Fundraising Lead

Fundraising Lead

Department: Fundraising

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Office

Compensation: £27,000 - £32,000 / year

Description

About The Role

Bloomsbury's largest income stream is Trusts and Foundations - and this is where our new Fundraising Lead will be focused. Trusts and Foundations currently contribute c.£3 million of our c.£5 million annual fundraised income. In the last financial year alone we secured our first two seven-figure multi-year commitments, along with two further £0.5 million multi-year commitments. The opportunity is significant, and it's growing.

This isn't a role for someone who wants to execute a plan someone else has already written. You'll operate in a fast-moving environment where agility, independent thinking, and proactivity are essential. You'll build and manage funder relationships, lead on significant funding bids, and help shape the strategy that drives our income forward.

AI is set to transform trusts and foundations fundraising. We're already developing the tools to harness it and we need someone who will embrace that change enthusiastically, using technology to unlock new opportunities and accelerate our impact.

We're working to achieve scale at a level no other sport-for-good charity in the UK ever has. That means real responsibility from day one. You'll work closely with the Senior Trusts and Foundations Lead and Director of Fundraising, take ownership of how we work, and play a meaningful part in making our ambition a reality. We move fast. We expect you to move with us.

About You

We're not looking for a specific background. We're looking for the right person. That means someone with a sharp mind, outstanding written and verbal communication skills, and a genuine drive to make an impact. You might come from fundraising, sales, communications, consulting, or somewhere else entirely, what matters most is your potential, your hunger to deliver, and your belief in what we're building.

You thrive when things are moving quickly. You want to understand how strategy is shaped, not just carry out instructions. You take ownership, spot what needs doing, and get on with it. You're organised and detail-oriented, able to juggle competing deadlines without dropping the ball and you write clearly, persuasively, and with a strong sense of audience.

You'll support projects from concept through to delivery, take responsibility for grant proposals, lead on funder reporting and stewardship, and work actively to build long term partnerships, including attending high level meetings with senior decision makers. You'll be a fast learner who welcomes feedback and finds smarter, tech enabled ways of working.

At Bloomsbury, the best idea wins regardless of where it comes from. People who perform well are given real opportunities quickly, opportunities that go beyond what their experience level might suggest elsewhere. We'll invest in your development and your career. In return, we ask for energy, curiosity, and a high standard of professionalism every day.

This is a scaling organisation. Your role will evolve. So will you. Forward, together.

Our commitment to inclusion

At Bloomsbury, belonging isn't just something we create for the young people we serve it's something we live as an organisation and is embedded into core values. We are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we work in, and we actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, and identities.

We particularly welcome applications from women and people from underrepresented groups, who remain underrepresented in both the sport and charity sectors. We know that the best idea wins regardless of who it comes from, and we are proud to be building an organisation where everyone has a place to play, belong, and progress.

Key Responsibilities

Deliver high quality writing

• Take responsibility for research, writing, and impact data on significant funding bids, working closely with senior colleagues.
• Help develop persuasive, tailored proposals for new and existing funders.
• Own written follow ups and support on regular funder communications, helping to deepen relationships and secure repeat fundings.

Undertake research and analysis

• Conduct in depth research to identify new trust and foundation prospects aligned with our funding priorities.
• Support analysis of funder interests, eligibility criteria, and previous giving to inform a targeted, strategic approach.

Effectively coordinate and manage a supporter portfolio

• Take responsibility for tracking deadlines, grant requirements, and reporting schedules across a large and complex personal portfolio of funders.
• Proactively ensure all trust and foundation relationships are well documented and managed efficiently, supporting timely submissions and communications.
• Maintain excellent attention to detail while juggling competing priorities and deadlines.

Build trusted relationships

• Attend and contribute to high level meetings with senior representatives of major foundations, representing the organisation at high level discussions alongside colleagues, and leading presentations when appropriate.

Work with senior colleagues and funders

• Collaborate directly with the Senior Trusts & Foundations Lead and the Director of Fundraising on funding decisions and major partnership negotiations.
• Benefit from regular exposure to senior leadership on significant funding opportunities.

Support team efficiency and continuous improvement

• Help to rapidly scale our trusts and foundations pipeline, pioneering new approaches to funder engagement using AI.
• Take the initiative to improve systems, processes, and ways of working, with a strong focus on organisation, clarity, and smart use of technology.
• Actively contribute to a team culture that values feedback and learning.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Essential

• A strong academic background or equivalent professional experience.
• Proactive and self motivated, comfortable taking ownership and working independently.
• Confident, with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to represent the organisation professionally in external meetings.
• Outstanding written communication skills - clear, persuasive and tailored to different audiences.
• Strong research and analytical skills with the ability to synthesise information quickly.
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail and able to juggle competing deadlines.
• A fast learner who embraces feedback and continuously looks to improve.
• Eligible to work in the UK.

Desirables

• 1-3 years' experience in a fast paced environment - fundraising, sales, communications, consulting or similar. We actively welcome applicants from outside the charity sector.
• Experience writing proposals, bids, pitches or reports in any context.
• Familiarity with CRM systems or database tools.
• Experience using AI tools professionally.

Benefits

• Modern office at Camden Market with free gym membership and local market discounts
• Opportunities to attend Premier League, WSL, FA Cup, League Cup, and Champions League matches
• 24 days holiday, rising by one day per year after two years
• Funded training and five days of fully paid study leave
• Cycle to work scheme and workplace pension
• Regular staff socials li>
• The chance to grow within a mission driven organisation doing work that genuinely matters