Head of Fundraising

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

1. Fundraising

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

2.Strategy

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

3. Project Mobilisation

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

Essential

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
Proactive working style
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

Desirable

Charity/not-for-profit sector experience
Corporate or individual giving experience
Digital fundraising experience
Line management 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.

Application Process

Applications will only be accepted via the People HR portal. We will require the submission of an application form and a supporting statement. The supporting statement should be 2-3 pages max, 12-point font. We will not accept applications that include a CV. Candidates invited to interview will be asked to prepare a task, details will be shared in advance.

Please note that we are only able to appoint people who are eligible to work in the UK.

Closing date: 10am, 28th October 2026

Interviews: Monday 9th November 2026

Please note: Candidates need to be available on the dates provided and should be aware that the interviews will be in person at our offices in London.

Any further enquiries should be submitted to our Project Manager, sidra@racefound.org.uk

Race Equality Foundation

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