About this role

Cambridge Muslim College is an independent institution of higher education and a registered charity, rooted in the Islamic tradition and advancing knowledge, scholarship and public understanding. Through its teaching, research and public programmes, the College is committed to developing a new generation of Muslim leaders who are deeply grounded in their tradition and able to engage confidently with contemporary Britain.

Through a focused portfolio of programmes spanning Islamic Studies, contextual leadership and Classical Arabic, alongside research across theology, philosophy, ethics, education and social institutions, Cambridge Muslim College brings traditional scholarship into dialogue with the modern world. Operating on a deliberately small, high-quality scale, the College has around 100 students, many of whom are supported through scholarships funded by a committed donor community.

With income primarily philanthropic, fundraising is central to the College’s ability to invest in its teaching, research and public programmes. Cambridge Muslim College is now focused on strengthening its long-term fundraising strategy and sustainability. The College has an established and diverse fundraising programme encompassing major donors, regular giving, campaigns and corporate partnerships, with significant opportunities to deepen existing donor relationships and develop new sources of support.

This includes growing major giving beyond the annual Ramadan period, further developing the College’s Friends and Patrons programme, and building new corporate and international partnerships. The Development Manager (Fundraising & Engagement) will play a pivotal role in this next phase, combining hands-on income generation with strategic leadership of fundraising and engagement. Working closely with the Registrar, senior leadership and Trustees, you will shape and deliver a more structured and sustainable approach to philanthropy while leading a small Development team encompassing fundraising operations and communications.

This is a broad, relationship-led role with significant scope to strengthen systems, develop new opportunities and build long-term relationships with the donors and communities who support the College. As Development Manager (Fundraising & Engagement), you will: Develop and deliver the College’s fundraising and donor engagement strategy Build and manage strong relationships with major donors and prospects Identify, cultivate and secure new funding opportunities across a diverse funding base Lead fundraising campaigns and develop compelling cases for support Develop major donor fundraising, including new business and opportunities to grow support beyond Ramadan Strengthen regular giving and donor engagement through the College’s Friends and Patrons programme Develop corporate partnerships and explore opportunities to grow international giving Strengthen fundraising systems, pipeline management, stewardship and reporting Oversee communications and digital engagement, ensuring activity supports fundraising and engagement objectives Line manage and support the Development Coordinator and Communications Coordinator Essential skills and experience: Multi-income stream fundraising experience, which must include major donors plus either corporate fundraising or regular giving/membership schemes A track record of securing significant five-figure or six-figure gifts from high-net-worth individuals Strong relationship-building and networking skills, with credibility engaging donors, partners and senior stakeholders Experience developing compelling cases for support and effective stewardship strategies Demonstrable experience of engaging with Muslim communities and an understanding of faith-based giving practices, including Zakat and Sadaqah The ability to build trusted relationships with donors and stakeholders within Muslim communities Strong verbal and written communication skills Experience overseeing public-facing communications and digital channels The ability to provide effective leadership and direction to a small team Willingness and ability to undertake occasional international travel Desirable: Corporate or alumni fundraising experience Experience of fundraising campaigns and appeals Employee benefits include: 5% employer pension contribution 28 days’ annual leave, in addition to bank holidays, plus 2 additional days for each Eid Free home-cooked lunches during term time

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