Fundraising Officer

Role Overview

The Fundraising Officer will play a key role in growing our income from trusts & foundations and corporate supporters. This is a cross-departmental role, reporting to the Director of Fundraising & External Affairs and working closely with the Head of Partnerships. This role is designed to develop into a hybrid fundraising professional, gaining hands-on experience in both trusts & foundations and corporate income generation. You will support high-quality applications, build relationships with funders and donors, and contribute to the delivery of an ambitious fundraising strategy. It’s an exciting opportunity for a motivated fundraiser (or an exceptional communicator keen to move into fundraising) to shape their career in two high-demand specialisms. 

About Drive Forward

We are dedicated to transforming the lives of care-experienced young people by giving them the skills, confidence, and inspiration to build sustainable, fulfilling careers. We work in partnership with employers, policymakers, and supporters to open doors for young people as they move from care to career.

Our work is underpinned by our values: visionary, people-focused, collaborative, and empowering. 

What are the responsibilities of a Fundraising Officer at Drive Forward?

Trusts & Foundations 

• Research and identify new grant opportunities from charitable trusts and foundations. 
• Draft high-quality funding proposals and applications.
• Support cultivation and stewardship of existing funders, ensuring timely reporting and updates.
• Maintain accurate records of applications, deadlines, and funder engagement. 

Corporate Fundraising 

• Work with the Head of Partnerships to identify prospective corporate donors and supporters.
• Assist in developing compelling cases for support tailored to corporate audiences.
• Support stewardship activities including events, communications, and impact reporting.
• Contribute to donor care and recognition, ensuring a positive supporter experience. 

Cross-cutting 

• Provide administrative and research support for income generation across both streams.
• Track performance against fundraising targets, preparing regular pipeline updates.
• Contribute to the organisation’s fundraising communications, presentations, and reports.
• Ensure compliance with GDPR and fundraising best practice.
• Collaborate across Policy, Comms, and Impact to align fundraising with wider organisational priorities. 

What person specifications are we looking for?

Essential 

• Excellent written communication skills (academic, research, or professional writing).
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships.
• Highly organised with good attention to detail.
• Self-motivated, able to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Passion for improving outcomes for care-experienced young people. 

Desirable 

• Experience in fundraising (trusts, foundations, corporate, or similar).
• Knowledge of UK funding landscape for youth, employability, or social mobility.
• Experience using Salesforce or similar CRM.
• Event or donor stewardship experience. 

What we offer you

This is a developmental role designed to help you grow into a hybrid fundraising professional with expertise in both trusts & foundations and corporate fundraising. You will gain direct mentorship from the Director of Fundraising & External Affairs, close collaboration with the Head of Partnerships, and hands-on involvement in shaping a growing income stream. 

You’ll join a passionate, innovative team committed to ensuring care-experienced young people can thrive in their careers — while building a fundraising skill set that will future-proof your career. 

Did we tickle your interest?

Great. To apply, please send your most recent CV and a Cover Letter to recruitment@driveforwardfoundation.org – we’ll only consider applications that include both, a CV and CL.

If you wish to learn more about the role or Drive Forward in general, get in touch using the above email or ring the office at 0207 620 3000.

We look forward to hearing from you!