Head of Fundraising and Communications

Role Purpose:

The Head of Fundraising & Communications provides strategic leadership for MfM’s fundraising and communications functions, driving income growth, brand visibility, and organisational positioning. As a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), the postholder plays a central role in providing strategic direction and hands-on leadership of fundraising initiatives, strengthening strategic partnerships, and ensuring the financial sustainability of the organisation. The role oversees all revenue streams— institutional, corporate, community, and individual giving— and provides leadership to the Fundraising & Communications team, while working closely with the CEO, to deliver on a shared vision for impact and growth. The role manages a team working across locations, time zones and languages.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic leadership & Fundraising strategy

• Lead the creation and implementation of a comprehensive fundraising strategy, review and update with a focus on diversifying income streams across all donor segments.
• Identify, assess, and lead the development of new fundraising approaches, such as individual giving, corporate partnerships, or other innovative revenue streams – including nature-based solutions, proposing which should become strategic priorities.
• Set ambitious diversification targets and establish monitoring, reporting, and evaluation mechanisms to assess progress, impact, and mitigate risk related to funding volatility.
• Provide thought leadership on emerging fundraising trends and donor landscapes, ensuring MfM remains at the forefront of innovation in resource mobilisation.

Strategic Partnerships & Representation

• Lead MfM’s engagement with institutional donors, foundations, corporates, INGOs, and academic partners, actively enhancing the profile of MfM to external audiences.
• Represent MfM externally in donor forums and strategic networks, at events and publicity opportunities as required.
• Support positioning in consortia bids and partnership negotiations
• Drive stewardship practices to deepen donor engagement and retention.

Relationship building & resource mobilisation

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with existing donors, sponsors and supporters ensuring high standards of donor stewardship and retention, while proactively identifying and engaging new funding partners.
• Oversee the development of compelling proposals and donor communications that effectively articulate MfM’s impact and funding needs.

Communications & Brand stewardship

• Establish clear frameworks constantly adjusted for communications to achieve MfM's purposes, including advocacy and global positioning as thought leadership.
• Provide oversight for strategic communications and brand positioning
• Actively review the organisational communication strategy to provide a cohesive thread to anchor all future communications to the MfM core values and mission.
• Ensure a consistent messaging and tone of voice from the website, through all communications channels and stakeholder communications to amplify Malagasy voices.
• Oversee donor-facing content including website, newsletters, campaigns
• Strengthen communications to reinforce identity and narrative through a framework within which team members can confidently communicate with internal and external audiences while staying true to the MfM tone of voice.

Operational excellence & team leadership

• Provide effective leadership to and management of the Fundraising & communications Team, fostering a collaborative and results oriented environment via day-to-day supportive operational management and effective delegation.
• Working with, leading and inspiring a team located across time zones and locations, ensuring strong team collaboration and active and respectful working together.
• Continuously streamline fundraising processes and tools, ensuring efficiency and professionalism in all activities.
• Advise and support colleagues in interpreting donor strategies, priorities, and requirements, translating these into strong programme and project designs as well as proposals.
• Align fundraising with strartegic priorties and report on these clearly to SMT and to the Board of trustees
• Develop and implement strategies to address donor-related reputational challenges and crises, coordinating external responses, particularly with the Communications Team, as necessary, including anticipatory frameworks and active appropriate engagement of the Board in managing these.
• Ensure that all fundraising activities uphold the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct, in line with MfM’s values and policies.
• Ensure a team culture focused on problem resolution, support, and accountability to enable individuals to thrive and build resilience in a safe environment.
• Oversee volunteer and consultant contributions to enhance resourcing capacity

Grant management, compliance & Safeguarding

• Maintain oversight of donor compliance, reporting, and financial reporting integrity
• Champion safeguarding and ethical fundraising standards
• Ensure adherence to data protection and transparency requirements

Collaborative working & organisational leadership

• Contribute actively to SMT strategic decision-making and budget planning
• Actively convene the proposed fundraising and communications advisory group, calling on Board and other expertise
• Work collaboratively with leads across MfM to develop compelling fundraising narratives for support and engagement.
• Strengthen cross-team processes with Programmes and Finance to improve bid design and reporting
• Actively engage with other leaders to improve efficiency and embed a culture of continuous improvement.

Person specification:

Essential

• At least 8–10 years’ experience in fundraising, partnerships, or communications in INGOs, with 3+ years in leadership positions.
• Proven success in securing multi-year institutional and philanthropic income, including experience in diversifying income streams and developing innovative funding models.
• Demonstrated ability to set, track and report on strategic fundraising priorities, establish targets, and deliver operational results while enhancing an organisation’s reputation and reach.
• Strong history of collaborative leadership, including designing and coordinating complex initiatives across a global team and departments aligned with MfM values and localisation principles
• Excellent communication, networking, relationship-building and negotiating skills
• Excellent writing and presenting skills, with experience of writing copy, proof-reading and report-writing
• Knowledge of donor compliance, safeguarding, and ethical fundraising
• Data-savvy with CRM and insights-led decision making

Desirable

• Experience working in a remote or multi-country team.
• French, Welsh and Malagasy language proficiency desirable.
• Interest in organizational development, culture, and wellbeing.
• Interest in Madagascar’s development and conservation context.

Required: English

Desirable: French, Welsh and Malagasy language proficiency