Fundraising and Grants Lead

About the role

Groundbreaker Talents is a Ugandan-German nonprofit that trains young African women from financially disadvantaged backgrounds to become software and AI engineers through a 15-month residential program in Bukerere. Its work is funded entirely by grants, companies, foundations and private donors, and it is looking for a Fundraising and Grants Lead to secure that funding worldwide. The position is full-time, hybrid between Kampala and the Bukerere campus, with direct reporting to the Managing Director.

Key responsibilities

• Write and submit grant proposals, concept notes and letters of inquiry to foundations, development agencies and institutional funders worldwide, owning the full grant cycle from research to reporting.
• Build, grow and lead national and international outreach to corporate partners, sponsors and private donors across Africa, the US and globally.
• Develop and steward private and major donors, including managing appeals, updates and thank-yous.
• Support the sister organisation Groundbreaker gGmbH in Germany with proposals, donor materials and campaigns.
• Build and maintain a fundraising pipeline and calendar, reporting on progress and results.
• Turn impact data and the Talents' stories into compelling, accurate cases for support.
• Use AI tools every day to research funders, draft faster and maintain high quality.

Required profile

• At least 6 years of experience in grant writing and fundraising, ideally with international funders focused on Africa.
• A proven track record of secured grants and partnerships, with specific amounts you can share.
• Impeccable written and spoken English, able to write persuasively and precisely.
• Creativity in identifying new angles, prospective funders and compelling ways to tell the story.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines independently.
• Experience in fundraising for women's empowerment and youth development programs across Africa is an added advantage.

Required skills

• Grant writing and proposal writing.
• Hands-on experience with AI tools such as Claude for research and writing.

What we offer

• Full-time employment with Groundbreaker Talents Limited, Uganda.
• Flexible hybrid work setup between Kampala and the Bukerere campus.
• Direct reporting to the Managing Director and real ownership of fundraising strategies.
• Meaningful, high-impact work: the programs achieve a 98% employment outcome for graduates.

To apply, send your CV, a short video introducing yourself, one or two grant proposals or fundraising pieces you wrote, and a list of grants or partnerships you secured (funder, year, amount) by email with the subject line "Fundraising and Grants Lead". Applications via LinkedIn are not considered; the deadline is ongoing, with a start date of 01.01.2027.