Community fundraiser and jobs in birmingham

Join the Bone Cancer Research Trust to lead our trusts and foundations fundraising, securing c.£500,000 per year to support life-changing bone cancer research and patient services. You’ll shape a strategic fundraising programme, building multi-year partnerships while delivering immediate income targets.

We’re looking for a proactive, strategic fundraiser with strong relationship-building and analytical skills, confident representing BCRT externally, developing compelling proposals, and spotting long-term opportunities.

As a leader, you’ll inspire your team, bring fresh ideas, and connect funders with real impact, helping us deliver vital support for patients and families affected by primary bone cancer.

We’re looking for a creative and results driven fundraiser to lead the growth of our individual donor and supporter base while delivering outstanding supporter experiences. You’ll play a central role in our fundraising efforts: leading multi-channel campaigns, strengthening donor relationships, and shaping the future of our Individual Giving strategy. 

This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of a key fundraising programme with scope to innovate and grow. If you have proven experience running successful donor acquisition campaigns, strong project management and analytical skills, and a passion for breast cancer prevention, we’d love to hear from you! 

Why join us? 

• To be part of a fantastic supportive team. 

• Work for an organisation that values a positive and inclusive culture. 

• Fully remote working. 

• Competitive salary of £31,171 – £37,340 PA (depending on experience) 

• 29.5 Days Annual Leave Plus Bank Holidays. 

• Option for full time colleagues to compress hours and work a 9 day fortnight. 

• Healthcare cover and employee assistance programme. 

• Enhanced Sickness, Maternity and Paternity pay. 

• Great supportive culture with generous professional training and development programmes. 

• For full details see our recruitment pack 

You will be joining us at a time that holds the greatest potential for fundraising in our history, following the launch of the UK Government’s Delivery Plan for ME and initial findings of the DecodeME genetics study (co-led by Action for ME) in Summer 2025. 

Building on our charity’s already established level of support from major donors, you will provide exceptional relationship management to existing donors alongside growing our network of high value supporters.

Working closely with the CEO, alongside managing a portfolio of donors and prospects ensuring excellent stewardship, you will support our Breakthrough-ME Group (a group of high net worth and highly networked individuals). There is an established level of support from major donors at Action for ME so this is a role that will require exceptional relationship management to retain our current valued supporters while growing this crucial area of fundraising. 

This would be an ideal role for an experienced philanthropy professional seeking to work for a small but ambitious charity, helping us to achieve our mission to improve the lives of all people affected by ME – better meeting their needs today while taking action to secure change for tomorrow.

Key duties

Major Donor Fundraising

• Successfully develop and implement the philanthropy strategy to secure and maximise funds from high value individuals for Action for ME achieving annual income of £250k+

• Set plans and budgets which will deliver income through major gift fundraising and philanthropic giving through family trusts and foundations, including quarterly forecasting.

• Manage a portfolio of prospects and donors at the £5k to £100k level, to develop and maintain strong and long-standing partnerships

• Work closely with the Director of Fundraising and Development and other colleagues to ensure that plans and activities for fundraising from high value individuals are integrated into the overall fundraising strategy and plan for significant growth.

• Be responsible for our Breakthrough-ME Group with high quality proposition development.  Contribution to Group fundraising activities with a specific focus on ensuring their networks support pipeline growth for future fundraising.

• Lead the delivery of our biennial fundraising gala dinner, maximising income and new opportunities from attendees.

• Develop engaging and inspiring opportunities to steward and cultivate support creating a calendar of activities including events, presentations, approaches, networking and meetings.

• Utilise the CRM database (Raisers Edge) to provide the data required to strategise your approach to philanthropy, monitor progress and provide a high-quality donor experience.

• Ensure utilisation of insight & data, producing management information data to inform planning and strategy development.

• With the Director of Fundraising & Development, create inspiring cases for support and resulting propositions with clear budgets and outcomes.

• Create adequate systems and processes to support the major donor programme.

• Undertake and manage research into prospects and major donors, preparing for approaches and presentations and briefing senior leadership and trustees for donor meetings and events.

• Develop and maintain relationships with donors, a wide range of staff and volunteers from trustee level down.

• Provide regular feedback and internal reporting to line management.

• Work with other fundraisers to ensure that all fundraising opportunities and leads are followed up – particularly in corporate, community and trust fundraising.

