Fundraiser for Environmental Charity - Volunteer

Fundraising volunteers wanted to help East London Waterworks Park reach its funding goals.

East London Waterworks Park is an exciting and ambitious project that offers many rewarding opportunities for our volunteers. You will have a significant impact on the creation of a new biodiverse community‑owned park with free access natural swimming ponds and forest schools. By leading fundraising projects that explore how diverse professionals (architects, ecologists, web developers, community researchers etc.) collaborate to shape community infrastructure, volunteers will directly contribute to the development of a park that truly reflects the needs and desires of the local community. Without funding we won’t be able to make it happen. Your input will help us craft experiences that inspire, educate, and engage our service users, stakeholders, funders, and the general public, ultimately driving support for the park's mission and ensuring its long‑term sustainability.

What are we looking for?

• We are looking for experienced fundraisers to join our team of fundraising volunteers.
• If you have fundraising experience and would like to get involved with a local charity, it would be great to hear from you.
• Our roles are quite flexible. We hope that people bring radical imagination, peace with nature, and courageous inclusiveness to the role.

Digital and IT strategy:

• Leveraging digital fundraising platforms and tools to modernise our approach.

Strategic Fundraising Guidance:

• Feedback on our overall fundraising strategy, including identifying potential opportunities and areas for improvement.
• Advice on developing and refining our fundraising plans to maximise impact.
• Guidance on diversifying our funding streams and building sustainable revenue models.

Trust and Grant Fundraising Expertise:

• Review and feedback on past grant applications, highlighting strengths and areas for enhancement.
• Advice on identifying suitable trusts and foundations aligned with our mission.
• Guidance on crafting compelling grant proposals that resonate with funders.
• Knowledge of current grant application trends and best practices.

General Fundraising Best Practices:

• Sharing insights on effective fundraising techniques and strategies.
• Advice on donor cultivation, stewardship, and retention.
• Guidance on leveraging digital fundraising platforms and tools.
• Any other advice that you think will help us to raise funds.

Copywriting / Journalism:

• Essential for the compelling grant proposals and storytelling needed to resonate with funders and donors.

Research (qualitative / quantitative):

• Necessary for identifying suitable trusts and foundations and staying on top of current grant application trends.

Marketing strategy:

• Building sustainable revenue models and donor cultivation often requires a broader marketing mindset to position the charity effectively.

Public relations:

What will you be doing?

East London Waterworks Park is working to acquire a 14‑acre, concreted‑over depot on the border of Waltham Forest and Hackney, and to transform it into a ‘brownfield rainforest’ with wild‑swimming pools and creative learning spaces for the local community. We are showcasing an environment‑first, community‑led approach to land ownership that will help nature and people thrive together, revolutionising the way we think about green and blue spaces in cities. Our Crowdfunder raised over half a million pounds towards buying the land, but we are waiting for the landowner to make decisions about the use of the site. Whilst we wait, we need to raise money for the other work we are carrying out. We have an exciting programme of community projects and work coming up, including carrying out biodiverse transformations on other sites in London.

If you have experience of planning or running fundraising campaigns and would like to get involved with a local charity, we would love to hear from you. Perhaps you are buzzing with ideas of how to raise money or are keen to get stuck in and help to make some events happen. Maybe you are a good writer and seller of ideas and would like to join our mini team of funding bid writers. We would especially love to hear from you if you have experience of writing funding applications. If you are a professional fundraiser and would like to help but are short on time, we would still love for you to get in touch. Even if you are unable to get deeply involved, we would appreciate one‑off or ongoing advice. We hope that people bring radical imagination, peace with nature and courageous inclusiveness to the role.

We meet once a fortnight online on a Thursday evening.