Community and events fundraising officer jobs

Description 

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Head of Fundraising to lead and further develop our fundraising activity at a pivotal time for the Cathedral. This is a strategic and hands on role, working closely with the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Management Team to secure the resources needed to sustain and grow the Cathedral’s mission, ministry and buildings. 

You will take the lead on generating fundraising income, primarily through trusts and foundations, while also developing appeals, legacy giving, regular giving and new fundraising income streams. You will build on the strong foundations already in place, bringing creativity, rigour and collaboration to everything you do. 

The role 

As Head of Fundraising, you will: 

• Lead relationships with trusts and foundations, identifying opportunities, writing compelling applications and managing reporting and compliance 

• Drive major fundraising bids to support the Cathedral’s Estates Masterplan and strategic priorities 

• Develop and deliver fundraising appeals and pilot new initiatives to diversify income 

• Grow legacy and regular giving, building a sustainable pipeline of long-term supporters 

• Lead supporter care, engagement and fundraising events 

• Oversee fundraising communications and profile raising activity 

• Work collaboratively across the Cathedral to develop fundable projects and shared ownership of fundraising 

• Manage the fundraising budget and report progress to the Senior Management Team and Finance Committee 

• Act as Line Manager for the Development Officer 

This role combines strategic thinking with practical delivery and will suit someone who enjoys working in a small, committed team where no two days are the same. 

What we're looking for 

• Proven experience in fundraising, particularly trusts and foundations 

• A strong track record of writing successful funding applications generating over £250,000pa 

• Excellent relationship building and communication skills 

• The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, volunteers and external partners 

• Empathy with the values, mission and worshipping life of a Christian cathedral 

• A calm, organised and proactive approach, with strong attention to detail 

• A clear commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and best practice 

Experience in cathedral, church, heritage or charity settings is welcome but not essential — we are keen to hear from candidates with transferable skills from other sectors. 

Why join us? 

You will be part of a warm, committed community, working in a unique historic setting and helping ensure Portsmouth Cathedral continues to thrive for generations to come. 

 
Benefits 

• Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days per annum (FTE) plus public holidays and 2 'given' days over Christmas. Pro rata for this part-time role. 

• Employer pension contributions of 7% plus 1% employee contribution. 

• Commitment to professional development and training 

• Cash health plan 

Portsmouth Cathedral is an Equal Opportunities Employer and a member of Inclusive Church.   

Interviews in person Tuesday 5 May 2026

We are working with the wonderful Haven House Children's Hospice for a Community and Events Fundraising Officer who would be interested in a development-focused community fundraising role, ideal for someone who enjoys building relationships, establishing new networks, and growing income in areas where the hospice is not yet widely known.

This is a hybrid role with 3 days per week in Woodford Green, Greater London office.

The Charity
You would be joining an incredible organisation known for its hardworking and collaborative team culture, offering fantastic benefits including
- Hybrid office/home based arrangement
- 27 days annual leave
- Pension scheme (company matches contribution up to 7%)
- Free onsite parking
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Eye care voucher scheme
- Cycle to work scheme

The Role
Map and research key opportunties across the seven London boroughs - Barking & Dagenham, City & Hackney, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest - as well as West Essex and East Hertfordshire, Haven House is reaching more families than ever before.

Lead the development of community fundraising activities, establishing and maintaining relationships with community groups, schools, faith groups, clubs, and local businesses.

Monitor and report on outreach activtity, fundraising income and engagement.

The Candidate
Knowledge and understanding of fundraising
Knowledge and understanding of the importance of building relationships with supporters
Experience in community fundraising or relationship building roles
Full UK Driving license and access to a vehicle

IMPORTANT NOTE

Our aim is to respond to all successful applications within 5 days. If you havent been contacted within 5 days your application has been unsuccessful, but we positively encourage you to apply for any other positions that you may see in the future.

We apologise that we cannot contact everybody in person but thank you in advance for your interest.

Third Solutions encourages applications from individuals of all ages & backgrounds. Appointment will be made on merit alone but candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to work in the UK. Third Solutions acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment & an employment business for temporary recruitment as defined by the Conduct of Employment Agencies & Employment Business Regulations 2003.Community & Events Fundraising Manager

We are World Horse Welfare. For almost 100 years, we’ve been inspiring people to put the horse at the centre of how we think, act and care for them – in the UK and across the globe. We’ll always be there, committed to improving welfare, whatever it takes. Because every horse matters.

