Director, Individual Philanthropy and Chapter Engagement, Pratham US

Position Title: Director, Individual Philanthropy and Chapter Engagement

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Position: Full-Time, Exempt

Location: United States (remote); candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S. without future sponsorship requirements

Travel: 25–40% travel, including heavier travel periods during spring and fall event seasons

Salary: $160,000–$190,000 with comprehensive benefits and generous PTO

About Pratham

Founded in 1995, Pratham (meaning “first” in Sanskrit) has grown into one of India’s largest and most respected nonprofit organizations focused on education, learning, and youth development. Through partnerships with governments, communities, families, educators, and volunteers, Pratham develops and scales innovative, evidence-based solutions that help children and young people learn, earn, and thrive.

Guided by its mission of “Every Child in School and Learning Well,” Pratham works across India and beyond to expand access to quality learning and earning opportunities. Its programs support early childhood education, foundational learning, youth skills training, digital learning, and the education and empowerment of girls and women. Through direct community engagement and extensive government partnerships, Pratham reaches millions of children and youth each year.

Pratham’s impact extends globally through initiatives such as Teaching at the Right Level, an evidence-based approach designed to strengthen foundational learning, and the Annual Status of Education Report, India’s largest citizen-led assessment of children’s learning. Pratham’s scalable and cost-effective approaches have influenced education policy and inspired learning initiatives in countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Pratham USA partners with supporters throughout the United States to fund scalable and cost-effective learning programs for under-resourced communities in India and beyond. Through its nationwide chapter and volunteer network, Pratham USA mobilizes philanthropic investment, raises awareness, and builds a community committed to the transformative power of learning. For 12 consecutive years, Pratham USA has earned Charity Navigator’s Four-Star rating in recognition of its strong financial health, accountability, and transparency.

The Role

The Director, Individual Philanthropy and Chapter Engagement is a key member of Pratham USA's senior leadership team, reporting directly to the CEO. This role is responsible for leading and strengthening Pratham USA's mid-level and major donor fundraising efforts while supporting the continued evolution of the organization's chapter-based fundraising model.

Working closely with staff, volunteers, chapter leaders, board members, and donors, the Director will help drive fundraising growth, strengthen donor engagement, and build organizational fundraising capacity across a national network. In partnership with the fundraising team, the Director will provide leadership and oversight for approximately $18–20 million in annual individual giving revenue, with significant opportunities for continued growth.

The ideal candidate is an experienced fundraising leader who brings strong people management skills, a collaborative leadership style, and a passion for relationship-based philanthropy. Experience working within volunteer-driven organizations, chapter models, or culturally nuanced fundraising environments is highly valued.

Impact Areas

Fundraising Strategy & Revenue Growth

The Director will lead efforts to strengthen and grow Pratham USA's mid-level and major donor fundraising program.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and implementing strategies to increase donor acquisition, retention, stewardship, and revenue growth.
• Strengthening donor engagement opportunities, fundraising campaigns, and cultivation pathways across donor segments.
• Supporting the continued evolution of Pratham's gala fundraising model and other engagement initiatives.
• Ensuring strong donor pipeline development, portfolio management, forecasting, and fundraising performance measurement.
• Collaborating with leadership and cross-functional teams to align fundraising priorities with organizational goals.

Team Leadership & Capacity Building

The Director will provide leadership, coaching, and professional development for a national fundraising team.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading, mentoring, and developing fundraising professionals across multiple regions.
• Building a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and high performance.
• Supporting recruitment, onboarding, retention, and professional development initiatives.
• Establishing consistent fundraising practices, donor engagement standards, and performance expectations.
• Serving as a fundraising resource and strategic advisor to staff across the organization.

Chapter, Volunteer & Community Engagement

Pratham's chapter network plays a vital role in the organization's fundraising success. The Director will help strengthen volunteer engagement and chapter effectiveness nationwide.

Key responsibilities include:

• Partnering with chapter leaders, volunteers, and board members to advance fundraising goals.
• Supporting and engaging Pratham USA's network of more than 300 volunteers serving on local and national boards and committees.
• Building volunteer capacity around donor cultivation, stewardship, and community engagement.
• Supporting chapter fundraising planning, regional engagement strategies, and fundraising events.
• Strengthening communication and alignment between national and chapter leadership.

Donor Engagement & Organizational Leadership

As a senior leader, the Director will help foster a donor-centered culture while contributing to organizational strategy and growth.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting fundraising staff in developing donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Identifying and engaging new donor prospects, community partners, and philanthropic leaders.
• Managing and cultivating a select portfolio of donors over time.
• Representing Pratham USA with donors, volunteers, community leaders, and external stakeholders.
• Collaborating with colleagues across Philanthropy, Marketing, Programs, Finance, and Operations to advance organizational priorities.
• Contributing to strategic planning, fundraising innovation, and organizational growth initiatives.

Requirements

Required

• Minimum 10–12 years of fundraising, philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, or relationship management experience.
• Minimum 5 years of management experience, including supervision and development of staff.
• Demonstrated success in major gifts, individual giving, or relationship-based fundraising.
• Experience managing donor portfolios and implementing effective cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams.
• Experience working effectively with volunteers, boards, committees, and community leaders.
• Strong relationship-building, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strategic thinker with strong organizational and project management abilities.
• Experience using CRM and donor management systems; Salesforce experience is preferred.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, mission-driven environment.

Preferred

• Experience within chapter-based, volunteer-driven, or community-centered organizations.
• Familiarity with Indian-American philanthropy, diaspora communities, or culturally nuanced fundraising environments.
• Experience managing geographically dispersed teams.
• Strong understanding of donor pipeline development, moves management, and fundraising analytics.

Personal Attributes

• Passion for educational opportunity and social impact.
• Collaborative, relationship-oriented leadership style.
• Strong emotional intelligence and cultural sensitivity.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
• High degree of professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Flexibility and adaptability within a growing and evolving organization.

Benefits

Application Process

Pratham has engaged Charity Search Group to manage the recruitment process for this position. To apply, kindly submit your application through the provided link. For inquiries or accommodation needs during the application process, please reach out to Mariya Yurukova at mariya@charitysearchgroup.com or visit www.charitysearchgroup.com.

Pratham USA is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, veterans, and individuals from historically underrepresented communities.