Vacancy Trusts & Foundations Fundraiser (Consultancy)

CNV Internationaal is the solidarity arm of the Dutch trade union CNV. We work towards 100% fair work worldwide, together with partner unions in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Our programs focus on social dialogue, collective bargaining and freedom of association, with specific attention to key supply chains such as textiles, agricultural commodities such as palm oil, sugarcane and banana, and critical raw materials as part of a just transition.  

To support the sustainability and growth of our impact, CNV Internationaal is strengthening its fundraising efforts with trusts and foundations, complementing institutional funding and other income streams.  

CNV Internationaal is seeking and experienced Trusts & Foundations Fundraiser on a consultancy basis who can independently build and activate funding relationships with aligned trusts and foundations. This assignment specifically will focus on outreach, engagement and relationship-building rather than extensive desk research. A small initial funder mapping is already available and will serve as a starting point. The consultant is expected to proactively move opportunities forward independently, with regular check-ins with the Fundraiser Coordinator and the program team. 

Targeted Mapping & Preparation 

• Review and refine an existing donor mapping provided by CNV Internationaal.  
• Identify and select a number of high-potential trusts and foundations, primarily in the Netherlands or the EU.  
• Ensure CNV Internationaal has the right core materials (e.g., organisation profile, thematic one-pagers, pitch decks) to confidently start and advance conversations with funders.  

Outreach, Engagement & Relationship Building 

• Proactively initiate contact with selected trusts and foundations.  
• Represent CNV Internationaal’s mission, programs and added value clearly and convincingly in conversations.  
• Build and steward longer-term relationships, not just transactional proposal opportunities.  
• Where relevant, leverage connections with CNV and its position within the Dutch context.  

Internal Coordination & Programmatic Alignment 

• Independently connect with CNV Internationaal’s Program Lead and programme team to gather the information needed to engage donors meaningfully.  
• Translate programmatic priorities into clear funding narratives and entry points for conversations with trusts and foundations.  
• Align opportunities with organisational strategy.  

Opportunity Development & Proposals 

• Identify concrete funding opportunities emerging from donor relationships.  
• Co-develop project ideas, concept notes and proposals where there is clear donor interest.  
• Support proposal drafting in collaboration with CNV Internationaal’s programme team, taking the lead where possible.  

The ideal candidate is someone with a successful track record in fundraising with trusts and foundations. We are looking for you if you are both, creative and pragmatic, and can build a strong foundation with trusts and foundations to populate the fundraising pipeline. We are looking for you if you can confidently carry out activities independently and are a great communicator. So, if you are resilient and have never-ending energy to reach out to new potential funders, and are driven to improve labour rights worldwide, we are looking for you! 

We ask for availability to take on this consultancy assignment for, at least, the coming 3-6 months for 16-24 hours a week and with the following requirements: 

• Proven track record of securing financing from trusts and foundations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present in an enthusiastic and motivating manner on CNV Internationaal’s vision and work.
• Experience in donor engagement.
• Strong research and analytical skills.
• Strategic thinker to align funding opportunities with organisational priorities.
• Organised, proactive and able to manage different relationships at the time.

We have a strong preference for candidates who: 

• Are based in the Netherlands.
• Have an existing Dutch trusts and foundations network.
• Understand the Dutch civil society and philanthropy landscape.
• Are fluent in Dutch and English.
• Have familiarity with labour rights, social dialogue, collective bargaining, living wage, just transition and/or sustainable supply chains (not all are required!).

Working for CNV Internationaal means making a social impact on a daily basis. It is challenging, and therefore we are happy to offer something in return:

• A consultancy position for 16 hours per week.  
• A budget to cover operational and travel expenses.  
• Start with a 6 month consultancy contract, to provide some stability.  
• An open organisational culture where we learn from each other and have interesting discussions on how to move progress on labour rights forward.  

Does this assignment feel like a match to your ambition, experience and talents? Then respond with your ideas on how to tackle this assignment of max. 1 page, including an updated CV to internationaal@cnv.nl addressed to Daantje Bras (Fundraising Coordinator) and Suzan Cornelissen (Program Lead). Since we are looking to start quickly, we will keep the consultancy assignment open on a rolling basis.  

If you have any substantive questions about the position, please contact the Fundraising Coordinator Daantje Bras at d.bras@cnv.nl.