The Race Equality Foundation is a national charity working to tackle systemic racism and create the conditions for everyone to live healthy, secure and fulfilling lives and we are looking to appoint a Head of Fundraising.
We combine evidence, co-production and practical action to address the root causes of racial inequality. Our work focuses not only on identifying inequality, but on challenging the structural racism, discrimination and unequal distribution of power that drive them. We work alongside communities, practitioners, policymakers and institutions to develop evidence-informed solutions that improve services, strengthen communities and promote racial justice.
The Foundation has a long history of delivering innovative and influential programmes, research and policy change, including the evidence-based Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities parenting programme and pioneering work on the experiences of Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic young people with a disability.At the same time, we have established national collaborations to advance race equality and launched tools such as the Race Equity Maturity Index.
Today, our work spans health and care, employment, housing and community wellbeing. Through partnerships, research, training and policy influence, we continue to demonstrate what meaningful anti-racist systems change can look like in practice.
We are based in London but have a national remit.
The Foundation is led by the CEO, Jabeer Butt, OBE and has a management committee which supervises its work.
Job Description
This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced fundraiser ready to lead and shape the Foundation's fundraising function at a growing, well-established charity.
The Foundation operates in a complex, fast-moving environment - spanning research, policy, programme delivery and fundraising - and this role sits at the centre of it, working closely with the Chief Executive and the SMT to lead the Foundation's major grants strategy and drive significant growth in Trust and Foundation income.
We are looking for someone with a strong work ethic and a genuine commitment to the Foundation's mission, who is energised by complexity, and who brings a solutions-first mindset to ambiguous or competing demands. This role requires sound judgement about priorities: high-value, strategic applications and bids come first; relationship-building and smaller applications, while valuable, are secondary but still under their remit.
You will represent the Foundation in public, government and funder-facing spaces, often providing context on the Foundation’s multi-pronged approach and its broader mission to end racism and inequity in the UK.
You will have responsibility to identify, prioritise and pursue new major funder relationships, lead on high-value, multi-year proposals, and represent the Foundation’s fundraising function at a senior level, internally and externally.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the identification, research and contact of new funders likely to support the Foundation’s work, driving growth in Trust and Foundation income; taking relationships from first contact through to secured, multi-year income
- Proactively ideate and shape new proposal concepts and funding priorities, working with programme and senior colleagues to turn ideas into fundable projects
- Lead the coordination, drafting and quality assurance of complex bids, tenders and grant applications, prioritising high-value multi-year proposals
- Lead the development of financial information, budgets and due diligence data for major funders, working closely with the Finance and Operations team
- Brief and update the Chief Executive and SMT on fundraising strategy, pipeline and risk
- Set and report against fundraising KPIs and income targets
- Maintain and apply up-to-date knowledge of fundraising legislation and best practice, briefing colleagues where relevant
- Support the Chief Executive and SMT on the design and implementation of organisational strategy, including, but not limited to, fundraising strategy, operational planning and organisational structure
- Strategise the development of new projects and funding proposals, ensuring they meet key organisational and funder criteria before significant time is invested
- Support the mobilisation of funded projects, moving work from proposal/award stage into delivery, including briefing project staff on new projects and ensuring smooth delivery
- Coordinate with project staff, Communications, Operations and the SMT to ensure a smooth and timely transition into delivery
4. Relationship management
- Lead senior-level relationships with existing and prospective major funders, including funder engagement plans and account management for significant, multi-year awards
- Lead impact reporting strategy and quality across the funder portfolio
- Collect and collate monitoring and evaluation frameworks that demonstrate grant impact credibly to funders
- Represent the Foundation at senior funder meetings, events and sector networks - including public or Government-facing events
5. Communications
- Work with the SLT to shape unified funder-facing messaging and strategy
- Lead communication with funders, commissioners and major donors at a senior level
- Ensure fundraising communications are current, compelling and aligned to organisational priorities
6. General responsibilities
- Manage own administrative workload, including diary management, correspondence, record-keeping and reporting (there is currently no dedicated administrative or fundraising support role, so the postholder is expected to be fully self-servicing)
- Own fundraising systems and records, ensuring accuracy and usability
- Lead ongoing improvement of fundraising processes and infrastructure
- Keep abreast of, and contribute strategically to, the overall work of the Foundation
- Participate in supervision and annual appraisal; support own and others' professional development
- Comply with corporate policies and procedures
Due to the evolving nature of the organisation, the postholder may be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the level and purpose of the role. Travel to attend meetings outside London may occasionally be required.
Staff for whom responsible
This role may include line-management responsibility in the future (including administrative and grant writing support from a future Fundraising Officer) but it will depend on team structure.
Person Specification
- 3+ years successful fundraising experience, including leading prospect research, cultivation, funder relationship management, and proposal writing
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and mange own administration without dedicated support
- Track record of securing medium to large grants (including academic research grants)
- In-depth funder/donor research
- Strong understanding of racism and racial inequality and Black, Asian and minoritised communities' experiences
- Numerical literacy and budget management experience
- Advanced Microsoft Word Office/Google Workspace proficiency
- Experience working in a fast-paced environment to meet deadlines
- Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills at senior/funder level
- Excellent written and oral communication with ability construct compelling, high-value funding proposals
- Ability to lead and prioritise a complex, multi-stranded workload
- Strong strategic judgement
- Charity/not-for-profit sector experience
- Corporate or individual giving experience
- Experience contributing to or shaping organisational strategy
- Experience with tools including Monday.com, Beacon or other CRMs
Pay and Conditions of Service
This post is permanent and full-time.
The annual full-time salary for this role is between £47,777 and £53,394, inclusive of London Weighting.
There is a probationary period of six months for this post.
Full-time staff are entitled to 25 days holiday leave per annum with additional days for long service. The timing of holidays must fit in with the needs of the Foundation and must be agreed in advance. In addition to annual holidays there is paid time off for Bank holidays.
The post will be based in the London office at Unit 17 Deane House Studios, 27 Greenwood Place, London NW5 1LB. Staff currently work two to three days a week in the office.
The normal working week is 35 hours for full-time posts, seven hours per day, Monday to Friday. Standard office hours are 9.00 a.m.-5.00 p.m.
Any further enquiries should be submitted to our Project Manager,
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Head of Fundraising in London employer: Race Equality Foundation
The Race Equality Foundation is an exceptional employer dedicated to tackling racism and improving health equity, offering a collaborative work culture that values community engagement and co-production. Employees benefit from a supportive environment with opportunities for professional growth, including training and development tailored to enhance skills in systems change and policy influence. With positions based in Greater Manchester and Barking & Dagenham, team members can make a meaningful impact in local communities while contributing to national initiatives aimed at dismantling systemic racism.
