Head of philanthropy and trusts jobs

Events Officer

Full time - 35 hours per week

Location – Hybrid Working with a minimum of one day a week working from Head Office in London

Join our friendly team

We have an exciting opportunity for an Events Officer to join our Fundraising team. This is a fantastic role for someone who is passionate about creating memorable fundraising events and building strong supporter relationships that help families stay together during some of the most difficult times of their lives.

Our charity

The Sick Children's Trust is the charity that provides a welcoming 'Home from Home' where families with a sick child in hospital can stay. But we're more than bricks and mortar, our friendly, caring staff are there to support families when they really need it.

Hospital can be a lonely and scary place for anyone, but especially a child. Providing around 3,200 families a year with somewhere to stay together just minutes from the hospital means that they can be by their sick child's side and have one less thing to worry about.

The Role

This is a varied and rewarding events fundraising role, focused on delivering exceptional fundraising events and challenge activities that generate income and raise awareness of the charity.

You will help deliver key events including our Carol Service, Supper Club and Golf Day, while also supporting participants taking part in challenge events such as the London Marathon, Great North Run, London Landmarks Half Marathon and Royal Parks Half Marathon.

You'll build strong relationships with supporters, participants, volunteers, suppliers and partners, providing excellent stewardship and ensuring they have a positive experience with the charity. You will also work closely with colleagues across Fundraising, Communications and Marketing to maximise the success and reach of our events programme.

The role will involve monitoring event budgets, maintaining accurate records, securing auction prizes and pro bono support, and helping to identify new opportunities to grow income and engagement.

This role requires a proactive and organised approach, excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while delivering outstanding supporter experiences.

About you

 We're looking for someone who is enthusiastic about events fundraising and motivated by creating engaging experiences that inspire people to support our work.

You will have strong interpersonal and communication skills and enjoy building relationships with a wide range of people. You will be equally comfortable supporting a marathon runner with their fundraising, liaising with suppliers, or welcoming guests to one of our special events.

You will have excellent organisational skills and be confident managing competing priorities and deadlines. You'll enjoy working as part of a collaborative team while also being able to take ownership of your own projects and responsibilities.

Ultimately, this is a great role for someone who loves events, enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and understands that no two days are the same.

The recruitment pack will provide you with more information about the role. If this role sounds like something you will excel in, we'd love to hear from you.

To apply please submit your CV with a covering letter demonstrating how you meet the criteria set out in the job description and person specification.

Closing date: 28 August 2026

Community and Events Manager  

 Full time - 35 hours per week

 Location – Hybrid Working with a minimum of one day a week working from Head Office in London

Join our friendly team

We have an exciting opportunity for a Community and Events Manager to join our Fundraising team. This is a fantastic role for an experienced fundraiser who is passionate about developing supporter-led fundraising, delivering exceptional events and building meaningful relationships that help families stay together when they need it most.

Our charity

The Sick Children's Trust is the charity that provides a welcoming 'Home from Home' where families with a sick child in hospital can stay. But we're more than bricks and mortar, our friendly, caring staff are there to support families when they really need it.

Hospital can be a lonely and scary place for anyone, but especially a child. Providing around 3,200 families a year with somewhere to stay together just minutes from the hospital means that they can be by their sick child's side and have one less thing to worry about.

The Role

This is a varied and rewarding fundraising management role, focused on developing and delivering an ambitious community and events fundraising programme that generates sustainable income, increases awareness of our work and builds long-term supporter relationships.

You will lead the development of community fundraising across the UK, supporting and inspiring individuals, families, schools, community groups, volunteers and local businesses to raise funds for the charity. At the same time, you will manage a portfolio of challenge and special events, ensuring excellent supporter experiences and strong financial returns.

You will oversee key events including our Carol Service, Supper Club and Golf Day, while also growing participation in challenge events such as the London Marathon, half marathons, walks, cycling events and other fundraising activities. You will identify new opportunities for growth, diversification and supporter acquisition across both community and events fundraising.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across Fundraising, Communications and Marketing, House Teams and external partners, you will help maximise fundraising income, increase engagement and ensure our supporters receive outstanding stewardship.