• Work with Trustees, the Chief Executive and members of the Leadership Team to develop relationships with major donors.

• Self-administrate including managing your own diary and meetings, keeping accurate and up to date records of activity

• Occasional travel to London, Bristol & events

Other duties

• To positively promote the work and activities of Action for M.E. at all times.

• To contribute to the team’s overall, ongoing and annual planning and budgeting.

• To undertake any other reasonable activity in line with the responsibilities of the post as requested by the Director of Fundraising and Development, Chief Executive or any other senior Action for ME management.

• Act as an advocate for the Charity and its work.

• To work in accordance with Action for ME’s values of collaboration, equity and empathy.

About you

You’re entrepreneurial, independent, and driven. You treat your work like it’s your own business - spotting opportunities, testing ideas, and chasing results.

If you’re a traditional charity fundraiser, this probably isn’t for you. But if you’re excited by risk, growth, and pace - keep reading.

Over the past three years, we’ve bought and scaled swim events, turned others down, failed fast, and doubled our unrestricted income. We want someone who’s up for that kind of journey over the next three years too.

You’re as comfortable pitching to a corporate partner as you are writing fundraising copy, tweaking button text, or building a forecast. You can move between detail and vision, instinct and data, phone calls and spreadsheets.

You know how to deepen supporter journeys, grow fundraising per head, and develop new income streams. Bonus points if you like outdoor swimming.

About us

We’re a Founder-led charity working to solve learn-to-swim for disabled children - and we aim to do that in the next ten years.

We’ve grown our impact 5x in the past three years and now raise over £1m in unrestricted income annually through our swim events. Our events attract 5,000 swimmers and 3,000 fundraisers, and we own and operate some of the UK’s most iconic outdoor swims - including the Dart10k and Bantham Swoosh - alongside a growing series of 24-hour relays in lakes and lidos.

We’re small, ambitious, and fast-moving. Strategy and delivery happen side by side. We work on multiple projects, test constantly, and keep things flexible and responsive. You’ll need to thrive in that environment to enjoy the role.

The role

We’re all driven, and you’ll need to be too - this is a fast-paced, ambitious environment with lots of learning and change.

We’re looking for a strategic, creative Head of Fundraising to lead our next phase of growth.

Your first focus will be stewarding our 3,000 fundraisers - overseeing segmented email journeys, managing a £40k prizing fund, and improving supporter care through deeper, more personal touchpoints. That might mean calls, events, or just finding ways to help people feel more connected to their impact.

Beyond that, you'll help us develop and test new income streams - from matched giving and regular giving, to sponsorships, repeat fundraising, and post-event conversion. You'll also play a key role in evolving our Challenge Events portfolio across in-person, virtual, and blended formats.

This role requires someone with a strong track record in fundraising growth, a test-and-learn mindset, and the ambition to build something big.

Core Responsibilities

• Strategy Development and Implementation
• Develop and execute a fundraising strategy aligned with the charity's objectives.
• Identify and cultivate new fundraising opportunities to diversify income streams.
• Defining our fundraising growth strategies, specifically around our event series.

Community and Events Fundraising

• Oversee the planning and execution of community fundraising initiatives, specifically with our event fundraisers.
• Engage and mobilise volunteers and supporters for fundraising activities.

Fundraiser Care

• Customer Lifetime value / retention / regular giving.
• Build and maintain relationships with donors, ensuring effective stewardship.
• Develop and implement donor retention strategies to increase long-term support and regular giving.

Trusts and Foundations

• Working closely with our Head of Programmes to oversee our bids process, working with specialists and utilising learnings from previous years.
• Deepen strong relationships with grant-making bodies and ensure compliance with grant requirements.

Corporate Partnerships

• Manage and develop corporate partnerships and event sponsorships. 
• Develop tailored proposals and pitches to attract corporate support.

Team Leadership

• Lead, inspire, and manage a small fundraising team, fostering a culture of high performance and collaboration.
• Provide mentorship and professional development opportunities for team members for both fundraising and marketing.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Track and report on fundraising performance against targets.
• Provide regular updates to the Senior Leadership Team. 

