We are seeking an experienced and ambiguous front-line fundraiser to take on a unique role raising revenue for impactful, youth-centered work.
What is the Role?
As the Senior Fundraising Associate – sharing time between Global Fund for Children (GFC) and The Iris Project (IP) – you will focus on securing unrestricted funding for both organisations. In partnership with The Iris Project’s Executive Director and GFC’s Director of Major Gifts and development team, you will develop and execute a fundraising strategy including stewarding and cultivating donors, supporting events, writing impact reports and solicitations, and supporting senior leadership and high level volunteers in meeting fundraising goals.
This is a rare opportunity to work at the intersection of two mission-driven organisations championing youth leadership and community-led change. The Iris Project is a fiscally hosted organisation within GFC’s global portfolio, meaning you’ll be embedded in GFC’s broader team while working closely with The Iris Project’s small, dynamic staff. You’ll build strong relationships with donors and partners across both networks, helping generate vital unrestricted funding.
This new position offers the scope to shape and grow your role, collaborating with senior leadership, programme teams, and communications staff to connect supporters with the impact of our work. Success will require adaptability, proactive communication, and ease navigating different systems, processes, and organisational cultures. It’s ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, international environment and is motivated by the opportunity to strengthen the growth and sustainability of two dynamic organisations.
About Global Fund for Children:
Global Fund for Children is building a world where all children are safe, strong, and valued. Since our founding more than 30 years, Global Fund for Children has invested $80 million in flexible-funding in more than 1,300 community- and youth-led organisations serving children and young people in 90 countries. Driven by the knowledge that young people know what they need to thrive, these investments have helped bring about real, lasting change towards combating gender-based violence, increasing access to education and health programs, pioneering youth-led grantmaking for climate adaptation, and more.
About The Iris Project:
The Iris Project supports young leaders around the world to protect and restore nature in their communities. Through our annual global award, the Iris Prize, we provide flexible funding, mentorship, and connections to help youth-led environmental initiatives grow and thrive. Our network spans projects tackling urgent challenges – from protecting biodiversity to reducing waste and regenerating ecosystems – with a focus on locally driven solutions in the Global South. By partnering closely with our prize winners, we help amplify their impact and inspire wider action for a sustainable future.
What will you do as the Senior Fundraising Associate?
- Manage a portfolio of primarily individual donors and prospects based in the UK and Europe, ensuring high-quality and donor-centered cultivation and stewardship.
- Conduct prospect research and develop a strong pipeline, identifying and qualifying new major donor prospects across both organisations’ networks.
- Support senior staff and Board/Steering committee members in fundraising activities, including hosted dinners, introductions to prospective funders, one-on-one meetings, and written communications.
- Support and track activities including drafting communications, taking notes, and tracking activities in the CRM.
- Write and send cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation pieces.
- Support, plan, and execute fundraising events including small dinners, panels, donor learning trips, and annual signature events.
- Prepare tailored impact updates and funding reports, ensuring donors see the outcomes of their support.
- Navigate and align fundraising priorities between GFC and IP, including managing shared donor relationships and ensuring smooth communication between teams.
What are your experience and skills?
- 5 years’ experience in Individual fundraising.
- Extensive experience closing 5-figure gifts.
- Experience and confidence “managing up” with senior staff and high-level volunteers.
- Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills – able to build trust and rapport quickly with donors, partners, and colleagues.
- Adaptability and problem-solving – comfortable navigating different organisational systems, cultures, and processes.
- Self-starter with the ability to work independently, take initiative, and drive work forward without close supervision.
- Creative approach to fundraising and ability to navigate competing priorities.
- Strong writing skills.
- Comfortable working remotely with colleagues across multiple time zones and cultural contexts.
- Event facilitation skills – confidence hosting and speaking at donor events or representing the organisation externally.
Additional, Desirable Experience
- Familiarity with Salesforce or other CRM systems.
- Additional languages, particularly French, a plus.
- This is an outward facing role with at least 25% travel locally and abroad.
What can we offer you?
GFC and Iris Project foster a caring work environment that promotes collaboration, respect, and professional development. We set standards of excellence and quality in our work, firmly believing that children and youth deserve the best we can offer.
We believe that every person has equal rights, and we affirm the diversity that enriches our globalized world. In line with these core values, it is our policy to actively seek diverse candidates from a variety of backgrounds who are committed to our shared mission.
Our values shape our vision, guide our daily decision making, and signal to the world what to expect when you encounter Global Fund for Children and Iris Project. We hold ourselves to these values to best serve our local partners and the children and youth they support. We attract talented people from all over the world because we believe deeply in living our values.
Benefits:
Flexible Working Location: This is a hybrid-based role, with expected regular travel to London and access to office space at GFC shared work space.
Starting salary up to £38,000 plus pension
Weekly hours – 35 hours per week
Holidays – 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Private medical healthcare
Team events and global committee opportunities.
Learning – we encourage professional development as a part of our culture and values and provide regular opportunities for training, collaboration, and mentorship. Employees may access professional development funds to support continued learning.
How do I apply?
In line with our values of courage, passion and inclusion, to apply for this role, please share your thoughts on the following questions (in 100 words or less per question) and CV through the following link: https://global-fund-for-children.breezy.hr/p/e74b9b3e5fe3
1) What excites you most about this role and how do your skills and experience make you an ideal candidate?
2) What is your approach to building relationships with new funders?
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The deadline for applications is Friday, September 19th at 5pm UK Time.
We are excited to hear from you. If you have any questions about this role, please contact us at careers(at)globalfundforchildren.org
Equal Opportunity: Global Fund for Children is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We particularly encourage applications from communities that have historically been excluded from philanthropy and from under-represented groups including candidates who are LGBT+, from Black and racially-minoritised communities, with a disability, impairment, learning difference or long-term condition, with caring responsibilities, from different nations and regions, and from less advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.
