Corporate fundraising development manager jobs

The Outward Bound Trust’s mission is to inspire young people to believe in themselves and achieve more than they ever thought possible. For over 80 years, we have been transforming lives through outdoor learning and adventure, helping young people from all backgrounds develop resilience, confidence, and leadership skills. Every year, we reach thousands of young people, working closely with schools, local authorities, and community groups to provide experiences that truly change lives.

We are a collaborative, forward-thinking charity that values creativity, inclusivity, and impact. Joining us means becoming part of a passionate team dedicated to making a tangible difference in the lives of young people across the UK.

The Role
Reporting to the Head of Development (New Business & Philanthropy) and working closely with our Development Managers, the Development Executive will play a crucial role in generating new income opportunities for the Trust. You will research, identify, and qualify prospects across corporates, trusts and foundations, and high-net-worth individuals. Using tools such as LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Dynamics CRM, and wider sector insight, you’ll build a strong, insight-led pipeline of opportunities that support our mission.

This is an excellent opportunity if you are proactive, organised, and eager to grow your experience in business development or fundraising. You will see the direct impact of your work, helping to secure the resources that allow young people to thrive.

What You’ll Be Working On

• Researching and mapping new corporate, trust/foundation, and HNWI prospects aligned with our mission.

• Supporting Development Managers by qualifying leads and preparing briefing packs, proposals, and tailored pitch materials.

• Coordinating research, logistics, and follow-ups for meetings, events, and networking opportunities.

• Maintaining accurate, GDPR-compliant data in the CRM system, tracking all approaches, communications, and outcomes.

• Producing insights and reports to inform strategy and pipeline management.

• Collaborating with Marketing & Communications, Programme Delivery, and Evaluation & Impact teams to ensure proposals are compelling and supported by robust evidence.

• Contributing to the creation of innovative approaches to engage new partners and donors.

This Job Is For You If…

• You’re motivated by creating opportunities that make a real difference in young people’s lives.

• You have strong research and analytical skills and are confident in using digital tools for prospecting and data management.

• You enjoy building relationships and working collaboratively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

• You are highly organised, able to manage multiple projects, and have an eye for detail.

• You are enthusiastic about learning and developing your career in business development or fundraising.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Previous experience in fundraising, business development, or sales, particularly in the not-for-profit sector.

• Experience contributing to income targets and producing marketing or proposal materials.

• Knowledge of GDPR and data protection in fundraising.

What We Offer

• 24 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing by 1 day per year to a maximum of 30.

• Life Assurance: 3x salary, from day one, including Employee Assistance Helpline.

• Long-term disability insurance, health cash plan, and personal accident cover.

• Pension scheme with auto-enrolment after three months.

• 8 weeks’ sick pay at full salary in any 12 months.

• Staff bursaries, childcare vouchers, Berghaus uniform items, and discounts.

Deadline: Monday 5th January 2025
First Interviews: Wednesday 7th – Friday 9th January 2025
Second Interviews: Wednesday 14th January 2025

We’re growing—and we need a brilliant fundraiser to help us continue the fight for young people.

Empire Fighting Chance is a bold sport for development charity, using non-contact boxing and intensive support to help young people overcome adversity.

We're scaling up our national impact and building a fresh fundraising team to match our ambition.

This brand new role is your chance to be a pivotal part of the newly formed Trusts & Foundations team—from prospecting and writing powerful bids, to building strong relationships with funders and shaping our fundraising strategy.

If you bring strategic thinking, compelling storytelling, and a passion for giving all young people a fighting chance, we want to hear from you!

Read the full Job Pack PDF for all the details and how to apply.

Are you a strategic, results-driven fundraiser ready to make a real impact?

Join the Orpheus Centre, a vibrant charity that transforms lives through the performing arts. We’re on an exciting journey, launching a £25m capital appeal to expand our facilities and grow our reach. To achieve this, we need an exceptional Deputy Head of Fundraising to help lead our income generation efforts and drive sustainable growth.

