28 Donor acquisition manager jobs

Love meeting donors, building relationships and securing meaningful funding for a compelling cause? 

At Target Ovarian Cancer, we're looking for a talented relationship fundraiser who thrives on connecting passionate supporters with causes that change lives. 

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced major donor fundraiser who enjoys being out meeting people, uncovering opportunities, securing significant gifts and developing long-term partnerships that make a real difference. 

You'll inherit and grow a portfolio of high-value supporters, develop new donor relationships, and work with philanthropists and trusts and foundations who want to help stop ovarian cancer devastating lives. 

If you're energised by donor meetings, comfortable leading funding conversations, and motivated by turning warm relationships into transformational gifts, we'd love to hear from you.

About the role 

As our Senior Philanthropy & Partnerships Manager, you'll play a pivotal role in growing income from major donors, trusts and foundations, and strategic funding partners. 

Working closely with the Head of Philanthropy & Partnerships, Director of Fundraising & Engagement, Chief Executive and Trustees, you'll identify and cultivate new opportunities, develop compelling funding propositions and deliver outstanding stewardship that inspires long-term support. 

A significant proportion of this role is externally focused. You'll spend time meeting donors and prospects, building relationships, understanding motivations, presenting opportunities and making asks. 

To be successful, you'll be supported by a dedicated Philanthropy & Partnerships Programme Manager who leads on donor events, reporting, stewardship support and CRM optimisation, allowing you to focus on building relationships and generating income. 

Why join us? 

For the right candidate, this could be a career defining role at an organisation that has the credibility, leadership and propositions to deliver transformational funding growth. Working in a supportive but driven department, with two experienced high value fundraisers within the senior leadership team and a supportive board, this is a real opportunity to make your mark.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape how we attract, welcome and retain supporters across a range of products, including cash gifts, regular gifts, raffles and the weekly lottery and multiple channels, including direct mail, email, social media, telemarketing and face-to-face fundraising. You'll lead the planning and optimisation of individual giving supporter acquisition activity, managing budgets and performance, agency relationships and driving sustainable income growth.

Joining a collaborative and ambitious team, you’ll line manage one direct report and work closely with colleagues across fundraising, data & insight, supporter care and digital.

You’ll have the chance to make a visible impact within a charity with more than a century of life-changing work behind it.

The Role

As Marketing Manager, Acquisition & Engagement, you will lead the individual giving programme to attract new supporters and drive lifetime value.

You will plan, deliver and optimise donor acquisition, welcome journeys and ongoing stewardship across a range of fundraising products and channels.
 
Focusing on donor acquisition, you will develop targeting and testing strategies to improve campaign performance and welcome journeys, whilst managing campaign budgets and delivering accurate income forecasts for your fundraising channels.

Additionally, you will:

- Line manage and develop one direct report
- Develop fundraising campaign briefs
- Monitor and report on campaign performance and donor acquisition success
- Manage supplier relationships and invoice processes
- Ensure GDPR and Fundraising Regulator compliance
- Support the development of strong fundraising propositions

About You

To be considered for this role, you will need:

- Experience of supporter acquisition and engagement across a variety of products and channels
- Experience of working with cold data suppliers
- Experience of developing and implementing supporter journeys
- Strong direct marketing experience across both print and digital channels
- Experience of face-to-face fundraising management
- Experience of managing relationships with suppliers and agencies
- Ability to manage multiple campaigns simultaneously from concept to delivery
- Experience of setting and monitoring income and expenditure budgets, and cost negotiation
- Knowledge of how to analyse results to assess campaign performance
 

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior fundraising professional who combines strategic thinking with excellent relationship-building skills and a passion for making a tangible difference.

The Fundraising Manager will lead on the development and growth of several key income streams, including:

• Major Donors
• Corporate Partnerships and Giving
• Regular Giving
• Gifts in Wills (Legacies)

Working in close partnership with SUDEP Action's other Fundraising Manager (who oversees Community fundraising, Trusts and Grants and other aspects of our in-memory giving), the postholder will also share responsibility for the development, delivery and performance of wider fundraising activity across the charity.

A significant aspect of this role will involve re-engaging existing high-value supporters while identifying and cultivating new prospects. The ideal candidate will be confident networking, opening doors, building meaningful relationships and inspiring people to support a cause that may be unfamiliar to them.

The postholder will work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation, including fundraising colleagues, the CEO, and wider management team, drawing upon their expertise to develop effective fundraising plans, test assumptions and ensure the charity is represented professionally, authentically and consistently.

Given the nature of SUDEP Action's work, the role also requires sensitivity, empathy and the ability to engage thoughtfully with people affected by epilepsy and bereavement.

Full details of the role and experience required can be found in the Job Pack attachment.