We are looking for a creative, enthusiastic and dynamic fundraiser to join our ambitious Individual Giving team as World Horse Welfare approaches its centenary anniversary. Operating across multiple, dynamic income streams and both offline and online channels, this is a chance to join a high performing team and become a key player who will help fuel our revenue generating efforts.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver multi‑channel fundraising campaigns from concept to evaluation.
• Create engaging supporter communications and sourcing compelling content across the charity.
• Use data insights to monitor campaign performance to guide future activity.
• Support income generation through effective online shop management.
• Help prepare for and attend events as an engaged and informed representative of the charity.
• Work collaboratively with teams and external suppliers to ensure timely, cost‑effective, supporter‑centred delivery.

About you:
This is a role for someone who thrives on variety, is confident across multiple digital platforms and brings creativity and assurance to managing projects. You’ll be a team player who is trusted to contribute and learn quickly, and you’ll have a proven ability to grow income and deliver successful campaigns. With strong copywriting skills grounded in SEO best practice, you’ll use data to guide decisions, analyse trends and leverage social media to support fundraising. You may be required to attend events around the UK, so the ability to travel occasionally is necessary.

What we offer:

• Generous pension scheme and cash health plan.
• Paid employee sickness absence scheme and compassionate leave.
• Death in service benefit of 4x annual salary.
• Minimum of 31 days holiday pro rata (including bank holidays and a Christmas shutdown).

World Horse Welfare takes great pride in being realistic, compassionate and forward-thinking and the successful applicant for any of our vacancies will be expected to share these values.

World Horse Welfare is committed to championing equality and diversity in all aspects of employment and in the services that it provides. We encourage applications for all of our vacancies from under-represented groups, particularly ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities.

Closing date: Sunday 12th of April 2026

Volunteer Centre Hackney is a thriving charity (annual income circa £1.1m, with 29 paid staff) providing volunteering infrastructure to the voluntary sector across the City of London and the London borough of Hackney. We support over 1500 residents a year to realise their skills and passions through volunteering and social action, and to share these for the benefit of others. We also provide volunteering resource, and advice and guidance on best practice in volunteer management, to hundreds of charities and community organisations.

Through our specialist programmes, our impact on the lives of residents is huge. We match volunteers to housebound residents to help them engage with communities and leave their homes; we provide long term personalised support to people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities to help them volunteer and find paid jobs; we support patients to deliver hundreds of their own activities and peer support groups at GP practices across City and Hackney; and in partnership with Public Health, we support over 250 Community Health Champions to share vital health messaging with their own diverse communities.  

This is a hands-on and strategic role for an experienced fundraiser who thrives in a small to medium sized charity environment. You will have autonomy to develop a whole new fundraising strategy, utilising diverse fundraising methods, and building and developing new project ideas and partnerships. You will lead on income generation primarily through sourcing and applying to multiple trusts and foundations, but diversified by building new corporate partnerships, community campaigns and individual giving. You will build authentic relationships with funders and supporters, and together with VCH colleagues, will identify new programme models as ways to generate income. You will contribute to the development and production of compelling stories, evidence and marketing and build and maintain the infrastructure needed to track and achieve progress against annual income targets.

Post holders need to have excellent communication skills, to represent the charity in writing and in person. You must be enthusiastic, self-motivating and confident to work primarily alone, but also able to engage and collaborate with staff from across the organisation to share information and impact evidence to support your role. If you are successful in securing funding there will be the potential to recruit additional support, and for you to become the Head of Fundraising of a small team.

Do you enjoy building relationships and inspiring people to support a meaningful cause, while being an inspiring team leader and manager? This could be the role for you.

Job Description

As a senior member of the Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity (BWHC) Fundraising & Marketing team, your main objective is to lead the development and management of our community fundraising programme to maximise income to meet annual targets.

You will play a vital role in stewarding effective relationships to maximise support from our existing supporters and crucially, for driving new donor acquisition to ensure the sustainability of our work.  Developing our community fundraising programme is essential to our income base and profile. Central to our work is supporting our volunteer fundraisers, driving participant numbers for challenge events, recruiting and engaging volunteers to help raise awareness of the impact of our hospitals across Bristol and Weston. Crucially, delivering on our 2025-2030 strategy alongside the rest of the Fundraising and Marketing team will be a key part of your role.

