Centre for Civil Society (CCS)

Location: New Delhi

Duration: 2–6 months

Mode: In-person / Hybrid

Role Overview

The Strategy & Fundraising Intern will support CCS’s fundraising and institutional partnerships function. The role involves donor prospecting, proposal and budget support, outreach, and internal coordination, offering hands-on exposure to how a leading public policy think tank mobilises resources to advance work across education, livelihoods, and governance.

Key Responsibilities

1. Donor & Prospect Research

● Identify and map potential donors, CSR foundations, HNIs, and institutional partners aligned with CCS’s work

● Conduct background research on donor priorities, funding history, and thematic alignment

● Maintain and regularly update prospect, outreach, and engagement trackers

2. Proposal & Concept Note Support

● Assist in drafting and refining concept notes, grant proposals, and pitch documents

● Support alignment of proposals with donor guidelines and reporting frameworks

● Edit and review drafts for clarity, structure, coherence, and donor readiness

3. Budgeting & Financial Planning Support

● Assist in drafting and reviewing project budgets and budget justifications

● Support cost estimations in coordination with program teams

● Ensure internal consistency between budgets, proposals, activities, and timelines

4. Outreach & Communication

● Support donor outreach through emails, follow-ups, and meeting preparation

● Assist in preparing decks, briefs, and background notes for donor meetings

● Document donor conversations, decisions, next steps, and engagement outcomes

5. Strategic & Institutional Support

● Support internal strategy exercises related to fundraising pipelines and partnerships

● Assist in collating data, metrics, and impact narratives for donor communication

● Contribute to strengthening internal fundraising systems, templates, and documentation

Who Should Apply

● Students or recent graduates with an interest in public policy, development, or social impact

● Strong research, writing, and organisational skills

● Comfort working with documents, spreadsheets, and structured data

● Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines

What This Role Offers

● Practical exposure to fundraising strategy within a leading public policy think tank

● Experience working across programs and with senior leadership

● Strong grounding in proposal writing, budgeting, and donor communication

● Insight into how ideas move from strategy to funded, on-ground impact

To Apply: Please share your CV and a short statement of interest at internship@ccs.in and cc to lavanya@ccs.in.