This fixed term role will provide cover with the current position-holder is on secondment with another team. Within the Individual Giving team, the Fundraising Manager will have responsibility for the planning and delivery of activities that recruit new supporters and generate income. You will manage our supporter recruitment programme, ensuring we meet our targets, and promoting investment strategies to cost-effectively and sustainably grow our supporter base. You will focus on the delivery of existing offline communication channels, as well as the development of new products, channels and audiences with a future-focused outlook on fundraising and recruitment. Over the next 12 months the new initiatives we plan to launch include a value exchange lead generation programme, improvements to our welcome journeys including the introduction of telemarketing, and potentially a lottery scheme. Working closely with the other Fundraising Managers (especially the Digital Fundraising Manager), you will also ensure that new recruits go on to become loyal supporters, taking the lead on some projects and contributing to others, and will help to feed the pipeline of legacy pledges. You will help to improve the experience for our supporters and maximise their potential for giving. You will also work closely with the Digital Team to ensure thoughtful integration of acquisition activities to optimise spending and ensure a seamless experience for new supporters across channels.

About you

Experience / Qualifications: • Degree qualification in or c.5 years’ experience of individual giving fundraising, marketing, communications or related discipline. • Experience delivering marketing / fundraising for a charity, ideally in international development • Experience managing or leading others – ie line management or project management • Experience managing external suppliers and agency relationships Behaviours / Personal Attributes: • Highly motivated and target-driven, an enthusiastic self-starter • Collaborative and able to work across multiple teams • Excellent relationship-builder • Resilient and adaptable under pressure, capable of balancing multiple priorities simultaneously • Creative, innovative and ambitious, and able to inspire that in others 

Preferred / Desirable:

• Experience with a variety of fundraising channels, products and platforms – with a particular focus on supporter acquisition • Knowledge of the legal and compliance frameworks for charity fundraising and marketing including, but not limited to the Fundraising Regulator, Privacy and Data Protection legislation. • Passion for the charity sector, ideally in international development Skills, Abilities and Competencies:

To be successful in the role, the ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate:

Technical / Functional Skills:

• Ability to design and deliver fundraising strategies and campaigns

• Strong data analysis and reporting skills

• Familiarity with fundraising CRM software

• Budgeting and financial management for fundraising activities

Soft Skills / Competencies:

• Excellent written and verbal communication for donor engagement and presentations

• Leadership skills for managing individuals within fundraising team

• Relationship and stakeholder management

• Excellent organisational, time management and project management skills

A friendly and supportive culture, working with values driven and highly engaged colleagues, work life balance and flexible working . In the UK, our open plan offices are located in the centre of Rugby and near to Rugby train station, but we also offer free parking.

 • Full-time roles are contracted at 35 hours per week.

• It is our normal practice to operate a hybrid working policy, where flexible working hours are enabled as well as remote working. 

Role Purpose

The Fundraising Manager will drive fundraising growth for YMCA Lincolnshire, a well-established charity working to improve the lives of children and young people, families, local communities and those at risk of homelessness.

Reporting to the Head of Income Generation, you will lead the delivery of YMCA Lincolnshire's Fundraising Strategy and be responsible for achieving agreed income targets across a diverse range of income streams. You will grow income through individual giving, corporate partnerships, trusts and foundations, community fundraising, events and campaigns, while strengthening donor stewardship, supporter journeys and the effective use of our Beacon CRM.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation, you will translate service delivery outcomes into compelling cases for support and build meaningful relationships with supporters, funders, businesses and community groups. You will ensure all fundraising activity is compliant, insight-led and aligned with YMCA Lincolnshire's mission, values and strategic objectives.

The closing date is Friday 25th September 2026 at 5pm.

Applications will be shortlisted as they are submitted, so this position may close early should the right candidate be found.

We are looking for a Global Senior Mid-Level Giving Manager, to lead the strategy, growth and development of a global mid-level giving programme responsible for growing income and strengthening donor engagement and retention.

Location:
This is a hybrid working - 2 days per week in the Surrey office.

The role:
Lead the global mid value programme - driving strategic development, and grow the and expansion into priority markets.
Deliver exceptional donor stewardship- building strong, meaningful relationships with members and supporting long-term engagement and increased giving.
Develop donor acquisition and pipeline growth- identifying new prospects, growing the donor pipeline and working closely with colleagues across Global Philanthropy, Individual Giving, Digital and CRM.
Use insight to inform decisions- Monitoring performance, reporting accurately through Salesforce and optimising donor journeys to support income growth.

About you
You'll need to bring proven experience in mid-level, major donor or high-value fundraising, with the ability to lead or scale a fundraising programme and deliver clear income growth.
You'll be a confident relationship-builder, who is able to create compelling donor communications, develop strong stewardship plans, and work collaboratively across an international fundraising team.
Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to create compelling narratives for diverse donor groups
A proactive, positive and adaptable approach, with excellent organisation and prioritisation skills.

Why this role
This is an exciting opportunity to help connect passionate supporters with an incredible animal welfare charity dedicated to paving the way for a new era where people, wildlife and the planet thrive. You would be joining a supportive, flexible workplace with a strong focus on wellbeing and development, including:

• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
• 24/7 GP access, Employee Assistance Programme and MHFA support
• Premium Calm App subscription
• Electric car scheme
• Defined contribution pension scheme
• Free onsite parking and office next to mainline station and much more!

IMPORTANT NOTE

Our aim is to respond to all successful applications within 5 days, but we positively encourage you to apply for any other positions that you may see in the future.

We apologise that we cannot contact everybody in person but thank you in advance for your interest.