About the role

As Deputy Head of Fundraising, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering innovative fundraising strategies across multiple streams—corporate partnerships, trusts and foundations, individual giving, and community fundraising. You’ll oversee donor acquisition and stewardship, inspire your team, and ensure we meet ambitious targets. This is a fantastic opportunity to influence the future of a charity that champions creativity, inclusion, and resilience.

Location: The Orpheus Centre, Surrey
Salary: £45,000 per annum
Hours: 35 hours per week (flexible working considered) / 52 weeks per year
Contract: Permanent

What you’ll do

• Lead revenue fundraising strategies and secure income through personal efforts.
• Manage and develop a talented fundraising team.
• Build strong relationships with donors, partners, and stakeholders.
• Design compelling campaigns and optimise performance using data insights.
• Deputise for the Head of Income and Growth when required.

What we’re looking for

• Proven experience in managing multiple fundraising streams and meeting income targets.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.
• Strategic thinker with a track record of delivering results.
• Knowledge of fundraising compliance and best practices.

Why join us?

• Be part of a passionate team that celebrates creativity and makes a tangible impact on people’s lives.
• Work on a high-profile capital appeal and exciting projects.
• A supportive, inclusive workplace where your ideas matter.
• Join us in making a lasting difference in the lives of young disabled people through the power of the arts.

Orpheus is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. All posts are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and satisfactory references. This post is classed as having a high degree of contact with vulnerable adults and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

As part of our safer recruitment process and in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025, online searches may be undertaken as part of due diligence.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

In order to be considered you must be eligible to work in the UK.

The Orpheus Centre is proud to be a disability confident employer.

We have made a positive commitment to employing disabled people. Reasonable adjustments will be made to the recruitment procedure as required in consultation with the applicant to ensure no-one is disadvantaged because of their disability. If a disabled person is selected for a position, reasonable adjustments will be made to the workplace, including premises and equipment, work duties and practices or policies, as appropriate. All disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role as set out in the role profile and person specification will be considered for interview.

 As a Disability Confident Employer, we are:

• Challenging attitudes towards disability
• Increasing understanding of disability
• Removing barriers to disabled people and those with long-term health conditions
• Ensuring that disabled people have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspiration

No agencies please.

We are looking for an experienced, motivated fundraising professional to oversee corporate partnerships and individual giving, embedding the corporate and individual giving journey into all aspects of ERIC’s communications, and broadening the charity’s approach to donor stewardship to treat all service users and website visitors as future donors. You will also oversee all ERIC’s external and internal communications including our website, social media and PR.

As part of ERIC’s Senior Leadership Team, you will contribute to strategic planning, policy and decision-making across the whole organisation. This role provides strategic and operational leadership for ERIC’s fundraising and communications team. You will play a pivotal role in maximising supporter-led fundraising income, ensuring every supporter has a positive experience and feels inspired to continue supporting ERIC.

As Head of Fundraising and Communications, and a Senior leadership team member you will be responsible for implementing ERIC’s overall strategy. Our primary strategic objective in this area is to build our corporate and individual donor base, and you will use user data, stewardship strategy, website user experience, social media, segmented email and online service design to deliver this.

You will work closely with the CEO and provide effective line-management for two staff, and you will work with contractors and freelancers who provide social media support, videography and web development services etc.

ERIC’s reputation is built on providing families and professionals with health information that is accurate, up-to-date, clearly written and accessible. You will work with our team of qualified and experienced staff to ensure that robust systems are in place for checking and approving all the health information that ERIC publishes.

What we can offer you:

In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, ERIC offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 25 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays per year), rising one day per year as a long service reward up to a max of 5 days.
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to wellbeing resources
• 3% Employer Pension contribution
• Living Wage Accredited Employer

We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital training programmes and other training as required by the role.

This is a brand-new role with big potential. We’re looking for an experienced community fundraiser who’s excited to build something meaningful for Possability People.

You’ll lead local community and corporate fundraising, spark supporter engagement, and drive income through events, partnerships, and donor initiatives. You’ll also coordinate trust and foundation applications, support individual giving, and play a part in major donor work.

