Digital marketing executive jobs in London, greater london

Assistant Head of Fundraising (Public Fundraising)

Salary £57,574.79 per annum

LocationLondon/Hybrid

Weekly Hours35

The Vacancy

Job Title: Assistant Head of Fundraising (Public Fundraising)

Location: London/Hybrid

Salary: £57,574.79 per annum

Weekly Hours: 35

Reference: YMC1212513

An exciting moment to join us

YMCA England & Wales is entering one of the most exciting chapters in its fundraising history, launching our ambition to create 10,000 new homes for young people. Working alongside local YMCAs, we will support the development of new accommodation across the federation, helping young people move towards independence.

This role sits at the heart of that ambition.

You will lead the fundraising behind two critical components of the 10,000 Homes programme:
• Securing income from the public to build and sustain a central Centre of Expertise (mobilisation team), supporting local YMCAs to develop and deliver housing projects.
• Raising capital from individual supporters, mid-level donors and major donors to grow a replenishing national fund that provides upfront investment to unlock housing developments across the federation.

At the centre of this is the 10,000 Homes Fund: a bold, housing-focused proposition that offers the public a clear and tangible way to support young people into safe, stable accommodation. You will be responsible for growing this proposition, ensuring it resonates strongly with supporters and inspires giving at all levels.

You will lead an integrated public fundraising approach, bringing together individual giving, mid-level and major donors into one compelling, housing-led narrative. A key part of the role will be translating a complex, federated model into a simple, emotional and compelling case for support that connects with people’s motivations to give.

We’ve established strong early foundations and are now ready to scale. This role offers the opportunity to take a high-potential public fundraising proposition to the next level -expanding its reach, deepening supporter engagement, and unlocking significant new income.

We are looking for someone who is creative, data-driven and passionate about engaging the public to drive meaningful change for young people. We’re looking for someone comfortable working in a federated environment, with the ability to simplify complex ideas into compelling messages for the public.

The role

As Assistant Head of Fundraising (Public Fundraising), you will lead and inspire a team of talented fundraisers, deputising for the Head of Fundraising and taking ownership of our most ambitious programmes:

The 10,000 Homes Fund driving forward our flagship proposition across individual giving, cash appeals and mid-level audiences.

Major Donors shaping the strategy for high-net-worth relationships, new giving circles and development boards.

RoomSponsor, YMCA’s flagship regular giving product, now in its third year of an ambitious growth strategy. You will oversee a unique partnership model across 45 local YMCAs, support the income distribution process, and see first-hand the impact of your work through a programme that directly supports young people with safe accommodation.

Legacies working with the Senior Fundraising Manager and Head of Fundraising to define and grow what is set to become a landmark legacy programme.

This is a hands-on leadership role: you will set direction, manage budgets, develop your team, while also being prepared to step into delivery when it matters most. You will balance strategic oversight with practical execution, ensuring programmes are both ambitious and deliverable.

About you

You are an experienced public fundraising professional with a strong track record in individual giving or direct marketing, alongside a well-developed understanding of major donor fundraising. You know how to bring different disciplines together behind a single proposition and deliver results.

You are an effective and confident leader, able to build, motivate and develop high-performing teams. You create clarity, set high standards, and support others to do their best work, stepping in when needed and leading from the front.

You are at your best when driving a clear proposition forward. You are excited by the opportunity to take a compelling idea and translate it into something that engages the public, inspires generosity and delivers sustainable income.

You are energised by a challenge, comfortable with complexity and working in a federated environment, where success depends on strong relationships and shared ownership. You are skilled at working with partners, whether agencies, internal stakeholders or local YMCAs, and know how to align people around a common goal.

You combine strategic thinking with operational delivery. You are data-driven, using insight and performance to shape your decisions, and confident working with (and occasionally building) financial models to plan, test and scale activity. You bring both creativity and discipline, generating new ideas while ensuring they are grounded, deliverable and effective.

