Executive Director of Fundraising & Digital Appointment Brief December 2025
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Appointment Brief | 2025
Welcome Thank you for your interest in the role of Executive Director of Fundraising and Digital at the Refugee Council. This is a pivotal moment for our organisation, our partners, and most importantly, the people we exist to support. Every day, we meet individuals and families who have survived conflict, persecution and unimaginable loss. They arrive in the UK seeking not just safety but understanding, dignity and the chance to rebuild their lives. At the Refugee Council, we walk alongside them, offering practical support, advocacy, and a belief in their potential. Our mission is grounded in compassion, justice and the conviction that every person seeking refuge deserves to be treated with humanity. I stepped into the role of Interim CEO because I believe fiercely in this mission. We are an organisation with deep roots, a proud history, and a future that must be ambitious, innovative and unafraid to lead national conversations. The need has never been greater, and neither has the opportunity to make meaningful and lasting change.
We are looking for someone who brings courage, creativity and clarity of purpose. Someone who can champion a culture of collaboration, inspire generosity across diverse communities, and harness digital innovation to increase our impact. Above all, we want a leader who shares our belief that every refugee should have the chance to thrive in safety. If this resonates with you, if you feel compelled to stand with us, to push boundaries, and to help create a more compassionate future, we would be delighted to hear from you. Thank you for considering joining us at such a significant moment. Belinda Phipps Interim Chief Executive Refugee Council
This role sits at the heart of that ambition. We are seeking a strategic, values driven leader who can transform how we connect with the public, strengthen our financial resilience, and build a powerful digital presence that reflects the urgency and humanity of our work. You will shape how people experience our mission, from supporters and partners to those who turn to us in moments of crisis.
Appointment Brief | 2025
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About us We see a Britain where refugees find safety and have a fair chance to rebuild purposeful, happy lives, contributing to our communities. It is a vision rooted in dignity and shaped by the belief that everyone deserves the chance to live in stability and to thrive. Our mission is to turn that vision into reality. We support refugees to rebuild their lives, integrate into communities and play a part in Britain. We share the evidence from our frontline services with government to help build integrated and happy communities that work for all of us. Every day, we work alongside refugees and people seeking asylum as they navigate moments of profound change. We offer practical help when people first arrive, specialist support as they settle, and steady guidance through systems that can be complex and overwhelming. Whether someone is rebuilding a family life, recovering from trauma or taking first steps towards independence, we are there to offer stability, understanding and a pathway forward. We also work to improve the systems that shape people’s lives. By bringing together the insights of lived experience, frontline practice and strong partnerships, we help create approaches that are fair, humane and grounded in what genuinely makes a difference. Our work is strengthened by the voices and experiences of the people we support, ensuring that our services and our advocacy reflect real needs and real possibilities.
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Appointment Brief | 2025
Our values guide how we do this work. Compassion sits at the centre of every interaction, reminding us to meet each person with care, respect and empathy. Integrity shapes our decisions and the standards we set for ourselves. Collaboration underpins the way we work with colleagues, partners and communities, because lasting change is always a shared effort. We strive for inclusion, creating an environment where everyone feels they belong and where lived experience is recognised as expertise. And we are motivated by hope, by the belief that with the right support people can recover, rebuild and contribute fully to the communities around them. Together, our vision, mission and values reflect who we are and the future we are working towards. They guide our services, inspire our partnerships and ensure that every step we take is focused on helping people find safety, rebuild their lives and feel at home.
Strategy The Refugee Council is entering a new phase in its development. With our previous organisational strategy now complete, we are looking ahead to a future shaped by fresh thinking, renewed purpose and a commitment to supporting people seeking safety in a rapidly changing world. Over the coming years we expect demand for our specialist services to grow, the policy landscape to continue evolving and the need for strong, compassionate voices in the sector to become even more vital. Our future plans will focus on strengthening the support we offer, increasing our impact and building the partnerships needed to create long lasting change. We want to ensure that every person who turns to us is met with high quality, trauma informed services, and that the insights of lived experience continue to shape how we design and deliver our work. We expect to deepen our influence at national and local levels, using evidence and frontline experience to help create a system that is fair, humane and effective. Digital transformation and long term financial resilience will be central to this next chapter. We want to broaden the ways people connect with our mission, engage supporters in more meaningful and personalised journeys, and build a sustainable funding base that enables us to respond confidently to future needs. The Executive Director of Fundraising and Digital will be a key leader in shaping this direction. They will help define our strategic priorities, strengthen our public presence and ensure we have the resources, insight and digital capability needed to deliver our ambitions. This is a moment of opportunity for the Refugee Council. Joining us now means playing a central role in shaping the organisation’s future and helping to create a more compassionate and effective environment for people seeking safety in the UK.
Appointment Brief | 2025
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Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
Equity, diversity and inclusion are central to the work of the Refugee Council and to the culture we are building.
We are committed to creating an organisation where colleagues, volunteers, partners and the people we support feel respected, valued and able to contribute their strengths. Our aim is to ensure that everyone has a fair opportunity to thrive, regardless of background, identity or lived experience. We know this requires sustained focus and practical action. In recent years we have strengthened our internal EDIB framework, introduced staff led networks, expanded training and development, and taken steps to ensure our recruitment and progression processes are fair and accessible.
