Director of development jobs

Calibre Audio is a national charity providing accessible audiobooks to people who are unable to read print due to visual impairment, dyslexia, or other conditions. Through a digital-first service and diverse library, the charity enables children and adults to experience the joy and lifelong benefits of reading, while increasingly delivering impact across literacy, education, wellbeing and social inclusion.

Fundraising at Calibre Audio is entering an exciting new phase of development. The charity has recently appointed its first Director of Fundraising & Communications, bringing fundraising, communications and brand together under a newly created leadership role. With a refreshed organisational narrative, ambitious plans for growth and a renewed focus on increasing income and profile, fundraising is becoming an increasingly important driver of Calibre Audio’s future impact.

Trusts and foundations are a key part of this growth strategy. Historically, income has been generated through a combination of loyal funders and a high volume of smaller grants. The organisation is now seeking to build a more strategic trusts programme focused on stronger stewardship, deeper funder relationships, larger grants and long-term partnerships. There is significant untapped potential, including opportunities to re-engage previous funders, develop new relationships and secure support for a range of compelling programmes spanning literacy, education, disability, wellbeing and community impact.

The Senior Trusts Fundraiser will lead this work, partnering closely with the Director to shape and deliver the next phase of trusts fundraising at Calibre Audio. This is a role with genuine scope to influence strategy, develop new opportunities and make a visible contribution to organisational growth. It would suit an ambitious trusts fundraiser who enjoys relationship building as much as writing applications and is motivated by the opportunity to help build something.

As Senior Trusts Fundraiser, you will:

• Develop and implement a strategic trusts and foundations fundraising programme aligned with organisational priorities
• Identify, research and cultivate new funding opportunities, with a focus on larger and multi-year grants
• Build and manage a strong pipeline of prospective trusts and foundations
• Develop compelling, high-quality funding applications, proposals and report
• Secure significant income from a portfolio of trusts and foundations
• Build and strengthen long-term relationships with funders through excellent stewardship and engagement
• Reactivate and develop relationships with previous funders and supporters
• Work closely with colleagues across the organisation to gather impact data and develop compelling cases for support
• Act as a key ambassador for Calibre Audio with funders and external stakeholders

Essential skills and experience:

• Proven track record of securing five-figure grants from trusts and foundations
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to develop persuasive and compelling funding applications
• Strong prospect research and pipeline development skills
• Experience identifying, developing and securing new funding opportunities
• Excellent verbal communication skills and confidence engaging with external stakeholders
• A proactive and entrepreneurial approach, with the ability to spot opportunities and drive activity forward
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines

Desirable, but not essential:

• Experience securing six-figure and/or multi-year grants
• Knowledge of the disability, literacy, education or wellbeing sectors
• Experience using Beacon CRM
• Experience contributing to fundraising strategy

Calibre Audio are also keen to hear from ambitious early-career fundraisers. Whilst a track record of securing trusts funding is essential, we are more interested in your potential, approach and attributes than the size of grants you have secured to date. If you bring strong relationship-building skills, initiative and an entrepreneurial mindset, this role offers an exceptional opportunity to work closely with an experienced fundraising leader, benefit from coaching and mentoring, and play a key role in shaping a growing trusts programme.

Employee benefits include

• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays and an additional Calibre Christmas closure day
• Matched pension contributions up to 5% of salary
• Medical Cash Plan (Hive Insurance Bronze Package)
• Life Assurance cover of 2 x salary
• Employee Assistance Programme 
• Reward Gateway, offering discounts and savings across hundreds of retailers
• Free on-site parking

Salary: £94,851 plus benefits (Our pay philosophy ensures consistency across locations and salaries. The starting salary for this opportunity plus benefits depends on location of the candidate).

The role:

We are delighted to be recruiting for a visionary, mission-driven leader to join Mary’s Meals International (MMI) as Executive Director. In this new role, you will be reporting to our Board of Trustees, through our Board Chair, and working in collaboration with our President & Founder of Mary’s Meals. As Executive Director, you will provide inspirational strategic and operational leadership of MMI, ensuring delivery of its key responsibilities within the global strategic plan. 

Leading with humility, clarity and courage, you will champion faithful adherence to the vision, mission and values of Mary’s Meals, as we strive to grow our global movement and reach the next child waiting for Mary’s Meals.

As Executive Director, you will:

• Lead MMI in delivering its objectives across the three strategic pillars: Feed, Grow and Strengthen. 
• Oversee the coordination and implementation of global strategy. 
• Provide inspirational leadership to MMI and the MMI Executive Leadership Team.
• Strengthen organisational systems, governance and development. 
• Foster strong collaboration across the global network. 
• Work closely with the Board, President and Founder and MMI teams to support sustainable growth across Affiliate organisations. 

