Assistant philanthropy officer jobs

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

IRC UK
IRC UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its global headquarters in New York. Our team in the UK works to raise profile, deliver policy and practice change, and increase funding to help restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Since 2021, IRC UK has also provided integration services directly to refugees in the UK.
In Europe, the IRC also has offices in Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Geneva and Stockholm. 

The Purpose of the Role
IRC’s External Relations (ER) department brings together Fundraising, Communications and Policy & Advocacy functions. With the aim to raise money, awareness and influence for crisis-affected populations worldwide, the department combines knowledge and expertise across multiple national markets.  
 
The IRC fundraising teams are comprised of colleagues and teams working in the USA, UK, Germany, Sweden and Korea as well as emerging markets delivering direct marketing, content, account management, philanthropy, board liaison, corporate as well as trust and foundation partnerships to support IRC’s national fundraising strategies. 
 
The IRC’s private fundraising capability in the UK has grown significantly over the past five years. Ambitious growth plans are in place to deliver increasing income from the private sector as part of an exciting global External Relations strategy.  
 
The Director of UK Mass Markets is responsible for the leadership and direction of the Mass Markets team in the UK and for securing long-term sustainable income for the IRC through individual donor acquisition, retention and supporter care. You will lead and develop a high-performing team by growing mass marketing audiences and income, developing exciting and targeted campaigns, identifying opportunities for product, channel and audience diversification, and championing UX and a supporter centric fundraising model. The Director will also serve as a key partner to the UK Executive Director as they facilitate cross-team collaboration, accountability and success among all private fundraising teams in the UK (Philanthropy, Global Corporate Partnerships, Foundations & Trusts and Mass Markets). The Director will play a leadership role in IRC UK more widely as a member of the UK Senior Management Team (UKSMT). The UKSMT is collectively responsible for achieving the cross-functional goals of IRC UK’s strategy and actively fostering an inclusive workplace at IRC UK.
 
This role is responsible for:  
I.  Securing significant and sustainable funding in the UK for IRC’s work 
II.  Leading strategic activities that support IRC’s mass market fundraising presence including campaigns for the End-of-Year, World Refugee Day and emergencies

Scope and Authority 
This position has responsibility for delivering the UK Mass Market team strategy and targets and Supporter Care within the overarching Global Mass Markets strategy and UK Strategic Plan. 

Responsibility for Resources:
This post will have responsibility for three direct reports (1x Senior Acquisition Marketing Manager, 1 x Retention Marketing Manager, 1 x Donor Services Assistant) and a substantial expenditure budget. The role is part of the global Mass Markets team and is matrix managed by the Executive Director in the UK and the Global Vice President of Mass Markets.

Key Working Relationships
Internal:
•  Counterparts and senior leads in global Mass Markets team 
•  UK SMT: Directors of Strategy and Delivery, Communications, Advocacy, Philanthropy, Finance, People and Culture, Awards Management
•  Global peer-level team: Directors and Heads of Mass Markets for Korea, Germany, Sweden, USA and Global Mass Market Support Leads
•  Digital team members (UK and global) 
•  Global Creative Studio and Brand 
•  Senior Director for Retention
•  International Operations team, incl. data & analytics roles  

