Global Philanthropy Manager

If you are ready to join a creative, fast-growing organisation dedicated to community-led educational equity, we encourage you to apply.

About EduSpots

EduSpots is a dynamic, community-driven UK and Ghana-registered charity that connects, trains, and equips volunteer community educators (known as ‘Catalysts’) to drive grassroots educational change. These efforts center around the creation and operation of community-led ‘Spots’—innovative education spaces benefiting learners of all ages.

Founded in 2016, EduSpots has grown to support 50 communities through 400 local Catalysts who play a central leadership role. We believe in a community-led model that can be adapted globally. Our Ghana-based team facilitates three leadership programmes—Ignite, Catalyse, and Inspire Mentoring—enabling Catalysts to run clubs focused on early-years education, digital literacy, STEM/environmental education, and gender equity, ultimately reaching over 15,000 learners each year.

EduSpots’ rapid growth has been recognized through accolades like the Tes International Award (2018) and the Big Give Supporters’ Choice Award (2022). We were recently a finalist for the 2023 Their World Scale-Up Innovation Prize, and our Founder was a finalist for the UNESCO-backed Varkey Foundation’s Global Teacher Prize. We are now expanding our model, supported by independent evaluation findings and prestigious accelerator programs, as we explore its global potential.

About the Role

EduSpots is seeking a Global Philanthropy Manager—an engaging, dynamic, and proven fundraising specialist who will play a key part in our next phase of growth. As we continue to expand, we need an individual with a track record of securing income from trusts and foundations, ideally at the 5- to 6-figure level (GBP), and the ability to cultivate new funding partnerships.

In the past two years, we have doubled our income and expanded our programmes significantly. We are now poised for further growth and need someone who understands the value of community-driven change. You will collaborate closely with our CEO, Ghana-based Heads of Programmes, and Head of Operations to develop funding proposals and nurture donor relationships at a strategic level.

Depending on experience and availability, this role may involve overseeing a small part-time fundraising team (including a Fundraising Manager, Trusts and Foundations Manager, and Communications Manager). In time, the position could evolve into a Head of Fundraising role.

If you are passionate about educational equity, thrive in a fast-paced yet supportive environment, and want to make a direct impact on community-led initiatives, we’d love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

1. Global Fundraising Strategy

   • Develop and execute an overarching fundraising strategy targeting medium-to-large, multi-year commitments from trusts, foundations, major donors, and (potentially) corporate partners.

   • Work closely with the CEO and leadership team to secure high-value partnerships.

2. Strategic Proposal Development

   • Collaborate with the CEO, Heads of Programmes, and Head of Operations to craft compelling organisational and programme-focused bids.

   • Contribute to EduSpots’ broader strategic development, aligning funding proposals with our organisational goals.

3. Donor Cultivation and Stewardship

   • Establish and maintain efficient donor identification, cultivation, and tracking systems.

   • Coordinate with the CEO and board members to leverage their networks for new funding opportunities.

   • Create bespoke stewardship plans that demonstrate the impact of donor support and build lasting relationships.

4. Communications and Networking

   • Work with the CEO and Communications Manager to develop a compelling case for support and accompanying engagement materials.

   • Actively represent EduSpots in relevant networks to increase our visibility among potential donors.

5. Donor Relationship Management

   • Oversee relationships with major donors, trusts, and foundations, including grant reporting and ongoing communications.

   • Manage donor databases and ensure accurate record-keeping.

6. Monitoring and Compliance

   • Track philanthropic trends to strengthen EduSpots’ fundraising effectiveness.

   • Ensure compliance with all relevant international fundraising regulations and ethical standards.

7. Team Leadership (Depending on Experience/Availability)

   • Potentially manage and mentor a small part-time fundraising team (Fundraising Manager, Trusts and Foundations Manager, Communications Manager), ensuring alignment with organisational objectives.

8. General Duties

   • Contribute to overall strategy development, annual business planning, and budgeting.

   • Carry out all administrative tasks related to the role accurately and efficiently.

   • Comply with all EduSpots’ policies and procedures.

   • Undertake other reasonable duties as required.

Skills, Experience, and Attributes

Essential

• Proven track record of income generation, ideally within education or international development.

• Extensive experience writing successful grant applications (5- to 6-figure GBP).

• Strong background in cultivating and managing relationships with trusts, foundations, and other grant-makers.

• Knowledge of a broad range of UK-based funders and some familiarity with international (European/US) funders.

• Understanding of programme development and management, ideally in an education context.

• Some experience in communications/marketing within an NGO setting.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong interpersonal abilities to engage diverse stakeholders.

• Ability to work autonomously in a remote role with minimal day-to-day supervision.

• Strong IT skills (Word, Excel, Google Drive, etc.).

• Deeply aligned with EduSpots’ values, including a commitment to community leadership, sustainable change, teamwork, play, passion, and care.

Desirable

• Experience managing a team and overseeing their performance.

• Familiarity with corporate partnerships, individual giving, and fundraising campaigns.

Application Process

If you are ready to join a creative, fast-growing organisation dedicated to community-led educational equity, we encourage you to apply. Please submit your CV and a brief covering letter highlighting your relevant experience and what excites you about this role.

We look forward to exploring how you can help EduSpots expand its impact in Ghana and potentially beyond, shaping a more inclusive and empowering future through education.