Fundraising Lead

Join Cycle Sisters as our new Fundraising Lead to help us generate the resources we need to change the lives of more women through our cycling programmes.  

Key info: 

Role title: Fundraising Lead 

Contract type: Self-employed (currently exploring moving to payroll in near future) 

Hours: 14 hours per week.   Hours can be worked flexibly but need to include some fixed hours during weekday standard working hours and ability to occasionally attend evening/weekend events

Duration: 2 year contract with opportunity to extend dependent on funding 

Rate: £23 per hour 

Location: Home-working but need to be based in London for travel to events and activities 

Reporting to: CEO

How would you contribute to Cycle Sisters’ mission? 

Cycle Sisters has grown hugely over the past few years, with an expanded range of programmes and activity. We are keen to continue this journey of growth and have just finalised a new strategy for 2024-2027 which prioritises reaching more women and girls, and ensuring our financial sustainability.  

The Fundraising Lead will play a critical role in supporting our ‘sustainability' strategic priority to ensure Cycle Sisters can access the resources it needs to keep making a difference.   This post-holder will lead on growing Cycle Sisters’ unrestricted income, with a focus on community fundraising and corporate partnerships.    

The post-holder will need to be an excellent networker, confident in representing the organisation externally and able to motivate a range of stakeholders to financially support Cycle Sisters’ work.  

What would you be doing?

Below is a list of responsibilities which provide a broad outline of the role.   This is not an exhaustive list as Cycle Sisters is a small team which requires flexibility.   

This is a new part-time role and we will work with the successful candidate to develop a workplan which is realistic within the hours available.   There will also be support from other team members on some of the areas of work.

General responsibilities 

• Develop strategies to achieve income targets across the areas outlined below 

• Ensure all fundraising initiatives are properly planned, delivered, monitored and evaluated.   All activities should be conducted in adherence to best practice, Cycle Sisters’ ethical policy and charity law. 

• Represent the organisation externally including networking, delivering presentations and speaking at events 

• Work with the Communications & Media Lead to create compelling fundraising messages and materials for a range of audiences 

• Work collaboratively with other team members in Cycle Sisters to maximise all opportunities for fundraising 

Individual Giving and Community Fundraising 

• Oversee event/challenge fundraising, liaising closely with volunteer fundraisers to maximise income and ensure fundraisers feel valued and appreciated 

• Work with the Communications & Media Lead to ensure donors feel valued and appreciated 

• Develop and implement a regular giving strategy, helping us to progress donors from one-off to regular giving  

• Work with the CEO to develop a “membership” scheme to generate regular income from Cycle Sisters’ participant network with incentives and benefits for members 

• Work with an external agency to secure income through digital fundraising 

Corporate Fundraising 

Working closely with the CEO: 

• Develop relationships with existing corporate partners, ensuring partners feel valued and are receiving regular updates

• Research and identify new corporate fundraising prospects.  Develop relationships through networking and representing Cycle Sisters externally.  

• Create tailored packages to secure in-kind and financial support from corporate partners 

• Develop ideas for earned income services for corporate partners e.g. led rides 

Who are we looking for? 

Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single requirement.   At Cycle Sisters, we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organisation, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with everything listed below, we would encourage you to still apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Please note that we are only able to accept applications from female applicants due to the nature of our organisation and cause including the fact that the successful candidate would be required to interact with, represent and work within women-only spaces.

Essential 

• At least 3 years’ experience in a charity fundraising role or similar roles 

• Evidenced track record of personally meeting fundraising targets in previous roles 

• Networking, negotiation and people skills with the ability to inspire, motivate and build relationships 

• Public speaking skills

• Ability to develop and implement strategies as well as be involved with operational delivery, requiring good attention to detail 

• Written communication skills with the ability to tailor messaging, pitches and projects to differing donor needs and requirements 

• Organisational, planning and project management skills, with ability to be self-directed and work independently 

• Research skills, including identifying potential supporters and prospects 

• Experience and understanding of Muslim communities and of the networks and stakeholders Cycle Sisters engages with

• Commitment to the aims and values of Cycle Sisters including inclusion and diversity 

Desirable

• Well networked with corporates including (but not exclusively) within the Muslim community

• Experience of and passion for cycling, active travel or sport in general

Accessibility and further questions

One of Cycle Sister's core values is inclusion and we aim to reflect this in our recruitment processes. We encourage applications from a diverse range of people and are keen that our application process is accessible to those who are neurodivergent or have other access needs.

If you require any particular adjustments during the recruitment process or would like to understand any elements of this role's structure, contracting arrangements, responsibilities or anything else related to this role, please contact us.  

What is Cycle Sisters? 

Cycle Sisters is an award-winning charity which supports Muslim women and girls to change their lives through cycling.  We are passionate about ensuring everyone has access to cycling without having to compromise cultural or religious values.   

We have a thriving network of over 1500 women and operate women-only cycle groups across 10 London boroughs, led by a team of nearly 100 volunteer Ride Leaders.  We also have activities for teenage girls and our Tri Sisters project supports Muslim women to take on triathlons.  

Our work is changing lives.  In our most recent impact survey,  92% of our participants reported improved physical and mental health, 85% felt more connected to their local community and 90% felt more confident in general.  
 

Why join Cycle Sisters? 

• We offer a flexible working opportunity which can fit around other work and life commitments.   Many of our team are mums who work part-time at Cycle Sisters. 

• We offer the autonomy to shape both the role and Cycle Sisters’ future development and be part of making a real difference to the lives of women and girls. 

• We offer access to free/discounted places for exciting cycling events and challenges. 

• We are an inclusive and supportive organisation which values diversity.