Director of Fundraising in London

Join MQ and help transform mental health research. At MQ, we champion and fund world-class research to transform the lives of everyone affected by a mental health condition. We strive to create a world where mental illness is better understood, diagnosed, treated and, hopefully someday, prevented. We believe research is the first step towards making that a reality.

We connect scientists with supporters, people with lived experience of mental health illnesses, policymakers, and practitioners, so together we can strive to understand mental health, improve treatments and prevent mental illnesses. Supported by our world-class Science Council, MQ funds research globally and works in partnership with leading organisations in the field including Wellcome Trust, the Mental Health Mission, DATAMIND, University of Oxford, Glasgow University and Kings College. In the US, we work through our sister charity the MQ Foundation.

Responsibilities

The Director of Fundraising is a senior, strategic leadership role responsible for driving significant and sustainable growth in income for MQ, with a target of achieving £10 million annual turnover over the next five years. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the postholder will set and deliver an ambitious, data-led fundraising strategy across philanthropy, trusts and foundations, partnerships and other income streams. They will personally steward high-value relationships while building a high-performing, commercially minded fundraising function capable of supporting MQ’s long-term mission.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and deliver MQ’s overall fundraising and income generation strategy, aligned to organisational priorities.
• Set clear income targets and KPIs across all fundraising streams.
• Personally lead and secure six- and seven-figure gifts, grants and contracts.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with major donors, funders and partners.
• Ensure excellent stewardship, reporting and donor experience across all income streams.
• Provide strategic oversight of the fundraising pipeline, ensuring a healthy balance of prospecting, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
• Use data, insight and CRM reporting to track performance, forecast income and manage risk.
• Identify income concentration risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Drive continuous improvement in fundraising processes, systems and ways of working.
• Own the Fundraising budget, including income forecasting, expenditure control and cost-of-fundraising oversight.
• Work closely with the Finance team to ensure accurate income phasing, reporting and financial planning.
• Produce regular reports for the CEO, Executive Team and Board on income performance, pipeline health and risks.
• Ensure all funding is managed in line with grant conditions, donor expectations and regulatory requirements.

Leadership & Team Development

• Provide strategic leadership and line management to the team.
• Build, develop and retain a high-performing, motivated fundraising team.
• Foster a collaborative, ambitious and accountable fundraising culture.
• Support succession planning and talent development within the Fundraising function.

External Profile, Partnerships & Thought Leadership

• Represent MQ at high-level events, conferences and networking opportunities.
• Strengthen MQ’s profile with funders, corporates, policymakers and partners.
• Work closely with the Board and Science Council to maximise fundraising and partnership opportunities.
• Undertake speaking engagements where appropriate to generate visibility & awareness.
• Act as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, contributing to organisational strategy and decision-making.
• Support the CEO with Board engagement, particularly around fundraising strategy and performance.
• Ensure fundraising activity complies with all relevant legislation, regulation and best practice.
• Uphold MQ’s values, reputation and commitment to ethical fundraising.

Person Specification

We'd love to hear from you, if you have:

• Significant senior leadership experience in fundraising or income generation, ideally within the charity, research or mission-driven sector.
• Proven track record of delivering substantial income growth and securing high-value gifts.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing fundraising teams.
• Strong commercial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting and performance management.
• Demonstrable experience of managing complex stakeholder relationships.
• Strategic, analytical and data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, including at Board and senior stakeholder level.
• Strong understanding of the UK research funding or philanthropic landscape.
• Clear alignment with MQ’s mission and values.

The following is highly desirable:

• Knowledge of mental health research and lived-experience-led approaches.
• Experience of US philanthropy or international fundraising.
• Experience working with Boards, trustees or scientific advisory groups.
• Familiarity with modern CRM systems and fundraising analytics.

Why Join MQ?

We offer a great working experience within a friendly team. Hybrid working (in the London office Mondays and Tuesdays, with the remaining days from home). We are located near Barbican Tube. Plus, we offer lots of generous benefits and training opportunities. We’re a Sunday Times Top Company to work for.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV and covering letter by the deadline. Please note, we typically start interviewing within two weeks of the job advert going live. We reserve the right to close the job before the deadline based on the volume of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. We believe in equality and inclusion and we welcome job applications from everyone, provided you meet the criteria for the job. Safer recruitment is important to us and the successful applicant will be asked to provide two references. They will also be required to complete a safeguarding self-declaration and undertake a DBS check. We look forward to hearing from you.

Flexible working: As a mental health charity, staff wellbeing is of paramount importance. We operate a core hours policy (10-4) to encourage flexible working and staff are mainly home based with the requirement to come into the office two days per week. A standard full-time working week is 35 hours, plus an hour for lunch breaks.

Holidays: Annual holiday entitlement of 31 days (inc. office closure between Xmas and New Year).