Working closely with teams across the charity, you’ll help shape fundraising that truly reflects our values and fuels our future growth.

Why we’re recruiting

We’re creating our first dedicated Fundraising Officer role to boost community fundraising, grow local partnerships, and coordinate income from trusts, foundations, individual donors, and corporate supporters. You’ll be the go-to person for bids, working with project leads and the CEO to spot opportunities and move applications forward.

With strong local relationships and a respected reputation already in place, we’re ready for someone who can turn that potential into a steady, sustainable pipeline of support. This is a hands-on role with real autonomy, perfect for a fundraiser who enjoys building structure, nurturing supporters, and driving results while helping shape the charity’s wider fundraising direction.

Day-to-Day Overview

You’ll spend your time out and about in the community, planning and running fundraising events like fun runs, afternoon teas, and seasonal campaigns, while being the face of Possability People. You’ll also act as the central point for coordinating bids and grant applications, working closely with Project Leads and the CEO to ensure opportunities are identified, tracked, and progressed. Alongside this, you’ll manage local corporate partnerships and sponsorships, building relationships that support our events and wider fundraising activity. This is a hands-on, mid-level role where your experience and initiative will shape how our fundraising operates and grow our income locally.

Why work for us?

Working for Possability People means being part of something bigger than just a job. You’ll help improve the lives of disabled people while enjoying a supportive, inclusive workplace that values your wellbeing and development. We offer generous holidays, flexible working, a pension scheme, and excellent learning opportunities. You’ll be supported through regular supervision, wellbeing initiatives, and access to free counselling and mental health support. As a Disability Confident employer with strong quality standards and a genuine commitment to inclusion, we’re proud to create a place where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a real difference every day.

Salary:  £35,000 (pro-rata: £21,000 for 21 hours, £28,000 for 28 hours)

Department:Core

Line Managed by: Chief Executive Officer

Holidays: 28 days plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time staff: 21 hrs = 17 days, to 28 hrs = 22.5 days)

Working Hours: 21 hrs (0.6 FTE) to 28 hrs per week (0.8 FTE) (to be agreed)

We’re open to the role being between 21 and 28 hours a week because finding the right person matters most. We’re very happy to chat about how those hours could work for you while still meeting the needs of the role. Whether you’d prefer to spread your hours across five days, start a bit later, or work longer days over fewer days, we’re open to a range of options. The role includes attending events and travelling around the local area, and there are also opportunities to work from home for part of the week.

About Possability People 

Possability People is a pan-impairment disability charity based in Brighton. We work with people with a number of health conditions, including mental health and neurodivergent conditions, as well as with older people.

Senior Development Manager (Philanthropy & Partnerships

Contract Type This is a full time (37.5 hours per week) permanent role, however we welcome applications for flexible working

Salary: £40,814

About Us

Norwich Theatre is one of the leading arts organisations in the UK and the largest in the East of England, encompassing the historic Theatre Royal, the creative hub Stage Two, and the intimate mid-scale Playhouse. We present, produce and co-create a vibrant programme of live performance and creative engagement activities to entertain, enrich and inspire audiences of all ages and backgrounds, and we work with national and international partners to ensure we bring the very best theatre to our region.

We are an independent not-for-profit charity with no regular public funding, and rely on a share of ticket sales, one-off grants, fundraising/membership schemes and other commercial activities to deliver the work we do both on stage and in communities.

About the role

The Senior Manager (Philanthropy & Partnerships) will provide strategic management for Norwich Theatre’s high-value income generation, spearheading the development, expansion and stewardship of corporate partnerships, corporate membership, major donor relationships, legacy giving and other transformational fundraising programmes.

This pivotal role will shape and deliver organisational strategies that secure substantial philanthropic and partnership income, cultivate senior-level relationships, and ensure long-term financial sustainability in alignment with Norwich Theatre’s vision and strategic priorities.

About you

You will have proven experience in managing stakeholder and supporter relationships, together with a track record of cultivating and stewarding high-value supporters, clients or partners.

An excellent negotiator, with strong planning and prioritisation skills, you will be highly collaborative, people focussed and proactive.

