Fundraising Manager

Job description

Role description

This is a Senior Fundraising role responsible for driving income growth at Feenix, with a clear and primary focus on securing new funding across corporate partnerships and institutional donors, while retaining and growing existing funding through strong relationship management and stewardship.

As fundraising manager, you will sit as part of the management team, contributing to organisational strategy and shaping Feenix’s overall fundraising approach. You will lead and manage the fundraising function end-to-end ensuring clear direction, strong team performance, and alignment to organisational priorities.

Alongside this leadership responsibility, you are directly accountable for revenue generation. This includes proactively identifying and pursuing new funding opportunities, building and managing a strong pipeline, initiating and leading partnership conversations, and converting these into secured income. Equally, you will ensure the retention and growth of existing funders through consistent, high-quality engagement, delivery, and relationship custodianship.

You will take full ownership of the department’s performance against income targets, balancing strategic oversight with hands-on execution.

This role requires someone who can operate at both a strategic and executional level — a proactive, commercially minded, and results-driven leader who takes full accountability for growing and sustaining income, while leading the team with clarity and care.

Core responsibilities including, but not exclusive to:

Strategy and management team contribution

• Contribute to Feenix’s broader organisational strategy as a member of the management team
• Provide strategic input on income growth, sustainability, and funding diversification
• Shape and lead the fundraising strategy, with a strong focus on corporate partnerships
• Translate organisational priorities into clear fundraising plans, pipelines, and income targets
• Take accountability for tracking and reporting on performance, including monthly reporting to the CEO on revenue, pipeline health, key opportunities, risks, and strategic progress
• Identify risks and opportunities early and adjust strategy accordingly
• Ensure strong alignment between fundraising, communications, and programme delivery

Team leadership and fundraising delivery

• Lead and manage the business partnerships coordinator (corporate giving focused) and senior fundraising coordinator (individual giving focused)
• Set clear priorities, roles, and expectations across the team
• Ensure strong coordination between pipeline development, campaigns, reporting, and communications
• Coach and support team members to grow in confidence and capability
• Build a culture of accountability, ownership, and follow-through
• Ensure consistent, high-quality execution across all fundraising activities

Fundraising and income growth (corporate focus)

• Lead the development and execution of Feenix’s corporate partnerships strategy
• Build and manage a strong pipeline of corporate, trust, and foundation funders
• Identify, pursue, and convert high-value funding opportunities
• Lead key donor engagements, pitches, and negotiations
• Oversee proposal development and ensure a high standard of submissions
• Grow and steward existing partnerships to increase long-term value

Individual giving oversight

• Directly manage and support the senior fundraising coordinator (individual giving), ensuring strong performance, accountability, and growth within the portfolio
• Take overall responsibility for the growth of individual giving, ensuring it contributes meaningfully to Feenix’s income targets
• Work closely with the marketing team to ensure campaigns are well-designed, aligned to organisational priorities, and effectively drive donor acquisition, retention, and engagement
• Ensure individual giving campaigns are strategically planned and executed in line with income targets and broader fundraising goals
• Monitor performance closely, using data and insights to continuously refine approach and improve results

Pipeline, performance and insight

• Maintain oversight of the full fundraising pipeline across all streams, ensuring strong visibility, prioritisation, and momentum
• Track income against targets, manage forecasting, and take accountability for overall fundraising performance
• Work closely with the CEO as an active fundraising partner — collaborating on key opportunities, problem-solving challenges, and driving income growth
• Leverage the CEO’s existing fundraising portfolio and expertise to strengthen strategy, unlock opportunities, and support conversion of high-value partnerships
• Use data and insight to guide decision-making, prioritisation, and course correction
• Report clearly and consistently to the CEO on performance, pipeline health, key opportunities, risks, and progress

Donor Experience & Stewardship

• Ensure a high standard of donor engagement across all funding streams
• Oversee reporting, communication, and relationship management processes
• Maintain strong relationships with key partners and stakeholders
• Ensure consistency, quality, and timeliness in all donor-facing work

What we are looking for:

• Minimum 5+ years’ experience in fundraising, partnerships, or business development, within a comparable organisational context
• Demonstrated track record of personally securing significant annual funding (ideally in the range of R20 million – R40 million+), particularly across corporate and/or institutional partnerships
• Proven ability to originate, pursue, and convert high-value funding opportunities into secured income
• Experience leading and developing a team, with a strong growth mindset and the ability to drive performance in both stable and challenging environments
• Leadership approach that is people-centred, with the ability to navigate pressure, maintain team morale, and support individuals while delivering on targets
• Strong strategic thinking and planning capability, with the ability to translate strategy into clear, actionable plans
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, particularly at a senior (corporate/executive) level
• Ability to balance strategic oversight with hands-on execution
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence, persuade, and represent the organisation effectively

Working environment:

Hybrid model

• Compulsory in office days on Wednesdays and Thursdays (days are subject to change)
• Optional remote work on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays (at own expense to the individual)

Posted on 15 Apr 16:46, Closing date 4 May