Fundraising Consultant – Donor Prospecting for Locally Led CSO Partners in Sri Lanka

Location: Remote

Contract Type: Consultancy

Salary: Consultancy Rate

Hours of Work: N/A

Closing Date: 05 May 2026

Duration: 4 months

Location: Remote with potential in‑country consultations (if consultant local)

Budget: ~£9000 (GBP)

Background

CAFOD works in partnership with locally led civil society organisations (CSOs) across Sri Lanka to advance human rights, strengthen democratic governance, and promote agroecological and climate‑resilient community development. In the current funding landscape, Sri Lankan CSOs face shrinking civic space, reduced traditional donor presence, and increasing competition for limited resources. Sri Lanka was a key recipient of USAID funding. In March 2027 CAFOD is stopping its work in Sri Lanka after 30 years involvement. This work is to support partners to replace and scope new donor relationships.

To support long‑term sustainability and autonomy of our partners, CAFOD seeks to commission a fundraising consultant to conduct a comprehensive donor‑prospecting exercise. This assignment will identify new, emerging, and non‑traditional funding opportunities aligned with the thematic priorities of our partners, including:

• Human rights and social justice
• Agroecology, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods
• Governance, accountability, and civic participation

The consultant will map potential donors, analyse trends, and provide actionable recommendations to strengthen partners’ fundraising strategies.

Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of this consultancy is to generate a clear, evidence‑based understanding of the funding landscape relevant to Sri Lankan CSOs and to identify concrete opportunities for resource mobilisation from:

• Bilateral and multilateral donors
• Private foundations and philanthropic institutions
• Corporate and CSR actors (local, regional, global)
• High‑net‑worth individuals (HNWI)
• Diaspora network
• Social impact investors
• Climate and environmental funds
• Regional and thematic funding mechanisms
• The consultant will deliver a practical prospecting report and tailored guidance for partner organisations.

Objectives

1. Map and analyse potential donors and non‑traditional funders relevant to the thematic areas based on the make-up of the partner organiastions.

2. Assess alignment between donor priorities and the mandates of partner CSOs.

3. Identify short‑, medium‑, and long‑term funding opportunities.

4. Provide strategic recommendations for engagement, positioning, and proposal development.

5. Strengthen partners’ understanding of the funding landscape through a workshop or briefing session.

Scope of Work

The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

1  - Donor Landscape Mapping

• Conduct a comprehensive scan of global, regional, and national donors.
• Identify non‑traditional funders such as:
  • Corporate CSR programmes (Sri Lanka, South Asia, global)
  • Philanthropic networks and family foundations
  • Climate and environmental funds
  • Social impact investors and blended‑finance mechanisms
  • Diaspora‑led giving platforms
• Analyse donor interests, geographic focus, eligibility criteria, funding cycles, and average grant sizes.

2 - Thematic Alignment Analysis

• Map donor priorities against partner CSO thematic areas.
•  Identify donors with explicit interest in:
  • Human rights and civic freedoms
  • Agroecology, food sovereignty, and climate adaptation
  • Governance, transparency, and accountability
• Highlight opportunities for cross‑sectoral or intersectional proposals.

3 - Opportunity Prioritisation

• Develop a prioritised list of high‑potential donors.
• Provide a risk/opportunity assessment for each.
• Identify “quick‑win” opportunities suitable for immediate engagement.

4 -  Recommendations for Engagement

• Suggest tailored strategies for approaching donors (according to sector: governance partners and peacebuilding partners).
• Provide guidance on positioning, messaging, and value propositions.
• Recommend partnership models (consortia, networks, regional alliances).

5 - Capacity Strengthening

Facilitate one virtual workshop or briefing session for partners on:

• • Navigating the donor landscape
  • Approaching non‑traditional funders
  • Strengthening fundraising systems and readiness

6  - Final Deliverables

• · A comprehensive donor‑prospecting report (approx. 25–40 pages).
• · A database/spreadsheet of donor profiles with key information.
• · Introductions to key donors with actionable next steps.
• · A prioritised list of top opportunities with timelines.
• · A presentation summarising findings and recommendations.
• · A workshop/briefing session delivered to partners.

Methodology

The consultant is expected to use a combination of:

• Foundational; good understanding of the partners themselves – how they work, scale, strategy.
• Desk research and database review
• Key informant interviews (INGO staff, partners, donor representatives
• Trend analysis of global and regional funding patterns
• Comparative analysis of similar contexts in South Asia

The consultant will propose a detailed methodology in their inception report.

Timeline (4 Months)

Phase Activities Timeline Inception Kick‑off meeting, methodology, workplan Weeks 1–2 Research Donor mapping, interviews, analysis Weeks 3–10 Drafting Draft report, donor database, prioritisation Weeks 11–14 Validation Presentation/workshop with partners Week 15 Finalisation Final report and deliverables Week 16

Consultant Profile

The ideal consultant will have:

• Proven experience in fundraising, donor mapping, or resource mobilisation for CSOs in the Global South
• Strong understanding of human rights, governance, and/or agroecology sectors
• Familiarity with the South Asian and global funding landscape.
• Experience working with locally led organisations and INGOs.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills.
• Ability to deliver high‑quality outputs within agreed timelines.

Budget

The consultancy will be contracted for a maximum duration of four months. The budget will cover:

• Consultant fees (daily rate or lump sum)
• Communication and research costs
• Any agreed travel or meeting expenses (if applicable)
• Any taxes (if applicable)

Payment will be made in instalments linked to deliverables (e.g., inception report, draft report, final report).

Application Process

Interested consultants should submit:

• A brief technical proposal outlining methodology and workplan
• A budget £9000
• CV or organisational profile
• Two examples of similar work
• Contact details of two referees

Applications must be submitted via email to   slfc@cafod.org.uk

Please note we will not accept any applications made via the application form.