At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead community fundraising strategy and drive income growth for a meaningful cause.
- Company: Join Action for Children, a passionate organisation dedicated to supporting children and families.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, professional development, and staff discounts.
- Other info: Remote role with opportunities for travel and collaboration across departments.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the community while leading a high-performing team.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in community fundraising and strategic leadership required.
Salary: £57,000 - £66,500 per annum (dependant on experience and expertise).
Location: Remote, must be based in the UK and open to travel.
Contract: Permanent – Full Time 35 hours per week.
- 29 days annual leave PLUS bank holidays pro rata, with up to 5 additional days for continuous service and option to buy or sell leave.
- Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities.
- Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages.
- Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover.
- Staff discounts and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailer's discounts.
Why Action for Children?
Working here is more than a job. We are passionate about protecting and supporting children, young people, and families. All our departments work together to achieve the high standards of safeguarding that make a difference to children and to the workforce.
A bit about the role
In this new role for Action for Children, the Head of Community Fundraising will lead the organisation's Community Fundraising strategy, driving a high‑performing Community Fundraising team and delivering ambitious and sustainable unrestricted income growth through standout products and excellent relationships.
How you'll help to create brighter futures
- Develop and deliver a clear, multi-year Community Fundraising strategy that carefully integrates a faith focus, while prioritising the highest-value growth opportunities.
- Direct the organisation’s faith strategy, including acting as a senior internal and external sponsor for the Methodist Partnership and other strategically significant faith relationships.
- Lead, motivate and continually develop a team of fundraisers and a specialist post to deliver at pace, setting clear expectations, stretching targets and strong performance management.
- Promote legacy giving as one of the key long‑term impacts of Community Fundraising relationships.
- Accountable for community fundraising performance across the organisation through strategic leadership, prioritisation, governance, and investment decision‑making.
- Lead cross‑organisational collaboration by working closely with other Heads to maximise acquisition, integrated supporter journeys, and excellent supporter experience.
- Accountable for multi‑million‑pound income and expenditure budgets.
Let's talk about you
- Must have extensive experience of setting strategic direction for a major community fundraising portfolio, with accountability for strategy, performance, and delivery.
- Must have a proven track record of planning, organising, and leading on major change programmes to deliver significant income growth.
- Experience of developing and managing strategic partnerships or community networks, including with faith‑based audiences.
- Must have extensive experience of leading through influence across multiple functions, developing high‑performing, motivated teams and improving performance where needed.
- Must have strong commercial and financial acumen, including experience of £1m+ budget management, forecasting income and driving ROI.
- Must have extensive knowledge and experience of using data, insight and testing to inform decision‑making, improve performance and drive income growth.
- Must have excellent stakeholder management and relationship‑building skills.
Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
Diversity, equality, and inclusion
At Action for Children, we’re dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace.
We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic, and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within Action for Children. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups in society and for Action for Children.
Head of Community Fundraising employer: Action for Children
Action for Children is an exceptional employer dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment in Wirral. With flexible part-time hours, employees benefit from a strong emphasis on professional development and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children and young people. Our collaborative culture encourages innovation and personal growth, making it a rewarding place to work for those passionate about emotional wellbeing.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Community Fundraising
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Action for Children.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Action for Children.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Action for Children.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Action for Children. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Community Fundraising
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Action for Children. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Head of Community Fundraising, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Action for Children
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Action for Children. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
