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.
Registered Charity 
21 - 50
Thank you!
This is an exciting opportunity to join Cause4’s Development Team as a Development Manager, supporting a varied portfolio of charities and social purpose organisations with fundraising, strategy and organisational development.
This opportunity provides a fantastic opportunity for someone to work as part of a passionate and hard working team to hone their consultancy skills to fast track into more senior positions within the organisation.
The role offers the chance to work across multiple sectors including arts, heritage, education, health, sport and community organisations, helping clients to develop fundraising strategies, secure funding and build sustainable income streams. Alongside client work, you will play an active role within the wider Cause4 Development Team, contributing to research, organisational planning, training delivery and business development activity.
This position offers broad exposure across a wide range of organisations, fundraising disciplines and consultancy projects, making it an excellent opportunity for someone looking to accelerate their career within the charity or consultancy sectors.
THE OPPORTUNITY WHO THIS ROLE MAY SUIT
- This role could particularly suit: Someone looking to step into their first consultancy or Development Manager role.
- A fundraiser wanting broader experience across multiple organisations and income streams. Someone currently working in the charity, arts, education or cultural sectors looking to transition into consultancy.
- An ambitious individual seeking a fast-paced role with clear progression and development opportunities.
- An existing manager looking to build their consultancy skills to fast track into more senior positions in the sector.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Fundraising & Client Support
- Supporting a portfolio of clients with fundraising strategy development and delivery.
- Writing compelling funding applications, Cases for Support and donor-facing materials.
- Supporting funding approaches to Trusts & Foundations, statutory funders, corporates and individual donors.
- Conducting research into prospective funders, partners and opportunities.
- Supporting the development and delivery of fundraising events and engagement activities. Building positive relationships with clients, funders and wider stakeholders.
- Supporting the delivery of fundraising training and wider Cause4 programmes.
Research & Consultancy
- Producing high-quality research, reports and briefing papers.
- Supporting the development of programme ideas, evaluation frameworks and measurable outcomes.
- Contributing strategic thinking to fundraising campaigns and organisational development projects.
- Supporting wider consultancy and innovation work across the organisation.
Team & Organisational Development
- Contributing to Cause4’s business development and growth activity.
- Sharing knowledge, expertise and fundraising insight across the team.
- Supporting the wider strategic and operational needs of the organisation.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Cause4 is a fast-paced consultancy environment offering significant opportunities for learning and career development.
Skills & Experience
We are particularly interested in candidates who are ambitious, adaptable and keen to grow within a consultancy environment. You may already have experience in fundraising, charity operations, programme delivery, arts administration, partnerships, research or strategy work.
We are looking for:
- Strong written communication skills and the ability to produce compelling, engaging and high-quality written material.
- Strong research and analytical skills with excellent attention to detail.
- Ability to interpret and synthesise large and complex amounts of information and data from a range of sources.
- Experience within a charity, fundraising, arts, education or consultancy environment.
- An interest in fundraising, philanthropy and organisational development.
- The ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
- Confidence working with a range of stakeholders and building professional relationships.
- Strategic thinking, creative and problem-solving skills. Strong organisational and coordination skills.
- Confidence using Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Experience using online platforms such as Zoom or Teams.
- Alignment with our company values.
Experience across fundraising or income generation is desirable, but we are equally interested in candidates with strong transferable skills and the ambition to develop into a client-facing consultancy role.
HOW TO APPLY
Please send your CV together with either: a Cover Letter (maximum two pages), or a Cover Video (maximum three minutes) to Ben Wilson, Director of Development and Enterprise.
The deadline for applying is 5pm on Tuesday 1 September 2026.
Please also include a completed Equal Opportunities Form downloadable from the Cause4 website.
Thank you!
- 16 hours per week (part time)
- £35,000.a. pro rata (Actual salary £15,135) plus 6% pension contribution
- Remote
Job Summary:
Rape Crisis England & Wales is the national membership and accreditation body for a network of Rape Crisis Centres that provide specialist support for survivors of sexual violence and abuse. We work to promote the needs and rights of survivors and campaign for an end to all forms of sexual violence, abuse and exploitation.
Our Fundraising and Development Officer will support our daily fundraising operations. In this role, you will be responsible for coordinating contractor relationships, managing administrative tasks, supporting our governance arrangements, collating data and ensuring smooth communication across departments. You will play a key role in optimising processes, handling logistics, and assisting in the delivery of operational initiatives.
Key Responsibilities:
The overall purpose of this role is to provide administrative and operational support across the fundraising department. You will work closely with the Head of Fundraising and Development to support donor recognition and stewardship, fundraising finance processes, and collate data for reporting against KPIs.
