Akanksha Education Fund

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You are here: Home / Executive Director

Executive Director

Location: New York, NY

Applicants: Send cover letters & resumes to edposition@akankshafund.org by January 15, 2020. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

About the role:

The Executive Director’s charge is to strengthen and grow the organization within the U.S. This requires leading a team to oversee the execution and growth of fundraising on the East Coast and potentially in other regions of the country as well, building corporate partnerships, overseeing all development efforts, ensuring a sustainable funding pipeline, developing the team, working with the board, and elevating Akanksha’s brand.

The Executive Director will manage a part-time team and will report to the Board. Akanksha Education Fund is an organization with lots of room to grow – this should excite you!

  • Reports To: Board of Trustees
  • Direct Reports: 4 part-time staff members
  • Benefits & Salary: Competitive salary & benefits
  • Location: New York City with occasional travel to other regions of the United States and an annual trip to India

Akanksha’s Mission:

Akanksha in Sanskrit, means: TO ASPIRE. The Akanksha Education Fund’s mission is to advance better educational outcomes for disadvantaged children in India, by raising awareness and providing donors in the US with opportunities to make an impact. Akanksha Education Fund has raised and granted millions to the Akanksha Foundation (a registered Indian charity), which currently operates 21 best-in-class schools for under-resourced children in the Indian cities of Mumbai and Pune. The fund currently raises $2 million in funds from donors in the US to support Akanksha’s work in India, with US grant making covering approximately 25% of the Akanksha Foundation’s budget in India.

About the Akanksha Education Fund (US)

Established over 23 years ago, Akanksha Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) publicly supported not-for-profit organization in the U.S. that supports initiatives to improve access to high quality education for the disadvantaged children in India. Akanksha leverages the generous donations of individuals, foundations and corporations in the US who see education as the key factor in ending the cycle of poverty and promoting healthy democracies. The Fund makes grants to the Akanksha Foundation in India which runs 21 schools to carry out our mission.

About the Akanksha Foundation (India)

The Akanksha Foundation is a registered Indian charity which currently operates 21 best-in-class government schools for under-resourced children in the Indian cities of Mumbai and Pune. The foundation’s mission is to build the largest network of innovative schools that empowers children to maximise their potential and that influences systemic reform.

For over 29 years, Akanksha has educated children from low-income communities across Mumbai and Pune – first, through our after-school centers, and since 2007, through the Akanksha Schools. Today, Akanksha is one of the largest urban networks of public-private partnership schools (privately run government schools) of its kind in India.

Over the next few years, the Akanksha Foundation is gearing up to grow our network of schools from 21 to 35, starting with the city of Nagpur. New opportunities for Akanksha arise as the Indian government works towards improving the quality of education for over 400 million students in the Indian education system.

For the first time ever, Akanksha will also work on shaping education policy for over one million government schools in India by sharing our curriculum, leadership training and community engagement models. Accordingly, the Akanksha Education Fund will aim to significantly increase its funding for programs in India over the next two years. We are determined to meet this request, but we will need your help in doing so. Together, we can change lives and help bring a little bit more equality to this world—one student at a time.

What You’ll Do

Fundraising and Sustainability (40%)

  • Develop and set annual and long term fundraising goals and key strategies to achieve these goals
  • Plan and execute fundraising events with the team and board
  • Measure progress of initiatives utilizing metrics and keep the board engaged and informed of progress.
  • Build an online donor community that increases annually over the next 5 years
  • Maintain, grow and diversify a sustainable funding base that will include gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government
  • Deepen a sense of community among Akanksha donors, especially in the virtual world
  • Ensure Akanskha’s communication strategy is telling a strong story and executing with consistency
  • Assist in board member cultivation

Strategy and Operations (20%)

  • Implement a comprehensive multi-year strategic plan and help us expand our presence in other key regions of the US including the West Coast
  • Ensure strong program execution
  • Develop a strategic plan to set ambitious and feasible goals and a clear strategy for the team
  • Work with accountants, auditors, board and staff to ensure tax filings, reporting and annual audit
  • Consider grant-making opportunities, administer grant applications and manage the grant consideration and approval process of the board
  • Manage ongoing reporting from grantees
  • Develop ongoing support and connection to Akanksha alumni studying in the US in collaboration with the Board and the Young Professionals.

Stakeholder Management and Awareness Building (20%)

  • Ensure the health of key stakeholder relationships in the United States, including the Akanksha Foundation in India, corporate partners in the US, and donors
  • Build a strong relationship with the India team through regular communication and an annual trip
  • Raise Akanksha’s brand awareness through traditional and social media

Team Leadership and Management (20%)

  • Attract, hire and develop a team of diverse and talented staff members
  • Coach and develop staff members to exhibit strong cultural leadership skills and orientations
  • Coordinate board and committee meetings including development and early dissemination of materials and agendas
  • Manage strong working relationship(s) with the Akanksha Foundation in India and ensure tight coordination of messaging and information

Experiences, Skills, and Traits

The ideal candidate will be a great relationship builder, strong communicator, results oriented, entrepreneurial and excited to dive into a fundraising organization, ready to take their goals to the next level.

