Fundraising & Partnerships Advisor (Volunteer)

About the role

Cuso International offers a 5-month volunteer placement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, starting in January 2027, open to Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents only. You will work with the partner Rejoice Africa to help it attract funding, engage partners and deliver youth-focused programs. The role covers fundraising, donor engagement, proposal development and partnership building.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and support fundraising events and campaigns, and design sponsorship packages and outreach strategies for corporate, institutional and community partners.
• Conduct donor research and support grant proposals, concept notes and funding applications.
• Identify and cultivate partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, foundations, academic institutions and private-sector organizations.
• Create donor-ready proposal templates and fundraising resources.
• Strengthen resource mobilization systems such as donor databases, opportunity calendars and proposal tracking tools.
• Improve fundraising and communications materials, including sponsorship decks, organizational profiles and impact stories.
• Deliver training and coaching to staff and volunteers on fundraising, donor stewardship, proposal writing and partnership development.
• Support donor stewardship with acknowledgment processes, reporting templates and engagement strategies.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Development Studies, Business Administration, Management, Economics, Communications, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, International Development or a related field.
• Experience in fundraising, donor relations, grant writing, sponsorship development, partnership management or resource mobilization.
• Strong research, proposal writing and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to organize information, manage multiple priorities and coordinate with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience with nonprofit, international development, youth-focused, community-based or social impact organizations is an asset.

What we offer

• Monthly living allowance and accommodation.
• Health insurance, including required vaccinations and antimalarial medication.
• Round-trip airfare and visa/work permit costs.
• Pre-placement, in-country and reintegration training, plus ongoing local support.
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program during and after placement.