We offer

A good salary, 25 days holiday, plus public holidays, plus your birthday off, together with an inclusive culture focussed on wellbeing and happiness. We have a commitment to personal and professional development, discounts on a range of on food, drink and theatre tickets and access to My Discounts, employee discount scheme, offering savings on retail, gyms, travel, utilities and more.

As our Fundraising Officer you’ll play a crucial role in raising philanthropic income for the university. You’ll be joining us at an exciting time as 2026 marks the University’s centenary.

Your work will involve planning and delivering a range of fundraising activities aimed at raising charitable donations from alumni and other supporters. Projects will include an international giving day, telephone campaign, direct mail appeals, online crowdfunding projects and raising money at public events on our campuses.

This is a chance to make a real difference during an important year. You’ll be joining a friendly, supportive and passionate team and your work will have real impact — supporting students, research and the wider community through our centenary projects.

To succeed in this role, you will have:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to work with a wide range of people
• Experience planning and managing projects
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Good all round IT skills
• Ideally gained some prior experience in a fundraising role

This role is a fixed-term full time position, working 35 hours per week, providing maternity cover for 1 year from February 2026. Working hours would normally be 9-5pm Monday to Friday, but the role will require periods of out of hours working such as during the telephone campaign.

The role requires some days working at the Whiteknights Campus each week, but The Fundraising Team supports hybrid remote working arrangements too.

About the Role

2026 marks 100 years since Gunnersbury Park was opened as a public park, and Gunnersbury Museum and Park Development Trust are looking to hire a freelance development manager to help us make the most of our centenary year. 

We are looking for an experienced development professional to join our team on a freelance basis as part of an Arts Council funded project. This role will be a real opportunity to become embedded in an organisation at the beginning of a transformative period, as we focus our energies on raising awareness of the great work of GMPDT.

The successful candidate will lead GMPDT towards increased financial resilience by identifying new funding opportunities and managing the development of a new fundraising campaign.

They will work with staff and volunteers to develop a ‘project bank’ of fundable projects across the Museum and Park and identify appropriate funding streams for each.

They will also identify one key project to launch Gunnersbury’s first fundraising campaign, working with freelancers/subcontractors to create supporting materials for the chosen campaign.

About You

Experience

• Experience of fundraising and donor engagement in museum/heritage sector and/or environmental sector
• Proven ability to create and deliver successful fundraising campaigns
• Experience of writing compelling cause messaging, or managing the delivery of cause messaging
• Experience of working with small organisations
• Experienced in CRM databases including Beacon
• Confident in managing projects to tight deadlines
• Extensive knowledge of grant writing and reporting
• Experience in writing and producing impact reports

Skills:

• Self-starter with the confidence to work alone as well as within a small, busy team
• Excellent communication skills to reach a wide range of audiences
• A strong leader and trainer of others
• Comfortable working with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders
• Creative thinker with new ideas for donor engagement and fundraising campaigns.
• Attention to de reporting requirements and compliance for successful grants.

Key Responsibilities

• Audit the existing fundraising/development functions of the organisation, and identify any gaps or missed opportunities
• Working with the Project Board hold workshops with staff and volunteers to develop a ‘project bank’ of fundable ideas, which will include detail of the ideas, potential funding sources and timeline for completion
• Develop new cause messaging, and help to foster a culture of identifying key stories to share with our audiences
• Work with the project team to identify a single project to anchor a new fundraising campaign
• Develop a suite of digital and print content to support the fundraising campaign, and train existing team on the best way to deliver messaging around the campaign
• Report regularly to the project board on the progress of the work stream, and identify any project delivery risks

Salary: £46,104 – £51,176
Location: Remote with regular travel to Downton and London
Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week
Contract: Permanent

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Legacy & In Memory Manager to join our Commercial Directorate at Help for Heroes. This pivotal role will shape and maximise one of our most important income streams, ensuring we can continue delivering life-changing support for the Armed Forces community.