Qualifications and Experience

• Proven experience in a senior fundraising role.
• Proven experience working on fundraising events and event fundraising.
• Demonstrable success in developing and implementing successful fundraising strategies.
• Strong track record of securing major gifts, grant funding and/or corporate partnerships.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and inspire a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience in digital fundraising and leveraging social media platforms.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

Optional / Ideal Responsibilities

Marketing & Comms

• Developing Level Water’s marketing and communications strategy
• Leading strategy implementation and ensuring that we’re representing our Programmes work and impact work in the best possible way to our different groups of stakeholders. 

Digital Fundraising

• Leverage digital platforms, advertising and social media to enhance fundraising.
• Implement innovative online fundraising campaigns and initiatives.

Event growth and innovation

• Understanding the mass participation event landscape and its opportunities, ideally within the swimming sector but other sports experience very welcome.

Personal Attributes

• Passionate about the mission and values of Level Water.
• Strategic thinker with a results-oriented approach.
• Creative and innovative mindset.
• Resilient and adaptable, with a positive attitude.
• High level of integrity and commitment to ethical fundraising practices.

Please send a CV and Cover Letter (which can be a 2-3 minute video) to apply.

Home-Start London is seeking a dynamic and driven Partnerships & Projects Coordinator to play a pivotal role in growing our impact across the capital. In this varied and rewarding role, you’ll work closely with our network of local Home-Starts, developing and managing partnerships and generating income to support and extend Home-Start services. Your work will directly help secure vital income and drive collaborative initiatives that ensure every child has the best possible start in life. If you’re a skilled relationship builder, confident fundraiser, and organised project manager with a passion for making a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

What you’ll do:

• Proactively seek out, develop and manage new partnerships, generating income to support and extend Home-Start services
• Support the Operations Coordinator to manage existing consortia projects, ensuring quality and meeting targets
• Deliver timely reporting for internal and external stakeholders
• Lead on planning and delivery of network events, showcasing Home-Start’s work and impact for children and families
• Regularly engage with local Home-Start teams, from co-designing new projects to providing training and support with local fundraising efforts
• Work with HSL’s Communications Lead and local Home-Start teams to develop external communications that showcase Home-Start’s work, including content for website and socials
• Ensure compliance with partnership governance procedures, funding agreements, and internal policy
• Maintain accurate record keeping for all partnerships and projects
• Provide administrative support to the team, supporting efficient operations
• Manage volunteers as required, ensuring that they are happy, effective and well supported
• Any other duties that may be reasonably requested of the postholder

What we’re looking for:

• An excellent relationship builder, skilled fundraiser and strong project manager
• Confidence in engaging and inspiring a diverse range of stakeholders  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong administrative skills, including maintaining accurate records and supporting operational processes
• Proactive, solution-focused and adaptable, able to embrace new challenges and changing priorities effectively
• Passionate about Home-Start’s mission to ensure every child has the best start in life
• Confident in using MS Office, including Excel
• Commitment to, and understanding of, safeguarding, equal opportunities and maintaining confidentiality
• An understanding of the small charity sector, including funding landscape (knowledge of and networks in London an advantage)
• Knowledge of /experience in early years and family support service

This job is home-based but will require regular travel in London.

Animals Asia: Philanthropy Manager (USA Lead)
Location: UK Home based, with easy travel to London. Requirement to accommodate US business hours where necessary, with some evening and weekend work.
Salary: £50,000 per annum
Contract: Full-time, Permanent

At Animals Asia, we don’t just talk about compassion – we live it. Every. Single. Day. We're on a powerful mission to end cruelty and restore respect for animals across Asia. Best known for our pioneering work to end bear bile farming, we also run life-saving sanctuaries in China and Vietnam and push for long-term, sustainable change. With 400+ passionate changemakers around the globe, our movement is growing fast – and we need YOU to help lead the charge.
We’re on the hunt for an experienced major gift fundraiser to lead our philanthropy activities in the USA – you will have an exceptional ability to build and maintain relationships with key existing stakeholders as well as potential new donors to help us grow our giving community in the region and supercharge our impact for animals.
What You’ll Do:
As our new Philanthropy Lead for the USA, you’ll:

• Develop and implement strategies to cultivate, solicit and steward donors to support the charity.
• Lead on high-net-worth individual relationships in the USA and the strategic management of a donor pipeline.
• Grow our philanthropic income and build strong, long-term relationships with donors.
• Deputise for other philanthropy managers where required and share your experience and ambition with the wider philanthropy team.

