Fundraising Manager

Position description

Are you an experienced fundraiser with a track record of securing and managing large grants? Do you enjoy finding creative and proactive ways to build relationships with new and existing funders? We’re looking for a talented fundraiser to join us. Reporting to the Development Director and working closely with our project leads, this role will be a crucial addition to our mission-driven team. Individuals who are passionate about public interest journalism and its power to drive real-world change are encouraged to apply.

About the Bureau

The Bureau is the UK’s largest independent non-profit investigative journalism organisation. In the last year, our investigations were published in over 100 countries across local, national, international, specialist, TV and digital platforms. Our four global investigative teams work with reporters around the world on priority cross-border issues – environment, health, dirty money and big tech. In addition, our UK-focused Bureau Local team uses an innovative community-led approach to cover issues like insecure work, migrant rights and family courts, amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities. Founded in 2010, we’ve grown from a small group of journalists to a diverse team delivering hard-hitting investigations that have prompted inquiries, sparked legal challenges and informed policy change in the UK and across the world. This role will initially focus on the work of our Bureau Local and dirty money teams.

Our fundraising

At the Bureau, our funders and supporters are vital. We are almost entirely funded through grants and donations so – put simply – without their support, we wouldn’t be here. 

Although our supporters may come from different backgrounds or have varied priorities, they all share a common goal: tackling the issues across our society that are eroding democracy and driving inequality. They support our work to hold those in power accountable, uncover new evidence to support positive change, and empower citizens.

The Bureau has experienced significant growth over the past three years, increasing our annual income to £2.8m and expanding to a team of more than 40 people. While the majority of our income comes from grants, there is strong potential for further fundraising growth, and we are actively working to diversify our funding streams beyond trusts and foundations.

This is an exciting time to join the Bureau as we continue to build on our strong relationships with existing supporters while exploring new funding opportunities.

Role and Responsibilities

Support from trusts and foundations is our main source of philanthropic income so we are looking for somebody with experience in grants fundraising who can quickly apply their skills and expertise. You’ll work closely with our Development Director to report to and liaise with current funders, manage a pipeline of prospects and submit successful applications to secure new grants. You’ll also work closely with our other Fundraising Manager, who manages a pipeline focused on our environment, global health, and big tech work, and may be asked to work on these areas from time to time. In addition, you will support in building a major donor programme to diversify and strengthen our funding base. You will collaborate with colleagues at all levels across the organisation, from impact producers to reporters to finance and operations, in a supportive and welcoming culture that values teamwork and shared success.

As an excellent communicator, you will be able to take complex issues and translate them into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with funders and stakeholders. You will also be passionate about building strong relationships with our funders and supporters.

While experience in high net worth fundraising would be a valuable bonus, it is not essential. You don’t need to have raised funds for non-profit media before, but you do need to be excited by our work and able to express the Bureau’s key areas of work and impact in an accessible, accurate and compelling way. We’re a small team, so you’ll need the willingness to pitch in on fundraising tasks – big or small – to ensure the Bureau is in the best possible position to pursue its mission.

We envisage this as a full-time, primarily hybrid working role, working from our London office two/three times a week. 

Skills and Experience

• Excellent fundraiser with a demonstrable track record of 3+ years’ experience successfully raising significant funds for charities or non-profits and managing relationships with funders (foundations – essential, high net worth individuals – desirable);
• Strong background in managing grants admin, including due diligence and processing agreements;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, able to speak and write English fluently;
• Great analytical skills, with experience of researching and identifying new funding sources for various projects;
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and manage multiple priorities;
• Experience of working with databases and funding pipelines;
• Exceptional time management skills, a professional attitude and meticulous attention to detail;
• Resourceful and able to think creatively with strong problem solving skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills, able to collaborate at all levels across the organisation.
• Experience in securing funds for journalism, social justice, civil society, human rights or related causes, particularly from UK funders, is desirable but not essential;

Application instructions

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