Director of Fundraising

BPX Electromechanical Company Ltd.; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - GBP 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health charity is seeking a Director of Fundraising to drive significant income growth, targeting £10 million annually. The successful candidate will develop a comprehensive fundraising strategy, manage donor relations, and lead a high-performing team. This hybrid role offers flexibility and a supportive work culture along with generous perks including a Wellbeing Allowance and annual leave. Candidates should have a strong track record in fundraising and excellent leadership skills.

Benefits

31 days annual leave

Wellbeing Allowance

Pension contributions

Cycle to work scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Significant experience in fundraising leadership, ideally in charity or research.
• Demonstrated ability to secure high‑value gifts.
• Strong strategic and analytical approach to decision making.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver fundraising strategy aligned with organizational priorities.
• Secure significant gifts from donors and foundations.
• Provide leadership and management to the fundraising team.

Skills

Senior leadership experience in fundraising

Proven track record of income growth

Experience leading fundraising teams

Strong commercial acumen

Excellent communication skills

Job description

Director of Fundraising

Hybrid - London/Home

Vacancy listed 25/01/2026

Details

Join MQ and help transform mental health research.

At MQ, we champion and fund world‑class research to transform the lives of everyone affected by a mental health condition. We strive to create a world where mental illness is better understood, diagnosed, treated and, hopefully someday, prevented. We believe research is the first step towards making that a reality.

We connect scientists with supporters, people with lived experience of mental health illnesses, policymakers, and practitioners, so together we can strive to understand mental health, improve treatments and prevent mental illnesses.

Supported by our world‑class Science Council, MQ funds research globally and works in partnership with leading organisations in the field including Wellcome Trust, the Mental Health Mission, DATAMIND, University of Oxford, Glasgow University and Kings College. In the US, we work through our sister charity the MQ Foundation.

What you’ll be doing:

The Director of Fundraising is a senior, strategic leadership role responsible for driving significant and sustainable growth in income for MQ, with a target of achieving £10 million annual turnover over the next five years.

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the postholder will set and deliver an ambitious, data‑led fundraising strategy across philanthropy, trusts and foundations, partnerships and other income streams. They will personally steward high‑value relationships while building a high‑performing, commercially minded fundraising function capable of supporting MQ’s long‑term mission.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and deliver MQ’s overall fundraising and income generation strategy, aligned to organisational priorities
• Set clear income targets and KPIs across all fundraising streams
• Personally lead and secure six- and seven‑figure gifts, grants and contracts
• Build and maintain strong, long‑term relationships with major donors, funders and partners
• Ensure excellent stewardship, reporting and donor experience across all income streams

Pipeline, Performance & Data Oversight

• Provide strategic oversight of the fundraising pipeline, ensuring a healthy balance of prospecting, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship
• Use data, insight and CRM reporting to track performance, forecast income and manage risk
• Identify income concentration risks and develop mitigation strategies
• Drive continuous improvement in fundraising processes, systems and ways of working
• Own the Fundraising budget, including income forecasting, expenditure control and cost‑of‑fundraising oversight
• Work closely with the Finance team to ensure accurate income phasing, reporting and financial planning
• Produce regular reports for the CEO, Executive Team and Board on income performance, pipeline health and risks
• Ensure all funding is managed in line with grant conditions, donor expectations and regulatory requirements

Leadership & Team Development

• Provide strategic leadership and line management to the team
• Build, develop and retain a high‑performing, motivated fundraising team
• Foster a collaborative, ambitious and accountable fundraising culture
• Support succession planning and talent development within the Fundraising function

External Profile, Partnerships & Thought Leadership

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• Represent MQ at high‑level events, conferences and networking opportunities
• Strengthen MQ’s profile with funders, corporates, policymakers and partners
• Work closely with the Board and Science Council to maximise fundraising and partnership opportunities
• Undertake speaking engagements where appropriate to generate visibility & awareness
• Act as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, contributing to organisational strategy and decision‑making
• Support the CEO with Board engagement, particularly around fundraising strategy and performance
• Ensure fundraising activity complies with all relevant legislation, regulation and best practice
• Uphold MQ’s values, reputation and commitment to ethical fundraising

Person Specification:

We’d love to hear from you, if you have:

• Significant senior leadership experience in fundraising or income generation, ideally within the charity, research or mission‑driven sector
• Proven track record of delivering substantial income growth and securing high‑value gifts
• Experience leading and developing high‑performing fundraising teams
• Strong commercial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting and performance management
• Demonstrable experience of managing complex stakeholder relationships
• Strategic, analytical and data‑driven approach to decision‑making
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, including at Board and senior stakeholder level
• Strong understanding of the UK research funding or philanthropic landscape
• Clear alignment with MQ’s mission and values

Highly desirable

• Knowledge of mental health research and lived‑experience‑led approaches
• Experience of US philanthropy or international fundraising
• Experience working with Boards, trustees or scientific advisory groups
• Familiarity with modern CRM systems and fundraising analytics

Why Join MQ?

We offer a great working experience within a friendly team. Hybrid working (in the London office Mondays and Tuesdays, with the remaining days from home). We are located near Barbican Tube.

Plus, we offer lots of generous benefits and training opportunities.

We’re a Sunday Times Top Company to work for.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please submit your CV and covering letter by the deadline.

Please note, we typically start interviewing within two weeks of the job advert going live. We reserve the right to close the job before the deadline based on the volume of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

We believe in equality and inclusion and we welcome job applications from everyone, provided you meet the criteria for the job.

Safer recruitment is important to us and the successful applicant will be asked to provide two references. They will also be required to complete a safeguarding‑declaration and undertake a DBS check.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Flexible working: As a mental health charity, staff wellbeing is of paramount importance. We operate a core hours policy (10‑4) to encourage flexible working and staff are mainly home based with the requirement to come into the office two days per week. A standard full‑time working week is 35 hours, plus an hour for lunch breaks.

Holidays: Annual holiday entitlement of 31 days (inc. office closure between Xmas and New Year) plus bank holidays.

Wellbeing Allowance: MQ provides an allowance of up to £1200 per annum for each employee to spend on activities that increase their wellbeing. This is paid through payroll and is taxable.

Virtual GP & Other wellbeing services - Get quick GP appointments and support with cancer and caring responsibilities through our Zurich benefits scheme.

Cycle to work scheme: An interest‑free loan is available to enable employees to purchase a bike and accessories, repaid via equal deductions from the employee’s salary over 12 months.

Employee Assistance Programme: All employees and their families have access to a 24‑hour confidential advice and support line.

Counselling: Employees have access to a number of free face‑to‑face sessions, via the EAP scheme.

Pension: MQ makes contributions of 5% and employees make contributions of 3%.

Life Assurance - Up to 4 x your salary in the event of death in service.

Season Ticket Loan: An interest free season ticket loan is available, repaid via equal deductions from the employee’s salary over 12 months.

Personal Development: We value employee development and review individual training needs through our performance management system. HR also runs internal management development sessions for all staff.