About you:

You are an inspiring, effective and authentic leader with significant experience at executive or CEO level, in a complex organisation, ideally with an international footprint. Experience in an international non-profit, charity or social impact organisation would be advantageous, though not essential. Strong preference will be given to candidates with a deep understanding of our work gained through prior engagement with our mission. 

You will also bring: 

• Proven ability to inspire and lead senior teams, while cultivating a strong organisational culture. 
• Demonstrated success in developing and delivering strategy to drive growth, innovation and organisational strengthening. 
• Highly developed communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence diverse audiences.
• Proven experience of leading transformational change, while maintaining stability and mission focus. 
• A deep personal commitment to the vision, mission and values of Mary’s Meals. 

About us:

We are a global movement supported by people from all walks of life, united by one goal – that every child receives a nutritious daily meal in a place of education. As an organisation, named after Mary the mother of Jesus and shaped by Christian values, we feel that the way we do things is as important as the result and we welcome all who wish to play their part in our important work. We continue to change the lives of over 3 million children who today will receive Mary’s Meals.

We are a values-driven organisation - we believe in the innate goodness of people, respect the dignity of every human being and family life and believe in good stewardship of the resources entrusted to us. In line with our values, we are fully committed to a culture of safeguarding, we are committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work and we expect all the Mary's Meals family to share this commitment and work in the best interest of the communities we serve. Our safe recruitment practices ensure that only those that are committed to our high standards join our movement.

We believe in the innate goodness and dignity of every person. In line with this, Mary’s Meals is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment. All applicants will be considered fairly and on merit, without discrimination of any kind.  

We are happy for you to work remotely and flexibly, in a way that best supports your work-life balance. We have an office in Glasgow for those who would like to work from here occasionally or on a regular basis. Some travel to Glasgow, other locations across the UK and to countries where Mary’s Meals operates will be required.

Our Benefits:

• 34 days annual leave (pro-rated for part time working patterns) including bank holidays, increasing by 1 day each completed calendar year, to a maximum of 39 days (+ option to buy another week)
• Flexible working
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Life assurance
• Pension

Additional Information:

Salary advertised is for UK based candidates, our salary philosophy ensures consistency across locations where Mary’s Meals operates, please visit our website for more information about salaries in other locations.

To apply:

If you are inspired to join our movement and our vision, mission and values resonate with you, we would love to hear from you. Please click Apply and include your CV and a succinct covering letter, of no more than one A4 page, highlighting your motivations, suitability and outlining your participation in our mission.

Closing date for applications is Monday 22nd June 2026

Join SmellTaste and lead the development of the charity’s involvement in research, shaping how lived experience of those affected by smell and taste impairment is integrated in research projects. As Research Development and Engagement Manager, you will lead engagement with researchers, our patient community, and external partners to develop and support new research collaborations. This includes leading the Public and Patient Involvement activity for a 12-month National Institute of Health Research-funded Programme Development Grant, the ICAST Programme: Improving Care for patients with Smell & Taste Disorders, and undertaking planning work for the prospective Programme Grant which is expected to follow this.

This post is funded for 2 days (15 hours) per week for an initial 12-month period, with the potential for the contract to be extended and for it to become a full-time role subject to further funding being secured. 

You will be joining a small, friendly and ambitious team that will support your professional development as part of the charity’s ongoing growth.

If you are passionate about making a difference to an underserved patient community and want to be part of a pioneering and collaborative organisation that values and empowers the people it represents then we would love to hear from you. We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

Application instructions: 

Please apply by providing both a CV and a covering letter which clearly states how you meet all the points in the Personal Specification.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the SmellTaste contribution to a 12-month National Institute of Health Research-funded Programme Development Grant, led by Prof Carl Philpott at the University of East Anglia (the ICAST Programme: Improving Care for patients with Smell & Taste Disorders).  
• Develop a Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) strategy for the above project, including evaluation of impact and dissemination
• Manage a PPI panel for the NIHR project, organise PPIE meetings and ensure participants and panel members are remunerated for activity.
• Develop a detailed, costed delivery plan for the national survey element of the planned Programme Grant which is expected to follow on from the Programme Development Grant, including marketing and publicity, recruitment and dissemination.
• Work with the charity’s CEO and honorary Director of Research and Medical Affairs to develop a research strategy for the charity that aligns with the research priorities identified in the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership for Smell and Taste Disorders.
• Work with the charity’s CEO, honorary Director of Research and Medical Affairs and external researchers to identify opportunities for new collaborative research opportunities.
• Develop funding applications for research projects.
• Oversee all of the charity’s collaborative research activity, including PPIE activity.
• Evaluate and report on the impact of research projects, ensuring inclusivity and ethical standards.