The key responsibilities of this role include:
Donor recognition and supporter care
• Thank Challenge event and one-off donors promptly, warmly, and accurately, within agreed turnaround times, tailoring acknowledgements by gift size, channel, and giving history.
• Administer donor recognition processes, including welcome journeys for new regular givers, milestone and anniversary acknowledgements, and recognition of mid-level and repeat donors.
• Respond to supporter enquiries by email, phone, and post in a professional and sensitive manner, escalating complex matters as appropriate.
• Handle sensitive gifts, such as in memory donations, with care and discretion.
• Support the stewardship of challenge event participants and community fundraisers, including fundraising materials, sponsorship processing, and thanking.
Individual giving and donation processing
• Record donations accurately and regularly on Salesforce, ensuring each gift is coded correctly by source, campaign, and restriction.
• Process payroll giving donations
• Maintain the Mailchimp donor database including uploading new donors
• Carry out regular reconciliations of donation income with Finance colleagues, investigating and resolving discrepancies.
• Administer regular giving, including setting up, amending, and cancelling regular gifts, and monitoring failed payments.
• Support the delivery of individual giving campaigns and appeals, with donation handling, data segmentation, and post campaign administration.
• Assist in processing and acknowledging occasional one-off donations received across all channels and platforms, including online giving platforms, direct debits, standing orders, cheques, and bank transfers.
Gift Aid
• Maintain complete and compliant Gift Aid declaration records for all eligible donors.
• Prepare and submit regular Gift Aid claims to HMRC, ensuring claims are accurate, maximised, and submitted on schedule.
• Keep an audit trail of claims and declarations in line with HMRC requirements, and support any related audit or compliance activity.
• Identify opportunities to increase Gift Aid uptake across giving channels.
Data and compliance
• Maintain accurate, up to date supporter records on the fundraising database, including contact details, communication preferences, and consent.
• Ensure all supporter data is handled in line with UK GDPR, the Fundraising Regulator's Code of Fundraising Practice, and RCEW policies.
• Run routine data hygiene tasks such as deduplication, returned mail processing, and preference updates.
• Produce simple reports on income and supporter activity to support team planning and reporting to funders and the Board.
General fundraising support
• Monitor and respond to email correspondence in the fundraising inbox
• Provide administrative support across the fundraising function as required, including trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, and events.
• Maintain fundraising records, templates, and process documentation so that key tasks are well documented and consistent.
• Research potential donors and funding opportunities to support the organisation’s goals.
• Provide administrative support during grant application processes, including compiling documents and tracking deadlines.
• Coordinate logistics for fundraising events, including venue booking, catering, and invitations.
• Contribute to a positive, collaborative team culture and take part in team meetings and organisational activity.
• Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the level of the role.
The post holder is expected to work collaboratively with internal teams and external stakeholders to promote the aims and values of Rape Crisis England & Wales. Therefore, this list is indicative only, not exhaustive. It is intended to reflect a range of duties the post-holder will be expected to perform but additional duties commensurate with the role may be required. The job description will be reviewed from time to time and may change in light of experience and changing circumstances, in consultation with the post-holder. We ask all employees to uphold our organisational values, support our mission and purpose, and to maintain respectful and collaborative relationships with colleagues at all levels of the organisation.
Person Specification
· A relevant qualification in Fundraising or a related field would be desirable.
· Proven experience in a fundraising role, ideally within a corporate, nonprofit, or government environment.
· Experience with fundraising activities such as donor relations, and materials preparation
· Strong ability to coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously, ensuring deadlines are met and operations run smoothly.
· Detail-oriented with excellent time management and prioritisation skills.
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare reports, presentations, and donor correspondence.
· Ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership, team members, external stakeholders, and donors.
· Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
· Familiarity with donor management platforms (e.g., JustGiving)
· Experience with Salesforce would be beneficial
· Ability to approach challenges with a proactive and solutions-oriented mindset and make decisions based on data, policies, and best practices.
*Shortlisting will be based on the candidates’ ability to demonstrate the criteria in bold.
Personal Attributes:
- Results-oriented with a passion for making a difference and working proactively.
- Collaborative and able to build strong internal and external relationships.
- Adaptable, innovative, and comfortable with change.
- Excellent organisational, problem-solving and decision-making abilities
Eligibility
Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Evidence of this will be required prior to appointment.
Additional Information
Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a sufficient number of applications. We therefore encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.
Due to the volume of applications received, only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.