ThinkForward
Fundraising Manager
Job information pack

About ThinkForward

ThinkForward exists to support young people to create better and brighter futures. We want them to
be able to identify, realise and shape their aspirations and be ready to make a successful transition
into work.

Young people experiencing barriers such as challenging relationships, living in low-income
households, or growing up in areas with a lack of access to opportunities can be confronted with
hurdles. Without the right support, these barriers can lead to a high risk of unemployment and
long-term effects on career and life chances.

There are more than 900,000 16-24-year-olds in the UK who are not at school or college, or don’t
have a job or training place. Our ambition is to prevent young people becoming one of these
statistics.

In 2026, we will be supporting more than 1,500 young people.

For more information on ThinkForward, our vision and mission, our programmes and equalities
manifesto, please visit our website.

Our values

Our values are more than words; they are the principles that guide our actions and decisions every
day. By embodying these values, we create a positive and empowering environment for ourselves,
our colleagues, and the young people we serve.

Read more about how our values are embedded in our work here.

Our principles

ThinkForward is  committed  to  safeguarding  and  promoting  the  welfare of  children,  young  people,
and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment.

ThinkForward is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals
are  encouraged  regardless  of  age, disability,  sex,  gender  identity,  sexual  orientation,  pregnancy
and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

As a registered Disability Confident employer, ThinkForward has an accessible recruitment process.
We offer interviews to all applicants who meet the job requirements and who declare themselves as
having a disability. If you need support, such as materials in larger print, dyslexic-friendly fonts or
adjustments for the interview, please contact jobs@thinkforward.org.uk and we will ensure you have
what you require to successfully complete this process.

About our programmes

The FutureMe programme provides five years of
personalised coaching and employability
activities to get young people ready for the world
of work. Coaches build trusted relationships,
supporting young people to take control, find
solutions to challenges, develop skills and
create a positive vision for their future.

Specialised ready for work activities support
young people to get familiar with the workplace,
become inspired and identify a pathway to their
chosen career. We run this programme in 15
schools in North and East London, Nottingham
and Kent.

About our programmes

The Making Strides programme operates in
London, working with young adults who have
learning disabilities and/or autism to support
them into sustainable paid employment.

Coaches provide long-term support to prepare
young people for sustainable paid employment.
Young people take part in insight visits, work
placements and business mentoring to build
their experience and develop skills and
capabilities. We also work closely with parents
to engage them in the opportunities and
benefits of the programme.

About our programmes

The Future Leaders programme works with
young Black men and young Black and Asian
women that are at risk of exclusion or have
been excluded from mainstream school.

In London, young Black students are more likely
to be excluded from school than white British
students and young Black men experience
disproportionately high unemployment rates.

To tackle these issues, Future Leaders supports
Black students in alternative provisions and
schools to make a successful transition into a
post-16 destination, overcome the barriers they
may face such as a lack of networks, social
capital and soft skills, and prepare them to be
ready to find a fulfilling career.

About the role

ThinkForward is poised to launch an ambitious new three-year strategy, continuing our mission to
ensure under-served young people experience equity in their journey from school towards the world
of work.  Our ambition is to reach more young people than ever before – supporting them to beat
the odds stacked against them through the transformative power of coaching.

We cannot deliver on this ambition without ensuring a sustainable funding base. We are striving to
diversify and accelerate our income growth, so we can continue to reach under-served young
people now and for years to come.

This new Fundraising Manager role will report directly into the Director of Development, working
alongside two colleagues, and lead on our income generation activities in relation to trusts and
foundations, as well as supporting our individual giving activities.

About You
• You will be able to demonstrate significant success in high value fundraising, bringing a

specialism in trust and foundation income generation as a minimum alongside other core skills.
• You will be a brilliant communicator, with a flair for writing and a high level of attention to detail.
• You will be experienced in working to, and achieving targets, and able to work at pace under a

healthy level of pressure, whilst maintaining the highest standard of work.

• You will be skilled in collaboration and relationship building with both internal and external

stakeholders.

If this sounds like your kind of role, we want to hear from you!

For job description and person specification details please click here.

Please send your CV and cover letter to jobs@thinkforward.org.uk

Your cover letter should be no more than 2 pages and should outline
your suitability for the role as described in the person specification. If
you require any reasonable adjustments during the application
period, including submitting your application via a telephone call,
please email jobs@thinkforward.org.uk so we can make
arrangements for you.

The details

Permanent, full-time (37.5 hours per week)
From £43,000 per annum
Hybrid, within commuting distance of London, with regular in person work days

Contract:
Salary:
Location:
Closing Date:          16th January 2026
Interviews:              Late January/ Early February 2026
Start Date:              ASAP

ThinkForward offer a range of employee benefits including:
• Pro rata 25 days annual leave
• 3 additional days’ leave for office closure days between Christmas and new year
• Up to 2 days’ leave for volunteering or 4 half days to support wellbeing
• A commitment to personal development
• 4.5% employer pension contributions - 1.5% more than the statutory minimum of 3%
•
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee discounts and rewards scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Flexible bank holidays

Interest free employee loans

ThinkForward

0300 102 4475

info@thinkforward.org.uk
www.thinkforward.org.uk

Bluesky: @thinkforwarduk.bsky.social
Instagram: @thinkforwarduk
LinkedIn: thinkforward-uk

ThinkForward is a charity registered with the Charity Commission.
Registration number 1152862.