelling methods and new tools for business development.
• Strong time management skills, with the ability to meet deadlines while juggling multiple projects.
• A collaborative spirit, with the ability to build strong networks and relationships within the organization.
• An interest in national and international business affairs with an ability to understand the business dynamics to tap funding opportunities
• A solution-oriented mindset, with a practical approach to problem-solving.Patience and compassion, understanding the challenges of working within the often unstructured nature of the Indian non-profit sector.
• Willingness to travel at least once in 2months.

To Apply:-https://forms.gle/7GoRoYC4Gd62tszL7