Personal specification

• Degree (or equivalent experience) in biological sciences or a related field
• Experience leading or supporting public and patient involvement and engagement initiatives in research
• Experience leading or supporting involvement in research
• Experience of writing grant applications
• Ability to communicate and interpret complex scientific research clearly
• Experience working with diverse and underrepresented communities
• Confident relationship builder with researchers and other external stakeholders
• Excellent organisational skills, including strong project management skills

Hours: Part-time, 15 hours per week

Salary: £40,000, pro-rata

Holiday allowance: 25 days pro-rata, plus bank holidays

Location: Home working. Some travel will be required to attend in-person meetings and events

Interviews expected to be held during the week commencing 22nd June.

Prospectus is excited to be partnering with our client in the search for a Head of Philanthropy on a maternity cover contract for up to 14 months. The new postholder will need to start no later than August 2026.

The Trust is the UK's leading social mobility charity. They believe every young person should have a chance in life, regardless of their family's income, the school they go to or where they grow up. But today in Britain, the opportunity to succeed is heavily shaped by socio-economic background. Each year, together with university and employer partners, they support over 14,000 young people to reach their potential through university, apprenticeship and career access programmes.

As the Head of Philanthropy, you will inherit a successful philanthropy area of fundraising for the organisation and will lead the team in securing major gifts and multi-year commitments across the individuals and trusts & foundations income streams. The postholder will join and at a brilliant moment of momentum for the organisation to secure income across the 2030 strategy period.  The Head of Philanthropy will also work closely with the Director of Development to ensure gold-standard stewardship for our high-value donors, coaching and developing line reports to ensure income generation targets are met across trusts, foundations, and individual donor income streams.

To be successful as the Head of Philanthropy will be an experienced leader and fundraiser, confident in securing new business through active prospecting and networking and ingrained knowledge of how to secure and steward HNWIs and trusts & foundations. This will ideally have been done at the six-figures-plus level and you will have significant experience in working with senior leaders and volunteers to cultivate meaningful relationships, steward HNWI, trusts, and foundations, and deliver robust prospect pipelines.

This role is a maternity cover contract position that will have hybrid working in the London offices for at least two days per week, for up to 14 months. The salary for this role is £60,000 to £72,000.  

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds. Please let us know if we can help you with the application process in any way. We are more than happy to make any reasonable adjustments to enable all interested candidates to apply. If you have any disability and would like assistance with completing an application then please contact Ryan Burdock at Prospectus. 

If you are interested in applying to this Head of Philanthropy position, please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will send you the full job description and will arrange for a call and/or meeting to brief you on the role. You'll then have all the information you need to formally apply. We are looking forward to connecting with you soon.

Are you a qualified finance professional looking for a high-impact contract role within an international charity? This is a unique opportunity to join during a pivotal period of growth and transformation, helping integrate UK and US finance operations while ensuring robust financial control, compliance, reporting and governance.

Working closely with the VP of Finance, you will provide strategic financial leadership while remaining hands-on with financial operations, systems migration, board reporting and statutory compliance. This role would suit someone who thrives in a changing environment and enjoys improving processes, systems and reporting.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the integration of UK finance operations into a global finance function
• Support the migration from QuickBooks to NetSuite and Barclays to HSBC
• Support budgeting, forecasting and financial planning activities
• Prepare board reports and provide financial insights to senior stakeholders
• Lead UK audit activity and support statutory filings with Companies House and the Charity Commission
• Review and improve financial policies, processes and reporting frameworks

Essential Skills & Experience

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified
• 5+ years' finance experience
• Experience managing change, finance transformation or systems projects
• Board reporting and stakeholder management experience
• Experience managing or mentoring finance staff

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Charity or international NGO experience
• NetSuite implementation or migration experience
• Gift Aid knowledge

Applications for this role are now under review, and the deadline could well be brought forward if the suitable candidate is found. Therefore, do not delay in submitting your application!

Executive Director of Finance, Operations & Growth
Keech Hospice

Charity People have partnered with Keech Hospice, a £15million turnover Hospice with sites in Luton and Bedford, in finding their next Executive Director of Finance, Operations and Growth. This is a pivotal moment to join the hospice strengthening their impact and secure their long-term future.

We are seeking an outstanding Executive Director of Finance, Operations & Growth to join our Executive Leadership Team. This is a high-profile, mission-critical role that combines strategic financial leadership with operational excellence and commercial growth. You will play a central role in ensuring the Hospice's future sustainability, driving income diversification, and enabling transformational change that supports the delivery of exceptional care. You will be delivering an ambitious new strategy working closely with an inspiring CEO, collaborative and forward thinking SLT and Board of Trustees. Keech Hospice is in the top 25 of 100 Best Companies to work for.