Third Solutions encourages applications from individuals of all ages & backgrounds. Appointment will be made on merit alone but candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to work in the UK. Third Solutions acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment & an employment business for temporary recruitment as defined by the Conduct of Employment Agencies & Employment Business Regulations 2003.

This role is based at the National Greyhound Centre, Horley, Surrey, RH6 9SX, with a minimum of three days in the office and the option to work two days from home.

Job role:

Each year, thousands of greyhounds across the UK rely on the generosity of supporters of the Greyhound Trust to find safe, loving homes. With an annual income of around £4.5 million, individual giving and gifts in Wills is central to our income generation strategy and this role lead its growth and development.

This role is perfect for an experienced fundraiser ready to own the individual giving and gift in Wills strategy end to end. You will set the direction for donor communications, appeals and the legacy pipeline, taking responsibility for income from individual donors and KPIs while working closely with the Head of Income Generation and Engagement to contribute to the overall income generation and engagement strategy.

You will take the lead in developing, testing, learning and growing the direct marketing programme and developing supporter journeys both online and offline. You’ll develop our email marketing and online supporter journeys for now and the future.

This is a broad, varied role, for a senior fundraiser. Whether your background is strongest in individual giving, community fundraising, legacies, digital or data, if you are a confident communicator with proven experience of owning fundraising strategy, income and supplier relationships ready to take your next step in animal welfare, this is the role for you.

Key responsibilities:

1. Lead the development of the individual giving and legacies strategy and annual planning, budgeting and KPIs, reporting performance to the Head of Income Generation.
2. Set the direction for a sustainable individual giving programme, growing the supporter base across all channels and developing strategies to engage and motivate supporters.
3. Own the planning and delivery of engaging, multi-channel fundraising campaigns and appeals.
4. Provide advice and support to branches for one-off lottery or other individual giving initiatives; ensuring compliance with our gambling commission licence nationally and through branches.
5. Lead the ongoing development of the charity’s programme of appeals, regular giving and sponsorship products, lottery and donor development programmes.
6. Maximise digital fundraising opportunities whilst recognising the contribution of non-digital approaches for certain audiences and product types.
7. Own email marketing and online supporter journeys.
8. Lead the legacy giving and in-memory fundraising strategy.
9. Own monthly analysis of income and expenditure against KPIs, reporting on progress and forecasting future results.
10. Design and implement a stewardship programme with particular attention to supporter journeys for new and existing supporters that increase average values and long-term support.
11. Own compliance of the individual giving programme, identifying and managing risk and escalating to the Head of Income Generation and Engagement where necessary.
12. Ensure data collection, management, use, storage and destruction comply with data protection law and best practice.
13. Work closely with other members of staff and senior managment to ensure individual giving products and initiatives are integrated with other areas of the charity, such as brand and marketing programmes, retail development and homing campaigns.
14. Own direct relationships with external suppliers, agencies and freelancers, setting briefs, managing budgets and holding them to account.
15. Act as the organisation’s senior specialist on individual giving and legacies, advising and influencing colleagues, volunteers and homing centres on how their roles can support fundraising opportunities, without formal line authority.

Essential skills and experience:

• Experience of working in a senior individual giving, direct marketing, community, or general fundraising role.
• Demonstrable track record of delivering sustained income growth and establishing new programmes of activity.
• Experience owning a budget and KPI set, forecasting, reporting to senior management and adjusting plans in response to performance.
• Proven ability to get the best out of external suppliers and agencies (copywriters, designers, mailing houses, platform developers, etc.) to maximise outcomes, setting budgets and holding suppliers to account for results.
• Demonstrable experience of donor development, journeys and stewardship at a strategic level.
• Proficient written and verbal communicator with the ability to adapt tone to engage and inspire different audiences and write compelling fundraising copy.
• Excellenet relationship and influencing skills with the ability to gain buy in and shape the approach of colleagues without formal authority over them.
• Excellent stewardship skills with the ability to communicate with supporters via letter, email, telephone and face to face with care and compassion.
• Able to plan and prioritise independently across several income streams.
• Track record of writing clear, engaging supporter communications (appeals, newsletters, thank you journeys).
• Confident using data to select, segment, or report on supporter groups.
• Experience managing ongoing relationships with individuals (donors, supporters or clients).
• Experience of legacy marketing.
• Proficiency in using a CRM to manage donor relationships and supporter journeys.
• Strong working knowledge of charity law, GDPR and the Fundraising Code of Practice with experience of ensuring organisational compliance.
• A collaborative approach and willingness to develop new areas of fundraising.

Desirable experience and qualifications:

• Relevant fundraising or marketing qualification (e.g. Institute of Fundraising / CIOF certificate, CIM), or evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Experience of legacy marketing, legacy administration, or legacy pipeline management.
• Experience of writing or approving legacy-specific communications (in-memory, will-writing campaigns, pledger updates).
• Experience designing and evaluating acquisition or retention campaigns and activity across a variety of offline and digital channels.
• Experience of building or improving email marketing programmes or automated supporter journeys.
• Experience of working with fundraising databases (e.g. Raiser's Edge, Donorfy, Beacon) and GDPR-compliant data handling.
• Experience of liaising with solicitors, executors, or handling sensitive/bereavement-related conversations.
• Experience of managing a pipeline or CRM-tracked process from enquiry through to completion.
• Have empathy and enthusiasm for the mission of the Greyhound Trust.