You will also lead and develop a small fundraising team, creating a collaborative and high-performing culture while supporting individuals to achieve their objectives and develop their skills.

This role requires a proactive and ambitious fundraiser with strong leadership, relationship-building and project management skills, together with the ability to manage multiple priorities and drive income growth.

About you

We're looking for someone who is passionate about community and events fundraising and motivated by creating meaningful opportunities for people to support our work.

You will have a proven track record in community fundraising, events fundraising or a related supporter-led income stream, with experience of building strong relationships and engaging supporters from a wide range of backgrounds.

You will be an excellent communicator and collaborator, equally comfortable inspiring volunteers, supporting families who want to fundraise, representing the charity at events, or working with colleagues to develop new campaigns and initiatives.

You will have experience of leading and developing people, managing projects and budgets, and balancing multiple priorities while maintaining excellent attention to detail.

Ultimately, this is a great role for someone who enjoys leading from the front, building relationships and developing innovative fundraising activities that make a real difference to families with seriously ill children.

This is a great opportunity, and we are reviewing applications as we receive them, so early application is advised.

The recruitment pack will provide you with more information about the role. If this role sounds like something you will excel in, we'd love to hear from you.

To apply please submit your CV with a covering letter demonstrating how you meet the criteria set out in the job description and person specification.

Closing date: 28 August 2026

Bible Society believes the Bible is God’s gift for God’s world. We share it because we believe it changes lives for good. We want Christians to be confident in the Bible’s truthfulness and reliability, and we want to change how people talk about it in wider society and invite them to see it as a source of wisdom and joy.

We are seeking a passionate, strategic and relational individual to join our team as we expand our work with generous supporters. In this role, you will lead our engagement with mid-level donors – strengthening retention, increasing income and re-engaging supporters through tailored communications, bespoke resources and opportunities for uplift. You will play a vital role in optimising funding from both established and new supporters, ensuring alignment with Bible Society’s mission priorities.

Alongside this, you will build and nurture key relationships through the management of a portfolio of current and prospective major donors, delivering significant levels of income against agreed targets. You will help donors fulfil their philanthropic ministry by connecting their generosity with the mission of Bible Society.

An enhanced DBS check will be required for this role. 

If this sounds like you and you have the legal right to work and remain in the UK, we’d love to hear from you. Please provide your CV and a 250-word statement that sets out why you’re the best person for this position.

For the purposes of your cover letter, we ask that you do not use AI-generated content. We would like to hear your own thoughts, experiences, and motivations in your own words. 

Bible Society is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and aspire to reflect this in our workforce. We welcome applications from people representing all sections of the community.

Closing date: Sunday 6 September 2026

Interview date: First round interview date: Monday 14 September 2026 (online)

Second-round interview date: Monday 21 September 2026 (Swindon)

Major Donor Fundraising Manager

These are ambitious times for the Charity and we now have an exciting opportunity for a proactive and professional individual with outstanding relationship building and influencing skills to join the dedicated Fundraising Department.

Position: Major Donor/Gifts Manager

Location: East Devon, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty/Hybrid (site attendance currently estimated to be one day per week, flexible working patterns considered, where required)

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week, 08.30-16.30, Monday-Friday

Salary: £41,200 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: Wednesday 26 August 2026.. Please note this role may close earlier than advertised so apply as soon as possible.

About the Role

As Major Gifts Manager, you will drive the development and delivery of the Major Gifts programme in line with agreed annual targets and the wider Fundraising Strategy. Working closely with the Head of Major Gifts, you will continuously evolve and strengthen the approach, ensuring a highly joined-up,

donor-centred model across the organisation, focusing on deepening high-value relationships,

increasing sustainable income, and building a strong, forward-looking pipeline of support.

