Head of Fundraising
3-Year Fixed Term Contract – Full Time
Attractive benefits including Pension, Travel insurance, Life Insurance, generous annual leave, maternity and paternity leave packages and flexible working arrangements.
This is a an exciting, newly created role for the CPA.
Overview
The Head of Fundraising will play a critical role in developing and executing a fundraising strategy and action plan to support the organisation's objectives and drive our financial sustainability.
The role is responsible for managing supporter relationships and realising new funding opportunities. The Head of Fundraising will lead our income generation activities from the ground up. This is a pivotal leadership role, responsible for shaping and delivering a sustainable fundraising strategy to support our ambitious global agenda. The role requires effective relationship building coupled with a proven track record in securing income from trusts and foundations, high-net-worth individuals (HNWI), institutional donors and corporate partnerships.
The post-holder reports directly to the Finance Director and works closely with the senior leadership team.
Job Description
• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy and business plan aligned with the organisation's strategy.
• Identify, prioritise and deliver funding sources – including grants, Trusts & Foundations, corporate partnerships and individual donors – to achieve the fundraising budgets and deliver year-on-year growth.
• Lead income diversification efforts to ensure financial sustainability, including unrestricted and project-specific funding.
• Research, identify and pursue all income generation opportunities that match the objectives of the wider organisation strategy.
• Build business cases to grow new sources of net income generation including committed giving, fundraising campaigns and digital fundraising.
• Write and approve funding proposals across the full fundraising mix.
• Conduct thorough research and analysis to identify potential funding opportunities and stay updated on industry trends and best practice.
• Identify and pursue new funding opportunities and ways to expand the donor base, always mindful of the constraints imposed by the CPA Sponsorship Guidelines.
• Manage the CPA Fundraising budget, assessing and forecasting financial performance to enable our developmental work.
• Alongside the Programmes Team, support the promotion of the CPA Parliamentary Academy as an income stream.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to establish fundraising budgets, timelines and budget allocations.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with trusts, foundations, HNWIs, corporates and institutional donors (e.g., UK FCDO, EU, UN agencies).
• Lead and deliver exceptional supporter relationship management, using data to cultivate new supporters, define effective supporter journeys and execute a supporter relationship management plan that delivers elevated levels of supporter engagement and retention.
• Lead, develop and deliver the Fundraising events plan including event management plans to achieve supporter engagement.
• Prepare papers for the CPA Executive Committee relating to plans for the Fundraising Strategy.
• Represent the CPA at networking events and meetings with potential donors.
• Collaborate with external partners/stakeholders where this supports income generation.
• Work with the Editor/Communications Manager to identify opportunities for sponsorship and advertising within our Communications outputs, including the CPA quarterly journal The Parliamentarian.
Any other duties commensurate with the role.
Person Specification
Skills, Experience & Knowledge
Essential
• Minimum 7 years' experience in fundraising with a strong track record in securing six-and seven-figure donations.
• Experience of creating a fundraising strategy and action plan across all main funding sources.
• An up-to-date knowledge of fundraising good practice and current fundraising trends.
• Familiarity with UK and international fundraising regulations.
• Knowledge of CRM and donor management systems (e.g., MS Dynamics).
• Excellent written and oral presentation skills with experience in donor proposals
• and impact reporting.
• Experience of setting budgets, financial management and business planning.
• Experience of networking and influencing senior stakeholders and representing an organisation externally and able to apply these to the specific needs and limitations of the CPA.
• Experience of creating and implementing a successful capital fundraising campaign.
Desirable
• Experience working in or with NGOs, INGOs, or parliamentary networks.
• Digital Fundraising experience.
• Fundraising campaign management experience.
• Experience of managing or building a fundraising team.
Personal Attributes
• Positive attitude and ability to motivate others.
• Excellent people skills with the ability to create and build relationships both internally and externally.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to work autonomously and collaboratively.
• Able to find pragmatic solutions, seek improvements, and adapt to changing situations.
• Self-motivated, entrepreneurial and takes initiative.
• Team player and willingness to work collaboratively with colleagues.
• Due to the nature of the role, it will require occasional evening and weekend working, as well as occasional international travel.
Qualifications
Essential
Educated to degree level or equivalent demonstrable experience.
Desirable
Fundraising qualifications.
We are keen to hear from ambitious Commonwealth nationals with the right to work in the UK who have the aptitude, appetite and drive in engaging new and key audiences and enhance the reach and promotion of Parliamentary democracy.
* NOTE: All posts are subject to UK Border Agency requirements for those who already have the right to work in the UK.
* In order to fulfil our security clearance vetting requirements, you are required, in addition, to hold at least 3 years UK residency.
To apply:
Please submit a copy of your CV and a covering letter of no more than two A4 pages, stating how you fulfill the requirements of the role. Please also complete the Application Form and Equality Monitoring Form on the CPA website and submit these with your CV and covering letter. All applications should be sent via email to
Deadline: 18 October 2025 (UTC+1) by midnight.
Interviews: Interviews will be held during the week commencing 27 October 2025.