Senior trusts and major donor fundraiser jobs

ThinkForward is recruiting an Director of Fundraising and Strategic Partnerships to help lead our team delivering our unique programme supporting young people into further education and employment. 

About the Role

Our Director of Fundraising and Strategic Partnerships is a pivotal executive leadership role, that will transform income generation into a partnership-led growth engine for ThinkForward.

Purpose: To lead and embed a strategic partnership ecosystem that delivers sustainable, diversified income growth; access to commissioned and place-based funding; scalable delivery routes; and increased influence in policy
and practice. The post holder will personally originate, shape and close major funding and partnership opportunities with senior stakeholders.

Strategic Focus: Act as executive relationship lead for government, local authorities, commissioners and major stakeholders; increase access to public-sector funding, commissioning and multiyear partnership agreements; diversify income across statutory, corporate and trusts and foundations funding streams; turn system-level partnerships into delivery settings, national reach and more young people supported.

Why it Matters: The role enables ThinkForward to move from transactional partnerships to system-level influence and secure a share of £1bn+ public funding flows linked to youth outcomes.

What We're Looking For

Experience: Senior leadership in fundraising, partnerships or public-sector engagement; securing six- and seven-figure multi-year partnerships; Board-level influence across public, private and voluntary sectors.

Executive Capability: Exceptional relationship-building, commercial thinking and the ability to shape complex funding propositions in political, policy and commissioning environments.

Leadership: Able to lead high-performing teams, build pipeline and CRM discipline, and balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.

Knowledge and Attributes: Understands public-sector commissioning, place-based funding and the charity funding landscape; outward-facing, entrepreneurial, values-driven, collaborative and systems-oriented.

Application Details

Contract: Full Time, Permanent
Salary: £75,000PA
Location: London/Hybrid

For more information about ThinkForward and the role you could play as our Director of Fundraising and Strategic Partnerships, please download the attached job specification. 

To apply, please submit your CV and a covering letter (maximum two pages) either via Charityjob. Your covering letter should tell us why you're interested in the role and how your skills and experience match the person specification outlined in the job description.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Income Generation and Development Lead

This is an exciting opportunity to shape and lead a new phase of income generation and organisational sustainability within a growing and ambitious mental health charity.

This is not a traditional fundraising role. It is an opportunity to build something.

Join the Trust as it enters an exciting new phase focused on strengthening long-term sustainability, developing strategic partnerships and creating new opportunities to support mental health and wellbeing across Surrey.

If you are an experienced and ambitious income generation professional who can help lead that journey, then we want to hear from you!

Position: Income Generation & Development Lead

Location: Surrey/Hybrid

Hours: Part-time, 3 days per week

Salary: £55,000-£60,000 pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Benefits: 5% Pension Employer Contribution, Paid Sick Leave, Blue Light Card Scheme, Vivup Discounts, Staff Social Events, Staff Social & Wellbeing Committee, Celebration Day (in addition to annual leave entitlement)

Closing Date: 23 August 2026

Interview Date: 3 & 4 September2026

The Role

The charity are investing in this role because they believe the organisation can significantly strengthen and diversify its income, increase unrestricted funding, and build new strategic partnerships and opportunities that support long-term impact across Surrey.

You will establish and lead a high-performing income generation function, bringing strategy, structure and momentum to activity that is currently fragmented and underdeveloped.

The role will work closely with senior leadership at the organisaion and Catalyst Support on selected partnership initiatives and collaborative opportunities that strengthen mental health support across Surrey. There is a clear expectation that the role will contribute significantly to improving the organisation’s financial resilience and move towards generating net financial contribution over time.

This is a rare opportunity to:

• Build an income generation function from the ground up
• Shape organisational strategy and sustainability
• Develop high-value partnerships and collaborative opportunities
• Work across innovation, community mental health and system partnerships
• Help position the charity as a key partner in improving mental health support across Surrey.

You will also contribute to selected partnership initiatives and joint funding opportunities with Catalyst Support as part of strengthening collaboration across the county.

We’re open to reasonable adjustments and flexible approaches to the role.