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include:

• Inputting into and delivering the Major Gifts Strategy and improving the Major Gift portfolio and performance.
• Delivering and reporting on agreed projects, fundraising targets and KPIs.
• Proactively identifying and delivering new fundraising donors and income growth opportunities within Major Gifts.
• Leading on selected donor cultivation and stewardship projects to support sustainable income growth in Major Gifts, including events and other opportunities;
• Personally securing, managing and stewarding a portfolio of active Mid-Value, Major Donors and Charitable Trusts, forging and maintaining strong and enduring relationships.
• Supporting and growing the Major Gifts cultivation programme and pipeline to grow funders’ understanding of the diversity of the charity’s work.
• Being agile to changing market conditions and trends and working with the Head of Major Gifts to relay this into cultivation and stewardship.

About You

We are looking for someone with experience of managing, developing, and delivering major gifts programmes, including trust and foundation income.

You will have:

• Proven ability to cultivate and secure new major gifts, alongside building and managing a robust future pipeline.
• Extensive experience of building and stewarding effective relationships with high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, charitable trusts, and major donors.
• A well-developed understanding of monitoring, evaluation, and performance analysis to inform decision-making.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage clearly, confidently, and diplomatically with a range of stakeholders
• Strong track record of consistently meeting or exceeding personal fundraising targets.
• Advanced influencing skills, with the ability to deliver objectives through collaboration with internal and external stakeholders at all levels

Benefits include:

• Competitive pension.
• Life assurance – 2 x annual salary
• 31 days holiday (including Bank holidays), rising to 34 will each full year of service.
• Wellbeing team.
• Recorded Pilates and Yoga classes.
• Long service awards.
• Healthshield plan
• Free parking.
• Life assurance.
• Subsidised restaurant and shop.

About the Organisation

Join one of the UK’s largest international animal welfare charities, currently supporting projects in over 35 countries worldwide, working for a world where donkeys and mules live free from suffering and their contribution to humanity is fully valued.

The Charity is a Disability Confident Employer, committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable people (children and adults) and expects all staff and volunteers to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to safer recruitment processes, including an application for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check where required for the post.

You may also have experience in areas such as Major Donor, Major Gifts, Philanthropy, Major Donor Fundraiser, Major Gifts Fundraiser, Philanthropy Fundraiser, Major Donor Fundraising Manager, Major Gifts Fundraising Manager, Philanthropy Fundraising Manager, Major Donor Fundraising, Major Gifts Fundraising, Philanthropy Fundraising.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People. #INDNFP

Social Media and Marketing Executive
Responsible to: Digital Marketing Manager
Contract Type: Permanent, full time
Salary: C£27,000 a year, dependent on experience
Location: Edinburgh / Hybrid

About Social Bite:
Social Bite is a charity and social enterprise with a vision of a society where no one should have to be homeless. For over a decade, we’ve brought people, partners and communities together to challenge the status quo and pioneer solutions that create lasting change.

From supporting people to find a safe place to call home, to empowering people into employment, to providing free, fresh food to people experiencing homelessness or food poverty, our work is rooted in dignity, kindness and impact. Across flagship campaigns, fundraising events and community led action, everything we do reflects our values of kindness, collaboration, dignity and impact, and our belief that lasting change is possible when people come together with purpose.

We’re proud of our warm, inclusive and supportive culture, where people feel trusted, valued and encouraged to bring their whole selves to work, with a strong focus on wellbeing, balance and collaboration.

The role:

We are seeking a Social Media and Marketing Executive to join our team and support our mission to end homelessness. This role involves developing and executing campaigns that engage and inspire action. The successful candidate will be passionate about content creation and possess the skills to enhance our brand visibility and fundraising efforts.

What you’ll be doing:

Working as part of our dynamic Fundraising and Marketing team, you’ll work closely with the Head of Marketing and Communications, the Senior Communications Manager and the Digital Marketing Manager to build the Social Bite brand. Your skills and enthusiasm will help drive footfall to our social enterprise coffee shops, raise awareness around homelessness, and amplify our fundraising initiatives. No two days are the same in this fast-paced role that covers the whole marketing mix.

Powerful storytelling: we need to create content that shines a spotlight on our key impact projects, like our Jobs First employment programme and our free food services. You’ll play an integral role in increasing awareness and engagement with our two new Social Bite Villages.

Maximise our digital presence: grow our online following through engaging social media content (especially videos), digital advertising, newsletters, and a website redevelopment project.

