Fundraising prospect researcher jobs in Bristol, city of bristol

Main Role & Responsibilities 

The overall purpose of this role is to support the Head of Fundraising in establishing a corporate partnerships income stream as part of Ygam’s new Income Generation strategy, which underpins the organisation’s ambitious aims and objectives. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in diversifying our range of income streams to ensure financial health for the future of the charity, underpinned by sustainable and ethical fundraising models. 

You will have the chance to work with a diverse range of organisations and develop compelling, creative pitches and applications for corporate support. You will also play a key role in identifying opportunities and developing relationships with corporates to strengthen the chance of bid success in both the short and medium term. 

Join us in this pivotal role and be part of a mission-driven team dedicated to making a difference. Your contributions will bolster our fundraising efforts and advance our mission in meaningful ways. 

Who are we looking for? 

Ygam is seeking an experienced corporate fundraiser, or individual with transferable skills, to join our tight-knit and ambitious team. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to use your communication skills and initiative to manage and develop a pipeline of corporate partnerships opportunities, spotting synergies and developing relationships with potential donors. By writing proposals and managing a calendar of supporting activities, you will not only hone your communication skills, corporate account development and management, but also make a tangible impact on our mission to Safeguard our Digital Generation. 

Key tasks: 

• manage and grow a portfolio of small to medium corporate partners, increasing income by identifying new prospects and through the stewardship of existing donors. 

• write high quality applications and communicate accurately and transparently on the progress made in partnerships.  

• work with our programme experts to develop expertise in key programme areas and build your knowledge of Ygam’s work. 

• support with applications and reports to large corporates and other associated fundraising activity.  

The ideal candidate will be motivated, creative, and organised, with a knack for relationship building. This role suits an ambitious self-starter with excellent research, communication, writing, IT, and presentation skills. We are looking for someone who believes in Ygam’s mission and is excited to collaboratively shape and develop our fundraising work. 

Role Requirements 

Duties will include but not be limited to: 

Business Development

• Work with the Head of Fundraising to develop strategies which increase Ygam’s visibility in the corporate space.

• Conduct prospective supporter research; establish and grow the partnerships pipeline, and develop pitches to meet shared objectives, working with the Head of Fundraising. 

• Build strong relationships with organisations that share our values.

• Manage the prospect pipeline using Salesforce, segmenting the pipeline into areas of programme interest and tracking applications, expected and actual income and reporting deadlines. 

Relationship Building: 

• Craft engagement plans to deepen existing relationships and maximise fundraising opportunities 

• Provide excellent account management for new and established partners, including regular and meaningful communication.

• Produce relevant, creative, and compelling proposals, reports and updates to keep our corporate partners motivated and engaged. 

• Identify and execute creative ways to bring our work to life for funders.

• Ensure that relationships with donors (both new and existing) are maintained and managed effectively before, during, and after receipt of funds. 

• Effectively communicate Ygam’s vision, mission, and programmes to potential donors. Delivering and shaping engaging and emotive copy for appeal letters, emails, newsletters, and other promotional materials. 

• Contributing to wider Fundraising Department objectives, sharing innovative ideas, supporting all income streams, and promoting a culture of positive team-working. 

• Working closely with the External Affairs team to ensuring effective use of case studies, photography, statistics, and organisational information and that all communications are consistent and in line with Ygam brand guidelines. 

Together for Short Lives is looking for a driven and creative Business Development Manager to develop and secure high‑value corporate partnerships that will help transform the lives of seriously ill children and their families. You’ll lead our business development strategy, build a strong pipeline of opportunities, and develop lasting relationships with prospective and existing supporters.

If you’re collaborative, tenacious and passionate about making a real impact in children’s palliative care, we’d love to hear from you.

Full‑time 1 year FTC | Hybrid (UK‑wide with travel to our Bristol Office) | £42,000

Purpose of role

The Business Development Manager will lead our efforts to secure high-profile, high-value partnerships with corporate organisations  that will generate vital income for children's palliative care. Securing new partnerships and growing our income requires exceptional collaboration skills; a driven, tenacious and resourceful nature; innovation and creativity; and a passionate determination to make a difference to the lives of children and families across the UK.

The main objectives are as follows:

1. Secure new corporate partnerships raising funds to support Together for Short Lives’ direct work, and our National Fundraising Scheme (raising funds on behalf of the UK’s children’s hospices).
2. Develop and deliver a business development strategy, including  prospect research, managing  a robust pipeline of opportunities, and developing a diverse range of business development products. 
3. Manage and develop relationships with a portfolio of individual contacts and organisations, including prospective and existing supporters.

