Special event fundraiser jobs in Edinburgh
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About GSG Impact
GSG Impact is a global network of National Partners working to build impact economies that mobilise capital for measurable social and environmental impact. Through its network spanning more than 48 countries, GSG Impact works with governments, investors, regulators, development finance institutions, and ecosystem actors to strengthen the enabling conditions for impact-oriented economies, where capital flows to create positive social and environmental outcomes.
Position Summary
The Head of Fundraising will lead GSG Impact’s fundraising function at a critical stage of organisational growth and income diversification. The role is responsible for delivering GSG Impact's fundraising strategy, supporting the achievement of annual income targets of approximately £3 million per year, converting strategic priorities into fundable propositions, and building the systems, processes, relationships, and team capabilities required to secure sustainable long-term funding.
Working closely with the Chief of Engagement and Strategic Partnerships, senior leadership, fundraising team, Trustees, and National Partners, the Head of Fundraising will oversee the development of a diversified funding portfolio and will be responsible for building and managing a robust fundraising pipeline, strengthening donor stewardship, improving cost recovery, and ensuring fundraising activity is aligned with organisational priorities and financial sustainability goals.
This role requires a proactive fundraiser who can originate opportunities, open senior relationships, develop compelling narratives, lead complex proposal processes, and create a culture of shared fundraising responsibility across the organization.
Key Responsibilities
Business development, Prospecting and Pipeline Conversion
Build and maintain a prioritized list of top institutional, philanthropic, bilateral, multilateral, DFI, corporate, and family-office, and high-net-worth prospects aligned with GSG Impact's strategic priorities.
Proactively identify, research, qualify, and cultivate new prospects, with a particular focus on funders aligned with impact economies, domestic capital mobilisation, climate adaptation and resilience, impact transparency, policy reform, investment vehicles, and emerging markets.
Develop and manage a rolling pipeline of high-quality funding opportunities, moving prospects from initial identification through cultivation, concept development, proposal submission, negotiation, and grant close in collaboration with programme staff and National Partners.
Translate GSG Impact’s strategy into compelling fundable propositions, including unrestricted/core support, restricted programme grants, regional funding, National Partner support, and special initiatives.
Personally lead the development and conversion of the highest-value opportunities, especially prospects requiring senior-level cultivation.
Identify and develop new revenue opportunities, strategic partnerships, and funding models that support GSG Impact's long-term sustainability and income diversification
Proposal Development and Grant Acquisition
Lead the development of high-quality funding proposals, concept notes, and donor engagement materials.
Ensure strategic alignment of all proposals with organisational priorities and donor interests.
Ensure all proposal budgets meet or exceed GSG Impact's cost-recovery targets
Set and ensure implementation of standards for proposal quality, narrative framing, and budget methodology across the fundraising team
Donor Management and Stewardship
Support the Chief of Engagement and Partnerships with relationship management of GSG Impact's most significant donors and strategic prospects
Lead the annual stewardship strategy, ensuring renewal and growth of key funding relationships
Oversee narrative and financial reporting, ensuring high quality, consistency, and timeliness
Functional Leadership
Manage the fundraising team, providing coaching, oversight, performance management, and professional development
Ensure compliance with Fundraising Regulator, GDPR, and relevant UK legislation
In collaboration with colleagues across the organisation monitor and update the information in CRM for fundraising contacts and other relevant information.
Implement strong financial tracking, reporting, and forecasting processes
Foster a culture of fundraising responsibility across GSG Impact teams
Innovation & Growth
Identify new funding opportunities and diversify income streams
Explore digital fundraising and emerging trends
Drive continuous improvement in fundraising performance, effectiveness and operational excellence.
External Representation
The Head of Fundraising plays a key role in relationship management with GSG Impact's most significant funders and prospects. They represent the organization at key sector events and convenings as delegated by the Chief of Engagement and Partnerships.
Qualifications
Demonstrable track record of originating new donor relationships and converting them into six- or seven-figure grants.
Experience in building prospect pipelines from a limited starting base.
Strong understanding of institutional philanthropy, bilateral and multilateral funding, DFIs, and/or impact investing funders.
Proven ability to develop fundable propositions from complex, technical, organisational strategies, including on policy, systems-change, market-building, or ecosystem-development initiatives
Experience working directly with CEOs, Boards, Trustees, or senior principals on donor cultivation.
Strong commercial discipline: pipeline management, probability weighting, forecasting, and cost recovery.
Ability to write or lead the development of high-quality proposals under tight timelines.
Competencies
Alignment with GSG Impact mission and values
Proven fundraising track record in international development, impact investment, philanthropy or social sector
Strategic thinking and fundraising planning
Senior donor relationship management
Team leadership and coaching
Strong written communication and proposal development
Budget and cost-recovery literacy
Collaborative working style
How to apply
Please send your CV and a covering letter of no more than two pages outlining how your skills and experience meet the essential criteria for this role.
The deadline for applications is 5pm on 22 June 2026.
We are committed to equality and diversity of opportunity and positively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. All applicants will also be asked to complete a short equality and diversity monitoring form, which is held separately from your application and plays no part in shortlisting decisions.
Registered Charity 
21 - 50
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
As the Challenge Events Fundraiser, you will manage the charity’s sporting, runs and challenges event places, working with the fundraisers to maximise income.
You will help shape and deliver our Challenge Events Fundraising strategy. You will develop new ways to engage supporters, review and improve our fundraising events, and make sure our activities are inclusive and impactful.
Main Responsibilities
- Be the main Child Bereavement UK sporting/race/challenge event contact, co-ordinating and managing all event activities with race organisers and participants.
