Assistant Director of Community Fundraising & Engagement

Naomi Carruthers
Senior Fundraising Appointments
E:Naomi@thetalentset.co.uk
T: 07467 719285
APPLY NOW BACK TO VACANCIES
The Talent Set is delighted to be partnering with The Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) to recruit an Assistant Director of Community Fundraising & Engagement, a pivotal leadership role responsible for driving the next phase of growth across the charity’s national and regional community fundraising programmes. 

Assistant Director of Community Fundraising & Engagement
Salary: £69,852 (non-negotiable)
Location: London with hybrid working and regular UK-wide travel


ABF is the Army’s national charity, providing a lifetime of support to soldiers, veterans and their families. With an established regional fundraising network, a loyal volunteer base and ambitious plans for growth, they are now seeking an experienced community fundraising leader to build on strong foundations and enhance fundraising performance across the organisation.

This role offers the opportunity to lead a team of nine Regional Directors, providing strategic fundraising leadership while helping ABF evolve its approach to community and events fundraising. The organisation has a long history of successful regional fundraising activity, supported by passionate teams and volunteers who care deeply about the charity’s mission. The successful candidate will bring fresh thinking and external expertise while respecting and building upon the strengths that already exist.

The Assistant Director will play a key role in shaping the community fundraising and engagement strategy, improving ROI across fundraising activities and strengthening collaboration between regional teams and head office. They will help drive an exciting and scalable programme of activity, ensuring that national initiatives, fundraising opportunities and best practice are effectively shared and implemented consistently across the country.

Alongside leading regional fundraising performance, the postholder will oversee the development of a new volunteer strategy, helping the organisation maximise the impact of its volunteer committees and ensuring volunteers remain at the heart of future fundraising success.

As Assistant Director of Community Fundraising & Engagement, you will:
  • Lead, coach and inspire a team of nine Regional Directors, providing clear fundraising leadership and strategic direction.
  • Drive the ongoing development and implementation of ABF’s community and events fundraising strategy.
  • Identify opportunities to increase income, improve ROI and enhance fundraising performance across the regional network.
  • Support the rollout of national fundraising initiatives and campaigns across the UK.
  • Strengthen collaboration between regional fundraising teams and head office functions.
  • Work closely with colleagues across fundraising, including High Value and Individual Giving teams, to maximise supporter engagement opportunities.
  • Lead the development and implementation of a new volunteer strategy, ensuring effective operational delivery.
  • Contribute to strengthening ABF’s case for support and fundraising proposition.
  • Build strong relationships with regional teams, volunteers and senior stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and alignment around organisational priorities.
The role would best suit:
  • An experienced fundraising leader with a strong background in community, regional or mass participation fundraising.
  • Someone who has led geographically dispersed teams and understands the opportunities and challenges of regional fundraising models.
  • A strategic thinker with the ability to assess existing activity, identify opportunities for improvement and deliver sustainable income growth.
  • An individual who is diplomatic, emotionally intelligent and skilled at building relationships across diverse stakeholder groups.
  • Someone who can bring innovation and fresh ideas while respecting established cultures and ways of working.
  • An individual with knowledge of fundraising regulation, governance and volunteer best practice.
A military background is not required. What matters most is the ability to lead people, bring fundraising expertise and successfully navigate a complex stakeholder environment while supporting ABF’s unique culture and values.

How to Apply
The deadline for this role is Wednesday 2nd September, with 1st stage interviews to take place on 9th September. To express an initial interest, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button (please do not apply via email). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.

Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set is committed to inclusive recruitment practices and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. We actively encourage applications from people with diverse experiences and are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments required throughout the recruitment process.