Who You Are:
You will have expertise and a track record in major gift fundraising, relationship management and prospect research, as well as be able to demonstrate superb donor care. You will also be an authentic and confident leader who can build a genuine and long-lasting connection between donors and Animals Asia. You will have superb communication and project management skills, and you will relish the opportunity to travel to the United States at least twice a year to meet with donors.
You thrive in remote teams, know your way around CRMs, and you’re 100% aligned with our values: Empathy. Respect. Courage. Tenacity.
Most of all? You care deeply about animal welfare – and you’re ready to turn that passion into progress.

Ready to Learn More?
Click below to view our full Candidate Pack for everything you need to know – including how to apply.

Closing date: Monday 1st September, 9am BST.

Animals Asia: Philanthropy Manager (UK/Europe Lead)
Location: UK or EU home based.
Salary: £50,000 per annum
Contract: Full-time, Permanent

At Animals Asia, we don’t just talk about compassion – we live it. Every. Single. Day. We're on a powerful mission to end cruelty and restore respect for animals across Asia. Best known for our pioneering work to end bear bile farming, we also run life-saving sanctuaries in China and Vietnam and push for long-term, sustainable change. With 400+ passionate changemakers around the globe, our movement is growing fast – and we need YOU to help lead the charge.
We’re on the hunt for an experienced major gift fundraiser to lead our philanthropy activities in the UK and EU – you will have an exceptional ability to build and maintain relationships with key existing stakeholders as well as potential new donors to help us grow our giving community in the region and supercharge our impact for animals.
 

What You’ll Do:
As our new Philanthropy Lead for the UK and EU, you’ll:

• Develop and implement strategies to cultivate, solicit and steward donors to support the charity.
• Manage a pipeline of high-net-worth individuals.
• Build strong, long-term relationships, providing exceptional donor experience, while focusing on new business research and growing your portfolio of five, six and seven figure donors.
• Deputise for other philanthropy managers where required and share your experience and ambition with the wider philanthropy team.

Who You Are:
You will have expertise and a track record in major gift fundraising, relationship management and prospect research, as well as be able to demonstrate superb donor care. You will also be an authentic and confident leader who can build a genuine and long-lasting connection between donors and Animals Asia. You will have superb communication and project management skills, and will have the ability to work flexible hours to accommodate global time-zones and travel domestically and internationally.
You thrive in remote teams, know your way around CRMs, and you’re 100% aligned with our values: Empathy. Respect. Courage. Tenacity. Most of all? You care deeply about animal welfare – and you’re ready to turn that passion into progress.

Closing date: Monday 8th September, 9am BST.

Are you looking for a role that really matters? Are you passionate about gender equality and ending world hunger sustainably? If yes, this could be the role for you!

Role: Country Director
Reports to: The Board of Trustees
Hours: Full-time
Location: UK based with frequent travel to London

Who we are…

We’re The Hunger Project UK. Nice to meet you. We’re a UK registered charity committed to the sustainable end of world hunger. Our vision is a world without hunger.

Our mission is to end hunger and poverty by pioneering sustainable, grassroots, women-centered strategies and advocating for their widespread adoption in countries throughout the world. We are reaching an estimated 12.8M people around the world through 10,000 partner communities and 2,200 project sites.

Our programs are based on an innovative, holistic approach, which empower women and men living in rural communities to become agents of their own development and make sustainable progress in hunger and poverty reduction.
Our team is all around the world…from our programme countries, to our partner countries such as Australia, the Netherlands, Canada and more; with our global Head Office in New York City, US. We are all industrious, passionate, and committed; a mighty force of changemakers living around the world.

Here in the UK, we work in collaboration with our global colleagues, to raise funds for our overseas programmes and amplify the voices of those affected by hunger. We are a small but awesome team in our global scheme of things. We have big ambitions to grow and scale our fundraising efforts significantly over the next three years. So, if you’re up for the challenge.... come and join us.

What we need…

We are looking for an experienced fundraiser keen to step in and lead our efforts to scale our fundraising here in the UK. You will be a hands-on leader, getting stuck into everything from fundraising to operations, while ensuring impeccable financial sustainability.

The ideal candidate would have more than 5 years leadership experience (with a sales, marketing, or fundraising background), ideally in international development, but a background in charity is not essential. You’ll have managed a team and worked collaboratively with a Board in a previous role.

