Fellowships | Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy

The Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy programme has been delivering the Fellowship for 12 years, and has offered support, mentoring and training to an alumni of 133 fundraising practitioners in arts, culture and heritage sector.

Thanks to ongoing funding from Arts Council England, we are pleased to be able to recruit a further ten Professional Fundraising Fellows for 2026/27.

Professional Fundraising Fellowship Programme 2026-27

We are thrilled to announce that applications for the 2026/27 Professional Fundraising Fellowship are now open!

This 12-month Fellowship programme will support 10 arts and cultural professionals to become more confident, skilled and entrepreneurial in their fundraising practice. Fellows will also gain a post-graduate qualification from the University of Leeds upon completion of the programme.

“It was a brilliant few days and I feel enormously grateful to be on the course. We were so well looked after, in every regard. I felt like I’d won the lottery.”

Sallie Varnam, BrightSparks Arts

Applications Open

This year, we’re looking to welcome mid-career arts, culture and heritage fundraising professionals based in England, such as Heads of Development or Senior Fundraising Managers.

If you:

Are an aspiring leader with at least four years’ experience within arts, culture and heritage
Have a CEO or Chair who will support your application
Can demonstrate an entrepreneurial approach to generating income for your organisation
Can commit to 24 days for learning throughout the year

… then we want to hear from you!

Take a look at the information pack below to find out all about the programme and how to apply. The deadline to apply is 12.00pm (noon) on Monday 8^th June 2026.

Information Pack Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form

Apply by Monday 8th June

Over the course of the Programme, Fundraising Fellows will:

Develop high-level fundraising and enterprise insight

Fellows will take part in the Arts Fundraising & Leadership Intensive residential event delivered by the University of Leeds and in subsequent online seminars and tutorials as part of a hybrid Post-Graduate programme.

There will also be face-to-face residentials led by Cause4 with a focus on fundraising and income generation. Sessions will offer a mixed model of training, covering practically applied knowledge and academic theory.
Exchange ideas and experience, upskilling their knowledge

The year will be enhanced by a series of breakfast webinars, where Fellows connect with and hear from professionals that are leading change in their organisations.

Fellows come together a final time for facilitated reflection and sharing; reflecting on their learning and developing future plans for individual development and collaborations, as well as an organisational plan.

As a baseline accreditation pathway, Fellows will complete a Post-Graduate Certificate at the University of Leeds.
Grow networks and peer support

Our Fellows often talk about the connection they make with each other as part of the programme, as being of huge value. Alongside this, the Fellowship offers access to a wide range of cultural sector professionals, policy makers and funders.

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