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Fundraising Manager

Organisation: The Outrunners Charity

Job Description

• Job title: Fundraising Manager

• Location: Hackney Bridge, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London (a canalside public destination less than five minutes from Hackney Wick station) 

• Salary: £36,700-£40,000 FTE depending on experience, pro rata to £22,000-£24,000 

• Hours: 0.6 FTE (3 days/21 hours per week). Office hours are 10am - 6pm with occasional evenings and weekends. Flexible working opportunities are available. 

Who are The Outrunners?

The Outrunners are a running and movement charity based in Hackney, on a mission to empower young people through movement. Backed by an incredible crew of volunteers and partner brands like Nike and Moju, we help young people in East London to build confidence, wellbeing, health and leadership skills.

We deliver free, fun, sociable, youth‑led running and movement sessions for 8–18 year olds every week - during term time and holidays. But we’re about more than just running. We create space for young people to explore creativity and culture, go on exciting trips, access wraparound wellbeing support, and develop the skills and opportunities they need to shape the futures they want.

Over the past five years, we’ve supported thousands of young people and helped push greater diversity within the running world.

We like to do things differently - taking young people out of their everyday environments and into exciting new spaces, opening doors to opportunities they might not otherwise have access to. If that sounds like something you want to be part of… read on.

Our achievements

We’re a small charity but we pack a mighty punch. Our income has grown year-on-year since we became a charity 6 years ago -  allowing us to expand our core team and move into office premises large enough to incorporate a Youth Hub. Last year we worked with over 1,150 young people through our school and communities programs, and this year we’re looking to expand our work even further!

To give you a sense of the kinds of work that we do, over the last year we have:

• Hosted a free Girls’ Festival for 100+ ethnically diverse young girls, allowing them to try running sessions, creative classes and yoga experiences in a safe and empowering environment.

• Hosted free training academies for ethnically diverse women and young people aged 16-21 to train for their very first half or full marathons! We offered physical, emotional and logistical support throughout their training journey and cheered on every single one of them as they ran either the Hackney Half or the London Marathon under the Outrunners name. Since programme launch, we have worked with over 250 people in our Academies.

• Took diverse groups of young people to races and events, such as Hackney School run and Black to the Trails. 

• Offered personalised mentoring to several of our young people who were struggling with school or life.

• Expanded the career horizons of young people by offering them a free work experience opportunity with our partner brands.

What do we want?

We are seeking an experienced fundraiser for a strategic and hands-on role who loves working in a small, ambitious charity and wants to help shape the next stage of growth at The Outrunners (current annual income circa £350k).

Reporting to the CEO, you will lead on income generation, with a primary focus on trusts and foundations, while growing a more diverse and sustainable income mix through corporate partnerships, community fundraising and individual giving.

You will translate the lived experiences, energy and impact of our young people and programmes into compelling funding propositions. You’ll support the CEO to build genuine, long‑term relationships with funders and partners who believe in movement, equity and opportunity for young people - and who want to be part of something fresh, joyful and youth‑led.

Does this sound like you?

• A driven, experienced fundraiser who enjoys leading income growth in a small, ambitious charity and taking real ownership of results.

• A strategic thinker who is also hands‑on – happy managing pipelines, writing bids and following up relationships day‑to‑day.

• Someone who can translate impact, lived experience and data into clear, compelling cases for support.

• A confident relationship‑builder who can engage, influence and inspire funders, partners and supporters.

• Resilient and adaptable, comfortable balancing multiple income streams, deadlines and priorities.

• Values‑led and trustworthy, with a strong sense of integrity, accountability and ethical fundraising practice.

• Motivated by social impact and excited to fundraise for a youth‑led organisation rooted in movement, equity and opportunity.

• Happy to occasionally work evenings or weekends for events, funder cultivation or partner activity.

Experience and skills we’re looking for

• 5+ years’ experience in fundraising, ideally within a small or growing charity.

• Proven success securing income from trusts and foundations, including prospect research, high‑quality bid writing and effective funder stewardship.