- Manage and deliver fundraising Challenge events and from start to finish
- Work with the Challenge and Mass Programmes Manager to secure and liaise with volunteers for event attendance. Provide suitable volunteer requests and briefings and manage volunteers on event days.
- Assist in the development and implementation of Child Bereavement UK’s Challenge Events Fundraising strategy, embedding an audience-led approach to innovation
- Support the review of performance, opportunities, and help take action to leverage opportunities that maximise income, engagement, and brand exposure, and minimise risk.
- Contribute to driving innovation and identifying opportunities to grow income.
- Support the Special Events team and Regional Fundraising team on Child Bereavement UK events, promoting the events to Challenge Event participants and attending events as and when required.
- Put our supporters first by developing inclusive supporter journeys and materials.
- Present the work of Child Bereavement UK at individual fundraiser and community events, schools, conferences and other venues where a speaker is required. This includes giving informational presentations to audiences and accepting cheques and donations from fundraisers.
- Accurately input supporter information onto our database in accordance with the Data Protection Act, ensuring that all communications are up-to-date at all times.
- Work with Finance and Supporter Experience teams to ensure timely and accurate recording of donations and delivery of thank you letters.
- Regularly report on key performance indicators (KPIs) and support business planning.
- Prepare appropriate documents/policies in relation to fundraising at Child Bereavement UK as required.
Person Specification
Essential
- Proven successful experience of event organisation and supporter care
- Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate with a wide range of people at all levels
- Experience of overseeing fundraising activity, including the development, support and management of volunteers
- Proven relationship-building skills and a track record of establishing and stewarding partnerships
- Excellent time management and organisational skills with the ability to prioritise work, handle conflicting demands and meet tight deadlines
- A creative thinker and quick to respond to opportunities
- Ability to be passionate and inspiring when communicating about the work of Child Bereavement UK
- Experience of using databases and excellent general IT skills.
- Strong attention to detail and project management skills.
- Ability to work cross-functionally and as part of a team environment.
- Willingness to work out of normal office hours, with time off in lieu (TOIL).
Desirable
- Understanding of child bereavement.
- Thorough understanding of relevant legislation/charity law affecting fundraising practice, including Health and Safety.
Benefits
- 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays (pro rata if applicable) with increase for long service.
- TOIL for our hours work.
- Contributory pension scheme.
- Company sick pay.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Life assurance.
- Training loans.
- Enhanced family friendly policies.
Recruitment Timetable
Application deadline: 16th June 2026 at midnight
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications for the role before the closing date.
Please refer to our recruitment pack for further details on the interview process.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Remote working however must be based in the region, Glasgow
Access to our Glasgow Office is available, 3 days a week
Mary’s Meals is a global movement supported by people from all walks of life and we are focused on one goal – that every child receives a nutritious daily meal in a place of education. We offer more than just a career, we offer the opportunity to support our global movement in a dynamic and inclusive environment with a real focus on personal development.
We are seeking an experienced, Glasgow-based fundraiser to join us as a Regional Development Officer. In this role, you’ll be a confident, visible champion for Mary’s Meals, someone who knows the city, understands its communities, and can build relationships that spark action. You’ll bring boldness and creativity to your work, whether delivering inspiring talks in churches and schools, making fundraising asks or forging genuine partnerships with local businesses and networks.
Using your deep knowledge of Glasgow’s people and places, you will identify high‑potential opportunities, grow income and participation, and cultivate a committed local movement of supporters and volunteers. Through strategic, outward‑facing work, you’ll turn first conversations into committed, long‑term support that strengthens our movement and fuels our mission.
Working closely with the Head of Scotland, you will co‑design and deliver a local growth plan shaped by the pulse of your region. You will represent Mary’s Meals across faith communities, schools, community groups, business networks, and key connectors, bringing energy, authenticity, and a passion for our mission.
Highly autonomous, you’ll combine insight, data, and local intuition to focus on areas of greatest opportunity. You’ll collaborate across the organisation to create seamless supporter journeys and tell compelling, meaningful stories. Everything you do will reflect Mary’s Meals’ warmth, simplicity, and dignity.
Key responsibilities include
- Work with the Head of Scotland to create and deliver an insight‑driven regional growth plan, with clear priorities around income, visibility, and volunteer mobilisation.
- Use local knowledge, data, and community insight to focus your time on the strongest opportunities for growth.
- Balance relationship‑building with a proactive, opportunity-led approach, identifying new supporters, networks, and partnerships and developing them from prospective supporters into committed donors.
- Actively network across Glasgow to initiate new meetings, build connections, and follow up purposefully.
- Represent Mary’s Meals with authenticity and enthusiasm across schools, churches, parishes, universities, community groups, and local businesses.
- Deliver engaging talks, assemblies, parish visits, small events, networking sessions, and partnership meetings that increase income, participation, and visibility.
- Build a diverse pipeline of leads and partnerships that reflect Glasgow’s communities and faith landscape.
- Create the environment for a strong volunteer network and empower volunteers through thoughtful delegation, coaching, encouragement, and recognition.
- Strengthen local visibility by nurturing community connectors and supporting appropriate local media engagement.
Please see the recruitment pack for full list of duties.
To apply, please visit our website bu following instructions on Charity Job.
Applicants must hold full right to work in the UK.
We welcome applications from candidates of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse charity providing a supportive place for you to do the best and most rewarding work of your career.
Applications are ongoing.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Please note: If you have any special requirements or adjustments before an interview, please let us know.