  • 5-7 years leadership experience either as an Executive or leading a Department with a verifiable track record of fundraising, strategic execution and team development
  • Excitement and capacity to fundraise including an ability to tell our story in an inspiring way and build champions
  • Experience working in partnership with a Board of Directors
  • Experience taking an organization to its next stage of growth
  • Deep roots and networks in the Indian-American community in the United States
  • Ideally identifies with the background of the students attending Akanksha schools
  • Demonstrated passion and commitment to the mission and values of Akanksha
  • Sense of urgency around accomplishing goals and objectives
  • Communication skills, relationship-building skills, presence, and maturity that engender respect and facilitate a strong partnership with very senior-level donors, corporate leaders and Akanksha senior team.

Key Financials

Meet the Team

  • The Akanksha Foundation (India)
  • The Akanksha Education Fund (US)

Learn More About Akanksha

Akanksha in the News:

  • Working with Parents as Co-educators
  • A Case for the Integration of Art in our Schools
  • School Leadership Recruitment and Training

Videos:

  • About Akanksha’s mission
  • Akanksha’s 2020 Virtual Gala
  • Stories Behind the Numbers

Connect on Social Media

Akanksha Education Fund

  • Facebook
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  • Instagram

Akanksha Foundation

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Art For Akanksha

 

 

About Akanksha

Established over 23 years ago, the Akanksha Fund supports organizations that focus on reforming India’s education system. Akanksha Fund has raised and granted millions to the Akanksha Foundation, which runs schools and centers for disadvantaged children in Mumbai and Pune.

Akanksha Fund has supported a wide range of Akanksha Foundation schools and projects over the years.  Any donations to the Akanksha Fund not explicitly restricted for a particular project will be utilized for the charitable purposes Akanksha Fund determines are most urgent, which may include support of the Akanksha Foundation’s endowment or corpus to ensure the organization’s long-term stability.

Donate Today

Contact Us

The Akanksha Fund Inc.
tel: (917) 930-6515
email: info@akankshafund.org

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The Akanksha Education Fund Inc.

1 month ago

The Akanksha Education Fund Inc.

We're so proud to partner with Vivo Life and their fantastic team. 100% of net profits of their Magic Chaga Chai Latte will be donated to the Akanksha Education Fund. Thank you for supporting our mission and children's education in India! ☕️ ... See MoreSee Less

Vivo Life | A Very Special Partnership

vivolife.co.uk

When we launched our MAGIC Chaga Chai latte, we wanted to make sure it was something special, that paid respect to the drink's origins. So, we decided to partner up with the Akanksha Foundation, and w...
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The Akanksha Education Fund Inc.

2 months ago

The Akanksha Education Fund Inc.

After over 7 years as our Executive Director, Gouri Sadhwani has decided to transition out of her role over the next few months. Under Gouri’s leadership our income increased by over 1000% allowing us to significantly increase grant making towards Akanksha’s 21 schools in India.

We are extremely grateful for her leadership. The Board is searching for our next Executive Director and hope to share an update with you on this soon.

Thank you for your continued support of Akanksha’s work!
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The Akanksha Education Fund Inc.

2 months ago

The Akanksha Education Fund Inc.

Thank you for supporting Akanksha in this difficult year. But we still need your support in 2021! Please consider making a year-end gift of any amount today: akankshafund.org/2020-holiday-giving/

Thank you for your support and we wish you a bright new year ahead✨
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The Akanksha Education Fund Inc.

2 months ago

The Akanksha Education Fund Inc.

From our family to yours, we wish you a very happy holiday season! Here's to a bright, joyful new year ahead. #happyholidays ... See MoreSee Less

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The Akanksha Education Fund Inc.

2 months ago

The Akanksha Education Fund Inc.

Did you know that Akanksha has impacted nearly 10,000 students across India? 100% of those students graduate high school and 96% enroll in a junior college.

With your support, we can continue educating these brilliant students. Make a donation today and transform a child's life.
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2020 Holiday Giving

akankshafund.org

2020 Holiday Giving This holiday season, we ask you to make Akanksha part of your annual giving and make a donation below. Your support will help our students pursue their dreams and end the poverty c...
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The Akanksha Education Fund Inc.

3 months ago

The Akanksha Education Fund Inc.

On this #GivingTuesday, a generous donor has agreed to match all first-time donations to Akanksha. This is the perfect time to DOUBLE the impact of your gift!

All matched donations will go towards the Mahalaxmi Mumbai Public School which serves 300+ students in Kindergarten through grade 7.

Make a donation today and transform a child’s future. Be sure to share this post and tag your friends as well!
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The Mahalaxmi Mumbai School Fund

akankshafund.org

The Mahalaxmi Mumbai School Fund The Mahalaxmi Mumbai Public School was founded in 2012 and now serves 300+ students in Kindergarten through grade 7 in Mumbai’s Breach Candy area. It is one of Akank...
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The Akanksha Education Fund Inc.

3 months ago

The Akanksha Education Fund Inc.

This #CyberMonday, we're sharing the best deal you can find! For $125, you can provide a tablet to an Akanksha student, so they can continue learning safely at home. Make a donation and give the greatest gift of all: education.

Donate today: bit.ly/39sTflJ
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