Supported by the Head Public Fundraising, you will develop strategic and operational plans and budgets for your operational area to meet growth targets and you will ensure to focus on the objective of focusing on current and lapsed supporters.

This is a dynamic and varied role where you will work closely with colleagues across fundraising, marketing and hospital teams to deliver our 2025–2030 strategy and bring our community closer to the charity’s mission.

Key Accountabilities

Community & Events Fundraising

• To maximise fundraising income by managing and delivering overall recruitment and stewardship of fundraising groups, individual supporters (including in memory fundraisers and funeral collections), ambassadors and volunteers
• To develop and manage the team, empowering them to deliver the BWHC ‘In Aid of’ strategic plan, focussing on expanding the network of supporters who fundraise for and are happy to represent BWHC externally
• To develop, manage and deliver the BWHC Community Group plan, focusing on acquisition of new supporters and development of our retention plan
• To raise income and profile through the development, management, promotion of a portfolio of events (BWHC events, third party events and In Aid of events), ensuring maximum participation
• To develop and manage the team to deliver stewardship of in memory fundraisers and income from funeral collection
• To work with the Hospital Partnership Manager to develop a strategic approach to increase levels of hospital staff fundraising
• To manage and develop BWHC’s trading offer, including overall management of the physical Fundraising Hub and development of online shop
• To ensure exceptional, personalised but proportionate donor stewardship including continued development of product led stewardship e.g. in celebration
• To oversee the recruitment, training, stewardship and management of volunteers to provide support across the charity
• To work with the Brand & Marketing Team to create and deliver a media programme to maximise participation in BWHC activity
• Supported by the Head of Public Fundraising, to work with the IG & Legacy Manager and Supporter Experience, Data & Insight Team in particular to define, develop and deliver cross-portfolio supporter journeys and consistent supporter care.
   

Leadership & Management

• To provide strong leadership and management to the Community Partnerships & Events Fundraising Officer, Community Partnerships & Event Assistant and Volunteer Officer to ensure they are encouraged and motivated to perform at their best, fulfil their role and achieve agreed targets/KPI’s.

Strategy and Planning

• Contribute to the development and review of Fundraising & Marketing strategy.  
• Accountability for Community Fundraising plan and maximising long-term growth in this area
• Develop, implement and monitor annual operational plans, budgets and income forecasting, and ensure internal reporting is completed
• Ongoing evaluation of activity to ensure maximised return on investment
•  Keep up to date with relevant legislation and developments which affect the charity
• To contribute to the overall work and reporting of the fundraising and communications team through excellent team-work and cross-team working

Deadline for applications: 11.30pm, Friday 24th April
Interviews planned for: W/C 27th Apri. 

Our Benefits:
 

• 27 days annual holiday entitlement (pro-rata) plus an additional day off on your birthday and a wellbeing day. Plus an additional two days leave after five years of service. 
• Commitment to hybrid and flexible working
•  Competitive pension scheme. We'll match employee pension contributions up to 8% (minimum 5%)
•  Additional support via our enhanced Employee Assistance Programme, including up to eight sessions with a licensed counsellor
•  Life assurance cover - 4x annual salary
•  Commitment to training and development with budget set aside
•  Medicash health plan - claim cash towards a range of medical costs
•  Free Blue Light Card that allows access to hundreds of discounts at major retailers.

How to Apply:

Please submit your CV and cover letter, outlining how your experience fits the role and skills required. 

Senior Philanthropy Officer – Job Advert

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £37,221.19 to £41,740.90

Closing Date: 13th April

First interviews to be held: w/c 20th April

Centrepoint, the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity, is looking for a Senior Philanthropy Officer to join our Philanthropy team based in London or Manchester.

Centrepoint operates a hybrid working model. The requirement is a minimum of 50% of your working week to be worked in the office. For most full-time colleagues, this means attending the office for five days over a two-week period (e.g., two days one week and three days the next). For colleagues on different contracts (including part-time or compressed contracts) this will be adjusted accordingly.

About Centrepoint

Centrepoint exists to help vulnerable young people by giving them the practical and emotional support they need to find a job and live independently. We provide homeless young people with accommodation, health support and life skills in order to get them back into education, training and employment. We want to end youth homelessness by 2037, and together with our partners we support over 16,000 young people each year.