We’re looking for someone who is happy learning from our partner and programme countries and maximising limited resources, to have big impact. We’ve laid strong foundations; we now need you to get us in front of philanthropists, corporates, trusts and more!

Can you enrol people in a vision, get people taking action, mobilise funds and get things moving? If yes, you’re our person!
This role is for you if:

• You have a deep and genuine desire to make the world a better place and are passionate about gender equality and a world without hunger.
• You are truly collaborative and would rather follow existing guidance, than re-invent the wheel and work in silos.
• You have experience working with philanthropists and/or trusts and foundations, as these are two key audiences for us to scale.
• You can keep your eye on the big picture, but aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves and get the minutiae done.
• You’re a safe and steady pair of hands.
• You have impeccable written and spoken communication skills and are great at getting people on board with your vision.
• You’re a people person and brilliant networker, with a contacts book the envy of most! 

The Cyber Helpline is a movement by the information security community to step in and fill the gap in support for victims of cybercrime, digital fraud and online harm. It is a UK-based charity that provides free, expert help to victims by helping them understand, contain, recover and learn from experiencing a malicious online issue. We have directly helped over 70,000 individuals and families in the UK and the USA. 

On top of the opportunity to do some good with your skills, The Cyber Helpline will offer you the opportunity for training, skills development, mentoring and career progression. Perfect for those looking to join or progress in the cybersecurity industry. 

Role Summary

The Cyber Helpline is a fast-growing, innovative charity that supports individuals impacted by cybercrime, digital fraud and online harm. As we scale our reach and impact, we are seeking a Head of Fundraising who can be both strategic and hands-on to lead the development and delivery of a sustainable income generation strategy.

This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for driving forward our fundraising across trusts & foundations, corporate partnerships, individual giving, and events. The Head of Fundraising will shape and execute income strategies to enable growth, ensure long-term sustainability, and enhance our national profile. You’ll work closely with the CEO, Board of Trustees, and senior leadership to embed a culture of philanthropy across the organisation.

This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, ambitious fundraiser who wants to build something impactful in a high-profile, mission-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement a multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with organisational growth and strategic goals

• Lead all fundraising streams, prioritising the development of our relationships with trusts & foundations and corporate partnerships

• Agree on income targets, KPIs, and a robust pipeline to meet current and future funding needs

• Report to the CEO and Board on fundraising performance, risks, and opportunities

Trusts, Foundations & Grants

• Identify and develop opportunities for major grants and philanthropic funding (including from Government stakeholders) and then cultivate and sustain relationships with donors

• Write compelling funding applications and impact reports to secure and retain grant income

• Maintain relationships with key funders and proactively seek multi-year funding opportunities

Corporate Partnerships

• Identify and secure high-value corporate partnerships aligned with The Cyber Helpline’s mission and values

• Develop innovative, mutually beneficial partnership packages, including sponsorship, pro bono support, and employee engagement

• Enable corporations to fundraise for our mission

• Build a sustainable corporate pipeline through networking, stewardship, and thought leadership

Individual Giving & Community Engagement

• Build an individual giving programme, exploring opportunities for regular giving, campaigns, digital fundraising and major donors

• Support the development of community fundraising and challenge events with long-term potential

• Work with the comms team to create engaging supporter journeys and fundraising content

• Engaging our team members - and their networks - to engage in fundraising activity

Internal Leadership & Collaboration

• Work with the CEO and leadership team to embed a fundraising mindset across the organisation

• Collaborate with operations and finance to ensure accurate budgeting, forecasting, and grant management

• With Board approval, Recruit and Line manage fundraising staff and/or freelance support as resources permit

Requirements

Candidates must be 18 years old or older and resident in the UK with the right to work in the UK. 
Successful candidates will need to have their background and criminal records checked, as they are likely to have access to sensitive personal data. 

Essential

• Proven experience of achieving significant fundraising goals, ideally in a small-to-medium charity environment

• Strong commercial and financial acumen

• Track record of securing five- or six-figure income from trusts, foundations, or corporations

• Strong strategic thinking and ability to translate vision into actionable plans

• Excellent relationship-building, networking, and influencing skills

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills

• Entrepreneurial, self-motivated, and proactive, with a collaborative working style

• Alignment with The Cyber Helpline’s mission and a commitment to supporting victims of cybercrime

Desirable

• Experience in digital fundraising or individual giving

• Familiarity with donation and fundraising platforms 

• Knowledge of cybersecurity, technology or victim support sectors

• Familiarity with Salesforce or other CRM platforms

• Experience working with trustees or fundraising committees

What we offer

• Enhanced annual leave - We’re committed to offering a generous leave package, with a new package with final details currently under review

• Pension scheme - 4% employer contribution to your workplace pension scheme

• Employee discounts - Thousands of discounts on travel, shopping, wellbeing, entertainment and more.

