Head of Fundraising and Communications

Merrifield Consultants; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A charitable organisation is seeking a Head of Fundraising and Communications to provide strategic leadership and manage relationships with funders. This role involves developing income strategies and overseeing external communications to enhance the charity's profile and reach. The ideal candidate has significant experience in senior fundraising, a track record in managing high-value partnerships, and excellent communication skills. The position offers a hybrid work model with a focus on sustainable income growth.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in developing and delivering successful income strategies.
• Proven leadership experience in motivating and supporting teams.
• Strong storytelling abilities to inspire support.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for fundraising activities.
• Develop long-term fundraising strategy for growth and diversification.
• Build and manage relationships with key funders and donors.
• Introduce systems to improve efficiency and collaboration.
• Develop an external communications strategy aligned with mission.

Skills

Senior fundraising role experience

Complex fundraising applications management

Leadership and people management

Excellent written communication

Strategic thinking skills

Job description

Merrifield Consultants is delighted to work with The Ben Kinsella Trust to find their new Head of Fundraising and Communications. You will join the senior leadership team, and lead the development and delivery of a systematic, data-driven and project-managed approach to fundraising and communications, driving sustainable income growth while raising the charity’s profile, reach and influence.

Job Title: Head of Fundraising and Communications

Organisation: The Ben Kinsella Trust

Location: Hybrid – home-based with regular attendance at the London exhibition locations

(Attendance will vary flexibly between 1–5 days per week depending on business need. Fixed homeworking days are not available.)

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 35 hours per week

Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer

Indirect report: Communications Officer

The Ben Kinsella Trust is a leading charity working to prevent knife crime and serious youth violence. Through powerful education programmes and campaigning, they reach thousands of young people each year, equipping them with the knowledge, confidence and skills to make safer choices.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for all fundraising activity, ensuring a systematic and dependable approach to income generation.
• Develop and deliver a long-term fundraising strategy to support sustainable growth and diversification across grants and trusts, corporate partnerships, major donors, individual giving and community fundraising.
• Build and manage relationships with key funders and donors, working closely with the CEO and Fundraising Manager to cultivate and steward major partnerships.
• Play a full and active role as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to organisational strategy, decision-making and culture.
• Introduce and refine systems, processes and workflows to improve efficiency and collaboration across teams.

Communications and Marketing

• Develop and implement an external communications strategy aligned with the charity’s mission and priorities.
• Shape and oversee the organisation’s external narrative, ensuring storytelling is compelling, consistent and impact‑led.

Skills and Experience

• Significant experience in a senior fundraising role, with a strong track record of developing and delivering successful multi-stream income strategies.
• Experience overseeing complex, high‑value fundraising applications and partnerships across trusts and foundations, corporates, major donors and public-facing campaigns.
• Proven leadership and people management experience, with the ability to motivate, support and develop others.
• Excellent written communication and editing skills, with the ability to produce clear, persuasive and accessible content.
• A strong storyteller, able to translate data and impact into narratives that inspire support.
• Strategic thinking skills, with the ability to turn organisational priorities into deliverable plans.

This role is perfect for an experienced Trusts Fundraiser with experience in other income streams, and has had strategic input.

To find out more and apply for the role, please contact Stuart Milliner at Merrifield Consultants.

We are committed to ethical recruitment practices and creating an inclusive recruitment process. We strongly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from diverse and minority communities, and welcome applicants with relevant lived experience. We believe that a diverse workforce drives innovation and enables us to create meaningful impact.