• Strong understanding of what drives successful grant applications, from alignment and evidence to storytelling and relationships.

• Experience developing or contributing to diversified income streams, such as corporate partnerships, community fundraising or individual giving.

• Ability to manage income pipelines and use systems/CRMs to track fundraising activity and performance.

• Sound understanding of fundraising regulation and best practice.

• Confident relationship‑builder with experience engaging funders, partners or senior stakeholders.

• Strong storytelling and written communication skills, with the ability to combine impact data, lived experience and insight into compelling cases for support.

• Excellent organisation and time‑management skills, with the ability to juggle multiple deadlines and priorities.

• Collaborative and positive team player, comfortable working in a small, fast‑moving organisation.

• Strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, with confidence working across diverse communities.

• Desirable:

  • Experience fundraising for youth, wellbeing, sport or community‑based organisations.

  • Experience working with or supporting programmes for girls and young women.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Fundraising Strategy & Income Growth (with Chief Executive)

• Develop and deliver a fundraising strategy aligned with The Outrunners’ strategic goals and values.

• Grow and diversify income streams, with a focus on increasing unrestricted and sustainable income.

• Create and manage an annual fundraising workplan to deliver agreed income targets.

• Work closely with the Chief Executive on pipeline management, forecasting and income planning.

• Regularly review progress, learn from outcomes and adapt approaches as needed.

2. Trusts & Foundations (Primary Income Lead)

• Lead and manage a pipeline of trust and foundation applications, from prospect research to reporting.

• Research, cultivate and secure grants aligned to The Outrunners’ youth‑led movement work.

• Write high‑quality, compelling funding applications and reports.

• Work closely with youth programme staff to gather outcomes, case studies and impact data.

• Build strong, professional relationships with funders through excellent stewardship.

• Develop approaches that encourage funder renewal, uplift and long‑term support.

3. Corporate Partnerships (Growth area)

• Support the development of relationships with values‑aligned corporate partners and brands.

• Identify opportunities for corporate grants, sponsorship, employee fundraising, volunteering and matched funding.

• Shape clear and inspiring partnership pitches with cases for support that connect partner goals with youth wellbeing, movement and equity.

• Work with colleagues to ensure corporate partnerships are meaningful, well‑supported and mutually beneficial.

4. Community & Individual Giving (Growth area)

• Support the growth of The Outrunners’ individual giving base, including regular and mid‑level donors, working with CEO and Admin Lead.

• Develop donor stewardship approaches that support repeat and long‑term giving.

• Explore opportunities with local communities, supporter networks and high‑net‑worth individuals.

5. Impact, Systems & Compliance

• Work with our Admin Lead to maintain accurate records across fundraising and income tracking systems (CRM).

• Contribute fundraising content across our website, donor platforms and communications channels, working closely with Marketing & Comms.

• Support the creation of impact reports and case studies that reflect young people’s lived experience ethically and sensitively.

• Ensure compliance with fundraising regulation and best practice.

• Stay informed about sector trends and test new tools or approaches appropriate for a small charity.

What’s in it for you?

• Opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people.

• Supportive and inclusive working environment.

• Professional development and training opportunities.

• 30 holiday days + all bank holidays (pro-rata)

• Self-development days 

• Work-related travel reimbursement 

• Learning and development opportunities to fit your aspirations, including with some of our partner businesses

• Working alongside aspirational brands 

We strongly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply for this role. The successful applicant will need to be subject to a background enhanced disclosure check by the Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) before any appointment can be confirmed.

If you would like to apply for this role please share a copy of your CV and a covering letter explaining why you would like the role and how you meet the requirements listed in the job description. The covering letter should be no longer than two A4 pages.

If we feel you meet our requirements, we will contact you for an interview. Due to the high volume of applications, if you are not contacted within a month of submitting your application, on this occasion you have been unsuccessful. We will keep your details on file for any other suitable vacancies.

Please submit your CV and covering letter by Sunday 28th June 11.59pm.