Above all, you are a strong communicator and influencer. You can simplify complex ideas into clear, compelling messages, build confidence with colleagues and stakeholders, and position fundraising as a critical enabler of impact.

Why join us now

YMCA is the oldest and largest youth charity in the world, serving communities across England and Wales every day. The fundraising team is geared up for success, the strategy is set, the proposition is proven, and the results are already coming in. What we need now is a leader ready to take this momentum to the next level.

YMCA England & Wales is committed to equality and valuing diversity. We welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Our recruitment process is anonymised and candidates' names are hidden. Safer recruitment is important to us and the successful applicant will be asked to provide two references. They will also be required to complete a safeguarding self-declaration, safeguarding training and undertake a DBS check.

About GSG Impact 

GSG Impact is a global network of National Partners working to build impact economies that mobilise capital for measurable social and environmental impact. Through its network spanning more than 48 countries, GSG Impact works with governments, investors, regulators, development finance institutions, and ecosystem actors to strengthen the enabling conditions for impact-oriented economies, where capital flows to create positive social and environmental outcomes. 

Position Summary 

The Head of Fundraising will lead GSG Impact’s fundraising function at a critical stage of organisational growth and income diversification. The role is responsible for delivering GSG Impact's fundraising strategy, supporting the achievement of annual income targets of approximately £3 million per year, converting strategic priorities into fundable propositions, and building the systems, processes, relationships, and team capabilities required to secure sustainable long-term funding.

Working closely with the Chief of Engagement and Strategic Partnerships, senior leadership, fundraising team, Trustees, and National Partners, the Head of Fundraising will oversee the development of a diversified funding portfolio and will be responsible for building and managing a robust fundraising pipeline, strengthening donor stewardship, improving cost recovery, and ensuring fundraising activity is aligned with organisational priorities and financial sustainability goals.

This role requires a proactive fundraiser who can originate opportunities, open senior relationships, develop compelling narratives, lead complex proposal processes, and create a culture of shared fundraising responsibility across the organization.

Key Responsibilities 

Business development, Prospecting and Pipeline Conversion

Build and maintain a prioritized list of top institutional, philanthropic, bilateral, multilateral, DFI, corporate, and family-office, and high-net-worth prospects aligned with GSG Impact's strategic priorities.

Proactively identify, research, qualify, and cultivate new prospects, with a particular focus on funders aligned with impact economies, domestic capital mobilisation, climate adaptation and resilience, impact transparency, policy reform, investment vehicles, and emerging markets.

Develop and manage a rolling pipeline of high-quality funding opportunities, moving prospects from initial identification through cultivation, concept development, proposal submission, negotiation, and grant close in collaboration with programme staff and National Partners.

Translate GSG Impact’s strategy into compelling fundable propositions, including unrestricted/core support, restricted programme grants, regional funding, National Partner support, and special initiatives.

Personally lead the development and conversion of the highest-value opportunities, especially prospects requiring senior-level cultivation.

Identify and develop new revenue opportunities, strategic partnerships, and funding models that support GSG Impact's long-term sustainability and income diversification

Proposal Development and Grant Acquisition

Lead the development of high-quality funding proposals, concept notes, and donor engagement materials.

Ensure strategic alignment of all proposals with organisational priorities and donor interests.

Ensure all proposal budgets meet or exceed GSG Impact's cost-recovery targets

Set and ensure implementation of standards for proposal quality, narrative framing, and budget methodology across the fundraising team

Donor Management and Stewardship

Support the Chief of Engagement and Partnerships with relationship management of GSG Impact's most significant donors and strategic prospects

Lead the annual stewardship strategy, ensuring renewal and growth of key funding relationships

Oversee narrative and financial reporting, ensuring high quality, consistency, and timeliness

Functional Leadership

Manage the fundraising team, providing coaching, oversight, performance management, and professional development

Ensure compliance with Fundraising Regulator, GDPR, and relevant UK legislation

In collaboration with colleagues across the organisation monitor and update the information in CRM for fundraising contacts and other relevant information.