High Value Giving is an area of income growth for Centrepoint, with the Philanthropy team forming part of the Relationship Fundraising Department. The Senior Philanthropy Officer role plays a crucial part within the Philanthropy team, as the team look to build upon their recent successes and income trajectory.

Developing donor relationships, producing important cultivation resources and contributing to the creation of a robust donor pipeline will form key responsibilities for this role. This is an amazing time to be joining the team, as we embark on delivering our new strategy and exploring new philanthropic trends.

About You

The Senior Philanthropy Officer will report into the Philanthropy Manager. This role will steward its own major donor portfolio, managing gifts between £5,000 and £100,000, and project manage an element of the team strategy to help achieve the Philanthropy income target.

The post holder with work closely with other teams, particularly the mid-value team, within fundraising and the organisation more widely, to maximise income for Centrepoint.

This role offers a fantastic opportunity to develop skills and experience in major donor fundraising, while being part of an energetic and passionate team. This role would suit an established relationship fundraiser seeking their next high value giving opportunity.

What you’ll be doing

As Senior Philanthropy Officer, you will play a key role in growing high-value income by developing relationships with major donors and building a strong pipeline of future supporters.

You will manage your own portfolio of major donors while also contributing to the wider philanthropy strategy.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing and stewarding a portfolio of major donors, developing tailored engagement and communication plans
• Growing income from existing donors and cultivating new major donor prospects
• Leading the Mid Value to Major Donor pathway, identifying and developing high-potential donors
• Project managing key elements of the philanthropy strategy to drive income growth
• Working with teams across the organisation to identify funding needs and develop compelling cases for support
• Producing major donor appeals, reports, newsletters and updates
• Maintaining accurate donor records and reporting on the CRM system
• Managing administrative and financial processes relating to donor income
• Representing the organisation at donor meetings, events and service visits
• Keeping up to date with philanthropy trends and sector developments
• Supporting wider fundraising events and activities

What we’d be looking for from you…

The ideal candidate will have:

• Proven experience in relationship fundraising, philanthropy, or relationship management
• Experience managing donor or client portfolios
• Strong project management and organisational skills
• The ability to write engaging communications for a high value audience
• Confidence building relationships with high-net-worth individuals
• Experience working collaboratively across teams
• A proactive, creative and results-focused approach to fundraising
• A strong commitment to the organisation’s values and mission.

Why join Centrepoint?

In return, you’ll receive a competitive salary, excellent training and development, and a host of staff benefits including:

• 25 days of annual leave per year, rising by one day per year to a maximum of 27 days
• Healthcare cash plan (Covers the costs of a wide range of medical treatment including dental, optical, complementary and alternative therapies).
• Private medical insurance
• Income protection
• Employer pension contributions of 5%
• Access to Cycle 2 Work loan scheme
• An interest-free travel loan

At Centrepoint we challenge the discrimination within society that contributes to youth homelessness, and we are just as committed to fairness and equality within Centrepoint itself. We are passionate about ensuring all of our colleagues are made to feel included in the work we do and that we value the rich diversity within the organization.

We are an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications regardless of sex, gender, race, age, belief in any religion and none, gender identity, ethnic origin, class, sexuality, nationality, appearance, unrelated criminal activities, disability, responsibility for dependents, part time or shift workers, being HIV positive or living with AIDS, lived experience of homelessness or using young people’s services and any other matter which causes a person to be treated with injustice.

Centrepoint’s policy is to recruit, employ and promote people on the basis of their suitability for the work to be performed, and to this end, our aim is to ensure that all applicants, employees and volunteers receive equal treatment.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to join our team as Senior Philanthropy Manager click ‘Apply’ now!

Are you a brilliant communicator and collaborator who loves getting into the nitty-gritty of logistics and organisation? Join a passionate team working to end inequality in education through the power of Classics.

We’re looking for a Fundraising and Events Officer to help devise, organise and deliver a variety of events, seek sponsorship opportunities and grow our membership base. From managing systems and data to coordinating logistics and analysing results, every day can be a little bit different. You will be the first point of contact for many of our event attendees, donors and supporters and will enjoy building relationships and improving and maintaining systems to ensure that people have a positive interaction with Classics for All.

Diversity and inclusion

As a social mobility charity, being inclusive is a fundamental value of Classics for All. We welcome applications from all eligible people and are particularly keen to receive applications from those who are from communities that are less represented within the Classics community, such as those from minoritised ethnic backgrounds and those with disabilities.