Reporting to: Major Giving Lead - Trusts and Foundations
Location of Work: Remote, with some requirements to travel to our London office
Contract Type: Full-time, 35 hours per week, although 28 hours per week or compressed hours may be considered. The role may require occasional evening and weekend work.
Contract Length: Permanent    
Salary: £37,500

BACKGROUND    

Magic Breakfast’s mission is to end child morning hunger in the UK now and for good. The latest research suggests that 2.7 million children are at risk of hunger, meaning one in five children don’t have enough to eat. When a child is too hungry to learn, they struggle to concentrate, absorb information, and manage their emotions, causing them to fall behind in their studies. 

Magic Breakfast provides a nutritious breakfast to over 350,000 children and young people every school day. We work with schools in areas of high disadvantage, helping staff target children most in need without barrier or stigma.

We work with schools in areas of high disadvantage, helping staff target the children most in need without barrier or stigma. We are now at an exciting point in our journey as we launch Nourishing Futures, our long-term strategy, which capitalises on market changes and government commitments to scale our work, while redefining breakfast spaces not just as places to eat, but as places to thrive. 

JOB PURPOSE

The Major Giving Manager – Trusts and Foundations will sit within the newly formed Major Giving team, playing a pivotal role in driving new business and helping to deliver £3.36m of income across major giving in the financial year 2025/26.

Reporting to the Major Giving Lead – Trusts & Foundations, this role will lead on new business development within the trusts and foundations portfolio, with a strong focus on identifying, cultivating, and securing support from new funders. The postholder will be expected to proactively generate and pursue opportunities, using creativity, insight, and strong relationship-building skills to grow a robust pipeline of high-value prospects.

This role will involve actively networking, attending events, initiating and developing relationships with prospective funders, and creating compelling, tailored proposals to secure significant new income. Alongside this primary focus on new business, the postholder will also contribute to the stewardship and growth of existing funders to maximise long-term value and impact.

Working collaboratively across the wider Major Giving team, the role will support cross-portfolio opportunities and integrated cultivation strategies, and where appropriate, flex to support engagement with individual donors. The postholder will also work closely with the Business Development Lead in Scotland to ensure a coordinated and strategic approach to prospecting, relationship management, and pipeline development.

The successful candidate will be a highly motivated and entrepreneurial fundraiser, with excellent writing and interpersonal skills, who thrives on building new relationships and securing income. They will join a dynamic and passionate team working to end child morning hunger and unlock opportunities for the next generation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES New Business

• Lead the development and delivery of new business across the trusts and foundations portfolio, driving a significant contribution to the Major Giving target of £3.36m in 2025/26 and building a strong pipeline for future years.

• Proactively identify, research and pursue high-value funding opportunities, using insight, creativity, and sector knowledge to generate a strong and diverse prospect pipeline, and working collaboratively with the Major Giving team to share intelligence and avoid duplication.

• Take ownership of cultivating new prospects, initiating and developing relationships through networking, events, and direct engagement, and confidently progressing opportunities from early-stage prospecting through to secured income.

• Prepare, develop and submit compelling, high-quality proposals and budgets tailored to funder priorities, with a strong focus on securing larger, multi-year and strategic funding opportunities (£50,000+).

• Design and implement proactive and strategic cultivation pathways for new funders, including multi-touch engagement plans and partnership approaches with colleagues to strengthen relationships and maximise conversion.

• Work cross-organisationally to identify, shape and develop fundable projects, proactively aligning organisational priorities with funder interests to unlock new income opportunities.

• Contribute to the development of compelling cases for support and propositions, using insights from the trusts and foundations landscape to inform and strengthen wider major giving and philanthropic strategies.

• Work closely with the Business Development Lead in Scotland to proactively coordinate and drive approaches to trusts and foundations based in Scotland, aligning on prospecting, relationship development, proposal activity and pipeline growth.

• Act as a key driver of new business momentum across the wider Major Giving team, flexing to support pipeline development, cultivation and conversion activity across portfolios, including with individual major donors where required.

Account management

• Successfully manage relationships within your own portfolio of trusts and foundations, ensuring timely reporting and effective communication.

• Champion the interests of major giving and trusts and foundations across the organisation, ensuring grant conditions are met and project outcomes are achieved.