Implement strong financial tracking, reporting, and forecasting processes

Foster a culture of fundraising responsibility across GSG Impact teams

Innovation & Growth

Identify new funding opportunities and diversify income streams

Explore digital fundraising and emerging trends

Drive continuous improvement in fundraising performance, effectiveness and operational excellence.

External Representation

The Head of Fundraising plays a key role in relationship management with GSG Impact's most significant funders and prospects. They represent the organization at key sector events and convenings as delegated by the Chief of Engagement and Partnerships.

Qualifications

Demonstrable track record of originating new donor relationships and converting them into six- or seven-figure grants.

Experience in building prospect pipelines from a limited starting base.

Strong understanding of institutional philanthropy, bilateral and multilateral funding, DFIs, and/or impact investing funders.

Proven ability to develop fundable propositions from complex, technical, organisational strategies, including on policy, systems-change, market-building, or ecosystem-development initiatives

Experience working directly with CEOs, Boards, Trustees, or senior principals on donor cultivation.

Strong commercial discipline: pipeline management, probability weighting, forecasting, and cost recovery.

Ability to write or lead the development of high-quality proposals under tight timelines.

Competencies

Alignment with GSG Impact mission and values

Proven fundraising track record in international development, impact investment, philanthropy  or social sector

Strategic thinking and fundraising planning

Senior donor relationship management

Team leadership and coaching

Strong written communication and proposal development

Budget and cost-recovery literacy

Collaborative working style

How to apply

Please send your CV and a covering letter of no more than two pages outlining how your skills and experience meet the essential criteria for this role.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on 22 June 2026.

We are committed to equality and diversity of opportunity and positively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. All applicants will also be asked to complete a short equality and diversity monitoring form, which is held separately from your application and plays no part in shortlisting decisions.

The Public Interest News Foundation (PINF) is the UK’s first charity that exists to promote high-quality journalism. Last year, we launched an ambitious ten-year mission to regenerate local news in the UK. We believe that local news is a vital part of the fabric of local communities, drawing people together around shared facts and pride in place at a time of disinformation and division.

We are pursuing our mission by (1) sourcing new funds for local news; (2) advocating for supportive government policies; and (3) celebrating local news providers from the UK and around the world that are Accountable, Sustainable, in the Public interest, Innovative, Representative and Engaging (ASPIRE).

Over the last year, we have successfully encouraged the UK Government to launch an unprecedented new £12m Local News Fund. We have also built support for our mission from US and UK donors. And we have launched initiatives such as the Tenacious Journalist Awards, to recognise and support independent news providers who are having a significant social impact.

We have a small and professional staff team and a dedicated board of trustees, and we are now looking to recruit a Programmes Officer to support our work. I hope that you will consider joining us on this exciting and important mission.

Jonathan Heawood, Executive Director

Summary of the Role

Title: Programmes Officer

Salary: £30,000

Benefits: 33 days annual leave including Bank Holidays; 7% employer pension contribution; professional development budget; flexible working

Type: Fixed-term renewable 12-month contract

Time commitment: 35 hours per week, with some scope for flexible working

Location: Remote, with occasional meetings in London or other UK locations, for which PINF will pay travel expenses from within the UK

Reporting to: Deputy Director, who will provide overall line management and lead 60% of the Programmes Officer’s work

Working closely with: Campaigns & Communications Manager, who will lead the remaining 40% of the Programme Officer’s work

Purpose of the Role

The Programmes Officer will support the PINF team across our three workstreams: the Local News Fund; Local News Campaign; and Local News Futures programme.

· Through the Local News Fund, we work with grantmakers and social investors (including government-backed fund managers) to unlock new economic resources for local news across the UK.