It does not matter if Classics was offered at your own school, and you do not need to be a classicist to join our team – there are no Latin tests!

Deliver hands-on advice, outreach, training and mentoring as part of a new countywide partnership programme.

This four-year role, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, sits at the heart of the Small and Mighty (SaM) infrastructure support programme, delivered by a partnership of Community First Oxfordshire, OCVA, Oxford Community Action, Charity Mentors and Volunteer Link-Up, working directly with grassroots voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise groups. You’ll help organisations navigate challenges, build capacity and connect with others through outreach clinics, tailored training and collaborative spaces. Alongside staff within partner organisations and the existing CFO and OCVA team, you’ll play a key role in strengthening Oxfordshire’s community sector for the long term.

Job-share will be considered.

At Special Olympics GB, we are committed to driving meaningful impact through our ambitious growth strategy, Inclusion in Action, which guides everything we do as an organisation. To accelerate this impact and expand our reach, we are looking to grow our team with a key role that will drive forward our future organisational growth in alignment with our strategy. We’re looking for someone who enjoys meeting new people, building relationships and bringing energy to community activity. Our partnership with Fuller, Smith & Turner is rooted in community. With more than 330 pubs, inns and hotels across the South of England, Fuller’s provides a powerful platform to connect local communities with Special Olympics GB clubs, athletes and families. We are looking for an energetic and people-focused Community Partnerships & Engagement Officer to lead the day-to-day activation of this partnership. This role will focus on building relationships across the Fuller’s pub estate, connecting pubs with local Special Olympics GB clubs and helping bring the partnership to life through events, volunteering, fundraising and storytelling. This is a highly people-focused role that involves regular travel, building relationships with pub managers and teams, and helping them find simple and meaningful ways to support Special Olympics GB in their communities.

The Community Events Executive will play a key role in delivering our Community Fundraising strategy. Working closely with the Senior Fundraising Executive - Community & Events, this role will oversee the planning, delivery and growth of community-focused fundraising activity across a range of channels. The postholder will manage a portfolio of community fundraising products and partnerships, tailored to engage specific audience groups and will be responsible for building and nurturing relationships with supporters, Community Champions and volunteers at a local level to maximise engagement, participation, and income.

About You: 

ESSENTIAL

• Experience delivering events or community-based fundraising activities.
• Proven experience of building relationships with community groups and/or volunteers.
• Strong relationship management skills with the ability to engage and inspire volunteers and supporters.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proactive and self-motivated, with a collaborative approach.
• Ability to work flexibly, including some evenings and weekends, with occasional travel.
• Holds a current, valid driving license and access to a vehicle for work purposes.

DESIRABLE

• Knowledge of fundraising regulations and best practice.
• Experience using CRM systems and online fundraising platforms to manage supporter relationships and fundraising efforts.
• Knowledge and experience of using social media platforms to promote supporter events.

To view the full job description, please visit the Careers page on our website. 

Location: 89 Addison Road, London, W14 8BZ, and other Trust sites across London

Contract Type: Full time, all year round

Salary: £31,980-£33,870

Start Date: As soon as possible

About the Role

Working closely with the Development Manager and the Development Director, you will play a key role in strengthening relationships with the Trust’s communities, supporting fundraising initiatives and delivering engaging communications and events that foster lifelong connections with the Trust and its schools.

Key Responsibilities

• Build meaningful relationships across school communities and alumni networks, bringing people together and inspiring them to support the Trust’s vision
• Lead creative fundraising and engagement initiatives, from community campaigns to reunions and events, helping to drive a vibrant culture of giving
• Boost the Trust’s growth and sustainability by supporting data‑driven fundraising, managing donor stewardship, maintaining accurate customer relationship management (CRM) records, and contributing to strong grant proposals

What We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate will be:

• A confident communicator with excellent interpersonal and writing skills who can engage a vast range of stakeholders
• Experienced in relationship management, fundraising or engagement
• Organised, detail-oriented and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Skilled in using CRM systems and digital communication tools
• Passionate about education and community building
• A team player with a proactive and positive approach

About the Trust

The Saint John Southworth Catholic Academy Trust is a growing family of Catholic schools (primary, secondary and post-16), a registered charity and a trading company committed to providing an outstanding education rooted in faith, aspiration and service.

Our Shared Services Team provides high-quality professional and operational support across the Trust, enabling schools to focus on teaching, learning and pastoral care.

