Fundraising Lead

Mission

Zero Gravity’s mission is to propel high-talent, low-opportunity students into top universities and careers, first in the UK, and then worldwide.

We’re a unique business with a life-changing mission in an age of gestures and empty words. Our mission isn’t marketing fluff - it is the core of who we are and what we do.

We leverage the power of technology to drive equality of opportunity at scale. Through our award-winning digital platform, Zero Gravity unlocks education and career opportunities for talented students from low-opportunity backgrounds by propelling them into the UK's best universities and employers.

Zero Gravity Scholarships

Outside of universities, we are one of the biggest scholarship providers for students from low-opportunity areas in the UK. We power hundreds of the UK's most talented students with £3,000 scholarships (£1,000 p/y) and game-changing career support. Where wealthier students have the professional networks of Mum and Dad; our scholars get the elite career opportunities offered by Zero Gravity. This accelerates their academic and career journeys, helping them land the future they didn't think possible.

This year we want to become the largest scholarship provider to low-opportunity students in the UK and deploy more scholarships than ever before. As a Fundraising Lead, you’ll help us accelerate our fundraising from HNWs and institutional partners to deploy millions of £s to high-talent, low-opportunity students, powering them into futures they didn’t think possible. 

Role requirements

• We are looking for an experienced fundraiser with 2-3+ years of experience. 
• You’ll need a demonstrated and impressive track record at securing donations and smashing fundraising targets. 
• You’ll need to be a dynamic self-starter, using your specific fundraising expertise to develop and execute a multi-channel fundraising strategy across High-Net-Worth Individuals, Trust and Foundations, and Corporates.  
• To date, scholarships have been fundraised by a network of over 65 individual supporters. You’ll need to be an exceptional relationship builder, engaging these important stakeholders, and encouraging them to make multi-year contributions, all whilst ensuring a superb donor experience. 
• We are ambitious. Since the first pilot cohort of 36 scholars three years ago, the number of scholarships we’ve deployed has grown 5x. You’ll need to be someone who always exceeds expectations and is relentlessly determined to deliver exceptional outcomes for Zero Gravity members and ultimately ensure the highest number of Zero Gravity Scholarships are deployed. 
• Most importantly, you’ll need a passion for a cause that makes a real impact in creating a more equal playing field for high-talent, low-opportunity students as they go through university and into their graduate roles.

Responsibilities

• Fundraising Target: We have an ambitious goal to raise £1 million in new funding by September 2024 to support at least 333 new scholars heading to university in September 2024. This will require building a sustainable pipeline of individual and institutional donors. In the long term, our strategy is to raise sufficient donations to fund 10% of all Zero Gravity members entering university each year.
• Donor Focus: The initial priority will be engaging high-net-worth Individuals and mass-affluent individual donors across the UK who can make major donations to Zero Gravity’s Scholarship Fund. This includes cultivating new prospective donors while managing existing supporters.
• Partnerships: There are also opportunities to secure corporate sponsorships, grants from foundations and trusts, and other institutional funding sources. Building partnerships will be key.
• Marketing Alignment: Working closely with our Brand and Marketing team, you will help maximise awareness and positive sentiment for the Zero Gravity Scholarship program within the education sector. This includes developing donor-centric communications and hosting networking events.