Key Accountabilities

·  Aligned to the overall Global External Relations Strategy, develop, implement, monitor and report on IRC UK’s fundraising and supporter engagement strategy. 
·  Lead fundraising campaigns (acquisition, retention, mid-level) that deliver unrestricted income to enable IRC’s work. Channels include e-mail, direct mail, inserts, Facebook advertising, new forms of social media, and adwords, as well as telemarketing etc.
·  Develop a supporter engagement programme that focusses on developing and deepening long-term relationships and drives retention rates.
·  Develop and deliver an innovation programme, ensuring fundraising products and activity are at the forefront of the UK sector and allow IRC to cut through to new audiences.
·  Deliver outstanding supporter services, ensuring supporter interactions are dealt with professionally and appropriately.
·  Contribute strongly to overall Global External Relations strategy and budget development during the budgeting and investment request process.  
·  Lead, inspire, develop and performance manage the UK Mass Markets team.
·  Ensure effective collaboration between the UK-based leads of the Foundations and Trusts, Global Corporate Partnerships, and Mass Markets teams, in executing comprehensive, aligned donor engagement strategies across the UK. 
·  Collaborate with other UK leaders on the UK Senior Management Team, holding collective accountability for achieving the goals of the UK strategy and advising on the wider management of IRC UK to support those goals.  
·  Reporting to the UK Board of Trustees, including presentations to the full Board and the External Relations Committee as required. 
·  Representing IRC in the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Fundraising Directors group.
·  Be the senior contact for all mass marketing partnerships with third party supplies.  
·  Act as senior voice in cross-market working groups and committees. 
·  Network and build external profile of the IRC UK Mass Markets team by attending relevant fundraising and sector events, and building other external stakeholder relationships. 
·  Input into effective risk management of mass marketing income by accurately assessing opportunities, threats, strengths and weaknesses on a regular basis, and iterating the programme based on results.  
·  Accurately forecast, monitor and report on income and expenditure budget lines. 
·  Keep up to date with sector developments in individual giving, digital fundraising to ensure IRC is at the forefront of fundraising developments. 
·  Work closely with Mass Markets team in other national markets (i.e. Korea, Germany, Sweden, US) and the International Operations team to ensure all engagement is coordinated, and where appropriate, synchronised.  

Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications:

·  Driven, motivated and proactive with a solutions-based attitude and resilient in the face of setbacks. 
·  Proven ability to manage, meet and monitor fundraising budgets and Key Performance Indicators. 
·  Excellent organisational skills, especially the ability to manage a complex, varied and substantial workload. 
·  Ability to understand legal frameworks and requirements, and implications of decisions in the best interest of the charity. 
·  Excellent verbal and written English and the ability to produce well designed and high-quality proposals and reports.
·  Institute of Fundraising, Cass or comparable qualifications would be an advantage.  

Experience:
·  Extensive experience of individual giving (or mass marketing) and digital fundraising and ideally, mid value and legacy giving, within a large or medium global charity, including a proven track record of both acquisition and retention.**  
·  Launching new channels and products with success. 
·  Comprehensive understanding and experience of audience and donor segmentation, analytical modelling such as LTV and use of insights to drive strategy and performance.** 
·  Experience and understanding of creative process and relationship with brand identity through different channels and audiences. 
·  Proven track record of success in a leadership, line management, recruitment, performance management and talent retention.**
·  Demonstrated history of being an empowering and supportive manager to front-line fundraisers.
·  Experience working for a centralised, international organisation would be a strong advantage.  
·  Experience using Salesforce an advantage.  

Criteria in the Person Specification marked with ** are the minimum criteria in line with our commitments under the Disability Confident Employer Scheme in the UK. 
UK based candidates who state that they have a disability and meet these criteria, will be invited to interview.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People – Senior Trusts and Foundations Manager
Location: Hearing Dogs Head Office, Saunderton near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, with very flexible hybrid working.
Salary: £55,000 per annum.
Contract: Permanent, full-time hours. 

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, whose mission is to see a time when no deaf person feels alone, is seeking a Senior Trusts and Foundations Manager to develop and secure six and seven figure, multi-year grants from trusts, foundations and other institutional grant funders, e.g. the National Lottery.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has been creating life-changing partnerships between hearing dogs and deaf recipients since 1982. As well as acting as an ear to their partners and alerting them to sounds, the charity’s clever and expertly trained dogs help deaf people to live life with confidence and independence, whilst providing love, companionship and emotional support.

Following on from a strategic review, the charity is now building a new Income Generation Directorate, to enable them to transform many more lives across the UK. This role will be critical to help Hearing Dogs reach their goals to diversify income, grow their philanthropy programme and increase engagement and impact.

Reporting to the Head of Trusts and Foundations, this role will work as part of a small but high department to deliver objectives and income targets. The role will deputise for the Head of Trusts and Foundations as required and support in the development of the strategy for the department, working across the organisation with colleagues, senior staff, trustees and external trusts and foundation contacts. A key focus of the role will be making bids and writing applications to maximise financial support from charitable trusts and foundations in a team which has a target of £1.15m in 2025-26, growing to £2.1m by 2029-30.