Salary: circa £90,000 per annum there is a performance related incremental scale offered to all staff.

Contract: Permanent, 37.5 hours
Flexibility: the hospice has a flexible working policy available to all staff including partial home working (initially three days a week and will reduce to two days a week)

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Strategic Financial Leadership: Shape and deliver the organisation's financial strategy, providing insightful analysis and robust planning to ensure long-term sustainability, effective risk management, and strong financial governance.
• Finance Function Excellence: Lead a high-performing finance function, ensuring accurate, timely reporting, strong financial controls, and continuous improvement in systems, processes, and business partnering across the organisation.
• Growth & Commercial Strategy: Lead and support the development and performance of trading and commercial income streams, including working with our excellent Ass. Director of Trading and Commercial , identifying new opportunities and forging strategic partnerships to diversify income.
• Operations, Estates & Sustainability: Provide strategic oversight of procurement, estates, facilities, and sustainability, ensuring efficient, compliant, and forward-thinking operations aligned to net zero and environmental goals.
• Transformation & Major Projects: Lead and sponsor strategic initiatives and capital programmes, developing robust business cases and ensuring effective delivery, governance, and realisation of benefits.
• Executive Leadership & Governance: Act as a key member of the Executive Team, building strong relationships with the Board and Audit and Risk committee, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and high performance.
• Organisational Stewardship: Ensure effective use of resources, robust risk management, and strong organisational performance, while acting as an ambassador for Keech Hospice and upholding its values at all times.

Person Specification

• Senior Leadership Experience: Proven track record in a Board or Executive-level finance leadership role, ideally within a complex, multi-faceted organisation.
• Sector specific: Senior financial and operational leadership experience within a charity or not-for-profit sector; Or strong desire to be working in a mission driven organisation
• Charity SORP: Strong understanding of Charity Commission requirements and SORP.
• Strategic & Commercial Acumen: Demonstrable success in financial strategy, commercial income generation, and driving sustainable organisational growth.
• Financial Expertise: Professionally qualified (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with deep knowledge of financial governance, planning, reporting, and risk management.
• Operational Leadership: Experience overseeing operations, estates, procurement, or infrastructure, with a focus on efficiency, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Change & Transformation Capability: Strong experience leading large-scale transformation programmes and delivering measurable organisational impact.
• Values-Driven Leader: A collaborative and inspiring leader who models integrity, builds high-performing teams, and is committed to the values and mission of hospice care.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to respond to three written questions to highlight their experience, approach, and leadership style.

Role will be closing on 24^th June, 2026

First stage interview via MSTeams or in person 2^nd July, 2026

Second stage in person 7^th or 8^th July, 2026 followed by an informal chat to "get to know" on 10^th or 13^th July, 2026

Charity People is a forward-thinking, inclusive organisation that deliberately champions equity, diversity and inclusion. We know charities thrive when inclusion is at the centre of decision-making. We proudly match organisations with talent based on skills and values, not background - because diverse teams deliver stronger results.

Charity People are delighted to be partnering with The Passage to recruit a Head of Development to join their senior management team.

The Passage is a leading London homelessness charity, supporting people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to transform their lives. Their vision is of a society where homelessness no longer exists and everyone has a place to call home. The Passage has built a reputation for high-quality services and impactful fundraising, with voluntary income exceeding £5m in recent years.

This is a rare opportunity to step into a strategic leadership role at a pivotal moment, shaping and growing a diverse high-value fundraising portfolio while leading and developing an ambitious team.

Head of Development

Employment status: Permanent
Working pattern: Full time
Salary: £56,960
Location: Office based (central London) with some flexible working from home
Benefits: 35 Days annual leave including bank holiday

About the Role

This is a key senior position, responsible for leading and growing The Passage's high-value income streams, including corporate partnerships, philanthropy (major donors), trusts & foundations, and commercial/trading activity.

Reporting to the Director of Income Generation and Communications, you'll lead a committed and talented team to deliver sustainable income growth, while ensuring first-class stewardship is provided across all touchpoints.

You'll play a central role in developing and delivering strategy, driving new business, and building long-term, high-value relationships with donors and partners. As part of the Senior Management Group, you'll also contribute to organisational leadership and strategic direction.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver a high-value income strategy across corporate, philanthropy, trusts and commercial streams
• Drive new business, identifying and securing six-figure+ partnerships and donations
• Personally manage a portfolio of major donors and senior corporate relationships
• Oversee and grow commercial and trading opportunities, ensuring strong performance and sustainability
• Lead, coach, and develop the Development team to achieve ambitious income targets
• Work collaboratively across teams to develop compelling propositions, proposals, and donor journeys
• Monitor performance, budgets, and pipelines to ensure delivery against KPIs and forecasts
• Represent The Passage externally, acting as an ambassador with senior stakeholders and partners

About You

We're looking for a strategic, relationship-driven leader with a strong track record in high-value fundraising and income generation.

