Application Guide

How to Apply for Head of Fundraising

at Khulisa

🏢 About Khulisa

Khulisa is an award-winning charity with a unique therapeutic approach focused on trauma-informed care for vulnerable young people in deprived communities. What makes Khulisa special is its dual focus on direct therapeutic support for youth and systemic change through training parents, caregivers, and educators. Someone would want to work here because of its meaningful mission, proven impact in London and Manchester, and its Zulu-inspired name meaning 'nurture' that reflects its compassionate ethos.

About This Role

As Head of Fundraising, you'll lead efforts to maintain and grow Khulisa's £1 million annual fundraising primarily from trusts, foundations, corporate donors, and individual supporters. This role is impactful because you'll directly enable therapeutic programs that help marginalized young people heal from trauma and prevent crime. You'll be responsible for grant management and developing sustainable funding strategies for a charity with a proven track record of success.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve virtual meetings with trust officers or corporate partners to discuss funding proposals, reviewing grant applications and reports, strategizing with Khulisa's team about program funding needs, and researching new foundation opportunities aligned with youth mental health. You'd balance relationship management with administrative tasks while staying connected to the impact stories from London and Manchester programs.

🎯 Who Khulisa Is Looking For

  • Has a strong track record in fundraising with specific experience managing trusts/foundations and corporate donor relationships
  • Demonstrates genuine passion for youth mental health and trauma-informed care, not just fundraising expertise
  • Possesses grant management experience with the ability to maintain £1 million+ annual fundraising levels
  • Is self-motivated for remote part-time work and understands the specific challenges of fundraising for therapeutic youth services

📝 Tips for Applying to Khulisa

1

Quantify your fundraising achievements specifically with trusts/foundations and corporate donors, not just general fundraising totals

2

Explicitly connect your personal values to Khulisa's mission of nurturing vulnerable youth through trauma-informed care

3

Demonstrate understanding of the charity's current £1 million annual fundraising level and how you'd maintain/grow it

4

Highlight any experience with mental health, youth services, or trauma-related organizations in your background

5

Address how you'd manage part-time remote fundraising leadership, including communication and strategy execution

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience with trusts/foundations and corporate donor fundraising (not just general fundraising)', "Personal motivation for youth mental health and trauma-informed care, referencing Khulisa's therapeutic approach", 'How you would maintain and potentially grow the existing £1 million annual fundraising level', 'Your approach to remote part-time leadership and grant management for a charity with operations in London and Manchester']

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • Khulisa's specific therapeutic programs and their outcomes in London and Manchester communities
  • The charity's current funders and partnerships (research their annual reports if available)
  • The challenges facing youth mental health services in deprived UK communities
  • Trauma-informed care principles and how they apply to Khulisa's dual approach with youth and caregivers

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through your experience managing trust/foundation relationships and corporate donor programs
2 How would you approach maintaining £1 million annual fundraising in a part-time remote capacity?
3 What specific strategies would you use to fundraise for therapeutic youth services versus other causes?
4 How do you stay connected to an organization's mission in a remote fundraising role?
5 Describe your experience with grant management from identification through reporting
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Generic fundraising experience without specific trust/foundation or corporate donor examples
  • Failing to demonstrate genuine passion for youth mental health beyond professional interest
  • Not addressing how you'd manage part-time remote leadership of a £1 million fundraising operation

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Khulisa!