Senior Fundraising Lead

Senior Fundraising Lead

Company Description

Climate 2025 is a not for profit social enterprise founded at the start of this decisive decade. Our mission is to catalyse the urgent response to the climate and ecological crisis by enhancing the effectiveness and reach of community-led climate action worldwide.

We provide infrastructure and capacity-building support to emerging movements working for urgent systemic change.

We accelerate and amplify the efforts and outputs of causes we believe in, offering start-up support, strategic development, and fundraising services.

Our unique experience with social movements allows us to foster great people. Unique experience with social movements allows us to foster great people and projects, providing structure and guidance to turn ideas into action.

Job Description:

The Senior Fundraising Lead will serve as a key liaison between Climate 2025 and its funders, supporting the organisation’s core mission, projects, and programmes. They will work closely with the Executive Director and key staff members, they will lead the development and implementation of long-term, sustainable funding strategies that align with Climate 2025’s vision and objectives. In addition to this they will be responsible for growing and managing a portfolio of institutional donors, foundations, and major donors, while contributing to broader income generation strategies.

The Senior Fundraising Lead will play a critical role in researching, preparing, submitting, and managing grant proposals and reports. This position also ensures that Climate 2025 meets funder requirements, maintains strong relationships with donors, and communicates the organisation’s impact through compelling narratives. Success in this role requires strong writing, data analysis, financial oversight, project management, and outcome measurement skills, along with an ability to maintain and build the organisation’s reputation in the philanthropic community

Key Responsibilities:

Donor Engagement

• Develop and implement donor engagement strategies that align with Climate 2025’s long-term goals, prioritising opportunities for sustained income growth.
• Identify, map, and prioritise new funding opportunities, particularly among major institutional donors, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals.
• Manage a portfolio of donors, ensuring alignment between their strategic priorities and Climate 2025’s mission.
• Build and maintain relationships with current and prospective funders, leveraging the organisation’s reputation to secure multi-year commitments.
• Support colleagues in fostering donor relationships and engagement through tailored cultivation and stewardship activities.

Proposal Development and Grant Writing

• Lead the development and submission of high-quality grant proposals, collaborating with programme staff, finance, and the Executive Director to craft compelling narratives, detailed budgets, and project plans.
• Ensure that all proposals adhere to donor guidelines and include input from programme, financial, and technical teams, ensuring alignment with organisational values (e.g., participatory budgeting, partner leadership).
• Maintain an organised calendar of grant opportunities and submission deadlines, ensuring the timely and successful submission of applications.
• Manage a repository of essential documents for grant submissions (e.g., organisational overviews, bios, financial reports).

Donor Relationship Management and Stewardship

• Cultivate and steward relationships with donors, ensuring open lines of communication and regular updates on programme success.
• Negotiate grant amendments, including project or budget revisions, extensions, or changes in scope.
• Ensure appropriate acknowledgment and recognition of funders via Climate 2025’s website, e-newsletter, and social media platforms.
• Actively engage in funder relationship management activities, including meetings, site visits, and events, to enhance Climate 2025’s visibility and reputation.

Grant Compliance and Impact Reporting

• Oversee grant compliance, ensuring that Climate 2025 meets funder expectations related to reporting, budgetary tracking, and programme outcomes.
• Prepare timely and compelling progress reports, highlighting programme achievements, financial updates, and impact metrics.
• Collaborate with programme staff to track and communicate key performance indicators (KPIs) that demonstrate the impact of funded programmes.
• Ensure meticulous record-keeping, maintaining all necessary documentation related to grants and funding partnerships.

Person Specification:

Knowledge and Experience

• At least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent (5+ years of work experience in the voluntary sector, grant writing, or fundraising).
• At least 3 years of demonstrated success in fundraising, including experience managing relationships with institutional donors, foundations, or high-net-worth individuals.
• Proven track record of securing significant grants and contributions, particularly in the areas of climate action, environmental justice, or social activism.
• Experience in designing theories of change, monitoring and evaluation (MEL) frameworks, and complex programme budgets.
• Demonstrated experience in building and managing relationships with donors across international or multicultural contexts, including working remotely with international partners.
• Familiarity with donor requirements for large institutional funders (e.g., multilateral organisations, private foundations), particularly related to climate action and social justice.
• Strong understanding of the intersection of international development, humanitarian issues, and climate action at both grassroots and policy levels.

Skills and Personal Qualities

• Exceptional writing, editing, and analytical skills, with the ability to translate complex programme information into compelling proposals and reports tailored to diverse audiences.
• High-level project management skills, with a track record of managing multiple deadlines and complex, cross-functional processes.
• Proven financial management expertise, including the ability to develop and monitor programme budgets that meet both organisational needs and donor requirements.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Workspace; familiarity with CRM or donor management software is an asset.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with an ability to work collaboratively and remotely with colleagues and partners across cultures and time zones.
• Ability to work under pressure, managing competing priorities and deadlines while maintaining a high level of attention to detail.
• Demonstrated commitment to the values of Climate 2025, including social justice, environmental sustainability, and inclusivity, with a focus on underrepresented communities (e.g., Global Majority and MAPA communities).
• Motivated, self-directed, and adaptable, with a strategic mindset and a problem-solving approach to challenges.
• Personable, empathetic, and able to establish excellent working relationships with internal teams, donors, and partners.