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Appointment Brief | 2025
We have also increased opportunities for people with lived experience of the asylum system to shape our work, recognising the insight and expertise they bring. We are committed to continuing this progress. Our future plans include further investment in inclusive leadership, more consistent use of data to identify and address disparities, and deeper engagement with colleagues and communities to ensure our organisational culture reflects our values. We want the Refugee Council to be a place where difference is welcomed, where everyone feels they belong and where equity is integral to how we work and the impact we have.
Finances Income and expenditure Data for financial year ending 31 March 2025 The Refugee Council’s work is funded through a mix of voluntary donations, grants and statutory income. In recent years we have generated surplus income which has significantly grown our reserve levels – leading to higher unrestricted reserves than our reserves policy. 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years saw a planned spend down on these reserves, investing in key strategic areas, and to ensure the charity falls within our reserves policy by 2026/27.
Income
Donations and gifts from individuals Legacies Donations from corporates Trust income and general grants Investments Resettlement Children’s Services Integration Advocacy and Awareness Raising Therapeutic Services
Our total income for 2024/25 was £14.9m, a reduction of £5.8m from last year. The drop in income was mainly due to exceptional legacy income in the previous year of £3.9m, combined with emergency appeal income attached to our Ukraine Crisis Appeal. Total expenditure was £19.6m. This included investment in services, fundraising and new digital systems. Alongside increased investment for Destitution, Children’s Services, and Advocacy and Awareness Raising reflected rising demand and strategic priorities. The Refugee Council recorded a deficit of £4.7m, compared with a £1.3m surplus in 2023/24, following the planned use of restricted and designated reserves.
Expenditure
Raising Funds Resettlement Children’s Services Integration Advocacy and Awareness Raising Therapeutic Services Destitution
This careful stewardship enables us to reach more than 15,000 people each year. Appointment Brief | 2025
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Organisation Chart Executive Director of Fundraising and Digital
Fundraising and Digital Project Co-Ordinator (fixed term to Apr 26)
Senior Trust Fundraising Manager
Business Development Manager
Senior Trust Officer x 2
Head of Development
Business Development Manager
Business Development Officer
Head of Fundraising and Philanthropy
Head of Digital
Digital Officer
Prospect Research Manager
Stewardship and Events Manager
Philanthropy Manager
Senior Philanthropy Executive
Public Fundraising Manager (Stewardship) Digital and Email Marketing Officer Supporter Care and Fundraising Officer
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Appointment Brief | 2025
Public Fundraising Manager (Acquisition)
Fundraising Marketing Officer
Role Description Job title:
Executive Director of Fundraising & Digital
Salary: £90,000 Location:
Hybrid with travel to head office in Stratford and our services as and when needed
Reporting to:
Chief Executive
Direct Reports: Head of Fundraising and Philanthropy Head of Digital Head of Development Fixed term Fundraising and Digital Project Coordinator (to April 2026)
Purpose The Executive Director of Fundraising & Digital is a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, accountable for ensuring the Refugee Council’s financial growth, supporter engagement, and digital transformation. The role provides strategic leadership across fundraising, digital platforms, brand guardianship, and supporter experience, ensuring these functions deliver ambitious income targets, expand public reach, and align with the organisation’s mission and values. As the executive lead for income generation and digital innovation, the postholder drives improvements in fundraising strategy, supporter acquisition, donor stewardship, and digital content delivery. They embed a culture of creativity, accountability, and continuous improvement, ensuring fundraising and digital activity is ethical, compliant, and maximises long term sustainability.
They provide authoritative advice to the Chief Executive, Board, and Committees, ensuring robust income planning, brand positioning, and digital resilience. The Executive Director builds and leads a high performing Fundraising & Digital directorate, fostering a culture of empowerment, innovation, equity, diversity, and inclusion. They act as joint guardian of the Refugee Council brand, ensuring consistency and impact across all channels, and model the organisation’s values, enabling staff and volunteers to deliver outstanding fundraising performance and dynamic digital engagement that strengthens public support for refugees and people seeking asylum.
Appointment Brief | 2025
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Key Responsibilities Strategic Fundraising Leadership
Directorate Leadership
Lead the Refugee Council’s fundraising strategy, setting ambitious but achievable income targets and securing sustainable restricted and unrestricted funding. Provide clear analysis and recommendations to the Chief Executive, Board, and Committees to support informed decision making. Oversee donor acquisition, supporter journeys, and stewardship, embedding a culture of ethical fundraising and long term value creation that sustains the charity’s work.
Build and lead a high performing Fundraising & Digital directorate, setting clear objectives, KPIs, and accountability frameworks. Inspire, motivate, and coach staff to deliver outstanding results, fostering collaboration, professional development, and continuous improvement across the team.
Digital Strategy & Brand Guardianship Drive the organisation’s digital strategy, ensuring compelling content creation, a dynamic online presence, and effective use of digital channels to support income growth and public engagement. Act as joint guardian of the Refugee Council brand, overseeing brand marketing, digital campaigns, and social media activity. Ensure brand consistency across all platforms and measure impact through data driven evaluation.