About You

This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on delivery. We are looking for someone who can build pipeline, secure funding, develop partnerships and create the systems and relationships needed for sustainable growth.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has a strong track record of securing income across multiple streams
• Has built and converted funding pipelines into secured income
• Understands the UK charity and/or commissioning landscape
• Can work strategically while remaining hands-on and delivery-focused
• Is comfortable operating autonomously in a growing and evolving environment
• Brings energy, credibility and relationship-building strength.

You will have experience of:

• Securing income across multiple streams (trusts & foundations, statutory funding, corporate or major donors)
• Building and converting income pipelines into secured funding
• Developing and delivering income generation strategies
• Working within the UK charity and/or commissioning environment
• Translating organisational priorities and relationships into income opportunities
• Leading or significantly contributing to successful funding bids.

About the Organisation

The charity is a mental health and emotional wellbeing charity, supporting Surrey residents since 1994 in Banstead, Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell and Mole Valley, offering a variety of face-to-face and online services, available to adults (aged 16+) living in Surrey who would like to restore and/or maintain their mental and emotional wellbeing (no diagnosis needed). The services are free of charge, with no waiting list and no time limit.

This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, and the successful completion of a probationary period.

You may have experience in areas such as Fundraising, Income Generation, Trusts, Trusts and Foundations, Foundations, Statutory Funding, Corporate, Major Donor, Major Gift, Trusts Fundraiser, Trusts and Foundations Fundraiser, Corporate Fundraiser, Major Donor Fundraiser, Major Gift Fundraiser, Income Generation Lead, Fundraising Lead, Fundraising Manager, Senior Fundraiser, Income Generation Manager.

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

About Woman's Trust

The charity was established in 1996 to meet the gap in specialist mental health services. Woman’s Trust is led by and for women and aims to ensure that women affected by domestic abuse can live a life free from further harm and abuse. Our approach is trauma-informed and person-centred, empowering survivors on their journey to recovery from the trauma. We are committed to a positive, inclusive and equitable environment for our staff, service users and volunteers.

Alongside delivering our existing 1-1 counselling, self-development workshops and therapeutic support groups for women who have experienced domestic abuse, we are focused on developing our innovative mental health services for young women and girls, delivering new peer-led support groups and providing therapeutic groups to children and their mothers. We are also committed to developing further awarenessraising workshops and training for professionals, building on our research and policy to improve systems nationally.

About the role

The Head of Fundraising and Development role offers an exceptional opportunity to shape Woman’s Trust’s income strategy, develop new partnerships and play a central role in the organisation’s next phase of growth.

We are seeking an established income-generation leader who combines strategic and commercial judgement with a willingness to remain hands-on. The successful candidate will have a strong record of securing significant income, identifying new opportunities and building effective relationships with funders, commissioners and partners. They will also be a constructive and positive senior colleague: someone who works collaboratively, communicates clearly, takes ownership and contributes actively to the success of the wider organisation.

The role will oversee the development and implementation of the fundraising strategy and funding pipeline. Additionally, it will ensure the maintenance and growth of excellent relationships with both existing and prospective funders, including the stewardship of grants and timely reporting. Responsibilities will also include reviewing, updating, and developing service budgets, as well as overseeing or coordinating the submission of high-quality bids, funding approaches, and events.

As a member of the senior leadership team, this post will work cross-departmentally and will contribute to the overall strategy of Woman’s Trust, working closely with the CEO and the Board of Trustees. You will lead and line manage the Trust and Statutory Fundraising Manager, Fundraising Manager and Data Impact and Insights Manager. You will deliver a direct income target for each year, with a focus on the development and tendering of statutory commissioning.

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week.

Location: Woman’s Trust premises including co-location with statutory partners and community partnership  locations.Woman’s Trust operates a hybrid working model with a minimum of 50% to be on-site.

In return, we can offer:

• 25 days' holiday + 3 days at Christmas + Public holidays
• Hybrid & flexible working - office based with minimum of 50% of working hours in Woman’s Trust London office, we also support mutually agreed flexible working arrangements
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Mandatory job-related training
• Individual staff professional development budget
• A caring, committed and highly collaborative environment
• Several social events/lunches per year
• Friendly, all women team

To find out more and apply with your CV, please visit our website via the apply button.  