The ideal candidates will have a substantial background in Trusts and Foundation fundraising within the charity sector and experience of delivering excellent stewardship with external stakeholders. You will have experience of large scale and complex (£ six/seven figure) bid writing for specific projects over multiple years. Excellent and persuasive writing skills and a sharp eye for details will be essential alongside strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills. You will be approachable, with a  ‘hands-on’ approach and a flexible ‘can do’ proactive attitude and, importantly, you will have a commitment to understand the needs of Deaf People and a commitment to our values and  culture.

This is an exciting opportunity to help Hearing Dogs shape and build a high-impact Trust and Foundations function at a moment of huge growth for the charity, with the flexibility of hybrid working remotely and spending time at Hearing Dogs’ stunning base head office near High Wycombe, with friendly and passionate staff and their four-legged friends.

If you want to lead the pack and help deaf people live well with hearing loss Please download our Candidate Pack for further information [PDF], which includes details on how to apply.

Closing date: Wednesday 3rd December, 9.00 am. 

Purpose of the job

 The Head of Programmes will lead the strategic planning, delivery, and quality assurance of our youth development programmes. The role is responsible for ensuring high-quality programme implementation, managing key stakeholder relationships, overseeing budgets and resources, and ensuring safeguarding and compliance standards are met.

Key responsibilities

• Programme Delivery, Management & Quality Assurance

• Stakeholder Management

• Planning, Budget and Resource Management

• Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

• Leadership and Management

• Safeguarding, Inclusion and Wellbeing

Experience we're after

•  Significant experience in programme management within the youth, education, employability, or mental health sectors.

• ·Strong leadership skills with experience in managing teams and delivery partners.

• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.

• Proven experience in budgeting, resource management, and financial oversight.

• Strong understanding of safeguarding and risk management in youth programmes.

• Ability to use data and evaluation to drive programme improvement.

• Excellent communication and report-writing skills.

• Excellent strategic and operational planning skills with the ability to successfully manage a diverse and complex programme portfolio.

• Excellent leadership and team management skills, with experience developing staff and effectively managing performance.

• Knowledge of safeguarding principles and practice.

Why work at UK Youth?

UK Youth is a leading charity that exists to ensure all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. We have influence as a sector-supporting infrastructure body, a direct delivery partner and a campaigner for social change. As outlined in our 2025 #unlockingyouthwork strategy, we believe youth work is a catalyst for change that young people need now more than ever. We play a unique role in addressing; the lack of investment into the youth sector, the lack of cross-sector understanding of how youth work makes a difference and the limited opportunities to embed effective solutions.

We are building a movement of change; galvanising likeminded individuals, organisations, government, and businesses from all sectors, to work together and deliver system change for all young people. Together we will create a society that understands, champions, and delivers effective youth work for all.

What we can offer you

We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance, excellent learning and development opportunities and vibrant organisational culture:

• Flexible/Agile Working

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees)

• Funded training provided in; Safeguarding, GDPR, Information and Cyber Security & Equality & Diversity

• Other training available in support of your personal and professional development

• Pension scheme (currently UK Youth match employee contributions up to 5%)

• Membership of our life insurance scheme which would pay-out up to 4 times your salary

• Employee Assistance Programme to support employees both professionally and personally

• 20% discount off bookings at Avon Tyrrell, our New Forest Outdoor Centre, including camping, lodges and outdoor activities.

• IT equipment provided for the duration of contract

• CycleScheme and TechScheme

How to apply

If you would like to be considered for this fantastic opportunity, please complete an application via our completely anonymised recruitment system provided by Applied which looks to create a fair and unbiased application process for all. Scroll to the top of the page and start your application.

Closing date: Monday 8th December 2025 at 10:00am

Provisional Interview Dates: W/C 15th December 2025

As this role involves working in a regulated environment with young people, any offer will be conditional to satisfactory background checks, which include criminal record check and employment reference.

As an Individual Giving Manager, your role will have overall responsibility for the operational delivery of the Individual Giving strategy. You will use proven fundraising techniques across print and digital to grow and diversify our programme, engaging with both new and existing audiences to support our work with children with brain injury and neurodisability.

