Director of Fundraising and Partnerships

ImpactAlpha; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 67,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days’ annual holiday

10% employer pension contribution

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Impact Investing Institute is seeking an experienced fundraising and partnerships leader to drive a Director-level role at a pivotal moment in the organisation’s development. You will personally lead key opportunities and build a high-performing function to secure six-figure and multi-year commitments.

The role involves shaping a comprehensive fundraising strategy, engaging funders across foundations, government, corporates, and financial institutions, and working with the CEO and Board to

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to secure major funding and manage end-to-end relationships.
• Experience developing fundraising strategies across foundations, government, corporates or financial institutions.
• Ability to translate complex work into persuasive funding cases and proposals.
• Proven leadership of teams and cross-functional collaboration.
• Strong written and verbal communication with senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver a fundraising and partnerships strategy aligned with circa £2m priorities.
• Build and manage a qualified pipeline across foundations, government, corporates, financial institutions and family offices.
• Personally lead cultivation, solicitation and negotiation of major funding relationships.
• Lead, support and develop fundraising and partnership colleagues, creating a collaborative team.
• Maintain CRM records, pipeline reviews and income forecasts for informed decisions.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Relationship-building

Negotiation

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Digital tools

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

About Impact Investing Institute

The Impact Investing Institute is an independent non-profit organisation registered in England (company number 12071750) with its registered office at 2nd Floor, 55 Ludgate Hill, London, EC4M 7JW. The organisation operates at the intersection of capital markets, public policy and impact, working to transform capital markets for a fairer, greener and more resilient future. The Institute’s work is structured around three main pillars. Its Labs develop practical responses to societal challenges, creating innovative solutions grounded in real-world needs. The field-building work supports learning, networks and communities of practice, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing across the impact investing ecosystem. Policy collaboration efforts help create an environment in which impact investing can thrive, working with policymakers and stakeholders to shape the regulatory and incentive landscape. Over the last six years, the Impact Investing Institute has established itself as a trusted and influential organisation bringing together people across finance, philanthropy, business and government to achieve change that no single organisation can deliver alone. The Institute operates with a commitment to collaboration, listening and sharing expertise with colleagues and partners. It is characterised by an ambitious approach to pursuing meaningful change with imagination, drive and practical delivery, while maintaining independence through protecting integrity, thinking critically and remaining true to its mission.

About this Role

The Impact Investing Institute is seeking an experienced fundraising and partnerships leader to fill a newly created Director-level role at a pivotal moment in the organisation’s development. This position combines strategic leadership with hands-on income generation, requiring the successful candidate to personally lead some of the Institute’s most important opportunities and relationships while building a high-performing function capable of sustained growth. This role exists to support the Institute’s next phase of development: deepening its impact, strengthening financial resilience and increasing its ability to influence the deployment of capital at scale. The successful candidate will develop and deliver a comprehensive fundraising and partnerships strategy aligned with the Institute’s priorities and financial needs, building a qualified pipeline across foundations, government, corporates, financial institutions and family offices. They will personally lead the cultivation, solicitation and negotiation of major funding relationships, securing six-figure and multi-year commitments. The Director will play a central role in shaping the Institute’s future, working closely with the CEO, Board and senior colleagues. The role carries significant external visibility, as the Director will be one of the Institute’s principal representatives with funders, investors, family offices, foundations and strategic partners. Success will depend on combining vision with execution, deploying technology and AI effectively, maintaining rigorous disciplines and enabling a small team to secure income and partnerships disproportionate to the organisation’s size. The Director must enjoy building and delivering rather than directing from a distance, being comfortable shaping strategy one moment and supporting a major proposal, funder meeting or partnership negotiation the next. This position requires both strategic thinking and operational execution, balancing ambition with delivery capacity whilst maintaining the Institute’s integrity and independence.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver a fundraising and partnerships strategy aligned with the Institute’s circa £2m organisational priorities and financial needs, translating it into a focused plan with a balanced mix of new business, renewals and longer-term opportunities
• Build and manage a qualified pipeline across foundations, government, corporates, financial institutions and family offices
• Personally lead the cultivation, solicitation and negotiation of major funding relationships, securing six-figure and multi-year commitments
• Develop senior relationships, make the case for support and expand core, flexible and unrestricted income alongside programme funding
• Work with programme colleagues to develop persuasive propositions and high-quality grant applications
• Build trusted, long-term partnerships through thoughtful cultivation, stewardship and renewal
• Ensure supporters receive timely accounts of progress and impact, surface issues early and identify opportunities to extend successful partnerships
• Maintain a consistent funder experience and involve the CEO, Board or colleagues where this can deepen relationships or unlock opportunities
• Agree partnership commitments with delivery teams and maintain clear ownership of relationship management, reporting and follow-up
• Lead, support and develop fundraising and partnership colleagues, creating a collaborative and accountable team
• Set priorities, allocate relationships and resources clearly, manage the fundraising budget and help colleagues build their confidence, skills and judgement
• Maintain effective CRM records, pipeline reviews and income forecasts so decisions are based on reliable information
• Work closely with the Finance Director on income phasing, budgeting and cashflow planning
• Oversee proportionate due diligence, funding risk assessment and partnership agreements
• Ensure terms, restrictions and reporting obligations are understood before commitments are made, protect the Institute’s reputation and elevate material risks or trade-offs
• Leverage technology, including new AI tools, appropriately to maximise organisational efficacy
• Create a culture of fundraising at the organisation and contribute to the senior leadership team
• Deputise for the CEO on agreed external engagements and stakeholder relationships
• Advise and equip the CEO and Board to support fundraising
• Represent the Institute credibly with funders, partners and relevant networks

Requirements

• Strong record of personally securing major funding, including six-figure and multi-year commitments, and developing relationships from initial engagement to agreement and renewal
• Substantial fundraising experience in at least two of the following areas: foundations, government, corporates and financial institutions
• Ability to adapt propositions and relationship approaches to different supporters and funding models
• Ability to develop and execute a fundraising strategy while remaining hands-on, prioritising opportunities, managing a pipeline and making sound judgements about income potential, effort and risk
• Excellent relationship-building, influencing and negotiation skills, with the credibility to engage senior stakeholders
• Strong written and verbal communication, including the ability to translate complex work into persuasive proposals and funding cases
• Experience of leading and developing colleagues and working collaboratively across programmes, finance and senior leadership
• Ability to organise a shared portfolio, set clear expectations and sustain a supportive, accountable team culture
• Sound financial and operational judgement, including budgeting, forecasting, CRM and stewardship discipline
• Ability to assess funding restrictions, due diligence and partnership risks and work with colleagues to manage them
• Commitment to the Institute’s mission and independence, with an enterprising, practical approach and the judgement to balance ambition with delivery capacity
• Confidence using digital tools and applying responsible AI with appropriate safeguards
• Knowledge of impact investing, capital markets, sustainable finance or related social and environmental issues (desirable)
• Relevant funder or financial institution networks (desirable)
• Experience raising core or unrestricted support for a mission-led organisation (desirable)

Benefits

• Salary of £67,000–£76,000, based on experience
• 30 days’ annual holiday
• 10% employer pension contribution
• Flexible working arrangements supported
• Reasonable adjustments available for disabled employees and those with long-term health conditions
• Inclusive and diverse workplace culture