You will be required to work or provide support outside of standard working hours for events and operational needs, so flexibility is key. This post and its role requirement will develop with the needs of the charity.

The role

Individual giving at Cruse is in its infancy; therefore, this is a unique opportunity for an experienced, proactive and creative individual giving expert to join, develop and build the role. We are looking to build all areas of individual giving including committed gifts, cash appeals, legacy and in memoriam gifts, and increase our supporter acquisition and retention. With integrated cross team planning and delivery between individual giving, events, campaigns, brand and supporter engagement.

Experience of using digital channels to grow income from supporters and creating an exceptional donor experience are key to this role. The Individual Giving Manager role is part of the Voluntary Income Team, that will drive development of both acquisition and retention channels to improve overall supporter experience, and therefore income. This is a great opportunity to make this role your own and set the direction for generating income from individual supporters alongside growing our legacy pipeline.

How to apply

Your application must consist of a CV and covering letter, which outlines your suitability for the role with reference to the Job Description and Person Specification and should be no longer than two pages.  Please note that if your application does not include a CV and covering letter, it may not be considered.

The closing date for applications is 16 September 2026 with interviews taking place week commencing 28 September 2026. We reserve the right to close the advert early as suitable candidates apply.

Please be advised that if you do not hear from us by 28 September 2026, unfortunately on this occasion you have not been shortlisted.

Cruse welcomes and encourages applications from all protected groups as defined by the Equality Act 2010. Appointment will be made on merit.

Criminal Record Checks

All staff are required to complete a Criminal Record check. Staff working directly with clients will be required to complete an enhanced check. We comply with the relevant codes of practice and they can be viewed online: 

· Applicants in England and Wales: DBS Code of Practice

· Applicants in Northern Ireland: AccessNI Code of Practice

Previous convictions will not prevent full consideration of your application to work with Cruse. Our Recruitment of Ex-offenders' Policy & Handling Criminal Record Check Data Policy are available on request by email.

We comply with all relevant data protection legislation and process your data fairly.   

About the role
We are seeking a proactive, enthusiastic, and highly organised Fundraising Officer to support our individual giving, community fundraising, and small trusts and foundations activities. The Fundraising Officer will manage individual and community donor activities, and the donor database to support thanking, stewardship and targeted donor engagement. They will also play a key role in monitoring the impact of our fundraising activity to ensure continuous improvement and income growth.

This is a dynamic, hands-on role for someone who is creative, collaborative, and enjoys working across a diverse range of tasks.  They will be enthusiastic and keen to generate new ideas that strengthen supporter relationships and deliver impactful fundraising.

Main duties and responsibilities

Individual, Corporate and Community Fundraising

• Work with the Fundraising and Communications Manager and Communications Coordinator to develop and deliver three - four individual giving appeals at year (digital and offline) to increase income.
• Monitor and analyse appeal performance to inform future activity.
• Support wider donor acquisition, retention, and upgrade strategies through data-led insights.
• Work closely with colleagues in communications and service delivery to create compelling fundraising content and impact stories.
• Act as the main point of contact for community fundraisers and local events, offering guidance, support materials, and encouragement. Work closely with Communications Coordinator where needed.
• Lead on the promotion and recruitment of participants for sponsored challenge events, particularly the Oxford Half Marathon and Bike Oxford.
• Research charity of the year opportunities amongst school and local businesses and support applications as required.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local community groups, schools and faith communities.
• Confidently represent the organisation at community events and manage a pool of volunteer speakers.
• Manage and develop a small number of local business partnerships.
• Use and optimise our CRM (Donorfy) to ensure accurate and up-to date relationship management records.  

Donor Stewardship and Prospect Research

• Ensure all donors are thanked promptly and feel valued and engaged.
• Manage and maintain accurate donor data in Donorfy, producing reports on donor activity and performance.
• Monitor and manage fundraising and donation enquiries through our development@ inbox, responding and referring them as appropriate.  
• Research new fundraising prospects and initiatives across individuals, community groups, small trusts, local businesses and other potential supporters. Maintain organised records of prospects and recommendations.

Trusts & Foundations (Small Grants)

• Support the Fundraising and Communications Manager and Trust and Foundations Fundraiser with the small grants pipeline, including prospect research, applications and reporting. 
• Work closely with appropriate staff and service coordinators on project budgets, reporting and planning as needed.

Other responsibilities

• Support and oversee volunteers and interns as required.
• Work collaboratively within a busy staff team, participate in meetings and planning processes, and contribute to organisational development.
• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the role, as agreed with the Fundraising and Communications Manager or CEO. 

Person specification

Essential:

• Demonstrable fundraising and supporter-facing experience, with the ability to manage multiple income streams simultaneously.
• Knowledge and experience of individual and community fundraising.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to tailor content to different audiences.
• Experience using CRM databases, with confidence managing day-to-day data processes.
• Highly organised with the ability to prioritise and manage multiple deadlines and priorities.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Strong research skills and a track record of writing funding bids and reports.
• Ability to build productive, collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• A positive, creative, “can-do” attitude, with the ability to adapt to change.
• Confidence representing the organisation at community events.
• Ability to work within a budget.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data and measure impact.
• A demonstrable passion for, and affinity with, our cause
• Ability to communicate and work sensitively with people with lived experience of migration and tell their stories with dignity.

