Lead - Strategic Giving
Location: Seattle, WA (preferred) | Remote within the US considered
Reports to: CoCEO
Employment Type: Full-time
Salary Range: $80,000–$100,000, commensurate with experience and location
Travel: ~25% including potential travel to India
Position Summary:
Lead - Strategic Giving will play a central role in advancing Upaya's mission by cultivating and securing philanthropic investments from individual donors. Reporting to the co-CEO, the Lead will develop and execute strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and partners with the capacity to make significant contributions ($10,000 - $25,000).
The candidate for this role is a passionate ambassador for Upaya, naturally connects with people through storytelling and motivates people to give generously to Upaya. We are looking for a strategic, relationship-driven professional who can engage diverse stakeholders across the US, translate Upaya's programmatic priorities in India into compelling funding opportunities, and contribute meaningfully to fundraising goals. Internally, the Lead will foster strong, collaborative relationships across the Development team, keeping colleagues informed of donor interactions, opportunities, and any concerns — and must be adept at articulating organizational vision, interpreting program budgets, and developing persuasive funding proposals. As an integral member of the Upaya team — working across fundraising functions — the Lead - Strategic Giving will be expected to play a critical and highly visible role for the organisation.
Specific Responsibilities:
Major Gifts - Individual Giving
Develop and implement strategies to grow a portfolio of major individual donors giving $10,000 - $25,000, with a clear focus on the US market (Seattle, Bay Area and beyond).
Advance toward annual revenue, solicitation, meeting, and outreach goals, with the expectation of ultimately achieving a minimum personal fundraising target of $400K–$500K annually, in close collaboration with the co-CEO to track progress and refine strategy.
Identify and qualify new prospects through research, peer referrals, board engagement, and exploratory conversations.
Conduct meaningful donor meetings — in person and virtually — to understand philanthropic goals and authentically align them with Upaya's mission and impact in India.
Prepare tailored proposals, presentations, and impact reports in collaboration with the communications teams.
Provide project management, accountability, and structure to the co-CEO — including tracking donor activity, relationship progress, and revenue projections in Salesforce.
Identify forums, events, and communities in key US markets to build Upaya's brand awareness among high-net-worth individuals and philanthropic networks focused on global poverty.
Be comfortable with independently planning and implementing donor engagement events both virtual and in-person.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Work closely with colleagues in India to share insights, coordinate outreach, and advance shared fundraising goals across the organization.
Liaise with the Communications and Programs teams to develop compelling, field-grounded donor-facing materials, impact updates, and storytelling content that connects US donors to communities in India.
Organize and support donor engagement events — including leadership roundtables, gatherings, and webinars — and facilitate in-person or virtual donor trips to India as appropriate.
Contribute to Upaya's learning culture by sharing best practices, market intelligence, and new ideas for donor and partner engagement
Required Skills & Competencies:
8–14 years of progressive experience in fundraising, business development, or client relationship management, ideally within a nonprofit or social impact organization.
Proven track record in securing and managing major gifts ($10,000 - $25,000) from individuals and/or corporate partners.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to articulate organizational vision, translate complex field impact into donor-facing narratives, and make direct, confident asks.
Experience developing tailored funding proposals, interpreting program budgets, and managing multiple donor relationships simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
Proficiency in CRM systems (Salesforce preferred) and MS Office Suite.
Genuine passion for global poverty reduction and deep alignment with Upaya's mission of creating dignified work in India.
Comfort working across time zones and collaborating with teams based in India.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience fundraising for international development, economic justice, or livelihoods-focused organizations.
Familiarity with India's development context, social enterprise ecosystem, or impact investing landscape.
Existing philanthropic network in Seattle, the San Francisco Bay Area, or other major US donor markets.
Experience coordinating or facilitating donor trips abroad.
Proficiency in a South Asian language is a plus, though not required.
Attributes for Success:
Strategic thinker with strong execution skills — able to build a long-term plan and follow through on daily relationship-building activities
Confident and empathetic communicator, capable of making direct asks while remaining deeply attuned to donor motivations and values.
Collaborative team player with a high level of initiative, accountability, and cross-cultural sensitivity.
Intellectually curious about global poverty, social enterprise, and Upaya's specific approach to systemic change.
Compensation & Benefits:
This is a full-time position offering competitive compensation and benefits aligned with the US social impact sector. The salary range for this role is $80,000–$100,000, depending on experience, location and qualifications.
Upaya offers a competitive benefits package, including:
Employer sponsored health insurance
401(k) retirement plan
Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave and organizational holidays
Flexible work arrangements, including remote / work-from-home options
Professional development support, including funding for conferences, courses and skill-building
Opportunities to travel to India to engage directly with Upaya's partner enterprises and worker communities
How to Apply:
Please email a cover letter describing your qualifications and relevant experience, your resume, and salary requirements to careers@upayasv.org with the subject line "Lead - Strategic Giving."
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Upaya Social Ventures is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.
About Upaya Social Ventures:
Upaya Social Ventures is a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating dignified, sustainable work for people living in extreme poverty in India. We do this by investing in and supporting early-stage social enterprises operating in agriculture, waste management, manufacturing, and services in rural and peri-urban India — businesses that deliver lasting livelihoods for workers earning less than $3 a day. Through capital, capacity building, and strategic connections, Upaya helps these enterprises scale and deepen their reach among India's hardest-to-reach communities.
With over a decade of demonstrated impact and a growing philanthropic base in the United States, Upaya is at an exciting inflection point—expanding our individual and institutional fundraising to match our programmatic ambitions and deepen our impact on poverty reduction across India.