Director of Fundraising and Development (18 months Maternity Cover) | Magic Breakfast

Peridot Partners; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A charitable organization in the UK is seeking a Director of Fundraising and Development for an 18-month maternity cover. This role will lead fundraising strategies to ensure children are nourished and ready to learn. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in income generation, leadership skills, and a passion for education. This position permits remote and flexible working arrangements, aiming for inclusivity while meeting ambitious fundraising goals.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of generating income across various streams.
• Ability to lead and inspire teams for maximum performance.
• Strong strategic and commercial thinking skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive fundraising strategy and establish income pipelines.
• Ensure integration of public sector and commercial income.
• Lead and coach teams towards ambitious income targets.

Skills

Fundraising expertise

Income generation

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Collaboration

Job description

Director of Fundraising and Development (18 months Maternity Cover) – Magic Breakfast

Drive Magic Breakfast’s fundraising strategy during an 18‑month maternity cover and help children start the day nourished and ready to learn.

• Location: Remote / Home based with travel to London and occasional UK travel

About Magic Breakfast

No child should be too hungry to learn. For more than 20 years, this core belief has driven Magic Breakfast’s mission and growth. Almost one in five children in the UK are at risk of starting the school day too hungry to learn and we exist to change that. We started small, delivering food to five schools in Hackney, London. Today, the demand for our services is higher than ever and we are now a UK‑wide charity, providing breakfasts to hundreds of schools and thousands of children.

Our mission is simple: To champion and provide nourishing breakfasts that help children and young people learn and thrive.

Our vision: A UK where every child is nourished, empowered and thriving.

With our 2040 strategy, ‘Nourishing Futures’, we have set out our evolving role in the future of school breakfasts. If you’re motivated by social impact and want to make a real, measurable difference, Magic Breakfast is the place where your work will help shape the future of school breakfasts and transform the lives of children across the UK.

About the role

This exciting 18‑month maternity cover is a brilliant opportunity to use your fundraising expertise to make a tangible difference for children and thrive in a fast‑moving, mission‑driven environment. Your core responsibilities will be to provide strategic leadership and direction across all fundraising and income‑generating activities (including public sector and commercial income), accelerating long‑term sustainable growth.

• Driving income growth: Establish high‑performing income pipelines across all income streams, with a strong multi‑year focus, supported by robust data, reporting and pipeline management.
• Integrating and accelerating public sector and commercial income streams: Ensure newly integrated income areas are understood, valued and operational across the organisation.
• Embedding and executing a unified, co‑owned fundraising and development strategy: Partner with the CEO, SLT and Board to embed strategic focus, ensure integration and alignment with organisational goals.
• Strengthening leadership, culture and team performance: Provide coaching‑based leadership, direction, support and empowerment, helping the team thrive and achieve ambitious income targets across philanthropic, public sector and commercial streams.
• Advanced cross‑organisational impact, insight and influence: Ensure fundraising and development is tightly integrated with organisational strategy, marketing/engagement, service delivery and external influencing.

You’ll also be a key ambassador for Magic Breakfast, representing the charity externally, championing our work and forging strong relationships with donors, partners and stakeholders.

Our work doesn’t just fill stomachs; it fuels curiosity, learning and potential. You can be based at home, our London office or a hybrid approach; we actively seek to accommodate flexible and remote working to be as inclusive as possible. Proposed full‑time, 35 hours per week; 28 hours per week or 35 hours compressed may be considered. The role may require occasional evening and weekend work.

Who we are looking for

We’re seeking an energetic and inspirational senior fundraising leader who can bring both strategic insight and hands‑on fundraising expertise to strengthen our organisation.

• Has a proven track record of generating income across multiple fundraising, public sector and commercial income streams, building sustainable revenue pipelines.
• Can lead and inspire teams, creating a positive culture and empowering fundraisers to reach their full potential.
• Thinks strategically and commercially, identifying new opportunities and using insight to guide decisions and deliver a unified fundraising and development strategy.
• Communicates with confidence to diverse audiences, from major donors to internal teams.
• Is collaborative, resilient and adaptable, able to work effectively across teams while navigating periods of organisational change.
• Shares our passion for children and education and understands the barriers that morning hunger creates.
• Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in leadership and fundraising practice.

To formally apply, please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally maximum 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outlines your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivation in applying for this position. Please include your home address, contact email and mobile. Email to [e-mail], inserting “Application: Magic Breakfast — Director of Fundraising and Development (MAT cover)” into the subject field. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 2–3 days.

Timetable

• Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 12th January 2026
• Candidates informed of outcome: By 5 p.m. Tuesday 13th January 2026
• First stage interviews: Friday 16th January 2026 (Online)
• Second stage interviews: Tuesday 20th January 2026 (In person, London)

Equality and Diversity

Peridot and Magic Breakfast are committed to promoting equality and diversity. We promise a fair, inclusive and bias‑free recruitment process. We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. All information will be held in strict confidence and not shared with any third party, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018.