You will also be responsible for developing and implementing legacy marketing plans, utilising channels including direct marketing, digital and events. Alongside this, your role will focus on our mid value programme, producing and developing campaigns and stewardship plans aimed specifically for this audience.

The Individual Giving team are a small and ambitious team who sit within Public Fundraising and form part of a wider Fundraising and Communications directorate. The team is responsible for generating around £1m in income a year, through recruiting new donors and building relationships with existing donors, including legacies and mid value supporters. We have ambitious plans for growth and, as part of a supporter marketing remit, are developing more holistic relationships with our supporter base.

Reporting to the Senior Individual Giving Manager, you will take overall responsibility for planning, managing and delivering innovative and impactful supporter campaigns across a range of channels. With the ability to resolve everyday challenges and obstacles independently, you will be expected to deliver a range of Direct Marketing fundraising campaigns through the full creative process, from briefing to concept, through to final delivery, as well as reviewing results and making recommendations. You will also be responsible for developing and implementing legacy marketing plans, utilising channels including direct marketing, digital and events. Alongside this, your role will focus on our mid value programme and producing and developing campaigns and stewardship plans aimed specifically for this audience.

Interview Date: 17 December 2025

Duties and Responsibilities:

Campaign project management:

• Plan, manage and deliver innovative and impactful supporter campaigns across a range of channels, including donor development, supporter acquisition and prize led fundraising activities.
• Support the Senior Individual Giving Manager in the setting of budgets and achieve income targets outlined in annual plans.
• Produce, take ownership of and implement medium to long-term product strategies for elements of the development and/or acquisition programmes – delivering all associated campaign activities, assessing the performance of each product against response and income targets, and managing these on an ongoing basis in order to meet or exceed targets.
• Produce clear and succinct briefs to agencies, suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Use marketing judgement to proof, edit and develop compelling creative, and make sound decisions on proposals and testing plans.
• Work closely with the Data Manager, as well as Supporter Care, Communications, Events and Partnerships Fundraising to successfully deliver campaigns and evaluations.
• Continually test and learn across campaigns to improve performance, consistently looking to improve ROI and lifetime value across the programme.
• Manage contract and campaign agreements with external agencies, ensuring activities are delivered in a compliant way, adhering to GDPR and fundraising regulation including the Code of Fundraising Practice.

Management of supporter journeys:

• Develop effective welcome and supporter journeys, to help minimise attrition and increase the average lifetime value of donors.
• Ensure that new supporters are thanked and welcomed appropriately, with an emphasis on testing early-stage engagement.
• Support the creation and testing of an integrated supporter journey programme that is segment and channel based, in collaboration with colleagues across the wider Fundraising department.

Reporting and analysis:

• Closely monitor campaign results and provide updates on performance.
• Produce post-campaign analysis reports.
• Work with the Data Manager to develop and update existing reporting mechanisms.
• Make recommendations to improve the performance of future campaigns based on evidence and data.

Legacy marketing and administration:

• Develop and implement legacy marketing plans utilising channels including direct marketing, digital and events.
• Liaise with the wider Public Fundraising team to brief speakers and identify new speakers or ‘Legacy Ambassadors’ to help promote legacy fundraising at key events.
• Build one to one relationships with potential legacy donors, including taking them on tours of The Children’s Trust to showcase our service provision.
• Management of legacy administration including liaison with solicitors, executors, other charities (who are benefitting from the same estate) and family members.

Mid value programme:

• Work with Senior Individual Giving Manager to develop and implement the mid value donor fundraising strategy.
• Build and steward relationships with our mid value donors, developing relationships which inspire donors and supports them towards making significant gifts to The Children’s Trust and encourages long-term support.
• Identify and develop mid value prospects, as well as potential major donor prospects from within the mid value cohort for stewardship by the Philanthropy team.
• Collaborate with colleagues to build appropriate supporter journeys for mid value prospects and donors.
• Consider innovative ways of engaging mid value donors and prospects, such as targeted communications and events.

Developing insight, product development, competitor analysis and industry  perspective:

• Use existing research and insight, and where appropriate, undertake and commission new projects to derive new / further insight and analysis.
• Identify, research and develop new products, creative ideas and fundraising initiatives.
• Keep up to date with industry developments and act upon direct and digital marketing trends and statistics.

