Chief Philanthropy Officer

Chief Philanthropy Officer- India

About Magic Bus: Magic Bus has transformed the lives of nearly millions at-risk children and youth across Asia to end the inherent cycle of poverty. As one of India's most impactful poverty alleviation initiatives, Magic Bus has pioneered a long term intervention using mentors and Sports for Development to impart lifeskills necessary in today's world. As we celebrate 27 years of impactful work, Magic Bus is poised to expand our reach, aiming to support 5 million children and youth annually across Asia. Our growth is fuelled by the generosity of benefactors such as Michael and Susan Dell Foundation and Google.org. For the experienced leader, this is an opportunity to change the future of millions of children.

Learn more at www.magicbus.org

Overview:

The Chief of Philanthropy is a strategic and outward-facing leader responsible for significantly growing philanthropic revenue and deepening long-term partnerships that enable Magic Bus to expand its impact mainly in India.

This role requires an exceptional relationship builder with the credibility and presence to engage high-net-worth individuals, family offices, foundations, and strategic partners.

Beyond delivering ambitious fundraising outcomes, the role requires a leader who embodies the organisation's values — someone who listens deeply, connects authentically, and inspires confidence among donors, partners, teams and Board members.

The Chief of Philanthropy will play a critical role in shaping the organisation's future trajectory and will be part of the Senior leadership and Management team

This position will be in-person in Mumbai and offers an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader to shape the future of philanthropy and advance the organization's mission of creating a better world for all.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy Development:

Lead the development and execution of a strong India-focused philanthropy strategy, while working closely with global counterparts to ensure alignment of positioning, messaging and partnership approaches across markets.

Strengthen coordination across teams in India, UK, USA and Singapore to leverage shared expertise, build complementary pipelines, and maximise resource efficiency. Support the evolution of ways of working that enable collaboration across geographies, ensuring the India team is well-positioned to contribute to and benefit from global relationships, insights and opportunities.

This position will lead the philanthropy team to focus on collections from High Net-Worth individuals, family offices and events. The individual will need to leverage previous experience to develop comprehensive strategies aligned with the organization's mission, goals, and values. Identify emerging trends, issues, and opportunities in the philanthropic landscape. Our goals include to substantially increase revenue through enhanced investments and new investors.

Leadership and Team Management:

Provide leadership and direction to the philanthropy team, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives. Builds and fosters a high performing team culture focused on innovation, collaboration, and impact, holding team accountable for KPI's and successful goal achievement.

Partnership and Relationship Management:

Cultivate and maintain relationships with key stakeholders including high network individuals, family offices, foundations, government agencies, NGOs. Collaborates with internal and external partners to leverage resources and maximize impact.

Resource Mobilization:

Leads efforts to secure philanthropic funding through major gifts, grants, and other sources. Develops and implements fundraising strategies to support philanthropic initiatives and organizational priorities.

Impact Measurement and Reporting:

Establishes metrics and evaluation frameworks to measure the impact of philanthropic investments. Provides regular reports to stakeholders on the effectiveness of programs and initiatives.

Ethics and Compliance:

Ensures compliance with relevant regulations, laws, and ethical standards governing philanthropic activities. Maintains transparency and accountability in all philanthropic endeavors.

Advocacy and Thought Leadership:

Represents the organization in public forums, conferences, and events related to philanthropy and social impact. Advocates for policy changes and systemic solutions to address key social issues.

Risk Management:

Identifies and mitigates risks associated with philanthropic investments and partnerships. Develops contingency plans to address unforeseen challenges or setbacks.

The Person We Are Looking For

We are seeking a leader who combines strategic rigour with emotional intelligence — someone who is as comfortable in a boardroom as in the field.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

Personal Attributes

• A natural relationship builder with warmth, authenticity and presence - Gravitas balanced with humility

• A genuine passion for social impact and belief in the power of young people to transform their futures

• Exceptional listening skills and empathy, with the ability to understand perspectives, motivations and aspirations

• Strong interpersonal instincts and emotional intelligence

• Confidence and credibility with senior stakeholders. A compelling communicator and ambassador

• Curiosity and openness to learning from diverse contexts

• Ability to think on their feet and engage meaningfully in dynamic environments

• A collaborative and generous leadership style

• Personal integrity and strong values alignment

• Demonstrated ability to represent an organisation externally with credibility and authenticity

Strategic Orientation

• Ability to translate vision into actionable strategies

• Strong judgement and prioritisation skills

• Ability to balance short-term revenue goals with long-term relationship building

• Commercial acumen combined with mission alignment

• Demonstrated ability to cultivate and steward relationships with diverse stakeholders, including high-net-worth individuals, corporate partners, and community leaders.

Qualifications:

• 20+ years in philanthropy, partnerships, fundraising or business development

• Experience engaging senior decision-makers and high-value partners

• Currently operating at Chief level or has been part of a founding / early-stage leadership journey • Track record of building functions, partnerships or initiatives that have scaled

• Well versed in evolving philanthropic trends, best practices, and ethical principles.