Large-scale campaigns: support the marketing and communications activities surrounding fundraising initiatives like our UK-wide Festival of Kindness Christmas campaign which aims to deliver 300,000 gifts, meals and essential items to people who are vulnerable and experiencing homelessness through the winter. This includes a large-scale online fundraising campaign across multiple channels. Offline, you’ll gather content at sites like our Trees of Kindness across Scotland, Birmingham and London, where supporters can bring gifts and make donations.

Champion our social enterprise: promote our coffee shops and commercial initiatives in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and London by working closely with our operational management colleagues to brainstorm innovative ideas, craft point-of-sale, design promotional materials, and increase in-store brand impact.

Event management: plan and deliver events big and small, from producing assets for charity stalls at corporate fairs, to marketing our Impact Conferences and black-tie fundraising dinners.

Why join us?

Impact: your work will empower people experiencing homelessness to transform their own lives through our key pillars of providing homes, jobs, food and support.

Culture: you’llbe part of a supportive and dynamic team in an entrepreneurial organisation that values your unique take on how to achieve our goals.

Growth: opportunities to work on exciting projects and learn, grow, and shine in a role that’s as rewarding as it is challenging.

Perks: competitive salary, flexible working hours, and benefits including:

o Generous annual leave entitlement (plus public holidays)

o Hybrid and flexible working

o Pension scheme

o Free food at Social Bite Coffee Shops

o Reward Hub (discounted gym, restaurants, shop partnerships)

o Health benefits cash plan

o GP24 access

o Death in Service

o Employee Assistance Programme

o Access to in-house counselling

o Monthly ‘Values Superstars’ rewards, recognising commitment to embodying Social Bite’s values

o A welcoming, inclusive and dog friendly office

Application process: please send a CV and cover message. Your cover message should give us a sense of who you and help us understand why you’re a good fit for this role. It could be a letter (up to 500 words), a video or voice note (up to four minutes), a presentation or infographic (of comparable length). Please also include up to three links to pieces of Social Media content that you have created.

Interview process:
Interview questions will be sent to you in advance to allow you to prepare.

Ahead of the second-round interview we’ll also ask short-listed candidates to complete an exercise, like a brief presentation or creating a short piece of content, for us to discuss on the day.

1. First round interview with Head of Marketing and Communications and Senior Marketing Manager.
2. Second round interview with Head of Marketing and Communications, Senior Communications Manager and Director of Philanthropy and Marketing.

Special Events Manager (Maternity Cover)

Are you ready to take on a new challenge with a leading charity making a real difference in brain tumour research?

Brain Tumour Research is an exciting, innovative, and ambitious charity. We are passionate about finding a cure for brain tumours through the establishment of dedicated Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence around the UK.

After a successful 2025, we’re building on our momentum and looking ahead with ambition. As our work continues to expand, so does our impact. We are now looking for passionate people to join us on the next stage of our journey!

It is a fantastic time to be joining us and we are keen to share this with likeminded and talented individuals. We currently have an opening for a Special Events Manager, to join our Income Generation and Development team.

• Do you want to make a difference in one of the most innovative and exciting medical research fundraising charities in the UK?
• Are you able to create strong relationships with donors, sponsors, volunteers and team memeber? 
• Can you think outside the box and develop unique event concepts and fundraising ideas?
• Do you have 3-5 years experience in event planning, fundraising or a related field?

Have you answered Yes to these questions?

Does this sound like the opportunity to really take the next step in your career?

Excited to learn more about this position? Then please take a read through our recruitment pack below. 

If you have the skills and ambition that we are looking for we are excited to receive your application. We are really looking forward to welcoming a new member to our team!

We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process.  Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.

We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.

Closing Date: 11th September 2026 

We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.