• Remote working cost budget - An annual allowance to cover eligible remote working costs

• Flexible, remote-first working - we are a remote-first organisation, you’ll have the freedom to work from home (or away - subject to approval), supported by a flexible working culture. 

• Cybersecurity at home - we offer free cybersecurity tools, including endpoint protection and VPNs to protect your personal devices.

• Professional development - Access to ad-hoc training based on your role and professional growth interests

Are you looking to join a charity where you can make a real impact? Eden Brown Charities are delighted to be partnering with the wonderful Zoe's Baby Hospice in Coventry to recruit them a Head of Fundraising to lead an ambitious team at an exciting time for the Charity.

Zoe's Place Baby Hospice supports babies and young children aged from birth to five who have life-limiting/life-threatening conditions.

Their incredible work ensures that very unwell children can enjoy the best possible quality of life and they support their families throughout their journey.

The Baby hospices, based in Coventry and Middlesbrough, offer respite, palliative and end of life care for children, as well as support for the whole family. With a range of play therapies and fun activities their team of specialists work together to make every moment of childhood count.

About the Role

As Head of Fundraising at Coventry you will be leading a team of Fundraisers at an incredibly exciting time for the Charity as they look to grow and diversify income streams. You will work towards income targets as well as mentoring and growing the existing team. The value "To always put the child at the centre of everything we do" is key and this role is perfect for a fundraising leader to work innovatively and strategically whilst raising income for a truly wonderful cause.

You will develop relationships across Corporate and Community groups as well as raise the profile of Zoe's Baby Hospice in the local area.

About you

To be successful in this role you must have;

• had at least 2 years of experience as a manager in a fundraising team with responsibility for leading, motivating, directing and monitoring the daily activities of others and facilitating professional development
• Experience of creating and implementing a strategy to ensure diverse and sustainable income streams are in place
• Experience of managing budgets
• Experience of planning and delivery of fundraising events and/ or campaigns

Please note that this is a Hybrid role with time spent in the office in Coventry and some home working. The closing date is the 10^th September. Please call Laura Iliff on 07442607841 for more information.

Eden Brown Synergy is an equal opportunities employer.

Eden Brown Limited is a limited company registered in England and Wales with registered number 3643845. Our registered address is 5th floor 4 Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5AR, part of nGAGE Specialist Recruitment Limited T/A nGAGE Talent. Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. This message is intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please send it back to us, and immediately and permanently delete it. Do not use, copy or disclose the information contained in this message or in any attachment. We take reasonable precautions to ensure no viruses are present in this email but cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage sustained as a result of computer viruses and the recipient must ensure that the email (and attachments) are virus free.

Head of Fundraising 

Location: Remote (occasional UK in-person meetups)

Contract type: Permanent, full-time or part-time (minimum 4 days/week); UK adjacent hours

Salary: £55,000–£75,000 per annum (commensurate with experience)

Benefits: 35 days holiday + national holidays; 14 days medical leave; 3% employer pension contribution; open to flexible working

Reporting to/supported by: CEO

How to apply: Submit your cover letter and CV via CharityJob. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we may close the advert early if we find the right candidate.

About Iswe

Iswe is a global non-profit advancing participatory democracy and systems-level political change. Our mission is to help citizens, especially those in underrepresented regions, shape solutions to global challenges — from climate justice to health equity. Our initiatives include the Global Citizens’ Assembly (GCA) and Assemblis, a digital platform for community-led democratic processes.

We’re entering an exciting phase of growth and are looking for a strategic and entrepreneurial fundraiser to take our income generation to the next level.

About the role

We are seeking a Head of Fundraising to develop and drive Iswe’s income generation strategy and grow a high-performing fundraising team.

This role is ideal for someone experienced and confident enough to lead the function with minimal oversight, but still eager to be hands-on. You will bring a good understanding of the climate, democracy, and systems change funding landscape, ideally along with existing funder relationships. You’ll be creative and entrepreneurial, with the ability to craft compelling cases for support, develop new income streams, and build the operational systems required to raise and manage funds effectively.

