Business Development Manager, Philanthropy and Grants

About the role

WEConnect International seeks a strategic and results-oriented Business Development Manager to grow philanthropic revenue from private foundations, corporate foundations, family foundations, and other institutional funders. The Manager will identify and qualify prospects, cultivate funding relationships, develop strong grant proposals and concept notes, and coordinate the full grant cycle from initial research through award, reporting, renewal, and stewardship. Working across programs, regional teams, finance, communications, and senior leadership, this role will translate WEConnect International’s global work into compelling, fundable initiatives that expand the visibility, growth, and long-term resilience of women-owned businesses.

What you'll do

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy and Pipeline Development

• Support the development and execution of a philanthropic fundraising strategy aligned with WEConnect International’s mission, strategic priorities, programs, and revenue goals.
• Build and manage a qualified pipeline of private, corporate, and family foundations and other institutional funders with an interest in women’s economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, market access, small business growth, workforce development, technology, financial resilience, and related areas.
• Conduct disciplined prospect research to assess mission alignment, funding priorities, geographic interests, giving history, grant size, decision-making processes, and relationship pathways.
• Maintain an active grants calendar and moves-management plan covering cultivation, submissions, decisions, reporting requirements, renewals, and next steps.

Foundation Cultivation and Relationship Management

• Develop tailored engagement strategies for priority prospects and help senior leaders, Board members, and program colleagues prepare for funder meetings and outreach.
• Build credible, long-term relationships with foundation program officers and other philanthropic partners through thoughtful communication, timely follow-up, and a strong understanding of their priorities.
• Represent WEConnect International in selected funder meetings, philanthropic forums, and sector convening and identify opportunities for partnership and co-funding.
• Coordinate stewardship for current funders, ensuring that they understand the progress, results, learning, and future potential of the work they support.

Proposal and Grant Development

• Lead the development of letters of inquiry, concept notes, grant proposals, pitch materials, and renewal requests that clearly articulate the need, proposed approach, measurable outcomes, budget, and case for investment.
• Translate WEConnect International’s global platform, market intelligence, buyer network, certification, supplier discovery, capacity building, technology, and regional delivery capabilities into compelling philanthropic opportunities.
• Work with program and regional leaders to design practical, fundable initiatives with clear target populations, activities, timelines, outcomes, measurement plans, and pathways to scale.
• Coordinate proposal inputs and approvals across program, finance, legal, communications, monitoring and evaluation, and leadership teams while maintaining submission quality and deadlines.
• Develop reusable proposal content, institutional language, data points, program descriptions, budgets, and supporting materials to improve the quality and efficiency of future submissions.

Grant Management and Funder Reporting

• Lead the non-financial administration of assigned grants from award through closeout, including grant agreements, deliverables, reporting schedules, acknowledgement requirements, and renewal planning.
• Partner with finance and program teams to monitor progress against approved scope, outcomes, timelines, and budgets and escalate risks early.
• Prepare high-quality narrative reports, funder updates, impact stories, and renewal materials that demonstrate results, responsible stewardship, and lessons learned.
• Maintain complete and accessible grant records, correspondence, proposals, agreements, reports, and funder intelligence in the organization’s approved systems.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Organizational Positioning

• Partner with communications and program teams to strengthen the organization’s philanthropic case for support and ensure consistent messaging across fundraising materials.
• Gather evidence, data, participant stories, and market insights that demonstrate how access to buyers, business development support, finance, technology, and networks contribute to women-owned business growth and resilience.
• Provide clear pipeline updates, revenue forecasts, funder intelligence, and recommendations to leadership and other internal stakeholders.
• Contribute to a collaborative business development function that coordinates philanthropic funding, corporate partnerships, membership opportunities, and program design without duplicating outreach.

Key Performance Indicators

Performance will be assessed against agreed annual targets, with emphasis on the following outcomes:

Qualifications