Head of Fundraising African Gifted Foundation Location: UK-based | Hybrid working Salary: £55,000-£60,000 per annum (depending on experience) Contract: Permanent, Full-time Reports to: Executive Director Transform STEM Education for Africa's Brightest Young Women The African Gifted Foundation (AGF) exists to develop Africa's future STEM leaders by supporting gifted young women to access world-class education. Our flagship project, the African Science Academy (ASA) in Ghana, is a fully-scholarshipped boarding school focused on mathematics and physics, with students drawn from across Africa. We're at a pivotal moment. Having grown to circa £1 million in annual income, we're ready to scale our impact. We are embarking on an exciting new initiative to build a new campus and double the size of our school over the next couple of years. We need an exceptional fundraising leader to help us get there. The Opportunity As Head of Fundraising, you'll be a key member of our senior leadership team, shaping strategy and driving income growth to transform opportunities for hundreds more young African women in STEM. In your first year, you'll: Take ownership of our £1m fundraising portfolio and develop a clear growth strategy Deepen relationships with our existing major donors, trusts and corporate partners Identify and secure at least 3-5 significant new funding partnerships Build robust systems for pipeline management, donor stewardship and impact reporting Work closely with our Executive Director and Board to align fundraising with our ambitious expansion plans Your long-term impact: Lead AGF toward £2m annual income over 3 years Diversify our funding base to ensure sustainability Establish AGF as the go-to partner for funders passionate about African girls' STEM education Build a culture of excellence in donor relationships and stewardship What You'll Do Strategic Leadership Develop and deliver a compelling fundraising strategy aligned with AGF's growth ambitions Set ambitious but achievable income targets and manage performance against them Provide clear metrics, insights and recommendations to the Executive Director and Board Identify opportunities for income diversification and risk mitigation Major Donor & Partnership Management Manage and grow our portfolio of major donors, trusts, foundations and corporate partners Personally cultivate and steward high-value relationships Identify and pursue new funding prospects through research and networking Develop compelling cases for support tailored to different donor segments Operational Excellence Establish and maintain effective systems for pipeline management, CRM and donor tracking Ensure excellent donor stewardship, reporting and compliance with all funder requirements Create compelling donor materials and impact reports, working collaboratively with communications, programmes and finance teams Take responsibility for collecting compelling impact data, including through liaising with alumni Build efficient processes that support both immediate delivery and long-term growth Representation & Advocacy Represent AGF at donor meetings, events and in philanthropic networks (UK and occasionally international) Act as an ambassador for our mission and impact Build AGF's profile within the UK and international education funding community Who You Are Essential Experience & Skills ✓ Proven track record of strategic fundraising in the UK charity sector, with demonstrable success in securing five-figure gifts from trusts, foundations and major donors ✓ Relationship builder with excellent ability to engage, persuade and steward high-value donors at senior levels (trustees, HNWIs, corporate decision-makers) ✓ Strategic thinker who can develop compelling fundraising strategies and turn them into practical action plans with measurable results ✓ Portfolio manager experienced in managing multiple major donor relationships simultaneously and building a robust pipeline ✓ Excellent communicator in writing and speaking - confident presenting to trustees, corporates and philanthropic audiences ✓ Organized & commercially aware with ability to manage budgets, set targets and deliver against KPIs ✓ Self-starter comfortable working in a lean organization, building processes, and collaborating across teams ✓ Mission-driven with genuine commitment to expanding STEM opportunities for African young women and cultural awareness of the international context Highly Desirable Experience with international education or development fundraising, especially Africa-focused projects Track record with philanthropic individuals and/or corporate CSR/partnership teams Existing network in UK philanthropic, trust/foundation or corporate giving sectors Experience of USA fundraising Knowledge of fundraising CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce) Willingness to travel occasionally (UK and internationally) to meet donors and visit programmes Why Join AGF? Impact That Matters Help open doors to world-class STEM education for brilliant young African women who will become tomorrow's scientists, engineers and innovators. Every pound you raise directly transforms lives. Strategic Influence You'll be a key member of the senior team during a crucial growth phase, with genuine influence over strategy and direction. Mission-Driven Culture Join a passionate, committed team and Board who truly believe in our mission and support bold, innovative thinking. Professional Growth Shape and lead a function, develop your strategic fundraising skills, and build lasting relationships in the UK philanthropic sector. Flexibility & Support Hybrid working, supportive leadership, and investment in your professional development. What We Offer Compensation & Benefits Competitive salary: £55,000-£60,000 (depending on experience) Generous pension scheme with 7% employer contribution Group life insurance and income protection 25 days annual leave plus UK public holidays Additional day off for your birthday Professional Development £2,000 annual professional development budget for relevant training, conferences and qualifications Chartered Institute of Fundraising membership paid 3 professional development days per year Working Arrangements Hybrid working Flexible hours to support work-life balance Occasional travel within the UK and international travel (fully covered) Standard 37.5 hours per week Open to 4-day week option at pro-rata for the right candidate Contract Details Permanent, full-time position 6-month probation period 3-month notice period after probation How to Apply Please submit the following to recruit@africangifted.org : CV (max 3 pages) Supporting statement (max 2 pages) addressing: Why you're passionate about AGF's mission Your key fundraising achievements (with specific examples and figures) How your experience matches our requirements What you’ll aim to achieve in your first 12 months Please also include your current salary and notice period. Application deadline: 30th November, 2025 First round interviews: 12th December, 2025 Final interviews: 17th December, 2025 Anticipated start date: January/February 2026 (flexible for the right candidate) We'll review applications and make decisions on a rolling basis, so early applications are encouraged.