4 Regional fundraising development executive volunteer roles in Belfast

The Business Development Lead will work closely with the CEO and Business Development Trustee to build a sustainable pipeline of corporate partners.

The role will focus on developing relationships that can generate:

• CSR and corporate sponsorship;
• multi-year funding partnerships;
• employee fundraising;
• volunteer mentors;
• skills-based volunteering;
• corporate introductions and wider strategic support.

The aim is not simply to generate one-off donations, but to build long-term corporate relationships that combine funding, employee engagement and measurable social impact.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a targeted pipeline of banks, asset managers, insurers, fintech companies and other financial-services organisations.
• Identify relevant CSR, ESG, social-impact, community-investment and employee-engagement opportunities.
• Research decision-makers and identify the strongest routes into prospective partners.
• Develop tailored corporate partnership propositions.
• Secure introductory meetings and manage follow-up.
• Work with the CEO and Trustee to prepare pitches, proposals and presentations.
• Build sponsorship propositions around:
  • student mentoring;
  • school cohorts;
  • programme delivery;
  • technology;
  • employability and careers;
  • and wider organisational growth.
• Develop corporate volunteer-mentor opportunities that are attractive and practical for financial-sector employees.
• Convert existing networks and introductions into structured partnership discussions.
• Maintain a clear partnership pipeline showing:
  • prospects;
  • contacts;
  • stage;
  • potential value;
  • next action;
  • and probability.
• Support stewardship and renewal of existing corporate partners.
• Explore employee fundraising, matched giving and corporate campaigns.
• Identify opportunities for corporate employees to contribute as mentors, speakers, career volunteers or ambassadors.
• Help create a repeatable corporate-partnership process that can grow with the charity.

Key priorities in the first 6 months

• Map priority banking and financial-services organisations.
• Build a qualified corporate prospect list.
• Develop a clear One Degree corporate partnership proposition.
• Progress renewal and extension opportunities with existing corporate supporters.
• Secure new meetings with senior CSR, ESG, HR, volunteering, community-investment and foundation leads.
• Develop a stronger pipeline of prospective corporate sponsors.
• Increase the number of suitable corporate volunteer mentors.
• Establish a structured approach to partnership reporting and stewardship.
• Leading to: Secured sponsorship of 50 x One Degree students every 6 months

Person specification

We are looking for someone who ideally has:

• experience in business development, partnerships, fundraising, CSR or corporate engagement;
• strong knowledge of banking, financial services or professional services;
• existing corporate networks or confidence building relationships with senior decision-makers;
• experience developing and progressing a sales or fundraising pipeline;
• excellent written and verbal communication;
• strong presentation and relationship-management skills;
• confidence making direct approaches and asking for meetings, introductions and support;
• ability to work independently with limited monthly time;
• a commercial mindset combined with an understanding of charitable impact.

Experience working directly within banking or financial services would be particularly valuable.

Success measures

Success would be assessed through:

• quality and value of the corporate pipeline;
• number of qualified corporate meetings;
• new corporate sponsorship secured;
• existing partnerships renewed or expanded;
• number of volunteer mentors sourced through corporate partners;
• development of multi-year rather than purely one-off relationships;
• quality of corporate stewardship;
• and creation of a repeatable partnership-development process.

Climate Emergency UK CIC is a small community interest company (awaiting a response from the Charity Commission on becoming a Charity), set up in 2019 to support and connect councils and residents on getting their council to declare a climate emergency, and has since evolved into creating the Council Climate Action Scorecards. 

We’re in the process of creating the third Council Climate Action Scorecards, due to be published in Spring 2027. Our other work includes running training, such as the Local Climate Academy and working with others at a national level to advocate for further powers and funding for local councils for climate action. You can read more about our mission, vision, values and strategy here.

We’re a small organisation and need support from our Board in developing our next strategy. The Boards’ role at Climate Emergency UK is to ensure the organisation runs effectively with financial stability and complies with relevant laws and legislation. The Board also contributes to setting the strategic direction of the Board and upholding the reputation of CE UK across the sector and with funders. 

