Fundraising Manager
Company: Sustainable Projects Ireland
Location: Cloughjordan Ecovillage, Co. Tipperary
Job Type: Part-time, 14 hours per week
Annual Pay: €36,400 gross (Full Time Equivalent)
About Cloughjordan Ecovillage and Sustainable Projects Ireland (SPI)
Imagine being part of Ireland's largest Ecovillage, a vibrant community of over 130 people dedicated to building a sustainable future. Located on 67 acres in County Tipperary, we're a hub of innovation for climate action and sustainability education.
Sustainable Projects Ireland CLG (SPI) is the member-led organisation behind the Ecovillage. Founded in 1999, our purpose is to create models for sustainable living, share our journey with others and serve as a resource for education, enterprise and research.
The Opportunity
You'll collaborate with a passionate team of staff and stakeholders to source funding that will help to bring fundamental projects and visionary ideas to life — from infrastructure upgrades to a bold new community-led development plan, all centred on local and global sustainable development issues.
SPI has a number of projects and opportunities in the pipeline that we are seeking funding for. With a good number of successful applications and grant-aided projects delivered (from small to 100k+), SPI has a demonstrable and recent track record in managing and delivering grant funded projects.
Why This Role Matters
We are excited to have a dedicated fundraising position that will help us to unlock the full potential of our projects, research and educational programmes. Your contribution will be instrumental in enabling the next phase of development to move forward, having a direct impact on our community and the thousands of people engaging with the Ecovillage and its educational programmes.
Your Working Relationships
You'll work closely with our staff team and those leading on fundable opportunities. You will also work with the Board's finance sub-committee and General Manager on strategy and planning and liaise with key stakeholders in the fundraising process, including project development leads, grant making bodies and potential donors and sponsors.
Key Responsibilities
As the Fundraising Manager, your core responsibilities will be to:
* Work with the staff team and finance sub-committee of the Board to prepare and implement a fundraising strategy and plan
* Report on fundraising targets and progress to the team
* Identify and engage potential donors, sponsors, and grant-making bodies
* Cultivate and maintain relationships with supporters and stakeholders
* Develop and maintain structures to organise and track fundraising activities
* Manage donor databases and ensure accurate record-keeping
* Lead on the preparation of grant and funding applications and manage application processes
* Oversee grant reporting to ensure reports are timely, high quality and comply with all requirements
* Ensure that all fundraising is properly managed and controlled and complies with legal requirements and internal policy
* Support development of a communications strategy
* Work with the Book Keeper, General Manager and Treasurer in maintaining accurate financial records concerning fundraising.
Experience and Skills
The successful candidate will ideally have a minimum of 3 years relevant experience and demonstrable competency in most or all of the following:
* Proven experience in fundraising roles, ideally in the charity sector (essential)
* Excellent communication and relationship building skills (essential)
* Experience and good track record in grant writing and reporting (essential)
* Experience in the management of grants, including financial management and reporting (essential)
* Strong organisational and planning abilities (essential)
* Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and as part of a small team (essential)
* Ability to prioritise tasks in accordance with team, role and project requirements (essential)
* Good awareness of sustainable development issues (essential)
* Experience in other areas of fundraising such as giving/donations (desirable)
* A good understanding of legislative requirements relating to fundraising and charities (desirable)
* Experience of working in a charity and/or community setting (desirable)
* Good knowledge and understanding of the Ecovillage project (desirable)
Qualifications
For this role, we would be seeking a Level 8 NFQ or higher and/or equivalent qualifications and professional training.
Wider Benefits
We foster a positive, supportive work culture with a strong emphasis on teamwork and mutual support. We also offer flexible hours and remote working options where possible to support your professional and personal development. The organisation also provides 4 company closures days (24, 27, 28 and 31 December) over and above company and statutory holiday entitlement.
Start Date
Early December 2025
Contract Term
The initial contract term will be 12 months, however a strong team performance would support contract extension until the end of 2027 and potentially provide the option of increased hours to support/accelerate progress. The charity's strategic plans identify a need for increased staff levels for the foreseeable future.
Work Location
A combination of remote and on-site work in Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary.
To Apply
If you are a passionate professional ready to make a tangible difference, we encourage you to apply
Interested candidates are invited to submit their CV and a (max) one page cover letter outlining their suitability for this role. Please send these to:
Closing Date
12 October 2025
Interview Dates for Shortlisted Candidates
20th or 21st October (zoom or in person)
30th October (in person at Cloughjordan Ecovillage)
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: €14,560.00 per year
Expected hours: 14 per week
Benefits:
* Additional leave
* Flexitime
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Cloughjordan, CO. Tipperary