Desirable:

• Experience of working for a local charity.
• Knowledge of the migration and refugee sector.
• Experience in digital fundraising, social media and online giving platforms (eg JustGiving, crowd-funding platforms, social ads).
• Experience in corporate fundraising.
• Experience of working with Mailchimp and donorfy
   

Deadline for applications: Midnight Sunday 4th October 2026

Interviews: Week commencing 12th or 19th October in Oxford.  

About you

You will be organised, resourceful and confident at turning stories and evidence into compelling fundraising content.

Fundraising experience is welcome, but transferable skills in communications, marketing, business development or supporter care are also valued.

• Experience in fundraising, communications, marketing or business development.
• Strong, audience-focused writing skills.

• Understanding of donor stewardship and supporter journeys.

• Ability to manage priorities and meet deadlines.

• CRM or database experience is helpful.

• Collaborative approach and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Be part of something extraordinary at Epilepsy Society. We are seeking a values driven Commercial & Events Officer to join a charity that provides world leading support for people with epilepsy through Care, Research and Advocacy.

The Commercial & Events Officer plays a key role in raising income for the Charity by supporting the Commercial & Events Manager in planning, organising and delivering corporate stewardship, community engagement and fundraising events (including virtual). This work will support the delivery of mutually beneficial KPIs with aligned partners, which will deliver incremental net income, awareness, supporter leads and value for the Society. The role will initially focus 75% of time on community and events and 25% on corporate stewardship, though this split may adapt to meet operational demand. 

The post holder should demonstrate our people values of CAIRO (Caring, Accountable, Improving, Respectful and Open.)

Please download the attached recruitment pack to view the full job description and more information.

Some information about us

Epilepsy Society’s Vision is a full life for everyone affected by epilepsy. We want everyone affected by epilepsy to have the best opportunity for a full life – as free from seizures as possible. We set out to make a difference to every person affected by epilepsy whatever their background, however seriously it impacts on their life, and whether they have the condition themselves or are close to someone with epilepsy.

What we can offer

•    27 days annual leave + bank holidays, with the ability to buy and sell annual leave
•    A generous Employee Referral Scheme (refer a friend and earn up to £250) 
•    Length of service awards
•    Access to shopping discounts and cashback with thousands of retailers through Flourish Rewards
•    Staff recognition scheme 
•    Excellent training and development opportunities
•    Group Pension
•    Death in Service (2x your annual salary)
•    Confidential, supportive Employee Assistance Programme, accessible 24/7
•    Salary Finance, offering you products linked to your salary and tailored to your individual circumstances. Providing services such as loans, advances, savings and financial education

If you have the right skills and experience and are inspired to apply, please do so by uploading your CV and covering letter explaining how you meet the specifications of this role.

A DBS (Disclosure & Barring) check will be required before appointment is confirmed.  

We reserve the right to close the post early once we have received a sufficient number of applicants: please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. 

About the team

The Philanthropy Team raises income for Impetus and for Impetus partner charities. The team consists of 15 staff. Impetus has an annual income of c.£11 million which we are looking to grow significantly within the next few years. The team is led by two Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships. 

The Philanthropy Team works with major donors, corporates and grant making trusts, as well as collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to ensure we make a compelling case to generate new financial commitments and wider support for our work. The team also deliver a high-quality engagement programme of volunteering and pro bono for Impetus’s corporate supporters.   

Impetus is driven by a shared belief in tackling the barriers that hold back young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in education and employment. Alongside investing extensive financial and non-financial support in our charity partners through our Investment Team we also seek to influence decision makers to design and implement evidence led policy and direct new resources to get young people the support they need through our Public Affairs team. We are resolutely focused on outcomes, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, ambitious, determined and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our charity partners and the young people we serve. 

About this role

The Development Director (New Business) provides strategic leadership for Impetus’ new business development, prospect pipeline and high-value funding opportunities. The postholder will have responsibility for identifying, cultivating and converting new corporate, trust and foundation, and high-net-worth donor relationships, as well as continued relationship management for key, established relationships.

In 25/26, the Philanthropy and Partnerships team generated £11m in philanthropic income, alongside £2.8m in probono contributions. The Development Director will play a key role in delivering Impetus' growth ambitions, helping to increase philanthropic income to £14m by 2029. 

Working closely with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships, the role will translate the fundraising strategy into clear new business priorities, pipeline plans and prospect engagement approaches, ensuring a strong flow of qualified opportunities and sustainable growth in high-value income.

Working closely with colleagues across Philanthropy and Partnerships, the postholder will personally lead and support significant six and seven-figure prospects and strategic funding opportunities, while overseeing the stewardship and retention of current partners. 

Working collaboratively across the Philanthropy and Partnerships team and with colleagues across the organisation, the Development Director will ensure a joined-up approach to donor acquisition, pipeline development, prospect conversion and stewardship, maximising income, partnership value and long-term impact within the agreed fundraising strategy.