Legacy and In Memory income contributes over half of all fundraised income, making this a strategically significant role with the opportunity to drive meaningful and lasting impact. If you are an experienced, collaborative and strategic leader with expertise in legacy fundraising, legacy administration and/or in memory giving, this could be your perfect next step.

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Mass Fundraising, you will lead the development, delivery and continuous improvement of our Gifts in Wills and In Memory programmes. You’ll shape strategies that drive sustainable income growth, ensure operational excellence, and deliver exceptional stewardship for supporters, families and executors.

You will oversee all aspects of legacy marketing, legacy administration and in-memory giving, ensuring compliance, accuracy and sensitivity in this specialist area. You will also provide clear reporting and forecasting to track performance and identify future income opportunities. Working collaboratively across the charity, you’ll embed best practice, enhance supporter journeys and maximise long-term income opportunities.

As a senior leader, you will guide and develop a skilled team of five, championing a culture of collaboration, learning and data-led decision-making.

About You

You’ll be a strategic, compassionate and resourceful leader with a strong background in legacy fundraising, legacy administration and/or in memory giving. You’ll bring both technical expertise and emotional intelligence — able to oversee sensitive stewardship activity, manage complex matters confidently and influence stakeholders at all levels.

We’re looking for someone with:

• Significant experience in legacy fundraising, legacy administration and/or in memory giving
• Strong understanding of legacy marketing, supporter journeys and charity-side legacy processes
• Demonstrable team management or leadership experience
• Experience overseeing sensitive, high-quality stewardship to supporters and families
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Strong analytical and data-led decision-making capability
• Confidence in managing budgets, forecasting income and reporting on performance
• A values-driven, empathetic approach and commitment to delivering excellence

Due to the specialist nature of this role, we can only consider applicants with relevant experience in legacy fundraising, legacy administration or in memory giving, as well as demonstrable leadership or team management experience.

About the Team

Our Mass Fundraising team sits within the Commercial Directorate and is responsible for building strong, trusted relationships with supporters across the UK. Legacy & In Memory giving is a cornerstone of this work, enabling us to deliver our LiveWell Strategy and ensure every member of the Armed Forces Community can live well after service.

You’ll join a passionate, expert and purpose-driven team who champion innovation, empathy and excellence in everything they do.

In return we can offer you:

• Belonging to a team who make a difference to our community and value equality, diversity and inclusion.
• 29 days’ annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, regardless of service — plus your birthday off to celebrate!
• Opportunity to buy and sell up to 5 days annual leave per year.
• Added to our free health scheme from day one, including discounts on dental, opticians, massages, and more - with the option to upgrade.
• 3 volunteer days per year to support the Help for Heroes community.
• A generous salary sacrifice pension scheme with an 8% employer contribution and a minimum 3% employee contribution, plus life insurance up to 4× salary as an active member.
• Discounts on our branded clothing, including a free Help for Heroes hoody when you complete your induction.

Closing date: 9th January 2026

Please note: We may close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of strong applications.

Harris Hill Charity Recruitment are delighted to be working with the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) on this exciting new Fundraising Manager role.

About the EACR

The EACR is an international scientific membership organisation supporting cancer researchers through conferences, funding schemes and community-building. Following a recent consultancy review, the organisation is now ready to appoint its first dedicated Fundraising Manager to establish and grow its income-generation activity.

The Role

This brand-new position will lead trusts, foundations and corporate fundraising. Reporting to the CEO and sitting on the Management Team, you will:

• Build the first fundraising strategy, pipeline and targets
• Develop compelling proposals and cases for support
• Cultivate relationships with trusts, foundations and corporate partners
• Work closely with scientific, communications and membership colleagues
• Provide strategic oversight of fundraising plans, reporting and forecasting

The organisation understands that fundraising takes time: no major income is expected until 2027, and there is a healthy financial buffer, giving you space to develop a sustainable programme.

About You

We’re seeking a generalist fundraiser with strong trusts experience and confidence in corporate partnerships. You’ll be strategic, proactive, collaborative and comfortable shaping a new function from the ground up.

How to Apply

For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief.