• Support the team to deliver strategic, multi-year partnerships and steward key funders.

• Adopt a relationship management approach that integrates with the wider Major Giving team’s stewardship framework – creating holistic experiences for funders who support across multiple income streams.

• Flex to provide stewardship support across major giving, where necessary working to develop relationships and high quality stewardship with individual donors and family foundations.

• Collaborate with the Business Development Lead in Scotland to ensure consistent and high-quality stewardship for Scottish-based funders, sharing insight and best practice.

Cross-Team Collaboration

• Support our department approach to ‘one-team’ by acting as a bridge between Trusts, Corporate and Major Donor functions, ensuring shared insight, coordination of funder approaches, and alignment of messaging and impact reporting.

• Work with Philanthropy and Corporate Partnerships colleagues to identify overlapping funder networks and co-create engagement opportunities (e.g., joint briefings, events, or site visits).

• Collaborate proactively with the Business Development Lead in Scotland to ensure that opportunities, reporting, and engagement in Scotland align with national fundraising priorities.

• Contribute to the Major Giving team’s collective cultivation and stewardship calendar, ensuring trust and foundation supporters are part of key strategic engagement moments.

Management and Leadership

• Support the development of junior members within the Major Giving team (e.g., Major Giving Administrator), providing guidance and feedback to maintain a high standard of proposals and stewardship materials.

• Work with the Major Giving Leads and the Head of Major Giving to support the forecasting of income from current and potential donors.

• Deputise for the Major Giving Lead – Trust and Foundations where necessary.

• Work closely with the finance team to ensure accurate restrictions, financial reporting processes, and project budget management.

• Take an active role in helping to set, deliver, and evaluate progress against the Major Giving team strategy and goals, especially those relating to Trusts & Foundations.

General Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate financial, performance and account management records via Salesforce.

• Represent the organisation at relevant forums, events and seminars.

• Help ensure continuous improvement of team processes and ways of working.

• Ensure all activity is compliant with fundraising legislation, GDPR, and child safeguarding requirements.

• Support the wider fundraising department with cross-team initiatives, joint donor communications and shared learning.

• Occasional work outside of regular office hours and travel within the UK.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and Experience

• Proven experience of securing significant new funding from trusts and foundations (ideally £50,000+), with a strong track record in new business development, or relevant transferable experience.

• Demonstrable success in identifying, cultivating and converting new prospects into long-term funding relationships.

• Experience of building and managing a robust prospect pipeline, from initial research through to secured income.

• Experience of working with databases (Salesforce experience desirable) to support pipeline development, tracking and income generation.

• Strong track record of developing and initiating relationships with new funders, including through networking and external engagement.

• Understanding of how trusts and foundations fundraising contributes to wider major giving strategy, particularly in generating new income and supporting cross-team opportunities.

• Experience of working with regionally based colleagues or external partners to coordinate proactive fundraising activity desirable.

Skills and Abilities

•  Exceptional writing, research and storytelling skills, with the ability to develop compelling, tailored proposals that secure new funding.

• Strong relationship-building and influencing skills, with confidence to initiate contact, represent the organisation externally, and develop new partnerships.

• Proactive, entrepreneurial mindset, with the ability to spot opportunities, generate leads, and drive them forward independently.

• Excellent time management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage a dynamic pipeline and balance multiple priorities and deadlines.

• Strong interpersonal and presentation skills, including the ability to engage and inspire prospective funders in meetings and events.

• A collaborative team player with the confidence to work independently while contributing to shared new business goals.

• Ability to communicate data and impact effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

• High level of competency in Microsoft Office and CRM software.

• Proactive approach to internal collaboration, identifying opportunities to align funder interests with organisational priorities to unlock new income.

Other

• Passion and commitment to Magic Breakfast’s mission to end child morning hunger in the UK.

• Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

• Willingness to travel within the UK to attend events, meetings and networking opportunities as part of new business development.

• Experience of working for a charity, particularly in children and young people’s sectors, desirable but not essential.

WHAT WE OFFER

At Magic Breakfast we value our employees and work hard to develop offer a supportive, respectful culture which enables everyone to thrive. Please visit our website for more information in our recruitment pack. 

APPLICATION PROCCESS

Should you wish to discuss the role before applying please email our People and Culture Team, hr @magicbreakfast. com

Shortlisting: w/c 20th April
Interview 1: w/c 27th April
Interview 2: w/c 4th May

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately, once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.