We're looking for a motivated, innovative and resilient Fundraising and Social Value Coordinator to join our Philanthropy and Partnerships team located at our Head Office in Islington

£38,000.00 per annum, working 35 hours per week.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.
Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 8% and life assurance cover up to 3x Pensionable Salary (T&Cs apply)
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* Fully paid induction programme and further training
* ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
* Online wellbeing resources
* Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
* Free DBS (take this out if BSW advert)
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

Hybrid (minimum of two days a week working from our Caledonian Road Head Office or our services across London and the South East) Open to discussions about full-time or part-time (0.8FTE) working arrangements

What you'll do:
* Lead on fulfilling our pipeline of potential grant, trust, foundation and corporate opportunities
* Lead on funding applications that support Look Ahead's social inclusion priorities around:
o Homes and spaces
o Health and wellbeing
o Skills, learning and work
o Arts, creativity and celebration
o Specialist added value staff roles that support the delivery of Look Ahead's mission
* Identify, source and coordinate social value activities across Look Ahead services
* Build and maintain relationships with corporate partners to raise income and deliver social value
* Coordinate the Social Value Group and lead Look Ahead's participation in challenge and community events
* Lead on the financial administration of grants, working closely with the finance team to ensure spend is appropriately allocated, recorded and monitored
* Liaise with operations colleagues and funders to ensure grant funding is spent compliantly and in line with agreed budgets and outcomes
* Monitor and report on funded activity, ensuring funder requirements and deadlines are met
* Lead on communicating fundraising impact, outcomes, successes and stories, working with communications colleagues

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:
You will be highly organised, confident working with budgets and multiple stakeholders, and motivated by social impact.
You will have a minimum of 2-3 years working in fundraising, social value or bid writing.
You'll have experience in fundraising, grants, partnerships or social value delivery, with strong research, writing and coordination skills, and a collaborative approach to working across teams.
You will be an excellent bid writer with the ability to translate service need and customer aspirations into compelling, winning bids.
You may have experience of raising funds for housing associations, social landlords or organisations that are not registered charities but have charitable status or are community interest companies.
This role would suit someone looking to step into a varied, impact focused position.

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
* We focus on Excellence and innovation.
* We are Caring and Compassionate.
* We are Inclusive and Trusted.
* We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Please see full job description on our website

For nearly 20 years, Lively Minds has been proving that parents are the sleeping giants of early childhood development. With strong evidence and a national scale proof point in Ghana, we have shown that parent powered approaches delivered through government systems can transform children's lives at scale.

We are now at a pivotal moment. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum, and we need the funding, profile and influence to match our ambition. This is a rare opportunity to lead income generation and external voice for an award winning NGO entering an exciting new phase of growth. You will lead our fundraising strategy and direct engagement with Funders ensuring that we maximise all funding opportunities as we continue our strategic evolution. You will also shape a compelling external narrative that will help position Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments strengthening their early childhood development systems.

If you are an exceptional fundraiser and communicator who is equally comfortable in a strategic conversation and writing a winning proposal, we would love to hear from you.

Read the full advert and apply below. Closing date: 3rd September 2026.

About Lively Minds

Lively Minds is an award-winning NGO with nearly 20 years of experience designing, testing and scaling early childhood development (ECD) solutions across the Global South. Our core idea is simple but radical: parents are the sleeping giants of ECD. Governments and donors have long overlooked parents, assuming that poverty and low literacy make them unable or unwilling to support their childrenʼs development. We have spent two decades proving otherwise. With RCT-backed evidence and a national-scale proof point in Ghana, we have demonstrated that parent-powered approaches, delivered through government systems, can achieve meaningful child development outcomes at scale.

Our 2026–2028 strategy marks a pivotal shift. Having demonstrated what is possible, we are now helping pioneer an innovative model of country-led sustainable scale. Rather than delivering programmes ourselves, we provide lean, time-limited technical advisory support to governments to help them integrate parent-powered ECD into their own systems, budgets and institutions. We are currently working with the governments of Ghana, Uganda, Oromia state (Ethiopia) and The Gambia in 2026, growing to six or more country engagements by 2028. Our ambition is to catalyse a sector-wide shift, positioning Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments seeking to strengthen their ECD systems.

Our scale strategy rests on three interdependent pillars: fixed-term Technical Advisory partnerships with governments; the development of a modular radio model simple and affordable enough for governments to adopt and fund independently; and an advocacy and sector influence agenda designed to make parent-powered ECD the norm globally.