Key responsibilities

New Business, Pipeline & Conversion

• Personally lead on six and seven-figure level priority prospects and strategic funding opportunities, managing the full fundraising cycle from qualification to close.
• Work with trustees, senior volunteers, and networks to unlock introductions and new opportunities, providing clear support and follow-up to maximise success.
• Evolve Impetus’ new business strategy, driving the identification, cultivation, and conversion of new high-value donor and partner relationships.
• Translate Impetus’ impact, evidence base, and venture philanthropy model into compelling propositions for new audiences and sectors.

Strategic Relationship Management & Growth 

• Own and oversee select donor relationships at six and seven-figure levels within the philanthropy portfolio, ensuring high levels of retention, satisfaction, trust, income growth and long-term value.
• Ensure your donors receive timely, consistent, high-quality and relevant engagement and communications throughout their relationship with Impetus.
• Work closely with the wider team to ensure a smooth transition between new business, and long-term stewardship.
• Ensure account plans for priority donors and partners include clear renewal and growth pathways; engagement and risk-management plans.
• Act as senior relationship owner where required, modelling strong stewardship and coaching the Head of Development and other colleagues to navigate complex or sensitive relationships.

Research, Insight & Pipeline Development

• Provide strategic leadership for the Research & Insights function, ensuring prospect research, donor intelligence and market insight inform fundraising strategy, pipeline development and organisational planning.
• Lead the strategic development of fundraising pipelines, ensuring focus on opportunities with the greatest potential for long-term income growth, impact and strategic fit.
• Ensure donor intelligence and prospect research are used effectively to identify, qualify and prioritise new funding opportunities.
• Maintain oversight of gift acceptance, due diligence and fundraising compliance in relation to fundraising opportunities, ensuring adherence to relevant regulatory requirements and organisational policies.
• Identify and escalate strategic, reputational or compliance risks associated with donors and partners.

Leadership and Team Performance

• Line manage and develop the Head of Development, providing strategic direction, coaching and performance oversight.
• Establish the Head of Development as the operational lead on new business, ensuring capability, succession and high performance across the wider team.
• Set clear objectives and success measures for new business growth, aligned to Impetus’ wider income strategy.
• Build and sustain an inclusive, evidence-led and high-performing team culture that balances pace and ambition with quality, learning and collaboration.
• Build fundraising capability across your team through leadership, coaching and consistent, fair, and high-quality performance management, including objective-setting, feedback and development planning.

Pro Bono, Events, Volunteering & Partnership Value

• Ensure engagement opportunities, including volunteering, pro bono and events, strengthen strategic partnerships and support long-term income growth through strong collaboration with colleagues.

Operational Excellence, Governance & Risk

• Ensure new business activity complies with due diligence, gift acceptance and risk management requirements.
• Oversee accurate pipeline reporting, forecasting, and performance tracking, using Salesforce and other systems to ensure insights inform decision making.
• Work with Finance and Operations to ensure income is contracted, invoiced, and reported accurately and on time in line with financial controls.
• Identify and escalate strategic or reputational risks associated with prospective partnerships.

Cross-Organisational Leadership & Representation

• Act as a senior ambassador for Impetus, representing the organisation credibly with new donors, partners, and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to organisational strategy, income planning, and senior leadership discussions.
• Lead philanthropic work on Impetus funds including identifying funding opportunities and risks; shaping prospect pipelines; contributing to cases for support and donor presentations; and develop fund stewardship.
• Champion collaboration across the Philanthropy team, ensuring opportunities are shared, relationships are leveraged and expertise is used to maximise income and impact.
• Back Impetus’ values, evidence-led approach, and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion across the Philanthropy team.

Strategic leadership

• Work in partnership with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships to contribute to the fundraising strategy.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear operational plans, objectives and delivery, ensuring new business delivers against organisational priorities, income targets and long-term growth ambitions.
• Provide strategic oversight of annual forecasting, budgeting, pipeline performance and resource planning, ensuring risks and opportunities are identified and addressed proactively.
• Maximise the contribution of trustees, committees, senior volunteers and wider networks to support strategic relationship building and new business development.
• Act as a trusted senior adviser to the Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships, providing insight, challenge and solutions to strengthen organisational fundraising performance and capability.
• Deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships where appropriate, within agreed delegations and priorities.
• Build a positive, collaborative and high-performing culture across the Philanthropy team, modelling Impetus' values and supporting continuous improvement.

Person specification

Essential:

Fundraising & new business leadership

• Significant experience in major donor and/or corporate fundraising at six and seven-figure gift level, with a strong track record of securing new income and managing complex partnerships.
• Ability to lead and personally deliver the full fundraising cycle, from prospecting and cultivation through to solicitation, negotiation, and close.
• Proven experience of building, managing, and converting a new business pipeline, balancing ambition with delivery.
• Strong ability to leverage internal and external networks, including trustees, senior volunteers, and professional contacts.

Senior stakeholder engagement

• Experience of operating at a senior level and leading high value or complex stakeholder relationships (trustees, board members, senior external partners).
• Ability to influence and build credibility with senior audiences through clear, confident and evidence led communication.
• Excellent negotiation skills, with the ability to secure mutually beneficial outcomes while protecting organisational values and reputation.

