The charity is rapidly scaling up, recently doubling its annual support to £6 million. Degrees has partnered with leading climate change funders and research partners including the Quadrature Climate Foundation, Open Philanthropy, Crankstart, Navigation Fund, Outlier Projects, LAD Climate Fund and UK Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA). Transparency of funding is essential to our work. We do not accept support from anonymous donors or funding from the fossil fuel industry. Fundraising for the organisation has been led by the Founder and CEO, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief of Staff, and the Chair of the Trustees with the support of an experienced Senior Philanthropy Advisor.
We now seek a full-time team member to build on this base. Reporting to the COO, and working closely with senior staff and the Chair, the Development Manager will support high‑performing fundraising that secures multi‑year, diversified funding. He / she will also introduce robust processes for pipeline management and donor stewardship and manage the complete donor lifecycle (from identification to cultivation to solicitation and stewardship) of a portfolio of top prospects. The post holder will receive initial onboarding support from the Senior Philanthropy Advisor. As fundraising grows, the team may expand in the future.
Initial priorities include expansion beyond the current donor pool, with a strong push to identify and engage new funders, and putting in place the systems (CRM, reporting cadence, key performance indicators) to support growth at scale.
As this is a new role, responsibilities are expected to evolve but some key items will include:
Strategy & planning
- Work with the CEO, Chief of Staff, COO, Senior Philanthropy Advisor, programme staff and the Chair of the Trustees to help develop and implement a multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with organisational objectives;
Pipeline development & new opportunities
- Manage the fundraising pipeline, guiding the ongoing fundraising activities of senior staff and the Chair;
- Research and identify new funding opportunities from trusts and foundations, government funders, and multilateral donors in the development and climate sectors on an ongoing basis;
- Reach out to networks of donor advisors and established relationships for referrals;
- Initiate and manage contact with funding opportunities;
Grant writing
- Draft and coordinate the preparation and submission of grant proposals;
Donor stewardship & reporting
- Maintain excellent relations with existing funders by keeping them informed on charity and sector updates, inviting them to events, and ensuring the delivery of annual reports and notices;
- Ensure and manage ongoing formal grant reporting on behalf of the organisation;
Events & engagement
- Often working with partners, plan and deliver fundraising events for existing and potential funders, particularly in the UK and US;
- Manage invitation lists, track attendance and ensure bespoke follow–up to attendees;
- Assist in the design of events that will inspire and engage funders while involving Southern experts in the Degrees research community;
- Coordinate all fundraising outreach and related programming for the Degrees Global Forum (a conference to be held in 2027);
Processes, systems & administration
- Create and implement structured processes across the entire fundraising and donor lifecycle;
- Develop and track KPIs, providing regular reports to senior staff and the Trustees;
- Be responsible for fundraising data, contacts and administrative records.
A dynamic charity working on climate change and global development



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are seeking a dedicated Grants Officer to join our Online Grants Team ensuring that members of the Armed Forces Community receive crucial financial assistance when they cannot cover essential welfare needs themselves. This role is a vital link in providing immediate, life-changing support.
Come and be part of the leading Armed Forces charity, making a difference to the lives of those who have served to keep us safe and protect our way of life.
The Grants Department is dynamic, adapting its focus based on RBL strategy and emerging community needs. The team operates across two primary functions: the Online Grants Team and the Central Grants Team, and flexibility is essential to meet high service demands and ensure continuous support across the department.
Key responsibilities underpin our service delivery including:
- Case Advocacy: Assess case priority and know when to advocate for established policy exceptions to meet the applicant’s needs most appropriately.
- Customer Service Excellence: Deliver considered, tailored support and communicate all decisions and updates clearly, professionally, and within a 24-hour response time.
- Expert Knowledge: Maintain working knowledge of welfare benefits and relevant statutory provisions.
- Value & Compliance: Identify the most cost-effective products and ensure all data handling adheres to GDPR and charitable requirements.
- Professional Conduct: Manage challenging situations and complex client issues with the utmost compassion, dignity, and professionalism.
You will be contracted to your home address, and you will perform most of your work remotely there using our collaboration tools to work with colleagues, with occasional travel (incl. for monthly team meetings).
Employee benefits include
- 28 day’s paid holiday (plus bank holidays) increasing with service, with optional annual leave purchase scheme of up to 5 working days
- Generous pension contributions, with Employer contributions ranging from 6% to 10%
- Range of flexible working options may be available, depending on your role
- Employee Assistance Programme providing confidential counselling, financial and legal advice
- Range of courses delivered by learning specialists to support your development goals and objectives
- Opportunities to volunteer
- Travel loans, Cycle to Work, and more!
For more detailed information about the role, please see our Vacancy Information Pack attached to our direct advert. Our shortlisting is performed on the evidence provided in your application against the Essential and Desirable criteria in the Person Specification.
RBL is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive organisation, reflecting the diversity of the armed forces community and of wider society. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and personal characteristics.
We may close this vacancy early if we believe we have enough strong applications to be able to successfully fill the role(s). Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
We provide lifelong support to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families. Our support starts after one day of service and continues through


