Dasra
About the Organisation
Dasra drives collaborative action to accelerate social change. In 1999, Dasra began as a venture philanthropy fund to invest in early-stage non-profit organizations in India. We recognized early that we had the responsibility, the capability, the connections, and the energy to be a notable change agent. Dasra has evolved from being a philanthropy fund to a bridge between NGOs and funders, and now, two decades later, it has cemented its identity as a leading nonprofit systems orchestrator working with diverse stakeholders across the social impact ecosystem. Over the last 24 years, Dasra has gained a depth of knowledge from working with over 1,000 non-profits and having brought over $400 million in funding to organizations.
Dasra embraces diversity across people and communities through multiplicity in composition integrated with structures, culture and policies, enhancing inclusion and belonging for all in letter and spirit. We envision a team that includes people across caste, religion, gender, economic status, geography, disability and other underrepresented communities, supported by organizational structures that enable collective, transparent and fair decision making, guided by policies that facilitate growth and authenticity within an environment of openness and listening.
We believe that GEDI in our institutional and programmatic endeavours will enhance, drive and accelerate social impact and social change through an integration of the worldviews of the most marginalized, recognition of their vulnerabilities, rights and potentials and through prioritization of their needs.
Role Overview
The Director of the Rebuild India Fund will lead and drive the strategy, operations, and growth of this initiative. The role involves overseeing funder relationships, guiding program direction, managing systems and processes, and amplifying the Fund’s impact through strategic storytelling and advocacy. The ideal candidate should have a deep understanding of the Indian and global development sector along with a respect for indigenous communities and grassroots movements, a track record of successful leadership in foundation management, and an ability to build collaborative partnerships. A critical aspect of this role is developing the next-in-line leadership, ensuring that future leaders are equipped to carry forward the vision and strategy for the Rebuild India Fund and Dasra as a whole.
About Rebuild India
The Rebuild India Fund aims to support the most vulnerable communities across India, and the NGOs that work with them, by giving them the power to serve meaningfully, and the flexibility to run their organizations as they see fit. We do this by funding 100 locally led, community rooted NGOs every year with 5-year unrestricted grants, backed by need-based multi-year capacity building support. The fund is working with sector stakeholders to bring to the fore voices of leaders fromthe community and shift power dynamics in grant-making, keeping in mind the principles of Gender, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. We are currently 175 NGOs strong and steadily marching towards our goalof 500 NGOs in 5 years
Key Responsibilities
- Program Leadership and Management:
- Lead the strategic direction and operations of the Rebuild India Fund, ensuring alignment with Dasra’s overall mission and vision
- Manage relationships with funders, from on-boarding and activation to deep, long-term engagement
- Act as the key representative for the Fund, engaging with diverse stakeholders including donors, partners and communities
- Should be able to manage, navigate and negotiate with large funding agencies and experienced funders
- Program Strategy and Portfolio Management:
- Co-create and refine the program strategy to address key areas such as resilience, community empowerment, participatory grant making and scaling of the fund’s impact
- Oversee the portfolio strategy, ensuring a balanced approach that delivers impact, scalability, and sustainability across the Fund’s initiative
- Craft and implement a narrative strategy to position the Fund as a leader in community- driven development and resilience
- Should be able to manage multiple large grants and relationships
- People and Program Processes:
- Establish and oversee processes for effective program management, measurement and evaluation
- Play an active role in identifying, mentoring, and developing the next in line leaders within the team, ensuring they are prepared to succeed in leadership roles for the Rebuild India Fund and Dasra overall
- Thought Leadership and External Representation:
- Represent the Fund at industry conferences, events, and roundtables
- Contribute to thought leadership by publishing articles, case studies, and insights on the fund’s work and impact
- Engage with media, academic platforms, and advocacy channels to amplify the Fund’s mission and contributions
Qualifications and Experience
- The ideal candidate should have over 10 years of experience in foundation management, social impact, or program leadership roles, with at least 5 years in senior management.
- They should demonstrate a strong ability to lead large-scale initiatives, manage complex multi- stakeholder relationships, and drive systemic change.
- The role requires expertise in strategy development, program management, and operational systems building, along with a deep understanding of both the Indian and global development landscape, particularly in resilience building and community- driven development.
- Strong leadership, communication, and partnership management skills are essential, as is the ability to develop and mentor emerging leaders to ensure effective succession planning.