You will bring:

• Proven success in developing and delivering high-value fundraising strategies
• A track record of securing £100k+ gifts and partnerships
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams
• Strong expertise across corporate partnerships, major donors, and/or trusts
• Commercial awareness, with experience or interest in trading and income diversification
• Excellent relationship-building skills, with the confidence to engage senior stakeholders
• Strong planning, budgeting, and pipeline management skills
• A collaborative and values-driven leadership style

Most importantly, you'll be motivated by The Passage's mission and committed to driving income that creates lasting impact for people experiencing homelessness.

Why This Role?

This is an outstanding opportunity to shape the future of income generation at one of London's most respected homelessness charities.

You'll join at an exciting point of growth, with the autonomy to innovate, the support of a strong leadership team, and the chance to make a tangible difference through strategic, high-value fundraising.

Application Details

Closing date: Wednesday 17th June, 9:00am
Interviews: 25^th/26^th June

If this role inspires you, please send your latest CV to Kevin Croasdale at Charity People () and request a job application.

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.

We’re looking for an Interim Head of Service Development with a national remit to support innovation and identify opportunities for new business and growth.  You will respond to current and new business opportunities, develop market intelligence and maintain and develop high quality relationships. You will also lead collaboration with colleagues across the organisation to respond to complex tender opportunities and grant applications, driving activities through all stages of the bid process. 

Established in 1673, by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London, Chelsea Physic Garden is home to over 4,500 medicinal, edible and useful plants. Our Mission:To demonstrate the medicinal, economic, cultural and environmental importance of plants to the survival and well-being of humankind.

HR Manager 14 hrs per week (2 days)

2yr fixed term contract

CIPD Level 4

Salary £14,600 pa (FTE £36,500)

This is a key new role at the Chelsea Physic Garden being recruited at a time when the organisation launches its new 10 year strategy, a major capital project and fundraising campaign. We are looking to appoint our first in house Human Resource Manager to support the organisation as it grows.  Based on site at least one of the two days per week, you will work with the senior leadership and recruiting managers to ensure timely recruitment processes, preparing and issuing employment contracts and support robust onboarding and induction processes.  You will work with the Director and leadership team to propose strategies and practices that support organisational talent development, employee engagement and staff retention.  Freelance HR consultancy retained.

To apply: Please complete the job application form available from the Chelsea Physic Garden website 

Closing date: Sunday 28 June at 11.59pm

First Interview date : Monday 6 July

This is a new capacity-building role, created in response to the scale of the Trust’s future repair programme and the need to diversify and grow income streams.
We are looking for an experienced and proactive fundraiser who can work strategically and independently within a small team environment. Using the Trust’s existing network of contacts and grant target list as starting points, the post holder will develop and manage a pipeline of grant applications, cultivate relationships with trusts and foundations, build corporate and philanthropic partnerships, and help position the Trust for larger strategic funding opportunities.
The role requires a self-motivated individual who can balance long-term relationship building with the discipline of meeting application deadlines and income targets. The successful candidate will work closely with the Executive Director and Trustees, embedding fundraising as a core organisational function.

Please view the full job description and find details of how to apply at: Current Vacancies | Norwich Historic Churches Trust
This post is offered on a 12-month fixed-term basis (either 1FTE or 0.8 FTE), with the intention that, subject to performance and income secured, the role will be reviewed with a view to permanency.

Head of Development Events

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art

Salary in the region of £42,000 - £45,000

38 days’ holiday | Defined contribution pension scheme | Hybrid working

For over 120 years, RADA has stood at the forefront of dramatic arts training, nurturing generations of actors, directors, writers, producers and technical artists who have gone on to shape the worlds of theatre, film and television. Access and diversity are at the heart of who we are, and we are deeply committed to ensuring talented students from all backgrounds can experience our training, uplifting the greatest range of voices and perspectives.

This is an exciting time to join us. We are developing a new vision and strategy for RADA, building on its existing successes to redefine training in the dramatic arts for the 21st century, with a focus on key themes: training and student experience, growth, industry, and international dialogue and engagement. In addition to our vocational training aims, we are building on our foundational strengths to expand our income streams through life changing work aligned with our core pedagogy, and ethos. We aim to co-create with industry and other stakeholders to build on our reputation as a centre of excellence and innovation in our field.

