Fundraising Lead

Common Purpose; Manchester, Greater London; Remote; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 25 days

Additional Christmas days

Comprehensive Employee Assistance Prog

Fractional basis possible

Job summary

Common Purpose is seeking a proactive Fundraising Lead to grow and diversify income. You will research trusts, foundations and statutory bodies, develop funding relationships and craft compelling applications to secure multi-year support.

Working with the MD of Social Value and CEO, you’ll build a robust funding pipeline, manage deadlines and report on impact, while collaborating across teams to articulate our case for support and maximise income opportunities.

Qualifications

• A track record of researching, developing and submitting successful funding applications, ideally to trusts, foundations or statutory funding bodies.
• Excellent writing skills: the ability to produce clear, persuasive applications and make a compelling case for support.
• Initiative: the ability to research prospective funders, spot opportunities and build a pipeline proactively.
• Relationship-building skills: the confidence to engage with funders, understand their priorities and develop productive relationships.
• Commercial awareness: the ability to assess funding opportunities, prioritise your time and focus on those with strongest potential.
• Strong organisation: the ability to manage multiple applications, deadlines and reporting requirements accurately.
• Analytical skills: experience tracking funding opportunities and income, with an understanding of budgets and restricted and unrestricted funding.
• A collaborative approach: the ability to work with colleagues to develop funding propositions and communicate the impact of our work.
• An interest in our purpose: a motivation to help secure the resources that enable Common Purpose to deliver its work.

Responsibilities

• Find funding opportunities: Research trusts, foundations, statutory funding programmes and other potential sources of income, identifying opportunities that align with Common Purpose's work.
• Write funding applications: Develop compelling cases for support, prepare and submit high-quality applications, and manage the associated deadlines.
• Build the funding pipeline: Track opportunities, applications and decisions, prioritising activity according to potential value and likelihood of success.
• Develop relationships: Build and maintain relationships with funders and explore opportunities for repeat funding, multi-year awards and longer-term partnerships.
• Communicate our impact: Work with colleagues to gather evidence and develop persuasive funding propositions that demonstrate the value of our work.
• Manage funding and reporting: Monitor income against targets, maintain accurate records and ensure funder reporting requirements and deadlines are met.
• Explore new income streams: Identify potential opportunities for corporate partnerships, major donors and other forms of philanthropic support.
• Work collaboratively: Coordinate with colleagues across the organisation to identify funding opportunities and ensure fundraising activity supports our wider priorities.

Skills

Fundraising experience

Excellent writing

Initiative

Relationship building

Commercial awareness

Strong organisation

Analytical skills

Collaborative approach

Interest in our purpose

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Location: Home-based in either Manchester or London, with occasional travel within the UK.

Salary: £40,000-£45,000 per annum, depending on experience.

Contract: Permanent, full-time.

Working pattern: We offer a fully flexible working environment.

Benefits

• Annual leave: 25 days of annual leave per annum, plus 3 additional days over Christmas.
• Additional benefits: Comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
• We are also open to applications from people interested in undertaking this role on a fractional basis.

The role

The role We are looking for a proactive and resourceful Fundraising Lead to help Common Purpose grow and diversify its income. Working closely with the Managing Director of Social Value and the CEO, you will identify funding opportunities, develop relationships with prospective funders and write compelling applications to trusts, foundations and statutory funding bodies. You will also explore opportunities for corporate partnerships and philanthropic giving. This is a hands‑on role for someone who enjoys finding opportunities and turning them into funding. You will take responsibility for researching prospective funders, building and managing a pipeline, developing persuasive cases for support and submitting high-quality applications. You'll work with colleagues across Common Purpose to understand our work, gather evidence of its impact and communicate why it matters to potential funders. You'll need to be organised, an excellent writer and confident managing your own workload, with a clear focus on securing income.

What you'll be doing

• Find funding opportunities: Research trusts, foundations, statutory funding programmes and other potential sources of income, identifying opportunities that align with Common Purpose 's work.
• Write funding applications: Develop compelling cases for support, prepare and submit high-quality applications, and manage the associated deadlines.
• Build the funding pipeline: Track opportunities, applications and decisions, prioritising activity according to potential value and likelihood of success.
• Develop relationships: Build and maintain relationships with funders and explore opportunities for repeat funding, multi-year awards and longer‑term partnerships.
• Communicate our impact: Work with colleagues to gather evidence and develop persuasive funding propositions that demonstrate the value of our work.
• Manage funding and reporting: Monitor income against targets, maintain accurate records and ensure funder reporting requirements and deadlines are met.
• Explore new income streams: Identify potential opportunities for corporate partnerships, major donors and other forms of philanthropic support.
• Work collaboratively: Coordinate with colleagues across the organisation to identify funding opportunities and ensure fundraising activity supports our wider priorities.

What you'll bring

• Fundraising experience: A track record of researching, developing and submitting successful funding applications, ideally to trusts, foundations or statutory funding bodies.
• Excellent writing skills: The ability to produce clear, persuasive applications and make a compelling case for support.
• Initiative: The ability to research prospective funders, spot opportunities and build a pipeline proactively.
• Relationship-building skills: The confidence to engage with funders, understand their priorities and develop productive relationships.
• Commercial awareness: The ability to assess funding opportunities, prioritise your time and focus on those with the strongest potential.
• Strong organisation: The ability to manage multiple applications, deadlines and reporting requirements accurately.
• Analytical skills: Experience of tracking funding opportunities and income, with an understanding of budgets and restricted and unrestricted funding.
• A collaborative approach: The ability to work with colleagues to develop funding propositions and communicate the impact of our work.
• An interest in our purpose: A motivation to help secure the resources that enable Common Purpose to deliver its work.

All applicants must also

• Have excellent written English and verbal communication skills.
• Be comfortable working independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Be confident using Microsoft Office and digital tools.
• Understand the importance of fundraising compliance, including relevant requirements under the Code of Fundraising Practice and GDPR.
• Be able to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Be willing to travel within the UK occasionally, as required.
• Be committed to Common Purpose 's independent and non‑aligned approach to its work.

What we offer

• Purpose: The opportunity to help fund programmes that create meaningful change for individuals, organisations and communities.
• Ownership: The opportunity to shape and develop our fundraising activity.
• Variety: Exposure to a