Please note, CVs and cover letters should be sent in Word format.

Closing date: 31st August 2026.

First stage interviews (online): 22nd September 2026.

Second stage interviews: 28th September 2026.

Please note, this post is open to female applicants only – Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1 applies.

Location: Edinburgh
Salary: £49,792 - £56,426 per annum plus generous benefits
Application Deadline: 25 August 2026

About the role

This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the UK's most significant cultural fundraising campaigns. We're looking for an experienced major gifts or capital fundraising professional who thrives on building exceptional relationships and securing transformational support. You'll join us at a pivotal moment, leading campaigns that will shape the future of Scotland's national collection and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.

At National Galleries of Scotland, you'll help secure the future of one of the world's great art collections, cared for on behalf of the nation. You'll raise transformational philanthropic support for projects that preserve Scotland's national collection, expand public access and create lasting cultural impact.

We're looking for a strategic and relationship-focused fundraiser with experience leading complex, high-value fundraising campaigns. You'll be equally confident working with major donors, senior colleagues, Trustees and volunteer leaders. You'll combine excellent judgement with strong planning skills, bringing together people, resources and fundraising strategy to deliver ambitious campaign goals.

While initially focused on The Art Works, you will have a longer-term remit to help shape future capital fundraising priorities that emerge from our strategic ambitions. You’ll personally progress high-value donor relationships while ensuring fundraising campaigns are strategically structured, insight-led, appropriately resourced and effectively delivered.

You'll help broaden our philanthropic reach by expanding a strong and diverse prospect base across local, national and international audiences. This includes developing approaches to high-value and discreet funders and making the best use of senior volunteers and networks.

The scale of the role is exceptional. You'll work on nationally significant projects with a compelling case for support. You'll enjoy flexible and hybrid working, generous benefits and the chance to make a lasting impact throughout your career.

The difference you’ll make
Reporting to the Head of Development, you will:

• Provide excellent strategic management of capital fundraising campaigns across the organisation, with an immediate focus on The Art Works as well as responsibility for supporting the planning and delivery of future campaigns, including the Mound Level Galleries redevelopment and other major capital priorities.
• Contribute to the development of long-term capital fundraising strategies, campaign plans and prospect pipelines to support future organisational priorities beyond The Art Works, ensuring continuity of donor engagement and campaign readiness.
• Translate campaign strategy, timelines and gift table requirements into clear delivery plans and actions across teams.
• Monitor progress toward income and activity targets, identify variances early and recommend tactical adjustments based on internal insight and external conditions.
• Lead the development and maintenance of campaign reporting, including dashboards, risk logs, income phasing and governance papers.
• Engage directly with major donors, trusts and foundations to cultivate, solicit and steward high-value gifts, working with senior colleagues, Trustees and Campaign Board members as appropriate to maximise outcomes.
• Oversee and direct cultivation and stewardship activity across the capital campaigns team, ensuring delivery of agreed fundraising strategies and a structured and strategic approach to progressing prospects and delivering income targets, while working closely with the wider Development team to ensure a coordinated and consistent approach to donor engagement.
• Expand the philanthropic prospect base by identifying new opportunities and supporting approaches to high‑value or discreet funders.
• Oversee the preparation of high‑quality briefings, materials and follow‑up for senior‑level donor meetings and solicitations.
• Coordinate all donor hospitality activity for the campaign, liaising with colleagues across the Development team and other teams as required, including events, briefings, site visits and other cultivation opportunities.
• Lead the implementation of donor recognition and stewardship frameworks, ensuring consistent, high‑quality supporter experiences.
• Ensure operational readiness for the public phase of the campaign, coordinating colleagues across Development, Communications and Visitor Experience to create effective giving pathways and engagement opportunities.
• Provide day‑to‑day direction to the Development Manager – Capital Campaigns; the Campaigns Coordinator and other team members (to be brought in on a temporary basis as required at key campaign stages) to support high standards of documentation, planning and internal communication.
• Promote collaborative, inclusive working practices across the team and wider organisation.