Purpose of the Role

Lively Minds is at a critical inflection point. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum. We now need the funding, profile and sector influence to match our ambition. The Director of Fundraising and Communications is a priority hire, created to provide the dedicated, experienced leadership that this moment demands.

The Director will own and drive Lively Mindsʼ income generation, building new funder relationships, managing and deepening existing ones, and ensuring the organisation has the pipeline, discipline and quality of engagement to meet and exceed its fundraising targets. Working in close partnership with the Founding CEO, who retains ownership of a small number of long-standing strategic relationships, the Director will take primary responsibility for securing the funding that makes the 2026–2028 strategy deliverable, and that opens the door to greater scale beyond it. We need to raise approximately £3.4m over the next 3 years to deliver our strategy. But our ambition is to exceed that target so we can support additional governments.

Alongside fundraising, the Director will provide strategic leadership to Lively Mindsʼ communications and advocacy work, ensuring that the organisationʼs external voice is compelling and that we are building credibility in the spaces where funding decisions are made. The Director will lead and provide strategic coherence to a small but outward-facing team, including Head of Partnerships and Advocacy Lead who are active on the international stage. Lively Minds is committed to thought-leadership and active external engagement, but equally committed to ensuring that communications resource is deployed with discipline and rigour. The Director will set a clear strategic filter for where the organisation shows up, what it publishes and who it engages: prioritising focus and quality over volume, and always asking whether external activity is building the relationships and reputation that ultimately drive income and/or systems change.

Lively Minds is a dispersed, remote organisation. The Directorʼs team the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer - are internationally distributed. The ability to lead, develop and maintain high standards across a dispersed team is essential. The role requires regular travel to international conferences and events.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Income Generation

• Own and deliver the multi-year fundraising strategy with clear priorities, targets, income streams and a disciplined pipeline to support the 2026–2028 strategy and future scale
• Steward existing funder relationships, turning strong partnerships into long-term supporters, advocates and connectors to new funding opportunities.
• Lead the shift towards Big Bet and catalytic funding, personally cultivating and negotiating high-value, multi-year partnerships and positioning Lively Minds for system-level scale
• Maintain a high standard of fundraising quality, pipeline management and forecasting, while coaching the team to produce compelling, sophisticated fundraising materials
•  Build and continuously strengthen a diverse funding pipeline, identifying emerging opportunities, new funding markets and strategic partnerships that reduce concentration risk and support long-term financial sustainability

Communications, Brand & Advocacy

• Own and deliver Lively Mindsʼ communications and marketing strategy, balancing visibility and sector influence with the need to strengthen fundraising and systems-change objectives
• Partner closely with the CEO to shape and steward a coherent external narrative, brand and messaging framework across all audiences and channels
• Oversee high-quality core communications and fundraising materials, including cases for support, pitch decks, website content, proposals and donor reports
• Provide strategic communications expertise to Advocacy, Partnerships and MEL, ensuring evidence and learning are translated into compelling narratives and consistent external messaging
• Lead efforts to strengthen Lively Mindsʼ profile and thought leadership in the ECD sector, identifying opportunities for strategic media, events, publications and external platforms that reinforce its positioning and influence

Organizational Leadership&TeamDevelopment

• Contribute actively to SMT and organisational strategy, bringing funder intelligence, external perspective and communications expertise to strategic decision-making.
• Work closely with Finance and MEL to align fundraising targets, forecasting, budgets and evidence, ensuring proposals are credible, accurately costed and evidence-led
• Act as the organisationʼs communications subject matter expert, providing guidance and challenge to ensure high-quality, consistent external communications
• Lead and develop the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer, fostering a team culture of quality, accountability, strategic clarity and continuous improvement
• Build strong cross-organisational collaboration, ensuring teams understand how fundraising, communications, advocacy and evidence work together to advance Lively Mindsʼ strategic priorities