£43,000 – £50,000 | 0.8–1.0 FTE | 18-month Fixed Term Contract
Hybrid: A minimum of once per week in the Nottingham office (Wednesdays)

Closing date: 9am, Wednesday 7th January 2026
Interviews: w/c 12th and 19th January 2026

Location

Hybrid – with regular travel to shops and centres within Nottinghamshire region. Post holders expected to be working flexibly across their community 4 days out of 5, within minimum 1 day per week from our Nottinghamshire Centre – and attend regular team meetings in an agreed location.

Due to the scope and nature of the role, you will need to live within, or in close proximity to, Nottinghamshire. You will be required to have a valid driving license and access to a car to enable you to travel freely across the area without reliance on public transport.

Salary: £27,000 per annum

Hours: 35 hours per week (with occasional weekend and evening work as and when the role requires)

Role Purpose: 

You will be responsible for Community, Events and local Corporate fundraising across the Nottinghamshire Region. You will deliver excellent stewardship to supporters and volunteers and develop relationships with key local contacts who can help to further Jerry Green Dog Rescue’s mission.

You will collaborate with colleagues across the wider charity to ensure you are offering the best possible supporter experience. You will attend local events with, and through, volunteers, work with colleague in our retail sites, and spot other opportunities to promote Jerry Green Dog rescue in your community and drive support for our work.

Key Relationships:

Internal Contacts

· Wider fundraising team

· Marketing team

· Retail team

· Operations team

External contacts

· Supporters

· Volunteers

Key Outputs & Tasks:

Community Fundraising

- Identify, engage and steward individual and group supporters, developing strategies to promote fundraising activities and grow income from your local area.

- Proactively pursue local business partnership opportunities, developing a pipeline of potential corporate support and making applications to secure support.

- Provide high quality stewardship of individual supporters, groups and businesses within the community, responding to enquiries in a timely way and ensuring relationships are developed and maintained at a high standard.

- Represent Jerry Green Dog Rescue as the first point of contact within the community for Nottinghamshire, promoting our mission, vision, and values alongside fundraising and volunteering opportunities.

- Ensure that the fundraising CRM is up-to-date and develop regular reporting mechanisms to inform the Volunteering and Community Fundraising Manager of outputs and results, and support understanding of local audiences.

- Act as a champion for fundraising compliance across the organisation, ensuring adherence to relevant legislative requirements.

Volunteering

- Work with the Volunteering and Community Fundraising Manager and Volunteering Assistant to recruit, induct and train volunteers to support fundraising and other relevant initiatives in the local community.

- Work collaboratively with the wider organisation to recognise and celebrate volunteers that support the charity.

Other duties

- Contribute content for marketing communications including; social media, newsletters, local media to support marketing objectives and increase our engagement with potential supporters.

- Keep up to date with sector trends and developments in community fundraising and volunteering.

- Work collaboratively and purposefully with your team and the wider department and organisations to build strong working relationships and to be an internal ambassador for Fundraising and Marketing.  

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

· A target-driven and tenacious professional with some experience in community or corporate fundraising, or a similar role with transferable skills in relationship building.

· Entrepreneurial, with a drive to seek out new opportunities to drive income generation and pursue them with a continual eye on hitting KPIs and targets.

· A positive approach to your work and supporting your colleagues to achieve shared objectives.

· Knowledgeable about your local community.

· Organised, with a keen eye for detail and a confidence in managing competing priorities effectively.

· A credible and clear communicator, with a love for building relationships with charity supporters.

· A willingness to travel across the Nottinghamshire region, and to attend face-to-face meetings with your team as required.  

How you’ll work in line with our Values:

Jerry Green Dog Rescue upholds the organisational Values of Kindness, Compassion, Honesty & Purposefulness in all our work.

Kindness – You will treat all your colleagues, supporters and volunteers with respect and kindness, and contribute to a supportive working environment.

Compassion – You will act as an ambassador for the charity, promoting our mission to rehome dogs in need. You will ensure that you work in a compassionate environment – for each other, and for our supporters.

Purposeful – You will work in line with your team operational plan to ensure a clear direction in your work, in alignment with the Fundraising and Organisational strategies.