We are seeking an experienced fundraising events professional to join our Development team at a pivotal point in our journey. As Head of Development Events, you will play a key role in driving RADA’s future fundraising growth by developing special events to cultivate and steward individual supporters, corporate partners, trusts, and graduates. The role will lead the programming and operational delivery of an annual programme of events to support strategic priorities, including income generation, public programmes, industry connections, graduates and student engagement, and royal patronage events.

The ideal candidate will be able to deal confidently and professionally with some of the most senior and successful creative people internally and externally. You will take a collaborative approach to event planning and work with Development colleagues to help them successfully deliver the new multi-year fundraising campaign strategy. Your ability to work at both strategic and operational levels will be key to your success.

If you are excited by the opportunity to shape the future of dramatic arts training, and to make a lasting difference through life-changing work, we would be delighted to hear from you.

For a confidential conversation about this exceptional opportunity, please contact our recruitment partners at Richmond Associates. For further information, key dates, and how to apply, please visit the Richmond Assocaites website for more information.

Please tell us if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make to help you in your application or with our recruitment process.

We are taking positive action by guaranteeing an interview to any applicant who self-identifies as being from a Black, Asian or Global Majority background, and/or who self-identifies as D/deaf or disabled, and has experience as a development department lead or deputy lead in the cultural and Higher Education sectors. If you regard yourself as having these characteristics, please state so clearly on your supporting statement.

 CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 09:00 ON FRIDAY 19th JUNE 2026.

JOB TITLE:

Fundraising & Partnerships Manager 

RESPONSIBLE TO: 

Director of Fundraising

LOCATION: 

Home based 

DURATION: 

30-35 Hours Per Week - Permanent 

SALARY/GRADE: 

Grade 6.4 (£36,043) PA FTE 

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• Fundraising Team 

• Nation Directors 

• Public Affairs and Communications Team 

• Membership Team 

• Donors, Volunteers and families

ABOUT YOU 

You will have proven experience in fundraising, business development, or partnership management, with a track record of generating income and building strong external relationships. Ideally, you will have experience developing fundraising plans, pipelines, or income streams from an early stage, and will be comfortable working in an environment where processes, opportunities, and supporter journeys are still evolving. 

You will be confident identifying and pursuing new opportunities, developing compelling proposals and cases for support, and managing relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including corporate partners, community fundraisers, volunteers, and individual supporters. 

We are looking for someone who is proactive, self-motivated, and creative, with strong communication and relationship-building skills. You should be comfortable working independently while also collaborating effectively with colleagues across fundraising, marketing, and operational teams. 

Most importantly, you will be motivated by the opportunity to help grow sustainable income that supports children, young people, and families across the UK. 

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE 

We are looking for a confident, ambitious, and entrepreneurial Fundraising Manager to help grow sustainable income for Adoption UK by building and developing strong relationships with corporate partners, supporters, volunteers, and local communities. 

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys creating fundraising plans from the ground up, developing new partnerships, and turning ideas into sustainable income. The role is ideally suited to someone who thrives in a developing fundraising environment and is motivated by the opportunity to shape and grow underdeveloped income streams into long-term success. 

This is an opportunity to help shape the development of a strategic and sustainable approach to fundraising, while continuing to deliver hands-on income across a diverse portfolio. 

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supported by the Director of Fundraising, take ownership of developing, delivering and monitoring fundraising events and activities in line with our fundraising strategy. 

• Lead on key income streams to maximise net income and develop sustainable income streams for short, medium and long-term growth. 

• Monitor and evaluate progress against plans using management information and budgets to produce reports and forecasts as required 

• Deliver effective supporter journeys to improve supporter experience, retention, and long-term engagement. 

• Work alongside the Director of Fundraising to develop and implement processes and policies. 

• Grow and diversify income across corporate partnerships, community fundraising, events, individual giving and digital activity. 

• Develop compelling proposals and pitches for corporate partners, clearly articulating social value, impact and return on investment. 

• Build and manage a strong corporate prospect pipeline using research, data and structured follow-up to convert opportunities. Identify opportunities to sponsor projects and activities. 

• Collaborate with marketing colleagues to develop assets and digital campaigns to support fundraising appeals and events. 

• Work with all Adoption UK teams to support local fundraising activities in each of the four nations including membership and community teams. 

• To ensure good working practices in line with Equality and Diversity policies and a pro-active approach is taken to equality, diversity and inclusion issues. 

• In compliance with the Code of Conduct, demonstrate high standards of personal conduct, courtesy and integrity. 

• Ensure full compliance with Adoption UK’s Safeguarding policies and procedures, reporting concerns in line with internal policies.

• Any other duty as required by the line manager commensurate with the post. 

