We are looking for an engaging and dynamic fundraising specialist with a track record of income generation through trusts and foundations, to take on this exciting new role at this critical point of our organisational growth. 

Global Philanthropy Manager 

Location: Home-based, in any global location 

Reporting to: CEO 

Hours: 2-4 days per week to be worked flexibly 

Contract Type: Freelancer / Self-employed

About EduSpots

EduSpots is an innovative, dynamic, and community-driven UK and Ghanaian registered charity which connects, trains, and equips voluntary community educators (named ‘Catalysts’) to drive community-led change through education spaces named ‘Spots’. Our vision is of our world where communities unite to create the futures they want to see, through education.

Since 2016, through collaborating with over 400 local voluntary Catalysts, who take a central leadership role in the development of the network, we have supported 50 communities in creating and running community-led and owned education spaces named ‘Spots’’. Together, we are developing a model for a community-led education space with accompanying network engagement that could have global relevance. Read our model of change document here. 

Our Ghana-based team creates collaborative learning opportunities through three leadership programmes for Catalysts which are increasingly facilitated by the EduSpots app: the Ignite, Catalyse and Inspire Mentoring Programmes. These enable the Catalysts to lead EduKidz (early years education), DigLit (digital literacy), EcoSTEM (STEM and environmental education) and Ignite Equity (gender equity) clubs for learners typically aged 3-16, alongside locally designed education projects, reaching over 15,000 learners of all ages annually. Read our 2023 Annual Report here.

We are in an exciting period of our development, having more than doubled our income, programme breadth and reach in the two years, with a recent independent evaluation by Expectation State offering further evidence in support of our model’s outcomes. We have been recently selected for two accelerator programmes, who are supporting us as we consider the scaling potential of our model. 

We won the Tes International Award in 2018 and the Big Give Supporters’ Choice Award in 2022, and we were recently selected as a finalist for the 2023 Their World Scale-Up Innovation Prize. In 2021, our Founder was a Finalist in UNESCO-backed The Varkey Foundation’s $1 million Global Teacher Prize.

We are excited by our future. Do visit www.eduspots.org for further information.

About this role

We are looking for an engaging and dynamic fundraising specialist and team player with a proven track record of income generation through trusts and foundations, to take on this exciting new role at this exciting point of our organisational growth. 

Over the last two years, EduSpots has significantly grown its income, and advanced the quality, scope and reach of its operations in Ghana, with further plans for expansion in the years ahead. We are looking for an individual that understands the value of community-led change, with all our work centred on, and resulting from the actions of 400 locally-based educational Catalysts. 

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will take on the responsibility for growing our income generation with a focus on trusts and foundations. We are looking for an experienced individual, who is able to work closely with the CEO to develop larger fundraising partnerships at this exciting point in our development. 

Depending on availability and experience, this individual may oversee a small part-time fundraising team, comprising a Fundraising Manager, Trusts and Foundations Manager, and Communications Manager, alongside interns and other income-generation roles that may emerge. The role has the potential to grow into a ‘Head of Fundraising’ position over time. 

This is an exciting and flexible opportunity for someone who is passionate about educational equity, and wants to work in a creative, fast-paced and yet friendly team, with huge ambitions for the reach of our unique model for promoting community-led change through a holistic, co-creative and playful model of education. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities 

The key responsibilities of this role are to:

• Lead the development and execution of a global fundraising strategy that focuses on medium-large and multi-year commitments from trusts and foundations, as well as potentially the development of corporate partnerships which align to EduSpots’ values and/or donations from major donors, dependent on experience. 
• Work with the CEO, and Ghana-based Heads of Programmes and Head of Operations to develop and write strategic programme and organisational bids, feeding into the wider strategic development of the organisation. 
• Create and implement robust policies and procedures for donor identification, cultivation and tracking to ensure efforts are coordinated at a global level and ensure that opportunities to acquire new supporters are fully explored.
• Work with the CEO and boards to identify potential new supporters through their networks, also taking an active role in networking to position EduSpots within key audiences for potential support. 
• Work with the CEO and Communications Manager to develop a compelling case for support and a suite of materials for donor engagement that can showcase the importance of EduSpots’ work internationally.
• Create bespoke stewardship plans for existing donors that demonstrate the impact of their support, foster mutual trust and secure renewed support for EduSpots’ work. 
• Oversee the organization of EduSpots’ relationships with trusts and foundations, and other major donors, including oversight of reporting, database management and wider communication, working closely with the CEO.
• Monitor and analyse philanthropic trends and best practices to enhance fundraising effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with international fundraising regulations and ethical standards.
• Depending on experience and time availability, manage and mentor a team of fundraising professionals to achieve targets and organisational objectives. This includes an experienced trusts and foundations manager (1 day a week) with a focus on small-medium UK based family trusts, and wider community fundraising and communications roles in the team. 

Other:

• To contribute to the Charity’s fundraising and other strategies, as well as supporting the development of the annual business plan and budget, and assisting with the preparation of Annual Report and supporting the wider team with professional development. 
• Ensure all administrative tasks relating to the role are carried out accurately.
• To comply at all times with the organisation’s policies, procedures and performance expectations of staff as set out in the Staff and Catalysts Handbook.
• Any other duties as may be reasonably required under the role.

Skills, Experience and Attributes

Essential

• Proven track record of income generation – ideally in a similar education / international development organisation.
• Extensive experience with writing compelling and successful grant applications, with a focus on 5 to 6 figures (GBP) in size. 
• Experience of establishing and managing effective relationships with trusts, foundations and grant-makers, and reporting to funds and donors, with strong database management. 
• Strong knowledge of a wide range of UK-based funders, as well as of some international (European / US based) funders.
• Strong understanding of programme development and management, ideally in the education context. 
• Some experience of communications and marketing in an NGO context is needed; experience of wider fundraising such as corporate partnerships, individual giving and campaigns may be an advantage but is not a requirement for this role. 
• Friendly and flexible team player, with an ability to work with people across diverse contexts, inspiring the team and wider colleagues towards achieving our shared goals. 
• Ability to work effectively in a remote based role with minimal day-to-day support 
• Outstanding interpersonal skills alongside excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to advocate for our work online and in person. 
• Experience of managing a team would be advantageous though not required for this role. 
• Ability to use own initiative and work to tight and competing deadlines
• Good IT skills – Word, Excel, GoogleDrive, etc.  
• Highly aligned with EduSpots’ key values (community leadership, sustainable change, teamwork, play, passion and care) alongside a core belief in, and understanding of, community-driven change. 

How to apply:

Send your tailored CV and cover letter to recruitment@eduspots.org by Monday 14th April 2025.