· Honesty – You will manage expectations with your colleagues and supporters and communicate with them openly and honestly and ensure there is a culture of trust and openness within your direct team and your interactions with the wider organisation.

Key Performance Indicators:

·Community Fundraising income targets and KPIs

·Volunteering KPIs

Date Job Description Prepared:

December 2025

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the requirements of the role. It is not a contractual document and does not form part of any contract of employment. The duties and responsibilities outlined may be subject to change at any time to meet the needs of the organisation.

Role outline and purpose

The Development Manager – Trusts & Foundations is responsible for delivering new relationships with a wide spectrum of Trusts and Foundations to grow our portfolio of high value funding partners. Responsible for developing compelling propositions and applications that drive transformational funding for our strategic programmes of work, maximising income generation, though prospecting, cultivating and securing funding to deliver against our strategic objectives and ambitious income targets.

This role is part of the Together with Trussell programme, the goal of which is to build stronger connections with our supporters, partners and donors in order to increase funding, campaigning, and other forms of support for our work. As a member of an enabling programme, this role is focused on the successful delivery of the Together with Trussell programme outcomes, which underpin and enable the outcomes of our 5 external programmes - together contributing to the fulfilment of our long term vision of a UK without the need for food banks.

Role responsibilities

· Work with the Programme Funding team to deliver our income generation strategy, meeting income targets based on long term financial forecasts, by proactively developing new opportunities, propositions and relationships with a wide variety of Trusts and Foundations – including corporate foundations, family trusts and institutional trusts.

· Proactively identify, develop and nurture relationships with potential funders to maximise fundraising potential.

· Work alongside the High Value Partnerships team to ensure new funders are onboarded and handed over to account management and supporting with compelling propositions to uplift and retain their support.

· Provide line management support to the Development Officer – Trusts.

· Collaborate with our marketing and content teams to ensure we can communicate the impact of our high value supporters on our mission.

Person Specification

Technical skills and minimum knowledge:

· High value fundraising experience, preferably including raising funds from Trusts and Foundations, delivering strategic partnerships, or applicable commercial background.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to analyse data and budgets and use CRM software.

· Ability to establish credibility quickly with a range of stakeholders, with the influencing and clear communication skills.

· Able to manage multiple projects and relationships, communicate priorities and identify and resolve conflict.

Behaviours and competencies:

· Exemplify Trussell values and demonstrate a commitment to inclusive behaviour and leadership.

· Able to think strategically to identify synergies, linking programmatic activity with funder motivations.

· Comfortable working in a fast paced, high performing and highly relational organisation, combining problem solving with collaborative interpersonal skills.

· A confident communicator and presenter, diplomatic, effective at building rapport, and able to approach challenges with positivity and high energy.

Key Stakeholders

· Head of Programme Funding and team

· Partnership Development Team

· Potential Partners and Funders

· Programme Teams

evelopment Manager - Major Gifts

Location: Kingston upon Thames (Hybrid working - minimum 2-3 days on campus)
Salary: £45,025 per annum
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Closing Date: midday Friday 16 January 2026
Interviews in person: TBC 28 or 29 Jan 2026

Help to shape the future of philanthropy and alumni engagement at Kingston University.

Kingston University is an incredible place to work. For over 125 years, we've been shaping student futures through academic excellence and forward-thinking teaching. Our recent TEF Gold rating reflects our commitment to delivering outstanding education and research. Through our ambitious Town House Strategy, we're embedding a progressive new model of education and driving innovation through partnerships with businesses, communities, and organisations.

The Development, Alumni Relations and Engagement (DARE) team plays a vital role in delivering these ambitions. With a global alumni community of over 270,000, we foster meaningful relationships that drive philanthropic support, unlock partnerships, and enhance the University's reputation and reach.