Your goal will be to secure £10 million over the next 3–5 years, and position Iswe for long-term financial sustainability.

You will report to the CEO and will manage a Senior Fundraising Officer, with the opportunity to expand the team over time (e.g. an individual giving lead and a high-net-worth donor lead).

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and deliver an ambitious fundraising strategy aligned with Iswe’s organisational goals, including project-specific income generation and unrestricted funding. 

• Identify and pursue diverse fundraising opportunities, with a focus on: 

  • Grant fundraising

  • Institutional partnerships

  • Innovative pooled funding mechanisms

  • Individual giving and public campaigns

  • High-net-worth individuals

  • Revenue-generating partnerships and services

• Provide regular reporting and strategic insights, including risks, opportunities, and performance against targets.

• Work with the CEO to transition key donor relationships smoothly and represent Iswe externally at high-level events and convenings (e.g. COP, Bonn, Davos, New York Climate Week).

Fundraising Execution

• Lead the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of funders, donors, and strategic partners.

• Write and oversee the development of high-quality grant proposals, donor reports, and communications.

• Coordinate funding strategies for individual projects, and support project teams to embed fundraising into their planning and delivery.

• Develop digital strategies and campaigns to support public fundraising and individual giving.

• Build systems to attract and steward high net worth individuals, including prospecting, relationship management, and donor communications.

• Explore and advance business revenue streams such as consultancy offers, corporate sponsorships, or platform-based services.

Team Leadership

• Line-manage a Senior Fundraising Officer, supporting their professional development and accountability.

• Recruit, onboard and manage future team members as needed (e.g. an Individual Giving Manager and High Net Worth Fundraising Lead).

• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and bottom-up leadership within the fundraising team and across the organisation.

Operational Excellence

• Design and implement systems for tracking fundraising performance and measuring ROI.
• Develop internal processes for grant management and donor engagement.
• Ensure compliance with fundraising ethics, legal standards, and data protection regulations.
• Build the fundraising literacy and capability of project and leadership teams across the organisation.

Person Specification

Essential

• Substantial fundraising experience (minimum 5+ years), with a proven track record of raising six to seven-figure income across grantmaking, institutional funders, or major donors.

• Strong strategic thinking, planning, and execution skills — with the ability to own a multi-year fundraising roadmap and deliver results with minimal supervision.

• Demonstrated experience in developing and delivering fundraising strategies across multiple income streams (e.g. grants, high net worth individuals, public fundraising, or partnerships).

• Excellent writing and communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling funding proposals and reports.

• Working knowledge of individual giving strategies, including use of digital tools for donor acquisition and retention.

• Working knowledge of GDPR.

• Understanding of how to build systems and culture to support high net worth individual engagement and income generation.

• Experience speaking and writing knowledgeably about deliberative democracy and multilateralism.

• Strong understanding of the global fundraising landscape in climate, democracy, and systems change — and ideally some well-established funder relationships.

• Ability to build strong internal and external relationships and to work across multiple teams and time zones.

• A collaborative, self-reflective leadership style — grounded in awareness of your own leadership strengths and blind spots, and committed to building the agency of others.

• Experience working effectively in a remote environment and enthusiasm for this mode of working.
   

Desirable

• Experience developing pooled funding models or engaging with multilateral funding initiatives.

• Experience monetising services or designing other forms of business income.

• Experience working in or with small, fast-moving nonprofits or startups.

What We Offer

• A rare opportunity to shape and lead the fundraising function of a globally relevant organisation at a pivotal moment in its growth.

• A flexible, learning-focused work environment rooted in collaboration, experimentation, and shared ownership.

• A mission-driven team working on some of the most urgent challenges of our time, in partnership with communities around the world.

A note on representation

We know that building a team representative of wider society fosters creativity and innovation. We welcome people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences and are committed to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly welcome applications from candidates who are disabled, Black, Asian or from other minority ethnic backgrounds, who identify within the LGBTQIA+ community, or identify as from a lower or disadvantaged socioeconomic background as these groups are currently under-represented on our staff team.