What We Offer

• A supportive and collaborative working environment
• Opportunities for training and development to help you grow in your career
• The chance to contribute to a trust committed to delivering high-quality education and supporting staff wellbeing
• Hybrid working during school holidays
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme and generous holiday entitlement

How to Apply

For further details on the role, please view the Job Description and Person Specification or visit our website to find out more about us.

To apply for this role, please complete the application forms available on our Vacancies webpage. Applications should be sent via email.

Shortlisted candidates will be called for interview upon receipt of application, therefore we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

The Saint John Southworth Catholic Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. All roles are subject to satisfactory vetting, including an Enhanced DBS check with Children’s Barred List.

The posts below are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (amended 2013 and 2020)) provide that when applying for certain jobs, certain spent convictions and cautions are protected and they do not need to be disclosed to employers. If they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account.  Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website and further information about filtering offences can be found in DBS filtering guide.

Join us in our mission to cultivate an educational environment that inspires growth, respect and academic achievement!

Temporary Fundraising & Sponsorship Advisor – Job Description

Introduction / Opportunity Framing

The Lit & Phil is entering a significant development phase through its “Lit & Phil Open” project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

We are seeking an experienced Fundraising and Sponsorship Advisor to play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering our fundraising strategy at a critical moment.

This is not a steady-state role. It is an opportunity to design and implement a fundraising approach that will support both immediate project needs and long-term financial sustainability.

About the Organisation

The Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne (“Lit & Phil”) is a historic charity established in 1793, dedicated to advancing education.

• Based in central Newcastle, operating from a Grade II* listed building
• Home to over 200,000 books and music items
• Delivers approximately 150 public events annually
• Serves thousands of visitors and members each year
• Supported by staff and a strong volunteer network

The organisation is embarking on a major heritage and engagement project to expand access, grow audiences, and secure long-term sustainability.

The Role

As our Fundraising and Sponsorship Advisor, you will provide expert strategic and delivery support across two key priorities:

1. Securing match funding for a major Heritage Fund Delivery Phase bid
2. Building sustainable income streams to improve long-term financial resilience

You will operate both strategically and hands-on, working alongside trustees and project advisors.

You will:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising and sponsorship strategy
• Design and execute a targeted fundraising campaign for “Lit & Phil Open”
• Build a pipeline of funding opportunities across individuals, trusts, and corporate sponsors
• Strengthen and manage relationships with donors and stakeholders
• Create compelling funding proposals, applications, and reporting materials
• Develop promotional materials for fundraising campaigns
• Organise and support fundraising events and donor engagement activity
• Monitor, evaluate, and refine fundraising performance

Key Deliverables (Development Phase – 6 Months)

• Months 1–2:
  • Deliver a review of current fundraising and sponsorship activity
  • Provide recommendations aligned to priority funding needs
  • Initiate early-stage fundraising actions
• By Month 4:
  • Produce a detailed Fundraising and Sponsorship Strategy
  • Include long-term sustainability planning beyond the project phase
  • Provide costings and resource considerations
• By Month 5:
  • Deliver a presentation of the strategy to trustees/stakeholders
• By Month 6 (September 2026):
  • Secure at least 3 grants totalling £10,000+
  • Secure sponsorship from at least 3 organisations

Key Deliverables (Strategic Priorities)

Priority 1: Capital / Project Funding

• Secure match funding to support a potential £4.5m Heritage Fund Delivery bid
• Develop funding streams across individuals, trusts, and corporate donors

Priority 2: Revenue Growth

• Develop fundraising approaches to increase annual income by ~40% by 2029
• Expand income across:
  • Subscriptions and membership
  • Sponsorship
  • Events and ticketing
  • Venue hire and commercial activity

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

• Proven experience developing and delivering fundraising strategies
• Strong track record in securing funding (trusts, grants, corporate, or individuals)
• Excellent bid writing and proposal development skills
• Experience in donor relationship management and reporting
• Ability to design and deliver fundraising campaigns
• Strategic thinking combined with delivery capability

Desirable

• Experience working with cultural, heritage, or educational organisations
• Experience with National Lottery Heritage Fund or similar funding bodies
• Experience in membership-based organisations

Personal Attributes

• Strategic and analytical thinker
• Proactive and solutions-focused
• Able to work independently while engaging stakeholders effectively
• Adaptable within a project-based and evolving environment
• Strong communication and influencing skills