About Us

The Children’s Trust is the UK’s leading charity for children with acquired brain injury, providing expert rehabilitation, education, therapy, and care at our national specialist centre in Tadworth, and to children and their families across the UK, via our Brain Injury Community Service.

Boasting a beautiful 24-acre site in Surrey, we are located just outside of London, close to the M25 (accessible via Junction 8, A217 to Tadworth) and easily accessible via National Rail, by way of: Clapham Junction, Sutton, and Epsom.

Staff Benefits

The work we do is highly rewarding, and in addition to an attractive salary, we offer a valuable range of benefits on our staff flexible benefits platform, on-site nursery, free eye tests, enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay, time out days for those experiencing menopause symptoms and time off for gender reassignment.

We also offer additional annual leave days for those with long service, with entitlements ranging from 35 to 41 days (including bank holidays) depending on your length of service.

Other benefits include free on-site parking; a staff shuttle service from Epsom and Sutton train stations to Tadworth Court, subsidised cafeteria, on-site staff accommodation (subject to availability), the ability to retain your NHS pension (where applicable), Teacher’s pension (where applicable) or the opportunity to join an alternative scheme, and the opportunity to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Rehabilitation of Offenders

Many roles at The Children’s Trust are exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013 and 2020) and as such, are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.  Successful applicants will be required to complete an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check, which will disclose all unspent convictions and adult cautions and any spent convictions or adult cautions that would not be protected.  The exceptions to this are our retail roles within The Children’s Trust shops, which are subject to Basic DBS checks which will disclose unspent convictions or adult cautions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

To help us achieve our ambition to give children and young people with brain injury and neurodisability the opportunity to live the best life possible, we want to accurately reflect the UK’s diverse population. We want equity, diversity, and inclusion to be at the heart of everything we do, and our people, services, and culture to reflect the diverse needs of all. Through our diversity and inclusion strategy, we have made a commitment to increase the diversity of our charity and create an inclusive culture. We have networks across the organisation working to ensure that these aims are met - including an LGBTQIA2S+ group, Ethnic Diversity Group, and Spark – our broad EDI group. Read more about our EDI work here. We welcome applications from all who share our ambition regardless of background. We will strive to ensure that any reasonable adjustments are made in respect of interview and working arrangements.

Online Searches

In accordance with statutory safeguarding and child protection guidance, online searches will be conducted for shortlisted candidates before interview. The online searches will be conducted by a person who is independent of the interview and selection process and will focus on relevant information returned via searches of the candidate’s name (and variations thereof). Social media searches will be limited to professional platforms such as LinkedIn. Any concerns relating to suitability for work with children and young people will be forwarded to the interview panel, for discussion during the interview.

Community Fundraiser - Home Counties

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Are you ready to take on a new challenge with a leading charity making a real difference in brain tumour research? ​

Brain Tumour Research is seeking an experienced and motivated fundraiser to join our team. As a key part of our fundraising efforts in our high-performing East region, you will have the opportunity to drive income generation through a variety of initiatives, including challenge events, fundraising groups, and corporate partnerships such as charity of the year. You will also be responsible for driving initiatives to increase our profile and supporter base within Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and Essex. 

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Key Responsibilities: ​

• ​Generate income across a range of community fundraising initiatives and events, with the opportunity to lead on key projects 
• Steward supporters to help drive the charity’s fundraising activities and growth 
• ​Work with the fundraising team to develop and maintain strong relationships with fundraisers, donors, partners, and key stakeholders ​
• Contribute towards the growth and success of fundraising efforts, ensuring a sustainable income stream for the vital ongoing funding of brain tumour research ​

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Requirements: ​​

• At least one year of fundraising experience, with a proven track record in income generation 
• Strong experience in supporter stewardship  
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage and inspire supporters and partners alike ​
• Passion for Brain Tumour Research and its mission to fund research and ultimately find a cure 

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If you are looking for a fulfilling and impactful role and have the level of experience and skill we are looking for, we welcome your application.

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​We will give preference to those candidates living in the Bucks, Beds and Northants areas of this region.​​​

​We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.​

We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process.  Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.

Closing Date: 14th December 2025

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We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.

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