Director of Development Job Vacancy at Ubongo

Organisation Summary:

UBONGO is  an education non-profit, and Africa’s leading creators of  kids’ edutainment.  As   a   non-profit  social  enterprise,  we   create  fun,  localized,  and multi-platform  educational  content  that  helps  kids  learn  and  leverage  their learning to  change  their lives. We aim to  meaningfully impact 100 million kids across 19 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2028. To date, Ubongo’s edutainment programs, Ubongo Kids, Akili and Me, and Nuzo and Namia, reach over 42 million kids  across  Africa through  accessible  technologies  like  TV,   radio,  and mobile phones in multiple languages.

Read our 5-Year Strategy

Job Position:

To  achieve our big audacious goal, Ubongo will need to raise 28 million dollars by

2028,   and  we    are    looking  for   an  experienced,  motivated,  and  Utu  (shared humanity)-driven Director of  Development to  lead us towards sustainability by securing   funding   and   attracting   collaboration  partners.    The   Director   of Development  will be responsible for   overseeing the creation and nurturing of sustainable partnerships with a  wide variety of  audiences, including public and private funders such as  NGOs,  foundations,  trusts,  corporations and individuals through  development  and  ownership of   fundraising,  grants  and  commercial revenue strategies and building and supporting implementation teams to  attain financial sustainability at  scale, ensuring that Ubongo has the necessary funding and partnerships to support its  mission. This role focuses on:

• Securing  and  retaining  philanthropic  funding   (including   institutional partners, corporates, and HNWIs)
• Building partnerships with governments,  funding partners , and NGOs to fund large-scale projects
• Developing  and  expanding  earned  revenue  opportunities aligned  with Ubongo’s strategic goals
• Building Ubongo’s brand to  help create credibility and support amongst these stakeholders.

The Director of  Development  will lead fundraising, strategic partnerships, and commercial  revenue  initiatives to   ensure ongoing  support  and  resources for Ubongo’s activities.

R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S:

Fundraising Strategy & Board Engagement

• Develop and lead the execution of a comprehensive fundraising strategy to ensure long-term financial sustainability.
• Partner with  the  Board  of  Directors to  strengthen fundraising capacity, including equipping and mobilizing board members to engage their networks.
• Organize and  lead  the  Board  Sustainability  Committee  to   oversee  and support fundraising initiatives.
• Provide  regular   fundraising   reports,    strategic   recommendations,    and pipeline updates to the board and executive leadership.

Donor Development & Relationship Management

• Cultivate   and   steward   relationships   with   high-net-worth   individuals (HNWIs), philanthropic donors, foundations, and institutional funders.

• Lead high-level  donor cultivation efforts,  leveraging executive and board relationships to secure multi-year commitments.
• Oversee the  development  of  compelling proposals,  impact reports,  and donor engagement strategies to drive renewals and new investments.
• Position the CEO and leadership team for strategic donor engagements, ensuring alignment with fundraising priorities.

Government & Institutional Partnerships

• Develop and  implement  a   long-term  strategy  to   secure funding  from governments, private foundations, individual philanthropists, and major development agencies.
• Establish and maintain high-level relationships with government ministries, development agencies, and international NGOs to unlock new partnership and funding streams.
• Advocate for public-private partnerships that position the organization as  a preferred implementer of large-scale education initiatives.
• Ensure  compliance,    impact  reporting,    and  strategic  alignment   with government and other stakeholders within the ecosystem.

Revenue Diversification & Commercial Partnerships

• Drive  strategic   initiatives  to    diversify   revenue,    including  commercial partnerships, licensing, and sponsorships.
• Identify and cultivate corporate partnerships aligned  with brand growth and financial goals.
• Provide high-level guidance  on pricing  strategies,   revenue models,  and market expansion efforts.
• Collaborate with commercial team to align revenue-generation efforts with donor and investment strategies.

Brand Stewardship & External Positioning

• Serve as a key external representative for  the organization, positioning it as a leader in education, philanthropy, and African storytelling.
• Lead thought  leadership  efforts,   including  op-eds,   white  papers,   and high-impact donor messaging.
• Represent the  organization  at   global  forums,   donor  convenings,   and high-level partnership discussions.
• Collaborate with  strategic  communications  to   amplify  fundraising  and brand-building efforts, to  help create credibility and support amongst key stakeholders.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead and  mentor  a   high-performing  team  responsible for   fundraising, partnerships, and revenue generation.
• Align development  goals with broader organizational strategy,  ensuring sustainable growth and mission impact.
• Oversee  department   budgeting    and   financial   planning   related   to philanthropic and commercial revenue.
• Foster a   culture of  excellence,  accountability,  and  innovation within the development team.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Required:

• Familiarity with the education sector in Africa,  and experience working in Africa and Africa-related causes.

• At  least a Bachelor’s degree in Business, International Development, Social Sciences, Communications, or a related field.

• Minimum  10    years   of    experience   in   nonprofit  fundraising,    business development, or partnerships.
• Proven track  record in fundraising,  including  institutional funding,  grant writing, and HNWI engagement.
• Wide/strong networks in the development and funder space which can still be tapped into
• Strong strategic thinking, project management, and organizational skills.
• Experience working with governments,  individual philanthropists,  private foundations, or large-scale NGO-funded projects.
• Ability to manage  multiple stakeholders and build strong and authentic relationships with funders and partners.

Preferred:

• A Master’s Degree or MBA
• Certification in fundraising (e.g., CFRE) is a plus but not required.
• Experience in revenue generation,  commercial partnerships,  or  business development.
• Strong data-driven  decision-making   skills  with  experience  in  financial planning and budgeting.

S e n d  R e s u m e  a n d  cover letter  to : M a ri a m M d o p e

mariam@bloom.co.tz