Role Description
We are seeking a passionate and experienced Fundraising Manager to join our team. Reporting to the Senior Fundraising Manager, the postholder will help develop and implement IMO Charity's fundraising strategy, driving forward all aspects of fundraising, including trusts and foundations, statutory tenders, individual giving, major donors, community fundraising and corporate partnerships.
This role carries budgetary responsibility for contributing to an organisational income target of £1.7 million in FY26/27, while helping to build a sustainable income stream for the long term, with year-on-year growth. Key priorities include donor and funder stewardship and securing grants, tenders and sponsorships.
The Fundraising Manager will work in a similar way to the Senior Fundraising Manager: developing applications with the Health and Youth teams, budgeting applications with Finance, and identifying new opportunities. The two roles will share and split the fundraising pipeline as appropriate — for example, managing who leads on an application based on existing deadlines, working together on larger tenders, and jointly managing key funder relationships rather than holding them individually. This joint way of working is designed to build resilience into the fundraising function, particularly in the event of absence or long-term leave, and to give both postholders a balanced portfolio and room for development.
Key Accountabilities
Strategic Contribution
- Contribute actively to the development and delivery of IMO Charity's fundraising strategy, bringing insight from audiences, analytics and the wider sector context.
- Work with the Senior Fundraising Manager to develop and deliver a balanced, sustainable fundraising strategy that maximises income and supports long-term growth.
- Lead the development of a diverse, integrated fundraising portfolio, including corporate partnerships, individual giving, major donors, trusts & foundations and community fundraising.
- Identify and prioritise high-value fundraising opportunities aligned to IMO Charity's mission, values and long-term strategy.
- Contribute to income growth targets (including £1.7m in FY26/27) and long-term financial sustainability planning.
- Collaborate cross-functionally to maximise supporter engagement, brand reach and income generation through storytelling and campaigns.
Pipeline and Cross-Team Working
- Share and split day-to-day pipeline management with the Senior Fundraising Manager, based on individual strengths, overlap between projects and funders, and potential grant size.
- Work with the Health and Youth teams to develop funding applications that reflect programme priorities and delivery capacity.
- Work with the Finance Team to budget applications accurately and ensure compliance with funder financial requirements.
- Contribute to and help maintain IMO's fundraising infrastructure, including the Annual Fundraising Calendar, Pipeline Dashboard, Bid Templates and Funder Relationship Plan.
Decision Making
- Jointly own, with the Senior Fundraising Manager, strategic fundraising performance decisions, prioritising income streams, campaigns and partnerships to maximise return on investment.
- Balance priorities across multiple projects and channels with different objectives and audiences.
- Think and work independently in time-pressured situations, particularly during key deadline periods and whilst at events.
Compliance
- Ensure fundraising activity complies with GDPR and data protection regulations, the Fundraising Regulator's Code of Practice, and IMO Charity's internal policies and procedures.
- Maintain accurate, secure and well-managed donor and funder records.
- Safeguard the reputation, assets and integrity of IMO Charity in all fundraising activities and communications.
- Ensure adherence to financial procedures and reporting requirements.
- Work within the policy framework of IMO Charity, including its code of conduct and safeguarding policies.
Tools and Trends
- Use data insights to enhance donor experience and maximise income performance.
- Keep up to date with fundraising best practice, emerging trends and sector developments to continuously improve approaches.
Developing Solutions
- Design and deliver innovative fundraising campaigns, applications and supporter journeys to increase engagement and income.
- Build and nurture strong donor, partner and stakeholder relationships, ensuring excellent stewardship and retention.
- Create tailored funding proposals, grant applications and partnership opportunities.
- Identify gaps and implement solutions to diversify income streams and reduce financial risk.
- Work collaboratively across the organisation to unlock new fundraising opportunities and improve supporter experiences.
- Take a proactive, hands-on approach to delivering fundraising activities in a small, agile team environment.
People
- Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships both internally and externally to maximise fundraising opportunities that align with IMO Charity's mission.
- Jointly hold and manage relationships with key funders and commissioners alongside the Senior Fundraising Manager, ensuring continuity in the event of absence or leave.
- Confidently contribute to, and where appropriate lead, cross-functional working groups and projects to deliver integrated fundraising campaigns and income-generating initiatives.
- Support and motivate supporters and fundraisers, providing excellent stewardship to strengthen long-term engagement and retention.
- Take responsibility for continuous professional development, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of fundraising best practice, sector trends, competitor activity and innovation.
Other
- Ability to travel, usually within Lancashire.
- Represent the organisation at relevant external events and meetings.
- Demonstrate our values every day, behaving with compassion, respect and empathy, whilst trusting others and taking responsibility for your actions at all times.
Person Specification
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of working across fundraising streams and achieving ambitious income targets
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to present information clearly and tailor tone of voice to different audiences and channels
- Proven experience working in a charity with responsibility for grant writing and relationship building
- Outstanding organisational skills with attention to detail — excellent time management, coping well under pressure, managing multiple projects and prioritising competing deadlines
- Experience developing and managing a diverse fundraising portfolio, with significant expertise in two or more of: charitable trusts and grants, statutory tenders, corporate partnerships, major donors and individual giving
- Highly developed Excel and numeracy skills, with demonstrable experience of data analysis
- Demonstrable experience of working successfully as part of a cross-disciplinary team, whilst also being able to work on own initiative
- Understanding of donor management and stewardship techniques, and techniques to convert prospects into donors
- A collaborative team player with a proactive approach to identifying opportunities and solving challenges, including sharing and co-managing a pipeline and funder relationships with a colleague
- Eligibility to work in the UK
- A genuine commitment to equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice
- Ability to work flexibly; there will be some evening/weekend work
Desirable
- Educated to degree level, or equivalent standard or relevant professional experience, which demonstrates experience in the field of fundraising and/or equivalent academic
- Confident use of IT, including Teams, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
- An understanding of, or connection to, local communities and business networks across Blackburn with Darwen/East Lancashire that could support the cultivation of new corporate partners or major donors
Safeguarding Recruitment:
IMO Charity is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to undertake appropriate safeguarding checks as well as providing proof of right to work in the UK. The successful applicant can expect to have their personal information entered on to a Single Central Record, which will be shared governing bodies and organisations where applicable.
The person appointed to this post will have contact with vulnerable young people and adults. Therefore, the post holder will require an enhanced Disclosure Barring Service check.
Equality & Diversity:
As we are a diverse charity that respects differences in race, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, faith, background or personal circumstance we welcome all applications. We want everyone to feel valued and included in the IMO Charity and to achieve their full potential. IMO Charity is opposed to any form of discrimination and commits itself to the redress of any inequalities by taking positive action where appropriate.
To Apply
Please send your CV and a cover letter to [email protected] by 7th August 2026
Your CV should include the names and contact details of two referees. It should also include your notice required from an existing employer.
Please thoroughly read through this document before applying as it contains the person specification. Your cover letter should specifically address your qualities and attributes, which are outlined in the Person Specification and linked to the duties and key responsibilities.
Finally, appointment to this role is subject to satisfactory references and DBS clearance.
For an informal discussion, please call Dilys Grocott on 01254 781310 / 07756 983753
Job Types: Full-time, Contract, Permanent
Pay: £33,000.00-£35,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Canteen
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
