Terms of Reference: Donor engagement consultant
Strong democracies are good for security, economic growth, and human development. Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) is the UK public body dedicated to strengthening democracy around the world. Through our programmes, expertise, and international partnerships, we help solve problems of democracy so that democracies can address challenges – from climate change to corruption.
Working with parliaments, political parties, election management bodies and civil society organisations (CSOs), WFD builds partnerships that strengthen democratic governance structures and practices, leading to better societal outcomes. Our programmes are problem driven, locally led, politically informed and purposefully adaptive and are based on detailed Political Economy Analysis (PEA), which helps navigate power dynamics, address exclusion, and identify and support meaningful change.
Background and context
WFD is an arm's length body of the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO). The majority of our funding comes from FCDO sources, although we also receive funding from several other government development agencies, institutional donors and multilateral organisations.
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and, more significantly, changes in US government policy initiated in January 2025, there have been significant shifts in donor priorities, implementing partners and how donors view the contribution of democratic governance to global security, stability and prosperity.
Within this context, WFD seeks to better understand which donors and funders are continuing to support democratic governance initiatives, how they are positioning and prioritising this work in their funding portfolios, and where newer or more innovative funding streams are emerging to support this essential work.
Scope of work
WFD is seeking an experienced Donor Engagement Consultant to conduct a research and donor mapping exercise that identifies new or expanded funding partnerships for the organisation. The scope should include relevant trusts, foundations, and corporate entities as well as government agencies, departments and multilateral organisations. The consultant may also identify new or non-traditional income sources, such as impact funds, that can strengthen democratic governance programming and enhance future sustainability.
The Consultant will also outline recommended engagement strategies for developing working partnerships with funders most likely to be supportive of WFD’s mission and vision.
As part of this mission, WFD is currently seeking to expand its work on environmental democracy. To support this, the Consultant will be asked to highlight donors prioritizing initiatives to address the climate crisis and protect the environment.
The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in major donor fundraising, an in-depth understanding of trusts, foundations and corporate giving, and the ability to develop engagement strategies with key relevant donors, which will be implemented by WFD’s Leadership Team and other relevant team members.
Deliverables
The Consultant will be required to undertake the following:
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1. Donor landscape and mapping report
- Research and conduct a detailed mapping of potential major donors whose priorities align with WFD’s strategic plan and areas of work.
- The consultant should consider trusts, foundations, corporate entities, individual donors, government agencies and departments, multilateral organisations and new or non-traditional income sources.
- Within WFD’s areas of work, the consultant should highlight funders prioritising the climate and environmental.
- Sharp and concise analysis of funding trends and opportunities specific to democratic governance, based on the Consultant’s knowledge and expertise and informed by their understanding of the market and the sector as well as shifts in donor’s policy. The analysis should include a reasonable degree of forecasting.
- In addition to environmental democracy, WFD will provide guidance on key terms and themes to explore.
- Identify and propose innovative funding mechanisms to diversify revenue streams and suggest potential organisational approaches to successfully engage with these.
2. Donor engagement strategy
- Develop a comprehensive and categorized donor pipeline, prioritizing major donors with high alignment and capacity to give.
- Develop a clear and actionable donor engagement strategy, including timelines, relationship-building approaches, and key messaging tailored to donors considered the best potential partners for WFD. Details should include:
- Specific areas of alignment to WFD’s strategy.
- Current and upcoming funding in line with the specific WFD areas of focus.
- Funding cycles, instruments and preferences of identified donors.
- Donors’ current and previous partners as well as the areas of collaboration.
- Key contact points of funders and decision makers.
Skills and experience
For this assignment, WFD is seeking a qualified and experienced Donor Engagement Consultant with:
- Up-to-date and thorough knowledge of the current and evolving Overseas Development Aid (ODA) priority areas and the approaches of potential donors – especially in relation to democratic governance.
- Critical analysis of new and emerging trends in the ODA policies of partners and donors
- Skills to effectively align donor policies and priorities with WFD strategy, expertise and key thematic areas.
- Knowledge and / or experience of the democratic governance sector, key actors and donors operating in this field. (Desirable)
- Built relationships with key donors and with relevant partners. (Desirable).
The consultant should have:
- Minimum of 8 years of combined national and international experience in resource mobilisation, fundraising, or partnership development with donor or development cooperation organisations, foundations or non-governmental organisations.
- Experience and successful track record in resource mobilization and fundraising.
- Very good written and verbal communication skills in English.
Timeline, reporting and payment
The Consultant will report to the Director of Policy and Programmes and Head of Business Development and is expected to work closely with them to design the approach to this project, with regular check ins on progress. Fifteen (15) consulting days are available to deliver the first draft of the report, with an additional 3-5 days for revisions as needed.
The format of the report will be discussed and agreed as part of contracting but should include accessible narrative language outlining trends as well as data sets in visual form that showcase trends and key information.
The final report must be completed by 17 October 2025.
Payment and engagement terms
The consultant will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement where information accessed through this consultancy and other intellectual property pertaining to WFD can only be disclosed and shared with authorized members of this consultancy. WFD will have ownership over any Intellectual Property that arises from this consultancy.
Payment will be in line with the following terms:
- First payment: 10% of total contract value will be paid after submission and acceptance of the workplan. WFD will provide all necessary internal documentation and information to inform the workplan and ensure expectations are clear.
- Second payment: 40 % of total contract value will be paid after submission and acceptance of draft of donors’ profile.
- Third and final payment: 50 % of total contract value will be paid after submission and acceptance of the final report.
Application process
Interested institutions or candidates should please submit proposals to Sami Alalul at Sami.Alalul@wfd.org by Friday, 22 August. Proposals should include the following documents:
- Cover letter, indicating the motivation, previous experiences relevant to this consultancy and include your daily fee.
- CV of key consultant(s) for the assignment, entailing qualification, knowledge and experiences according to the technical requirements.
- Contact information of at least three previous clients of similar assignments.