Business Development and Fundraising Lead. Job in Milton Keynes LilyLifestyle Jobs

Full Time 37.5 hours per week

Reporting to: Head of Income Generation

At YMCA South Midlands, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to belong, contribute and thrive. We are now looking for an ambitious, commercially minded and relationship-driven Business Development & Fundraising Manager to help grow sustainable income and develop meaningful partnerships that support our mission and expand our impact across the region. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys building relationships, spotting opportunities and turning ideas into action.

You will play a key role in growing our corporate partnerships, increasing use of our conferencing and catering facilities, and helping shape future social enterprise opportunities. If you are someone who enjoys combining purpose with commercial thinking and wants to make a genuine difference, we would love to hear from you.

The Role

You will work closely with the Head of Income Generation to grow income through:

• corporate fundraising partnerships
• business development opportunities
• sponsorships and CSR relationships
• conferencing and catering sales
• community and challenge fundraising initiatives

You will also line manage our Fundraising & Partnerships Officer and help strengthen the overall supporter and client experience across the organisation. This is a varied and hands-on role where no two days are the same.

What You Will Be Doing

Business Development & Income Growth

• Growing income through corporate partnerships and business development activity
• Increasing bookings and commercial opportunities across our conferencing and catering offer
• Supporting the promotion and development of HomeGround Café and other YMCA social enterprise initiatives
• Identifying and developing new income streams and partnership opportunities
• Building strong relationships with local businesses and regional partners

Corporate Partnerships & Fundraising

• Developing and managing a pipeline of corporate supporters and prospects
• Securing sponsorships, CSR partnerships and employee fundraising opportunities
• Building long-term, high-value relationships with businesses and supporters
• Working collaboratively across teams to maximise opportunities and impact

Stewardship & Supporter Experience

• Delivering an excellent experience for corporate clients and supporters
• Building long-term engagement and retention
• Using Donorfy CRM to manage supporter information and reporting accurately

Leadership & Performance

• Line managing and supporting the Fundraising & Partnerships Officer
• Monitoring performance, income targets and KPIs
• Using insight and reporting to improve performance and decision-making

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who is:

• commercially minded but values-driven
• confident building relationships and networking
• proactive, organised and self-motivated
• comfortable managing multiple priorities
• passionate about making a difference to young people and communities

You will ideally have:

• experience in fundraising, sales, partnerships or business development
• experience building and managing B2B relationships
• a track record of achieving targets and delivering results
• strong communication and relationship-building skills
• the ability to spot opportunities and turn them into action
• experience working collaboratively across teams

Experience within the charity sector is helpful but not essential. We are open to candidates from commercial backgrounds who are motivated by purpose and impact.

Why Join YMCA South Midlands?

This is more than a fundraising role. It is an opportunity to help shape the future of a growing charity that supports young people, families and communities across the South Midlands. You will join a passionate and ambitious team that cares deeply about making a difference and is committed to creating a culture where people can do meaningful work, grow and thrive.

Additional Information

• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle is required
• Some evening and weekend work may occasionally be required
• Salary: Competitive (depending on experience)

Ready to Apply?

If you are excited by the opportunity to combine purpose, partnerships and business growth to create meaningful social impact, we would love to hear from you.