Fundraising Lead

Black South West Network; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused organisation in Bristol seeks a Fundraising Lead to enhance its fundraising capabilities. The role involves generating significant income, securing grants, and providing tailored support to organisations in the South West. Ideal candidates will demonstrate success in fundraising and possess strong relationship-building skills. Offering a salary of £24,000 per annum, this hybrid position requires travel throughout the region. Join us to promote sustainability and equity in our community.

Benefits

Flexible, hybrid working

Professional development opportunities

Access to sector networks

Qualifications

• Demonstrable success in supporting organisations to fundraise, including securing grants from trusts/foundations.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills.
• Experience in building relationships with funders and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow BSWN’s fundraising function.
• Implement the fundraising strategy to generate income.
• Provide tailored support to Black and Racially Minoritised organisations.

Skills

Strong writing skills

Relationship-building

Fundraising strategy development

Job description

Are you an experienced fundraiser for community organisations? Join our team!

Reporting to : Director, Black South West

Network Salary : £24,000 per annum + NI and 3% pension (£40,000 FTE)

Contract : Fixed term initially for 12 months (with strong potential for at least 4 more years)

Hours : 3 days (21 hrs) per week

Location : Hybrid – South West England, with regular regional travel

Want to support the efforts to make our sector more sustainable? You can do so by joining our team!

As a Fundraising Lead, you will lead and grow BSWN’s fundraising function, with a direct focus on generating, leveraging and securing income from trusts and foundations, statutory sources, contract opportunities, and social investment. The role will involve delivering tailored fundraising support to Black and Racially Minoritised VCSE organisations across the South West, building long-term financial resilience and enabling organisations to thrive.

We are looking for someone who has :

• Demonstrable success in supporting organisations to fundraise, including securing grants from trusts / foundations and winning public sector contracts.
• Evidence of securing grants from trusts, foundations and / or public sector contracts for VCSE organisations (directly or as a consultant).
• Experience building and sustaining relationships with funders, commissioners and external partners.

The postholder will :

• Implement the fundraising strategy, support its development and delivery as part of the TPW South West programme.
• Raise at least £500,000 per year in new and leveraged income across the region.
• Provide hands‑on support to Black and Racially Minoritised organisations to improve fundraising success, build sustainability plans, and diversify income.
• Be a strong fundraiser, writer and relationship‑builder — able to translate community‑led impact into compelling and fundable propositions.

Key Fundraising Responsibilities

Strategic Fundraising Leadership

• Develop pipelines of funding opportunities aligned to the needs and aspirations of BRM‑led organisations.
• Lead income tracking, and reporting on leveraged funds across the region.
• Build fundraising capacity by designing tools, templates, one‑page plans, cases for support, and funder engagement guidance.

Trusts, Grants and Foundation Fundraising

• Identify, research and qualify funding prospects using databases, funder networks and intelligence.
• Support organisations to develop high‑quality, persuasive funding applications aligned with funder priorities.
• Provide one‑to‑one and group mentoring on proposal development, bid writing, budgeting, due diligence and compliance.
• Track success rates and support re‑applications, feedback analysis and relationship stewardship.

Contract and Commissioned Income

• Advice groups on how to better position themselves and plan tender submissions in relation to public sector commissioning and procurement opportunities.
• Support feasibility planning, contract readiness, and compliance (policies, governance, safeguarding, quality standards).
• Broker introductions between grassroots organisations, funders, commissioners and partners.

Income Diversification and Social Enterprise Models

• Guide organisations to explore trading and enterprise models, including feasibility, market development and income forecasting.
• Promote innovative income approaches (community crowdfunding, participation‑based funding, social investment).

Grant, Fundraising and Income Diversification

• Provide one‑to‑one and group support to help organisations design robust funding plans, and applications, including accessing TPW and other funding streams.
• Support applicants and grantees through pre‑ and post‑application processes, including diagnostics, due diligence, one‑page funding plans and fundraising applications.
• Help organisations develop growth and sustainability plans, identify leveraged funds, and track success rates, aiming to meet the regional target of £500k per annum of leveraged funds.
• Advise organisations and Community Development Workers in the region on fundraising priorities and help shape the future of South West’s approach to sustainability.

Programme Management & Reporting

• Manage regional fundraising targets and progress in alignment with the South West Delivery Plan.
• Support referrals and triage from the Community Development Manager to assign fundraising support.
• Track and input data into the CRM to record support, outcomes and leveraged income.
• Produce quarterly and annual funder reports summarising fundraising impact, learning and recommendations.

Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management

Build and steward strategic relationships with trusts, foundations, local authorities, ICs, funders, commissioners and philanthropic partners.

Represent BSWN at external meetings, funding networks and sector events.

Use storytelling, case studies and regional evidence to influence funders and decision‑makers.

Person Specification

Essential Experience

Evidence of securing grants from trusts, foundations and / or public sector contracts for VCSE organisations (directly or as a consultant).

Demonstrable experience developing fundraising plans, budgets, and income diversification strategies.

Successful delivery of tailored fundraising capacity building — e.g. training, workshops, mentoring, bid support.

Experience building and sustaining relationships with funders, commissioners and external partners.

Essential Skills & Knowledge

In‑depth understanding of the UK funding landscape for VCSE organisations, particularly trusts, foundations and public sector commissioning.

Strong prospect research, proposal development and persuasive writing skills.

Ability to translate organisational impact into fundable, well‑structured proposals.

Knowledge of governance, fundraising compliance and due diligence.

Excellent communication, facilitation and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to engage grassroot groups and institutional funders.

Strong project management, data tracking and financial planning skills.

Desirable

Understanding of the South West VCSE environment, particularly for BRM‑led organisations.

Personal Qualities

Strategic thinker with a collaborative, solution‑oriented approach.

Self‑motivated, with strong initiative, persistence, and attention to detail.

Able to build trusted relationships with diverse stakeholders across grassroots and senior levels.

Values‑driven, with a deep commitment to racial equity and social justice.

What We Offer

An opportunity to shape a regional fundraising ecosystem grounded in equity.

Collaborative team culture, professional development, and access to sector networks.

Flexible, hybrid working supporting work‑life balance.

We understand that no candidate will meet every single requirement in this job description or person specification. If you are excited about this role and have most of the skills, experiences, and attributes we are looking for, we strongly encourage you to apply. We value potential, lived experience, and personal drive, and we are committed to supporting the right candidate to grow into the role. Our recruitment approach welcomes applicants from underrepresented backgrounds, especially those with lived experience connected to our mission.

Application deadline : 12th December 2025 at 12.00pm

To apply, please submit your CV and Cover letter to our Operations Director Mina

Interviews will be held on 18th and 19th December 2025