Leadership & people management

• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams, including developing senior colleagues and building leadership capability.
• A strong track record as a collaborative senior team member, contributing beyond own area of responsibility and supporting wider organisational success
• Ability to build a high-trust, high-challenge culture that supports excellence, inclusion, and learning.
• Strong performance management capability and ability to handle complex people issues, giving strategic feedback, and addressing underperformance constructively.
• Ability to deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships when appropriate.

Strategic & intellectual capability

• Strong strategic thinker with the ability to translate agreed strategy and insight into clear plans and execute them effectively.
• Ability to grasp, interpret apply and communicate complex information and ideas, including Impetus’ venture philanthropy and impact-led funding models.
• Evidence of an innovative and creative approach, with the ability to adapt in changing contexts.

Financial, operational & delivery capability

• Solid financial management, with experience contributing to budget-setting, managing agreed budgets, supporting forecasting and identifying efficiencies.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to delivery, with the ability to manage multiple priorities to a high standard
• Able to use insight and data (including CRM systems such as Salesforce) to inform decisions and strengthen performance.
• Sound judgement in identifying, managing, and escalating risk, particularly in relation to donor relationships and reputation.

Communication, values & ways of working

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate clearly, persuasively, and with impact.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish, maintain, and leverage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• A strong commitment to Impetus’ mission and to improving outcomes for young people.
• A clear commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, demonstrated through inclusive leadership and professional practice.

Desirable 

• Experience working within venture philanthropy, impact investing, or systems-change funding models.
• Familiarity with private equity, professional services.
• Experience contributing to income growth, donor strategy or portfolio development within an agreed organisational fundraising strategy.
• Knowledge of the UK charity or social impact sector, particularly education, employment, or youth-focused work.
• Experience using CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce) to manage pipelines, performance, and forecasting.

About Impetus

At Impetus, our focus is on helping young people achieve positive education and employment outcomes to increase their chance of leading fulfilling and successful lives, irrespective of their background.

We tackle the three most difficult challenges that affect a young person’s ability to succeed in life in Britain today:

• Lost learning through absence, suspensions, exclusions from school
• Stagnation in education attainment outcomes, which means many are missing out on key qualifications like GCSE English and maths
• The large numbers of young people out of education, training and employment

We use our deep expertise and high calibre networks to give the best non-profits working in these sectors the essential ingredients to have a real and lasting impact on the young people they serve.

Through a powerful combination of long-term funding, direct capacity building support from our experienced team and our pro bono partners, alongside research and policy influencing to drive lasting systems change, we work towards a society where all young people can thrive in school, pass their exams and unlock the doors to sustained employment, for a fulfilling life.

We are resolutely focused on outcomes and impact, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our portfolio partners and the young people we serve.

Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is 1152262.

Our Values

In 2022 the Impetus staff agreed the following set of Values to act as our guiding principles as an organisation and help us to remain focused on achieving our mission to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We are brave and curious

We are bold and brave in our pursuit of better outcomes for young people. We lead with curiosity and stay open to new perspectives. We support one another to take considered risks and learn together.

We bring high trust, high challenge

We build strong, long-term relationships through honesty, kindness, integrity, and respect. We create the space for open, constructive challenge, where colleagues, partners and supporters feel safe to speak up, hold each other to account, and bring their best in pursuit of our mission.

We are evidence led and results driven for young people

We pursue excellence for the young people we work with, are wholly committed to better outcomes, unapologetically results driven, and accountable for our actions.

We thrive through diversity

We seek to embed diversity of thought, background and experience in every aspect of our work. We are open, thoughtful and proactive in better understanding and challenging our assumptions to better deliver the change we seek.

We always seek collaboration

We will not succeed alone. We seek meaningful, productive partnerships with others to achieve our mission and drive systems change for young people.

Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more open, creative and gets better results.

We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.

We recognise the importance of a good work/life balance. We do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, working part-time job shares and other arrangements.

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.

Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Our employee benefits

Impetus appreciates the invaluable contribution made by all employees and wishes to encourage and reward loyalty, motivation and experience. We therefore offer a range of benefits and policies which aim to assist employees during various stages of their lives and careers. For more information on these, please download the job information pack from our website.

How to apply

Please click on the "Apply for this job" button.

You will need to:

• Complete the online form (including the equal opportunities monitoring form).
• Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement.

The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification.

You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 20th September 2026, 11:59pm.

Interviews:

1st Interviews will take place on w/c 5th October 2026.

2nd Interviews will take place on w/c 12th October 2026.

You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.

Personal Data

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.

Heart Research UK is a national charity working to prevent, treat and cure heart diseases through research, education and community support. Every 5 minutes, someone dies from heart diseases in the UK, and they are determined to change this.

Public donations help fund lifesaving medical research, develop new treatments and support people across the UK to keep their hearts healthy. Now in the second year of their five-year strategy, they have ambitious plans to grow their income and make an even bigger difference.

We are looking for an experienced Individual Giving Manager to lead the development of their Individual Giving programme. With a proven track record in donor acquisition, supporter development and retention, you’ll have the opportunity to shape a programme with significant growth potential.