Person Specification criteria

Knowledge  And  Experience 

• Experience of a fundraising, marketing, or event management role (E) 
• Experience of delivering multiple projects on time and to budget (E) 
• Ability to devise operational plans and deliver them effectively, and proven experience of planning and managing income generating activities and events    (E) 

Qualificationsand  Education

• Professional fundraising qualifications (D) 
• Marketing qualifications (D) 
• Event Management qualifications (D) 
• CIOF Diploma in Fundraising Management/equivalent professional experience/membership of CIOF (D) 

Skills and Abilities 

• Delivers high quality work with minimal supervision and direction (E) 
• Able to demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, be competent with Microsoft Office (E) 
• Ability to assimilate and analyze financial and statistical information, including budget monitoring, management, and financial control (E) 
• An exceptional administrator and coordinator with excellent organisation and writing skills (E) 
• Communicate, engage and secure positive external relationships with stakeholders and supporters (E) 
• Has the capacity to deal with complex issues and is good at problem solving (D) 
• Self-starter, used to working to deadlines and delivering against KPIs (E) 
• Able to work communicate and engage with internal senior stakeholders effectively (E) 

Accountability

• Developing fundraising opportunities (E)  
• Event administration (D) 
• Stewardship and relationship management (E) 
• Contribute to departmental strategic goals, in liaison with the Director of Fundraising (E) 

Behaviours 

• Takes pride in Adoption UK and promotes its values and mission in all interactions with external stakeholders. 
• Demonstrates commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of role at all times. 
• Contributes to an open and honest culture 
• Encourages challenge and creativity, transparency and consistency. 
• Leads by example. 
• Offers outstanding service to members. 
• Promotes cross functional team working, sharing skills and knowledge 
• Communicates clearly, seeking clarity when unclear and valuing the opinion of others. 
• Valuing the opinion of other. Treating colleagues and other stakeholders with respect. 
• Takes pride in own development, committed to achieving high standards and agreed objectives. 

About NEON 

NEON is a not-for-profit organisation committed to accelerating social movements. We build capacity and infrastructure to accelerate the transition to a new economy. We work across a wide range of progressive issues including climate, housing, healthcare, and migration and we support over 1,000 organisers across the UK working towards political, environmental, and social justice. Our theory of change is rooted in understanding both the strategies, stories, and structures required to sustain a movement. Short term, this results in improved movement infrastructure, skills, and connections; long term, it leads to robust relationships and movement alliances capable of systemic change. 

Context

NEON’s People & Operations Hub makes sure all our internal systems run smoothly and that our team is happy, high-performing and cared for. The People & Operations Hub brings together people, culture, operations, fundraising and finance, and plays a key role in making sure NEON is both high impact and a joyful place to work, at the heart of this is ensuring our values of respect, generosity and solidarity and anti-oppression principles are embedded into all internal practices.

As part of this, we’re currently looking for someone to support us for a defined period of time to review and refresh some of our core operational and compliance areas, and support us with discrete ops tasks as they arise. This includes reviewing, updating and embedding key systems and processes so that they are clear, usable and consistently followed across NEON. Alongside this, we want to create a NEON-wide handbook, so that we have a simple accessible place where people can find everything they need to know about how we do things at NEON. We also want to strengthen our guidance around event safety, both online and in-person, so staff feel comfortable and supported when planning and delivering work. It’s crucial for us that this work is developed in collaboration with the People & Operations Hub as well as the wider team. 

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who is comfortable moving across operational and compliance work. Someone who has a solid understanding and experience in delivering high-level health and safety, data protection, IT and systems work, and other operational aspects of running an organisation, and can turn that into something practical, usable and genuinely helpful for our team. Someone who is self-motivated, comfortable working independently, and able to take ownership of pieces of work from start to finish

We’d love someone who has experience working closely in or within people and operations teams in small- medium sized not-for profits or charities, and who knows how to take complex or messy systems and make them simpler, clearer and easier to embed in day-to-day practice. We’re looking for someone aligned with our values of respect, generosity and solidarity and is well-versed in including anti-oppression principles into operational work. Someone who is motivated by working in a values-led organisation where decisions factor in culture, trust and care as well as the technical elements.

This person should be confident reviewing and improving systems and understands and is experienced in working closely with other people to do this, whether that’s with the Director of People and Operations to receive direction or troubleshoot, working alongside our Ops Assistant to put things into practice and draw on their organisational expertise, or engaging the wider team to elicit their ideas and challenges, and incorporate them into improvements. Similarly someone who is able to work with external support we have in place around IT, HR and data protection and translate their recommendations into practical action.