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

• 10+ years of significant senior-level fundraising experience within international development, education, philanthropy or a comparable sector
• Proven track record of securing major grants from foundations, institutional donors and high-net-worth individuals, alongside demonstrated experience securing or meaningfully progressing large-scale, catalytic funding from Big Bet philanthropy programmes such as the Audacious Project, Skoll Foundation or comparable funders. A strong understanding of what these funders look for and how to position an organisation compellingly within their processes is essential
• Exceptional fundraising writing skills, with the ability to personally develop compelling cases for support, funding proposals, award applications and pitch decks tailored to sophisticated impact funders. This is a hands-on role requiring both strong writing capability and the ability to coach others to consistently produce high-quality fundraising content
• Experienced in developing and owning a marketing and communications strategy, with a strong understanding of how to balance organisational visibility, thought leadership and sector influence with coherence, strategic focus and income generation
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with a Founding CEO to shape and steward the organisationʼs external narrative and brand. Comfortable working in a founder-led environment, providing expertise and constructive challenge while ensuring the organisation maintains a clear, consistent and coherent external voice

Desirable Experience

• Experienced fundraising for a technical advisory, systems change or government-facing organisation
• Knowledge of the ECD, education or early childhood sector and its funding landscape
• Familiarity with the Big Bang Philanthropy network or equivalent impact-focused funder communities
• Experience working alongside advocacy and partnerships teams, providing communications expertise and strategic coherence to their external activity
• Familiarity with the funding landscape for organisations operating in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Experience working remotely across multiple countries and effectively collaborating with cross-cultural teams

Behaviours & Ways of Working

• A doer, equally comfortable in strategic conversations and writing a funding proposal
• Sets a high bar for quality and clarity in all external communications and holds it consistently
• Builds a strong, trust-based partnership with the Founding CEO, provides honest challenge and operates effectively within a founder-led dynamic without losing their own voice or judgement
• Collaborative and cross-organisational. Invests in strong relationships with programme, MEL and finance colleagues, understanding that the best fundraising is grounded in organisational reality
• Calm and focused under pressure - able to manage competing priorities and maintain quality when the stakes are high

What We Offer

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• 25 days annual leave
• Health insurance
• Pension contribution
• Generous learning and development budget
• Flexible, remote working

Application Instruction

Interested candidates are encouraged to read the Job Description carefully before applying to ensure they understand the role and meet the required criteria.

To apply, please complete the pre-screening questions and submit your updated CV

PLEASE NOTE - Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Timeline

Closing Date: 3rd September 2026

Our Stance

Lively Minds operates a strict Safeguarding Policy and is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable people. As part of our recruitment process, the suitability of successful candidates will be verified through appropriate background checks including professional references and police checks.

Lively Minds is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and to providing equal opportunities throughout our recruitment process. We want this commitment to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, experiences and perspectives.

We are committed to ensuring that recruitment decisions are based on merit, skills, experience and suitability for the role, and that all candidates are treated fairly and with respect throughout the recruitment process.

Community Fundraiser – East Midlands

Are you ready to take on a new challenge with a leading charity making a real difference in brain tumour research?

Brain Tumour Research is an exciting, innovative, and ambitious charity. We are passionate about finding a cure for brain tumours through the establishment of dedicated Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence around the UK.

After a successful 2025, we’re building on our momentum and looking ahead with ambition. As our work continues to expand, so does our impact. We are now looking for passionate people to join us on the next stage of our journey!

It is a fantastic time to be joining us and we are keen to share this with likeminded and talented individuals. We currently have an opening for a Community Fundraiser – East Midlands, to join our Income Generation and Development team.

• Do you want to make a difference in one of the most innovative and exciting medical research fundraising charities in the UK?
• Are you able to provide friendly and professional support to fundraisers and supporters?   
• Do you have experience in supporting events or community activities?
• Do you live in our East Midlands region (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire or Rutland)?

Have you answered Yes to these questions?

Does this sound like the opportunity to really take the next step in your career?

Excited to learn more about this position? Then please take a read through our recruitment pack attached below. 

If you have the skills and ambition that we are looking for we are excited to receive your application.  We are really looking forward to welcoming a new member to our team!

We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process.  Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.

We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.

Closing Date: 06th September 2026

We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.