Development manager jobs

Resonance is an artist-led community radio station supporting experimental arts and under-represented voices. We’re looking for a Development Manager to take ownership of fundraising activity and help secure the income that sustains this work.

This is a hands-on role focused on trusts & foundations, donor communications and impact reporting. You’ll develop and manage a pipeline of funding applications, translate creative activity into clear and compelling narratives for funders, and contribute to growing individual giving.

Working within a small team, you’ll be expected to take responsibility for defined areas of fundraising activity, manage your own workflow and see work through to completion. You’ll work independently day-to-day, while collaborating with the CEO on priorities, positioning and key opportunities.

The role will suit someone with experience of developing or contributing to funding applications, strong writing skills, and the ability to interpret artistic or community activity and communicate its value clearly to external audiences.

Resonance broadcasts 24/7 on FM, DAB and online, working with hundreds of volunteer broadcasters and artists each year. As an independent charity, our work is sustained through listener support and grant funding.

This is a 4-day per week role (0.8 FTE), with a full-time equivalent salary of £43-45k, initially offered on a 12 month contract, offering a balance of autonomy, flexibility and meaningful work within a distinctive cultural organisation.

We are looking for a thoughtful, resilient, and effective person to lead on both the delivery of SPRING that City of Sanctuary Sheffield is responsible for, and the advocacy associated with that work. 

You will ensure that the SPRING is accessible, trauma-informed, and impactful for the community of new refugees accessing the service. 

You will also make sure that systemic issues faced by the community accessing SPRING are chronicled and highlighted, and that we take collective steps to bring about positive change.

We particularly welcome applications from people who have personal experience of the asylum system and migration. To support all applicants, a preparation session will be offered by the New Beginnings team at Voluntary Action Sheffield.

To Apply 

To apply, please submit the following:

1. A covering letter (no more than 2 pages long).  In this letter:

• Say why you are applying for the job.

• Tell us how you meet the job requirements detailed in the person specification. Give practical examples of what you have done that meets the requirements.

2. A brief summary of the work and volunteering you have done or a short CV.

3. Name, phone number, and email addresses of two references, at least one of whom can comment on recent work or volunteer experience.

A free preparation session will be run by the New Beginnings team at Voluntary Action Sheffield.  This will be open to anyone applying for the role to learn a bit more about the job and get support with their application. This session will take place on Thursday 2nd April at 4pm at The Sanctuary.Please contact Blessan at City of Sanctuary Sheffield if you have any questions about attending this session.

Closing date for applications is 15th April at 11:30pm

Interviews will be held on the week commencing 11th May and/or the week commencing 18th May

Job title: Senior Development Manager

Contract type: 1-year contract, 3-days per week (21hrs per week, standard office hours are 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday. Work outside these hours is required on occasions. Flexible working subject to agreement).

Start date: April 2026

Salary: £45,000 - £55,000 per annum 

Holiday: 25 days + Public Holidays pro rata

Pension: Generous workplace pension scheme

Location: London, Somerset House 

Reporting to: Director

Travel: Occasional travel to projects and events may be required.

Safeguarding: In line with Art Explora’s Safeguarding Policy, all staff are required to have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which Art Explora will carry out upon appointment.

Art Explora’s mission is to tackle the social, economic and geographic barriers that prevent many people from having the opportunity to take part in the arts.

The role 

Art Explora UK is a small but entrepreneurial arts charity looking for an experienced fundraiser to join our dynamic team and help us implement a new fundraising strategy, and achieve our ambitious and exciting targets at a time of growth and opportunity.

This is a flexible part-time role for someone who is happy working independently, while liaising closely with the Director, Programme Heads and Trustees. On-boarding and hand-over will be with the current Fundraising Consultant. The Senior Development Manager will identify, cultivate, solicit, and manage funders and prospects, working across public sector, trusts, foundations and corporate supporters.  A particular focus will be on securing support for two high-profile, flagship programmes: Time Odyssey and the Mobile Museum, however there is significant potential to expand this scope of work.

The Senior Development Manager will be someone who thinks creatively, seizes opportunity and, with excellent inter-personal skills, brings experience, energy and drive to attract donors and prospects to the Charity’s exciting mission to innovate forms of engagement and increase access to arts and culture.

Specific Responsibilities

• Deliver against a 6-figure fundraising target, taking responsibility for a cohort of prospects, with a focus on trusts, foundations, public sector and corporate partners.

• Write compelling proposals/applications and reports for trusts and foundations, to engage supporters and demonstrate the impact of our work.

• Collaborate with colleagues, in particular the Director and Programme Heads, to source programme information, schedule meetings/calls with prospects, writing excellent briefing notes in advance.

• Adhere to best practice in prospect cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, and ensure the due diligence policies in place are followed.

• Deliver the highest level of donor care through excellent communication skills: building rapport with prospects and donors, and ensuring correspondence is appropriate and consistent.

• Set up and deliver cultivation events for prospects and donors that highlight the work of Art Explora and associated opportunities to support.

• Work closely with press/marketing to ensure messaging and brand identity is aligned.

Key outcomes

• Achieve fundraising target

• Expand and progress the existing pipeline of prospects and donors

• Demonstrate highest level of prospect/donor interaction and relations – actions that result in an engaged and informed donor pool

• Produce excellent and regular donor communications, both written and in-person.

• Submit in a timely fashion proposals and reports.

• Deliver excellent development events as required, within budget.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• 4+ years’ experience in donor-facing fundraising, with a focus on the arts/education sector. 

• Highly organised with the ability to work at pace and manage a number of projects and priorities simultaneously.

• Demonstrable experience of working to and meeting challenging fundraising targets; proven ability to secure six-figures awards.

• Experience of independently managing a designated group of donors and prospects and moving those relationships forward to successful outcomes.

• An understanding of and commitment to excellent stewardship and donor care

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; a developed ability to influence and inspire donors and prospects around a given cause or project.

• Confidence to drive forward relationships with donors and prospects, meeting independently and presenting proposals face-to-face and in writing.

• Flexibility to occasionally work outside of normal office hours and travel to various locations as required.

• A passion for the arts and an understanding of the arts education landscape.

If you feel you meet some of the criteria but not all, please feel free to enquire and learn more.

Deadline: 11:59pm Sunday 12  April 2026.

The interviews will be the week commencing 20 April.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds. We strive to promote an inclusive environment, which celebrates and promotes diversity.

For any queries regarding eligibility or the job specification please contact Art Explora.