The Role

Reporting to the Director of Income Generation, you will develop and deliver the Individual Giving strategy, driving sustainable income growth and strengthening supporter relationships.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and delivering the Individual Giving strategy in line with wider fundraising and organisational objectives.
• Leading donor acquisition across digital and offline channels, including paid social, search, email, direct mail, DRTV, lottery, face-to-face and telemarketing.
• Identifying new products and propositions that meet supporter needs and generate sustainable income.
• Using data, audience insight and modelling to inform investment, testing and optimisation.
• Developing supporter journeys to maximise engagement, retention and lifetime value.
• Managing agency and supplier relationships to ensure maximum value from investment.
• Working collaboratively across fundraising, communications and data teams to deliver successful campaigns.
• Managing budgets, forecasts and financial performance.
• Ensuring activity complies with relevant legislation, GDPR, the Fundraising Code of Practice and Heart Research UK policies.

The Person

You’ll be an experienced Individual Giving professional with significant experience of managing and growing Individual Giving programmes, and a strong track record of successful donor acquisition across multiple channels.

You will have:

• Strong knowledge of Individual Giving best practice across acquisition and retention.
• Experience using data, insight and analysis to shape strategy and investment decisions.
• Confidence working with metrics such as ROI, CPA, CPL, attrition and lifetime value, ideally with experience of test-and-learn programmes.
• Experience managing fundraising agencies and external suppliers.
• Excellent project, campaign, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A good understanding of fundraising legislation and regulatory requirements, including GDPR and the Fundraising Code of Practice.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities while working both collaboratively and independently.

Most importantly, you’ll be passionate about building meaningful, long-lasting supporter relationships, motivated by continuous improvement and excited by the opportunity to contribute to ambitious income growth.

Why Heart Research UK?

This is an exciting time to join their growing team of 44 people. They offer a collaborative and supportive culture, with a clear ambition to achieve long-term, sustainable income growth.

The role can be based from the Leeds office on a hybrid basis or worked fully remotely, with colleagues working flexibly across locations.

Benefits include:

• 22 days’ annual leave, rising to 27 days after 5 years, plus bank holidays.
• Office closure for the 3 working days between Christmas and New Year.
• Opportunity to buy and sell annual leave.
• Pension scheme with employer contributions starting at 3%, with enhanced schemes after 2 and 4 years.
• 20 minutes of exercise time three times a week, separate from your lunch break
• Quarterly wellbeing sessions and health checks.
• Bike to Work scheme.
• Free access to an independent financial adviser.
• Reimbursement of eye test costs.
• Staff training budget for professional and career development.
• Membership of Fundraising Everywhere, providing access to additional fundraising training and development.

If you’re an experienced Individual Giving professional looking for an opportunity to shape strategy, drive sustainable income growth and make a genuine difference to people affected by heart disease, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply here, or get in contact with Leanne or Jen at Charity Horizons for more information.

Please note: If you would like to submit an application or express your interest in an alternative format such as audio or video upload, or require any adaptations for your initial engagement with us, please contact either Jen or Leanne who will be happy to advise on this.

Please also be aware that we use anonymous recruitment methods when submitting shortlists for all our roles and we only work with organisations that are happy to engage with us in this way.

Charity Horizons is an equal opportunities employer and as such actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We welcome and encourage applications from all suitable candidates irrespective of age, disability, hidden disability, race or national origin, religion or belief, gender, gender expression, political view, sexual orientation, medical condition and pregnancy.

The role

At Cruse, our strategy, sets out our charity’s plans to grow our income and build on our expertise and unique position in the sector. We provide expert bereavement and grief information and support, and our charity has been supporting people for over 65 years. We support adults, children and young people across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, through our national services, over 80 local branches and online information about grief and bereavement.

Working within the Fundraising Operations and Supporter Care Team and reporting to the Fundraising Operations and Supporter Care Manager, the Supporter Care and Data Officer will deliver excellent customer care to our supporters, responding to enquiries, and thanking supporters to help drive income and show them how valued they are to Cruse Bereavement Support. You’ll work with the fundraising CRM to ensure and maintain the quality of information available and support the Commercial Income Team (c25% of time) with administrative tasks.

How to apply

Your application must consist of a CV and covering letter, which outlines your suitability for the role with reference to the Job Description and Person Specification and should be no longer than two pages. Please note that if you application does not include both a CV and covering letter, your application may not be considered. 

The closing date for applications is 25 September 2026 with interviews taking place week commencing 5 October 2026. We reserve the right to close the advert early, as interviews will be held as suitable candidates apply.

Please be advised that if you do not hear from us by 5 October 2026, unfortunately on this occasion you have not been shortlisted.

Cruse welcomes and encourages applications from all protected groups as defined by the Equality Act 2010. Appointment will be made on merit.

Criminal Record Checks

All staff are required to complete a Criminal Record check. Staff working directly with clients will be required to complete an enhanced check. We comply with the relevant codes of practice and they can be viewed online:

Applicants in England and Wales: DBS Code of Practice

Applicants in Northern Ireland: AccessNI Code of Practice

Previous convictions will not prevent full consideration of your application to work with Cruse. Our Recruitment of Ex-offenders’ Policy & Handling Criminal Record Check Data Policy are available on request by email.

We comply with all relevant data protection legislation and process your data fairly.