Reporting Line

• Reports to: Trustee Board Member (Finance Lead)
• Works with: Project team, trustees, and external advisors

Contract & Timeline

• Contract Type: Consultancy / Fixed-term
• Duration: Approx. 6 months (Development Phase)
• Start Date: April 2026 (or as soon as possible)
• Potential Extension: Delivery Phase (Jan 2027 – 2029), subject to funding approval

Monitoring & Reporting

• Monthly progress reports (max. 3 pages + dashboard)
• Regular engagement with trustees and project leadership
• Flexibility to respond to stakeholder and funder queries

Closing Statement

This is an opportunity to play a central role in shaping the future of a historic institution, contributing to a major heritage project while building a sustainable fundraising model for the long term.

We welcome applications from experienced advisors who can bring both strategic insight and practical delivery to this ambitious programme.

If you seek a fresh and rewarding challenge, look no further than Open Country! Seeking to help disabled people to access and enjoy the countryside, we embrace a wide range of fundraising methods, so this role could be adapted to suit either full-time or part-time work. We are also able to cater for your particular skill set, though core duties would likely include: 

• Researching and writing grant applications to charitable trusts, grant-making bodies and other funders.
• Developing and delivering new and imaginative community fundraising activities.
• Encouraging appropriate corporate sponsorship and fundraising.
• Developing and delivering Open Country fundraising events and third-party events.

This is a hands-on, dynamic role requiring creativity, insight and panache, coupled with great communication and relationship-building skills.

You will work collaboratively with our Finance and Fundraising Manager at our Head Office in Harrogate, though an element of home working can be considered.

Appointment to this post is subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check. 

Lead and Direct Income Generation and Future Fundraising for Swindon Food Collective

The role has key responsibility for all income generation activities at Swindon Food Collective. This includes high-profile networking with local businesses, corporations and the public sector, processing grant applications, growing and managing key corporate partnerships and significantly increasing fundraising activities. This is a senior role and the role-holder will be a member of the Senior Leadership Team. The work involves undertaking frequent travel to local corporations, businesses, and wider public sector stakeholders. 

Role Purpose
To design, deliver and secure a multi-stream recurring income generation strategy, manage charity-wide philanthropy, and strengthen long-term financial resilience.

Key responsibilities

Strategy and planning
• Develop and deliver a 12–24-month income generation plan aligned to SFC priorities and the Trustee Strategy & Fundraising Committee.
• Build a balanced income mix (corporate, philanthropy, trusts, community and digital where appropriate), with clear targets and resource assumptions.
• Produce compelling cases for support and pitch materials tailored to different audiences.

Corporate partnerships and sponsorship
• Identify, cultivate and secure corporate partnerships and sponsorships (including 'charity of the year' and payroll giving where feasible).
• Design partnership packages (benefits, brand alignment, staff engagement, volunteering) and manage delivery and stewardship.
• Work closely with the Brand Ambassador & Events Manager to convert event leads into partnership conversations. 

Philanthropy, major donors and relationship fundraising
• Build and steward relationships with high-value supporters, ensuring excellent donor care and personalised stewardship.
• Manage a prospect pipeline (research, cultivation plans, asks, stewardship and renewals).
• Coordinate CEO and trustee involvement in high-value relationships where appropriate. 

Trusts, foundations and grant fundraising
• Own the trusts and foundations pipeline, from identifying funders to writing compelling bids and submitting applications.
• Coordinate impact evidence and data collection across SFC to strengthen applications and reporting.
• Complete and undertake all funding and grant applications (corporate and public sector) in a timely fashion and ahead of relevant deadlines. Report funding progress to stakeholders. 
• Ensure timely and high-quality funder reporting and relationship management. 

Performance management, systems and compliance
• Manage income forecasting, budgeting and ROI tracking; set and monitor KPIs and provide clear reporting to CEO/Board.
• Maintain accurate records in the CRM (or agreed system), ensuring GDPR compliance and strong data quality.
• Ensure fundraising activity aligns with relevant fundraising standards and ethical practice. 

Leadership and organisational contribution
• Senior Leadership Team member: contribute to organisational planning, budgeting and risk management.
• Work collaboratively across operations and volunteering functions to ensure fundraising promises align with delivery capability and safeguarding requirements.
• Coach and support colleagues and volunteers who contribute to income generation activity. 
• Other tasks as relevant / determined by the CEO.