The Role

As Development Manager - Major Gifts, you will be a senior member of the DARE team, responsible for generating philanthropic income to meet ambitious annual targets. Reporting to the Head of Major Gifts, you will:

• Manage a portfolio of high-value donors (individuals, trusts & foundations, corporates), personally soliciting gifts of £10,000+.
• Support the pipeline of mid-level prospects and help develop ultra-high-net-worth individuals for transformative gifts.
• Deliver against KPIs and income targets, contributing to our goal of growing major giving from £450,000 annually to £1 million within three years.
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders and academic leaders, producing compelling proposals and leading donor engagement.

This is a dynamic, outward-facing role requiring excellent relationship-building skills, strategic thinking, and a passion for the impact of fundraising in higher education.

About You

You will be an experienced and driven fundraiser with:

• A proven track record of securing and stewarding four-figure and above gifts.
• Strong influencing and communication skills, with confidence engaging high-profile individuals.
• Experience managing a varied portfolio and achieving ambitious KPIs.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to work across a complex organisation.

Experience in higher education or the charity sector is desirable, but not essential.

Why Join Us?

• Hybrid working (minimum 2-3 days on campus).
• A supportive, ambitious team committed to innovation and impact.
• The opportunity to make a lasting difference to students and the University community.

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are committed to building an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

Apply now and bring your expertise, passion, and authentic self to Kingston University.
Please share a copy of your profile or CV with Philippa at Charity People as the first step.

Benefits include:

* Generous holiday entitlement of 35 days (from entry at all levels), in addition to bank holidays

* Three 'meeting free' weeks each year to create space for reflection and time to plan for the period ahead

* Flexible working - we can consider and accommodate various work patterns

* Family-friendly policies that support the needs of our employees

* Exceptional professional development opportunities

Key Details
- Location: Kingston upon Thames (Hybrid working, 2-3 days/week on campus)
- Closing Date: midday on Friday 16 Jan
- Interview Date: in person provisionally 28 or 29 Jan

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

Are you an exceptional fundraiser who excels at cultivating high-value relationships and securing transformational gifts? Do you enjoy working with senior volunteers and philanthropists who are deeply committed to changing children’s lives?

Step into a pivotal role within one of the UK’s leading philanthropy teams as you lead our flagship Tick Tock Club appeal — inspiring major donors and volunteers to drive extraordinary impact for seriously ill children.

Salary

The salary for this position is £52,526 per annum and we operate a hybrid working policy of a minimum of 2 days per week in the office. 

In line with our EDI strategy and Total Reward policy, we calculate our salaries based on benchmarking data across the charity sector. To ensure fairness for existing staff and new joiners, we do not offer salaries above the advertised rate.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver a personal fundraising target of £1.5m+, securing six- and seven-figure gifts and multi-year commitments from high-net-worth individuals and charitable trusts.
• Lead the £20m Tick Tock Club appeal, shaping strategy and driving one of GOSH Charity’s flagship philanthropic initiatives.
• Recruit, inspire and collaborate with senior volunteers, campaign boards and influential supporters to accelerate high-value fundraising.
• Manage a portfolio of donors and prospects, using insight-led approaches to build long-term engagement and maximise impact.
• Oversee campaign events, communications and tailored proposals, ensuring activity aligns with income targets and delivers an exceptional supporter experience.
• Provide motivating line management to a small team, fostering professional development, wellbeing and high performance.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• A strong track record of securing six- and seven-figure philanthropic gifts.
• Experience partnering with senior volunteers and campaign boards on major fundraising initiatives.
• Strategic leadership skills with the ability to galvanise a team around ambitious goals.
• Exceptional relationship-building, influencing and presentation abilities.
• A creative, solutions-focused mindset with resilience under pressure.

Please refer to the full job description below for more information.

About the team
 

You’ll join our sector-leading Philanthropy team — recognised as one of the most high-performing and respected in the charity sector. We partner with some of the most generous and committed philanthropists in the UK and beyond to transform the lives of seriously ill children.

Our talented and supportive team of 20+ works closely with colleagues across fundraising, clinical, and research teams to create inspiring, high-impact opportunities for supporters. In partnership with senior volunteers and committees, we drive landmark campaigns including the £300 million Build It. Beat It. appeal and the Tick Tock Club, with exciting plans for a major new research-focused campaign on the horizon.