Job title: Senior Supporter Engagement Officer

Responsible to: Fundraising Operations Manager

Salary: £30,900 FTE pro rata (£20,085 actual)

Hours of work: Part time (0.65FTE/22.75 hours per week). Exact days/times to be agreed upon appointment. We consider flexible working requests

Annual leave: 30 days with 8 additional Bank Holidays pro rata

Location: Remote - location is flexible with option to be home based anywhere in the UK. Hybrid/office based also available (head office is in Bristol)

Closing date: 15th September - midday

About Action for ME

Action for ME is the only charity in the UK providing support, including healthcare, to people of all ages affected by ME. The charity was founded by Sue Finlay in 1987 and since then has been taking holistic approach so we can make an impact on multiple fronts - from amplifying the voices of people affected by ME in Government and leading on breakthrough research, to providing "lifeline" support and unique healthcare services on a daily basis.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), sometimes referred to and diagnosed as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), is a chronic, fluctuating disease, causing symptoms such as post-exertional malaise (PEM), sleep problems, problems with thinking and memory (brain fog), pain and crushing fatigue. There are an estimated 1.3 million people living with ME or ME-like symptoms, including PEM, in the UK alone.

Even in its so-called mildest form, ME can have a significant impact on an individual’s life, and not just on their health. A lack of understanding and awareness about ME means patients can experience disbelief, and even discrimination, from friends, family, health and social care professionals, employers and teachers.

For the first time there is an increased awareness of post viral illness because of the Covid -19 pandemic. After decades of neglect this offers Action for ME an opportunity to accelerate our work for people with ME in a way we have never been able to do before. The intent of everything we do is to pursue positive impact for the lives, rights, and futures of people affected by ME.

Job purpose

This role will deliver an exceptional supporter experience to our donors, building and maintaining strong relationships with our supporters. Working closely with other members of the fundraising and communications teams, you will deliver our supporter journey, maintain regular communication with donors and be an integral part of our fundraising campaigns and appeals.

Key duties

• Work with the Fundraising Operations Manager to deliver our supporter journey, engaging current and prospective donors with our work and giving them an excellent experience of supporting Action for ME.
• Be responsible for creating the methods that ensure each supporter relationship is maximised, increasing retention rates for a growing supporter base. As such you will be required to engage with supporters so that they feel valued, and relationships can be developed further for the benefit of the charity.
• Lead on thanking donors, including making phone calls to donors as part of stewardship.
• Work closely with the Fundraising Operations Manager and the team to support the growth of income streams, including but not limited to, individual giving, Gift Aid, legacies, trading, community fundraising and membership.
• Work with the communications team on the delivery of digital communications, including social media and e-communications for a diverse range of audiences.
• Play a key role in fundraising appeals and campaigns including our yearly Big Give Christmas Challenge, Summer Appeal, Thanking Campaign and any other fundraising initiative or project as directed by the Fundraising Operations Manager or Director of Fundraising.
• Ensure excellent supporter care and maintenance of accurate database records.
• Create inspiring donor communications, including stories and impact from our wider work (support & healthcare services, research and policy work)
• Work closely with the Philanthropy Manager to identify potential major donors.
• Develop innovative and creative ways of widening our supporter base and increasing donations.

Other duties

• To attend and contribute constructively to team meetings and other meetings as required.
• Supervise fundraising volunteers as required.
• Occasional attendance at fundraising events.
• To positively promote the work and activities of Action for ME at all times.
• To contribute to the team’s overall strategy, ongoing workplan and annual planning.
• To undertake any other reasonable activity in line with the responsibilities of the post as requested by the Fundraising Operations Manager, Director of Fundraising or the Chief Executive.
• Act as an advocate for the Charity and its work.

Person specification

Experience and knowledge

• Minimum 2 years previous fundraising experience
• Demonstrable skills in stewarding supporters and donors.
• Experience using Microsoft Excel for work, including basic excel functions, basic formulas and list tools.
• Experience of using a CRM database, preferably Raiser’s Edge
• Proven experience of effective donor stewardship approaches

Skills and Behaviours

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including creating engaging donor communications
• Ability to work methodically, managing and prioritising a varied workload.
• Ability to use own initiative, work independently and to work well in a remote team.
• An understanding of data protection including UK GDPR related to fundraising
• An understanding of ME, the impact on people affected by it and associated current political, health, policy and social issues (desirable).

Attitudes and values

• Enthusiasm
• Integrity
• Resilient

Key competencies

• Effective communicator
• Results driven
• Attention to detail