Startup Moldova Foundation

Title: Grants Officer

Background of Startup Moldova:

Startup Moldova is a private non-profit organization acting as an active enabler of the Moldovan tech startup and digital innovation ecosystem, a trustworthy partner and supporter of the startup community and individual startups. The mission of Startup Moldova is to empower technological startups and innovative companies with the necessary resources to grow and scale, through international mobility programs, mentoring, facilitating partnerships and connection to investors, legal assistance, as well as community strengthening and matching programs.

Strategic objectives at Startup Moldova:

• Community: Supporting and empowering the community of startups and innovative companies in the Republic of Moldova through community programs, activities and events. Creating and executing a unified strategy to promote the startup community.
• Resources for startups: Empowering startups and innovative companies with the necessary resources to achieve their goals: mentoring, tracking, operational training, facilitating partnerships, facilitating access to accounting services, legal assistance, thematic training, and others.
• Funding: Facilitating the access of startups and innovative companies to financing resources, their support and professional training in fundraising activities.

Role Purpose

The Grants Officer is responsible for supporting Startup Moldova’s fundraising efforts from both international and local institutional donors and corporate sponsors, ensuring the successful development, management, and compliance of externally funded projects and partnerships. The role identifies funding opportunities, develops competitive grant proposals and sponsorship packages, builds strategic partnerships, and ensures donor compliance throughout the project lifecycle. Working closely with Project Managers, the Grants Officer supports the successful implementation of funded initiatives while strengthening Startup Moldova’s long-term financial sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

1. Fundraising & Resource Mobilization

● Develop and maintain Startup Moldova’s fundraising pipeline.

● Identify funding opportunities from international donors, development agencies, foundations, embassies, and other institutional funders.

● Develop high-quality grant applications, concept notes, and funding proposals.

● Prepare project budgets in collaboration with the Finance & Administration Manager.

● Coordinate proposal development across departments and external partners.

● Monitor donor priorities and proactively identify new funding opportunities aligned with donor priorities and portfolios.

● Contribute to the implementation of Startup Moldova’s fundraising strategy.

2. Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships

● Identify and develop partnerships with corporate sponsors aligned with Startup Moldova’s strategic priorities.

● Develop sponsorship packages for flagship programs, events, and ecosystem initiatives.

● Build and maintain long-term relationships with corporate partners.

● Support negotiations of sponsorship agreements together with the Ecosystem Development Lead and CEO.

● Ensure sponsors receive high-quality partnership management and agreed visibility.

● Identify opportunities to expand existing partnerships into long-term strategic collaborations.

3. Grant Management & Compliance

● Manage the full lifecycle of grants from contract signature through project closure.

● Ensure compliance with donor requirements, contractual obligations, and reporting timelines.

● Coordinate narrative reporting and support financial reporting together with the Finance & Administration Manager.

● Maintain accurate and well-organized grant and partnership documentation.

● Coordinate grant amendments, budget revisions, extensions, and donor approvals when required.

● Support donor audits, evaluations, and due diligence processes.

4. Project Delivery Support

Working closely with Project Managers, the Grants Officer will:

● Participate in project planning and kick-off meetings.

● Ensure project implementation remains aligned with approved grant agreements and sponsorship commitments.

● Monitor project KPIs, deliverables, and reporting obligations.

● Coordinate the collection of evidence, success stories, and supporting documentation required for donor and sponsor reporting.

● Support Project Managers in interpreting donor compliance requirements.

● Identify implementation risks that may affect grant compliance and recommend corrective actions.

● Capture lessons learned and best practices to strengthen future funding proposals.

5. Organizational Development

● Improve internal fundraising, grant management, and partnership processes.

● Develop templates, tools, and knowledge resources for proposal writing and donor reporting.

● Promote knowledge sharing across the organization on fundraising opportunities and donor compliance.

● Contribute to strengthening Startup Moldova’s reputation among donors, sponsors, and strategic partners.

Expected Outcomes (First 12 Months)

● A structured and continuously updated fundraising pipeline is established.

● New grant funding and corporate sponsorships are secured to support Startup Moldova’s strategic priorities.

● All donor and sponsor reporting is delivered on time and meets quality standards.

● Strong relationships are established with existing and prospective funding partners.

● Project teams receive timely support on grant compliance and reporting.

● Internal fundraising and grant management processes become more efficient and standardized.

Qualifications & Experience

● Minimum 1 year of experience in fundraising, grant management, partnership development, business development, or donor-funded projects.

● Demonstrated experience preparing successful grant applications and managing donor relationships.

● Experience working with international donors and corporate sponsors is a strong advantage.

● Excellent written and spoken English and Romanian. Russian is an advantage.

● Strong proposal writing, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

● Experience with EU-funded projects is considered a strong asset.

Core Competencies

● Fundraising and resource mobilization

● Grant proposal writing

● Partnership development

● Relationship management

● Project coordination

● Financial literacy and budgeting

● Excellent written communication

● Planning and organization

● Analytical thinking

● Attention to detail

● Ownership and accountability

● Collaboration and teamwork

Working Relationships

Reports to

● Ecosystem Development Lead

Collaborates closely with: CEO, Project Managers, Finance & Administration Manager, Communications Team, Startup Success Manager, Donors, corporate partners, sponsors, international organizations, and ecosystem stakeholders

Role Allocation

● 70–80% – Fundraising, grant development, donor relations, corporate sponsorships, and partnership management.

● 20–30% – Supporting project implementation through grant compliance, monitoring, and donor reporting, while overall project delivery remains the responsibility of the respective Project Managers.

Application process: Interested candidates shall submit their CV and project portfolio, no later than September 4, 2026 to partnerships@startupmoldova.digital with the email subject: Grants Officer. 

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and may close early once a suitable candidate is found.