We work on consensus decision-making and want to ensure we remain a cooperatively working organisation. We are currently writing our new strategy, conscious of the political and structural changes in the sector, the difficult funding environment and rise of the capabilities of Ai.

Time commitment: Board meetings every 2 months or so for 2 hours (often weekday late afternoon/evenings but flexible). Support to the organisations, 1-2 hours per week

Board members will be in post for 2 years.

Person Specification

General responsibilities

• Ensure that the organisation creates and complies with its governing document, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations

• Ensure the organisation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objectives.

• Contributing in setting the strategic direction of the organisation and supporting Directors in its implementation

• Safeguard the reputation and values of the organisation

• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.

• Ensure the financial stability of the organisation and support with fundraising activities

Personal attributes

• Commitment and passion to the work of Climate Emergency UK CIC 

• Interest in local government and climate change

• Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to provide effective support the organisation

• Strategic vision, independent judgement and ability to think creatively

• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of being on the Board of a Community Interest Company.

• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to work collaboratively with others

• An understanding of the nature of oppression, how it manifests in society and a commitment to challenging inequality and addressing power and privilege

Experience

We are particularly looking for Directors with either/or any of the following:

• Landing national media coverage for projects and campaigns and previous work with national and regional news outlets

• Experience of effective fundraising for small organisations

• Experience managing start ups and organisations through early growth stages

• Understanding of AI technology and how this could be used for data collection, processing or to derive insights for decision making 

Desirable Experience and Personal attributes

• Experience of working in non-hierarchical organisations

• Previous governance experience of small organisations in transition and growth stages

• Understanding of the council climate movement in the UK or how these can be translated to other relevant sectors

• Understanding of local government, either as a councillor, officer or other

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. 

We are particularly keen to have Board members from across the political spectrum, from those who are based outside of London and the South East of England and have experience outside of the local climate movement, such as start ups, social enterprises or corporates and other small organisations.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates or other marginalised groups.

Chair of the Board of Trustees

The Ripple Pond

Voluntary Position (reasonable expenses reimbursed)

Time commitment: Approximately 1-2 days per month, including four Board meetings per year, regular support to the CEO, occasional committee meetings and attendance at key events.

Closing date: 11 September 2026 (applications will be reviewed as they are received and interviews may take place before the closing date).

Help Shape the Future of Support for Military Families

The Ripple Pond is a national charity supporting more than 1,200 Armed Forces and veteran family members across the UK. Through peer support, advocacy and practical assistance, we help families affected by service-related physical and psychological injury feel seen, heard and supported.

We are seeking an exceptional individual to Chair our Board of Trustees and help guide the charity through its next phase of growth and development.

Working closely with our CEO and Board, you will provide strategic leadership, support strong governance and help ensure the charity continues to deliver meaningful impact for military families and carers.

What You'll Do

As Chair, you will:

• Lead and support the Board of Trustees.
• Act as a trusted partner and critical friend to the CEO.
• Oversee strategy, governance, risk and organisational performance.
• Champion safeguarding, inclusion and good governance.
• Support trustee recruitment and board development.
• Represent The Ripple Pond externally and help build strategic relationships.
• Help shape the future direction and sustainability of the charity.

Who We're Looking For

We're looking for a collaborative and values-driven leader with:

• Senior leadership, executive or board-level experience.
• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making skills.
• Experience of governance, finance and risk oversight.
• The ability to build partnerships and influence stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and ambassadorial skills.
• A genuine commitment to supporting Armed Forces families and carers.

Experience in the military, veterans, healthcare, public, charity or social care sectors would be beneficial but is not essential.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to make a lasting difference to the lives of military families across the UK.

You will work with a committed Board, an experienced CEO and a passionate community of Members to help strengthen support for families affected by service-related injury, influence wider understanding of their needs and guide a growing charity through its next stage of development.