Invitation to Tender: Fairwork Project Fundraising Consultant

The Fairwork Project at the Oxford Internet Institute (OII), University of Oxford is seeking a fundraising consultant or agency to identify and secure funding opportunities to support a sustainable future for the Fairwork Network, in collaboration with the OII and the University’s Development Office from 1 June to 31 October 2025.

Background

Fairwork is a research project based at the Oxford Internet Institute (a department of the University) and WZB Berlin Social Center, Germany, funded by GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit). The Fairwork project aims to set and measure fair standards for the future of work, and work includes assessing and rating working conditions at digital labour platforms, enterprises that use a digital platform to mediate and facilitate labour exchange between different users, such as businesses, workers and consumers. The Fairwork project has developed five principles of fair digital platform work: 1. Fair pay; 2. Fair conditions; 3. Fair contracts; 4. Fair management; and 5. Fair representation.

Launched in 2018, the project has so-far produced ratings for more than 200 digital labour platforms (both geographically tethered, and remote), and currently operates in 40 countries on five continents.

Scope

In this call, we are looking for a Fairwork Project Fundraising Consultant or Agency who will help us in exploring a range of funding opportunities and models to work towards financial sustainability of the project. More specifically, the duties of the consultant will include:

Work closely with the OII Head of External Affairs and University of Oxford Development Office to identify, develop and steward relationships with donors, businesses, fundraising groups, and high net worth individuals (especially within the technology sector), including coordination of communications and reporting
Understand the Project’s objectives and goals and identify suitable opportunities to engage with relevant stakeholders to achieve the project’s fundraising goals
Identify and steward impact fundraising opportunities for the project in Oxford and coordinate globally and in the regions where Fairwork has operations, where opportunities extend beyond Oxford.
Plan and execute an actionable financial sustainability plan to secure ongoing funding for the project, including seeking alternative sources and assessing their financial viability
Be proactive in identifying opportunities and seek introductions to relevant organisations, individuals and stakeholders
Provide income and fundraising activity analysis of similar organisations to identify funding resources and potential returns
Identify fundraising trends and growth areas specific to digital labour, gig economy, and AI both from private and public donors and organisations; and steward an actionable plan for Fairwork
Back up all recommendations with researched, documented rationale
In conjunction with the OII’s Head of Communications and External Affairs and University’s Development Office establish relationships with potential global donor organisations and represent the project where needed.
Provide clear and detailed approaches to enhance existing funding resources and establish new income sources both globally, and also in the regions Fairwork has active partnerships.
Promote Fairwork’s activities and campaigns and drive fundraising income.
Regularly review activity and progress with the Fairwork team, the OII and University Development Office

Selection Criteria

A track record of conducting impact fundraising activities.
Knowledge and experience of building relationships with a variety of diverse donors, businesses, fundraising groups and high net worth individuals (especially within the technology sector)
Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) with the ability to motivate and inspire supporters with Fairwork’s mission and objectives, in conjunction with the Oxford Internet Institute and University of Oxford objectives.
Ability to effectively manage multiple and competing priorities to meet deadlines
Ability to effectively manage different expectations of different stakeholder groups including funding agencies, donors, and individuals
Ability to effectively document, archive and present project’s financial sustainability plan to relevant stakeholders (including past and future donors)
It is essential that the person has an understanding of both UK and international development funding landscape, familiarity of the Higher Education research sector and an understanding of international development donor agencies.
Ability to quickly understand the University context and University fundraising principles, parameters and guidelines.
UK based individual or agency preferred.

Application Pack

Please provide the following information in your application pack

A Cover Letter showing how you meet the Selection Criteria and indicating your interest in the consultancy and your plans of how to execute the project deliverables & explicitly state any non-compliance to the specification (max 2 pages)
CV (max 5 pages)
A financial quotation in GBP. The quotation must provide a firm price (ex-VAT) in GBP pounds sterling for delivering the requirement. Please provide a breakdown of the proposed price showing: the activities, the number of days for each deliverable and any associated day rates. Payment will be made on basis of milestones/deliverables and evidence of these being met. No upfront or advance payments will be made by the University.
A clear time plan for the project, showing how and when the project deliverables will be met.
A statement confirming the following: “This proposal is based on the University’s standard terms and conditions of purchase (available here) .

Application Pack

Please provide the following information in your application pack:

A Cover Letter showing how you meet the Selection Criteria and indicating your interest in the consultancy and your plans of how to execute the project deliverables & explicitly state any non-compliance to the specification (max 2 pages)
CV (max 5 pages)
A financial quotation in GBP. The quotation must provide a firm price (ex-VAT) in GBP pounds sterling for delivering the requirement. Please provide a breakdown of the proposed price showing: the activities, the number of days for each deliverable and any associated day rates. Payment will be made on basis of milestones/deliverables and evidence of these being met. No upfront or advance payments will be made by the University.
A clear time plan for the project, showing how and when the project deliverables will be met.
A statement confirming the following: “This proposal is based on the University’s standard terms and conditions of purchase (available here)
The selected consultant will have to accept the University of Oxford’s Consultancy Agreement and work within the parameters of Oxford’s fundraising policies. (See Annex I for standard agreement.)
A completed supplier questionnaire which can be found at Annex II or Request for quote form

The detailed terms of reference and deliverables can be found here

The request for quote form can be found here

Timeline

Deadline for receipt of questions: 12:00 hours on 08/05/2025

Deadline for submission of quotations: 12:00 hours on 14/05/2025

For any queries, reach out to: Manzer Imam (fairwork.admin@oii.ox.ac.uk)

Proposals must be submitted by May 12, 2025, via email to fairwork.admin@oii.ox.ac.uk