They’ll need to be able to hit the ground running and pick up discrete pieces of work, working thoughtfully and collaboratively with a team that’s juggling lots of different priorities. Aside from improving key pieces of work, the other core part of the role is bringing people with them, which will involve coaching and mentoring skills, a learning and development approach, and helping others feel confident taking on and owning this work.

Above all, we’re looking for someone who understands how to make organisations compliant and well-run in a way that feels proportionate, caring, and realistic for a team of our size. Someone who can embed these pieces of work, without overcomplicating things, and who can foster a sense of shared ownership. We’re also looking for someone who really cares about how operational work is truly embedded and put into practice across organisations, who thinks carefully about what happens after their involvement or support ends and knows how to build internal capability so work doesn’t stay dependent on them.

Key deliverables

By the end of the service period, the following outputs will have been delivered and fully embedded into NEON’s ways of working:

IT and systems

The freelancer will complete a high-level review of NEON’s current IT systems, identify key risks and gaps, and produce a set of recommendations. 

Outputs will include working with the People & Operations Hub to lead implementation and embedding of agreed improvements across tools and ways of working, including an improved GDrive structure, Google Workspace and IT security improvements and an IT and phones policy.

Data protection

The freelancer will complete a high-level review and strengthening of NEON’s GDPR and data protection approach.

Outputs will include updated core policies (GDPR policy, privacy notice, retention policy) and practical guidance to support consistent implementation across the organisation. It also includes delivery of staff training and further strengthening of our “Data Champions”.

Event processes

The freelancer will assess our current event-related practices (online and in-person).

Outputs will include clear, practical recommendations, strengthened guidance for managing event safety and risk in practice and staff training and support.

Health and safety

A review and update of NEON’s health and safety approach will be completed to ensure policies and processes are clear, practical and consistently applied.

Outputs will include an updated H&S policy, incident reporting process, risk assessment templates, and a simple event safety framework with guidance and checklists. It also includes delivering staff training and embedding of H&S practice across the organisation, including clarification of roles and responsibilities.

AI policy and guidance

The freelancer will research and develop NEON’s approach to AI use across the organisation, considering best practice, risks, opportunities, and the impact of AI on staff and NEON’s work. It should also include thoughtful consideration of the harms and ethical concerns associated with AI.

Outputs will include engagement with staff to understand current use and concerns, alongside the creation of clear and practical AI guidance and an organisational AI policy to support safe, thoughtful and consistent use of AI tools across NEON.

NEON Handbook

A NEON-wide handbook will be created, bringing together key processes, guidance and signposting to essential organisational information in one accessible place.

The handbook will be co-developed with staff and People & Operations Hub members to ensure it reflects day-to-day practice and is maintainable internally after completion.

Day-to-day operations support

The freelancer will provide additional operational capacity to support the Hub with emerging priorities, and time-sensitive pieces of work that arise during the contract period.

Outputs may include support with operational problem-solving and decision making, maintaining processes and procedures, providing subject knowledge expertise, maintaining documentation and other discrete operational tasks agreed with the Director of People and Operations.

A key part of this work will be ensuring that all outputs and improvements are properly embedded within the People & Ops Hub and the wider organisation. This includes creating clear documentation, guidance, training and handover processes so that NEON staff can confidently hold and maintain this work after the consultancy ends.

Timescales and fee schedule

The freelancer will be appointed and ready to engage from the end of July/ start of August 2026. We expect this work to be completed across two-three days per week for up to six months, ideally finished by the end of January or February 2027 (depending on start date). There may be a possibility of extension if other relevant and discrete projects arise and in agreement with the Director of People and Operations.

Call out information required

Interested freelancers are asked to provide the following information in response to this call out:

1. Brief career history and details of relevant assignments undertaken (this could be in the form of a CV)

2. A statement not exceeding 800 words on your proposed approach to the deliverables, including:

   1. Your technical and subject matter expertise

   2. Your personal style and approach to working with others

   3. How you will embed our values of respect, generosity and solidarity and anti-oppression principles into the deliverables

3. Your day rate, indicating whether VAT is payable (please note our indicative day rate that is aligned with our internal budget is £375)

4. A clear commitment to undertake the work within the timeframe set out above

5. Two testimonials from suitable clients or professional partners

The deadline for submissions is Sunday 28th June 11.59pm

Please find email address for submission of applications on our website.

We may wish to discuss submissions with you on Monday 6th July or Wednesday 8th July 2026. We will inform you if this is the case.

For any further information or clarification prior to submission, contact us at our website.

The International Programme Officer will report to our Deputy Director/Global Operations Director and will work closely with personnel and partners in different countries where WW supports development programmes, to ensure the work we support is aligned with WW’s strategy, and that the delivery of our work has impact, is on track and is in line with donor agreements and budgets