Who we are looking for
To succeed in this role, you’ll need the following range of knowledge, skills, and experience:

• Significant leadership experience in capital or multi‑year fundraising campaigns with £multi-million targets.
• Experience of developing and sustaining a portfolio of high net worth prospects at 5, 6 and 7-figure levels including discreet and invite-only funders.
• Experience modelling and managing fundraising cash flow, campaign pacing and income phasing across multiple fundraising priorities, ensuring alignment with organisational and project delivery requirements.
• Ability to expand donor networks at local, national, and international level.
• Strong presentation and writing skills, with the ability to influence, articulate complex ideas and inspire support.
• Experience planning and delivering high‑quality cultivation events and donor engagements.
• Strong understanding of fundraising sector trends, major donor behaviour and the philanthropic landscape.
• Experience working closely with senior stakeholders, including Directors, Trustees, volunteer fundraising campaign board members and other high‑level advocates.
• Strong knowledge of UK charitable giving and tax considerations relevant to fundraising.
• Highly motivated, with the ability to act on initiative while exercising good judgement about when to involve others.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills, with confidence interpreting financial, pipeline and performance data.
• Experience using CRM/database systems such as Spektrix or similar.

It would also be great if you have

• Experience of fundraising for multiple capital projects and transitioning donor relationships between successive major campaigns. Knowledge of the arts, culture, heritage, community engagement or education sectors.
• Understanding of how environmental sustainability, climate action and low‑energy design influence contemporary philanthropic priorities.
• Enthusiasm for the mission and work of the National Galleries of Scotland.
• Experience of fundraising in an international context, particularly in North America and Asia. 

The closing date for completed applications is 12 noon on Tuesday, 25 August 2026.

Please apply directly via our careers portal. Applications via email will not be accepted.

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.

The Head of Public Fundraising is a new role at Coeliac UK leading the charity’s public fundraising function. The role focusses on driving sustainable growth across individual giving, community fundraising, events, lottery, raffle, digital fundraising and merchandise. This role is responsible for delivering Coeliac UK’s 5-year fundraising strategy to maximise return-on-investment, grow long term supporter value, and contribute to the charity’s mission. 

The Head of Public Fundraising will embed and deliver comprehensive fundraising strategies, growing Coeliac UK’s supporter base and income, building up new and under-developed income streams and communicating effectively with their audiences to expand their reach, and encourage financial and non-financial support to deliver the organisations mission.

Who are we looking for?

Key to the success of this role is a strong understanding of individual giving fundraising. This role blends the strategic oversight and leadership of a Head of role across multiple income streams, with the hands-on expertise of an IG fundraiser. Experience across other income streams and areas of fundraising delivery would be a huge benefit as the role leads community fundraising and events, will take on digital fundraising - currently led by the Chief Engagement Officer, as well as manage the data and supporter care functions, but experience in individual giving is essential as Coeliac UK has defined that as an area of priority income. To progress to a screening call with THINK Recruitment, your CV must demonstrate evidence of delivering individual giving income in a UK charity environment. 

The successful candidate for this role will be someone who has already operated at a senior level within a charity such as at Senior Manager level, or Head of in a specific income stream.

Hybrid working

The role has a hybrid expectation of a minimum of a day a week in the High Wycombe office (HP11 2QW) to build relationships and provide support to the fundraising team, and there will be flexibility required for other in person meetings and events. However, Coeliac UK are keen to secure the very best candidate, if the hybrid expectation presents challenge for you but you otherwise meet the requirements of the role, please do get in touch with THINK to discuss. 

Application notes 

Please download the Candidate Info Pack provided for further information about the role, timelines and next steps.

To progress your application, please contact THINK Recruitment to organise an informal screening call. Please note, we cannot shortlist candidates who have not had a screening call so please allow enough time to have a call before the closing date.  You will be provided with information on how to complete your full application on the call. 

If you need assistance with downloading the pack or any reasonable adjustments to ensure you can engage with the selection process, please contact THINK Recruitment and our team will support you.

Closing date for expressions of interest: Midday Friday 21st August

Closing date for full applications: Midnight Sunday 23rd August

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.