Supporter Engagement & Public Profile Strengthen the supporter base and public profile of the Refugee Council. Oversee engagement across fundraising, communications, and advocacy, ensuring alignment of messaging and maximised impact. Champion storytelling and innovative digital approaches to expand reach, influence public attitudes, and build a broad based supporter network.
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Appointment Brief | 2025
Compliance & Risk Management Ensure all fundraising and digital activity complies with UK law, GDPR, and sector best practice. Champion ethical fundraising, oversee due diligence with external agencies, and provide assurance to the Board and Chief Executive on income resilience, reputational risk, and compliance.
Executive Leadership & External Representation Contribute to corporate leadership as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, jointly accountable for delivering the Refugee Council’s strategy and impact. Represent the organisation externally with donors, partners, and stakeholders, promoting confidence in the Refugee Council’s fundraising, brand, and digital innovation. Act as a visible, inspiring leader who models the organisation’s values and champions creativity, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Person Specification Qualifications and Professional Memberships •
Extensive senior leadership experience in fundraising and income generation
Competencies (Skills & Behaviours) from Leadership & Management Competency Framework - Level 5 •
Strategic Leadership
Evidence of continuous professional development in fundraising, digital strategy, and leadership
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Relationship & Stakeholder Management
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People & Performance Management
Experience in leading digital transformation within a complex organisation(s) - Desirable
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Communication & Influence
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Analytical Thinking & decision making
Technical Competencies (Experience and Knowledge)
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Finance & Digital Competence
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Proven track record of delivering significant income growth across multiple fundraising streams (individual giving, legacies, major donors, trusts, statutory)
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Demonstrable experience of brand development and/or guardianship, within a fundraising context, ensuring consistency and impact across channels
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Considerable experience of integrating fundraising and digital approaches to drive supporter engagement and public profile
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Strong background in ethical fundraising, compliance with UK law, GDPR, and sector best practice
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Considerable experience of advising and influencing at Board/Trustee level and representing the organisation externally with donors, partners, and agencies
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Evidence of driving innovation in fundraising and digital campaigns, leveraging data and audience insight
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Experience of successfully leading change across complex business areas, embedding continuous improvement and resilience
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Awareness of charity governance, fundraising regulation, and reputational risk management
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Experience of working within a human rights, justice, or refugee sector organisation Desirable
Competencies (Skills & Behaviours) from Core Competency Framework - Level 3 •
Personal Effectiveness
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Values & ethical Practice
Appointment Brief | 2025
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Our Benefits We offer a comprehensive range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, work-life balance, and future planning:
Generous Annual Leave 28 days per year (plus public holidays), increasing to 30 days after three years’ service. You can carry over up to 10 days and even purchase an extra week after one year. Family-Friendly Policies & Special Leave Enhanced maternity leave, time off for dependants, and paid/ unpaid special leave, including up to 14 hours annually for volunteering and sabbatical options after three years. Pension Scheme Automatic enrolment with matched contributions up to 5%, plus annual pension advice sessions. Employee Assistance Programme Free, confidential support, including counselling and wellbeing resources. Cycle to Work Scheme Save money and spread the cost of a new bike and accessories with interest-free repayments. Health & Wellbeing Extras Free eye tests and 24/7 virtual GP access. Financial Support Interest-free season ticket and training loans after probation, plus life assurance (2x annual salary). Lifestyle Discounts Access to hundreds of shopping, travel, and entertainment discounts. Planning for the Future Free will-writing and funeral planning services. Bereavement Support Access to qualified counselling and legal advice for probate matters during difficult times.
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Appointment Brief | 2025
How to Apply To apply for the role, please upload the following documents to the Prospectus website: •
Your CV, drawing out relevant experience for the role.
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A supporting statement of up to 1,000 words that addresses the criteria set out in the person specification as well as your interest in the organisation’s work.
Please ensure that you have included a telephone number, as well as any dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the recruitment timetable. If you wish to apply using an alternative format please contact Prospectus. Please also notify us if you require a postal application. Applications via the Prospectus website should be made at: https://prospect-us.co.uk/job/193632 At Prospectus we believe passionately that a truly inclusive workplace leads to increased social impact. We are committed to supporting our clients build more inclusive teams. To understand how we are performing, we ask that you kindly complete the brief equal opportunities questionnaire when you submit your application via our website. Please be assured that your responses are kept confidential, separate from your candidate record, are not part of any application you make, and that the consultants never see individual responses to the questionnaire.
Recruitment Timetable Deadline for applications: Monday 26th January 2026 Interviews with Prospectus: w/c 2nd February 2026 Stage One Panel Interviews with Refugee Council: w/c 9th February 2026 Stage Two Panel Interviews with Refugee Council: w/c 16th February 2026
Queries If you wish to have an informal discussion about the opportunity, please contact Ryan Burdock at Prospectus on 020 7405 4999, or email: ryan.burdock@prospect-us.co.uk
Appointment Brief | 2025
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