· Through the Local News Campaign, we work with the BBC, big tech firms, central and local government, MPs, Peers and regulators to shape a positive enabling environment for local news across the UK.

· Through the Local News Futures programme, we work with academics, civil society organisations, journalism support organisations and local news providers to showcase models of local news with the most positive impact.

The Programmes Officer will provide support with events, research and campaigns across these workstreams, and will also provide support with our organisational functions, including communications, fundraising and governance.

By providing efficient and effective support to the team, the Programmes Officer will unlock new potential for PINF to deliver our charitable purpose.

Key Responsibilities

Events

· Support the Deputy Director with the successful delivery of the annual Local News Forum by:

o Maintaining a comprehensive and up to date project plan

o Contributing to the effective marketing of the event within PINF’s network of independent local news providers and stakeholders

o Managing ticket sales and maintaining an accurate database of invitees and participants

o Contributing to effective working relationships with partners and suppliers, including venues and sponsors

o Managing speakers

o Supporting budget administration, including tracking agreed expenditure and processing spending in line with approved budgets and under the oversight of the Deputy Director

o Responding promptly and efficiently to queries

o Providing on-the-day support including registering participants, liaising with the venue and catering providers, ensuring smooth technical support and troubleshooting any issues as they arise

Research

· Support the Deputy Director with our research objectives by:

o Organising and minuting twice-yearly online meetings of our Research Advisory Group

o Working with colleagues to ensure the Local News Map is comprehensive and up to date

o Liaising with independent local news providers to support the new Local News Audit

Campaigns

· Support the Campaigns & Communications Manager with our campaign objectives by:

o Managing relationships with independent news providers participating in our annual Indie News Week

o Supporting budget administration for campaign activity, including tracking agreed expenditure and processing spending in line with approved budgets and under the oversight of the Campaigns & Communications Manager

o Supporting key campaign moments including parliamentary events, party conferences, roundtables and other online and offline events

o Providing logistical and administrative support for key campaign moments, including by maintaining participant and invitation lists, tracking RSVPs and preparing background information for colleagues

Communications

· Support the Campaigns & Communications Manager with our communications objectives by:

o Managing the ‘contact’ email inbox

o Supporting the delivery of engaging content across PINF’s blog and newsletter, including gathering stories, opportunities and other relevant material, in collaboration with the Campaigns & Communications Manager

o Managing PINF’s social media channels including LinkedIn, BlueSky and Instagram

o Updating elements and pages across our website

o Supporting PINF’s WhatsApp community of independent local news providers by sharing relevant content, helping eligible participants to join, and assisting with day-to-day moderation

Fundraising

· Support the Deputy Director with our fundraising objectives by:

o Maintaining the fundraising database and keeping records up to date based on information provided by colleagues

o Facilitating monthly internal fundraising meetings

Other

· Any other tasks as reasonably requested by the Deputy Director

Essential skills and experience

· Experience in an administrative, coordination or project support role

· Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines and priorities

· Strong written and verbal communication skills

· Confidence using Microsoft Office and other common digital tools to organise work, manage information and communicate effectively

· Ability to work collaboratively in a small team and to support colleagues across different areas of work

· A high level of accuracy and attention to detail

· Support for PINF’s mission and charitable purpose

· Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

Desirable skills and experience

· Experience of supporting events, campaigns, communications or fundraising activity

· Experience of working in a charity, membership body, media organisation or other mission-driven organisation

· Familiarity with website, newsletter or social media content management

· An understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing local and independent news providers in the UK

How to apply

· Please apply through CharityJob.

· In your application, you will be asked to provide a short example of how your previous experience makes you a strong candidate for this role. We encourage applicants not to use generative AI to draft this part of the application, as we are interested to hear about your own experience in your own words!

· If you require any adjustments to support your application, please let us know when you apply.

We particularly welcome applications from people whose backgrounds and perspectives are underrepresented in charities and the news sector.