This is a unique opportunity to lead fundraising for a charity at the cusp of substantial growth, with an exceptional track record of recent fundraising success, an engaged base of supporters and significant untapped potential across multiple channels.
Overview
As Director of Fundraising and Development for Plum Village UK, you will provide strategic leadership of the charity’s fundraising at this critical juncture. Building on the successful campaigns that brought our new Being Peace Practice Centre into being, you will lead the development of a sustainable, diversified fundraising operation across donor stewardship, trusts and foundations, regular giving, legacies, and partnerships, to deepen relationships of trust and gratitude with our supporters.
This role is ideal for a fundraising leader, whether from a career fundraising background or another field, who brings strategic capability alongside deep alignment with the Plum Village tradition, where fundraising itself becomes a form of engaged practice in service of mindfulness and community transformation.
Fundraising in the Plum Village tradition is fundamentally relational. It is not a matter of extracting income from a base of supporters, but of deepening the relationships of trust, gratitude and shared purpose with those who make our work possible, in ways that embody the values of the tradition. Done well, fundraising is itself a form of engaged practice. The Director will be expected to lead the function in this spirit.
The role comes with a high level of strategic ownership. An initial fundraising strategy has been developed and shared with trustees, providing a framework of priority channels, governance arrangements and resourcing for the next phase. The new Director will inherit this as a starting frame, and will then be empowered and expected to develop, refine and bring forward a fundraising strategy on their own authority, working closely with the Lead Trustee for Fundraising and presenting proposals to the board as appropriate. The role also carries operational ownership of the fundraising mechanics, including the choice and management of supporting systems, databases and tools.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic leadership of fundraising
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Lead PVUK's fundraising strategy, developing and refining the strategic direction, and presenting proposals to the Board for approval and resourcing.
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Set, monitor, and report on fundraising targets across all income channels, in agreement with the Lead Trustee for Fundraising and the Board.
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Provide regular substantive updates on fundraising at quarterly board meetings, working with the Lead Trustee on the preparation of board-level reporting.
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Bring forward analysis and proposals to support the Board in setting wider strategic priorities, including realistic income potential by channel and the investment required to secure it.
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Identify and manage risk in the fundraising portfolio, including channel concentration, donor over-reliance, and the sustainability of resourcing.
Donor stewardship and relationship development
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Lead the stewardship of PVUK’s existing donors, lenders, and supporters with the depth of care that this base deserves, recognising it as the most precious resource of the fundraising function.
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Cultivate and deepen relationships with major donors, including through personal contact, site visits, and tailored communication of impact.
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Work with the Chair of Trustees, the Centre Director, and other senior figures on key relationships that require their involvement.
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Steward the friendly lender base throughout the lifetime of their loans, maintaining trust and keeping them informed of the charity’s progress.
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Build and maintain a culture of gratitude and recognition that appropriately honours the contributions of all supporters.
Income channel development
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Lead delivery and growth across PVUK’s priority fundraising channels: donor stewardship, trust and foundation fundraising, regular giving, legacies and Gifts in Wills, and partnerships with values-aligned organisations and networks.
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Develop trust and foundation fundraising as a substantial new income stream, including scoping aligned funders, building peer-to-peer introductions, constructing tailored funding propositions, and overseeing high-quality application writing and reporting.
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Design and grow a regular giving programme that converts members, retreatants and supporters into ongoing monthly donors.
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Develop a structured legacy and Gifts in Wills programme that normalises legacy giving across PVUK’s communications and supports those who wish to leave a Gift in their Will.
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Develop partnerships with values-aligned organisations and networks where these support both income generation and the wider reach of PVUK’s work, in close consultation with monastics and trustees.
Operations, systems and budget ownership
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Own the operational mechanics of fundraising for PVUK, including the choice, configuration and ongoing management of databases, donor management systems, online giving platforms, and integration with communications tools.
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Manage the fundraising budget, including a discretionary supplementary budget for consultancy, training, materials creation, contracted support and light administrative resource, deployed at the Director’s judgement to develop the function effectively.
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Maintain accurate, GDPR-compliant supporter records and ensure sound data practices throughout the fundraising operation.
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Provide accurate financial reporting on fundraising performance, working with PVUK’s finance function and external accountants as required.
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Make the case for additional resourcing where evidence of need supports it, including the possible recruitment of a Fundraising Officer in due course.
Communications and storytelling
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Lead the development of compelling fundraising narratives that authentically convey the work of PVUK and the Being Peace Centre to multiple audiences, including major donors, institutional funders, individual supporters and the wider public.
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Work closely with the PVUK Communications team on the integration of fundraising communications with the wider communications strategy.
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Commission and oversee the production of fundraising materials, including written content, graphic design, video and digital assets, drawing on contracted specialists where appropriate.
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Ensure that all fundraising messaging about the Being Peace Practice Centre is agreed with the Centre Director before publication.
Working partnerships across PVUK
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Work in close partnership with the Centre Director on all matters relating to Being Peace, with agreed ways of working on messaging, external representation, and any programming commitments made to funders.
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Work with the Lead Trustee for Fundraising as primary day-to-day point of contact at board level, supporting the Lead Trustee to hold strategic oversight of fundraising on behalf of the Board.
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Work with colleagues across PVUK’s communications, dharma programming, sangha-building and partnership functions, with these working relationships developing naturally in the first months of the role.
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Draw on external advisors and specialists as needed for support and assurance, both in technical fundraising disciplines and in sector-specific knowledge.
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Engage volunteer capacity from within the community where this can valuably supplement the fundraising operation.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
We build mindful communities in the UK inspired by the teachings of ‘Father of Mindfulness’ Thich Nhat Hanh.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Prospect Researcher
When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.
Prospect Researcher
Salary - £33,201.00 (ROE) £36,924.00 (LON)
Location: Nationwide
Full-time
Our offer to you
We pride ourselves in being a great place to work, providing a supportive culture with opportunities to grow and develop your career, achieve a healthy work life balance and to be recognised for the great work you do. You will receive:
- Competitive salary and pension scheme
- 33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays) - increasing to 38 days over 5 years
- Hybrid, Flexible working
- Cycle to work scheme Electric Vehicle Scheme (subject to terms)
- Health and Wellbeing portal – access to financial, health and wellbeing support and an Employee Assistance Programme
- Discounts – you will have access to Blue Light and NHS Discounts as well as discounts on mobile phones, gym membership, cinema tickets, restaurants, holidays and shopping
About Us
This is a fantastic opportunity to join a team of over 1,100 employees and over 20,000 volunteers, united by our goal of saving lives through essential first aid services, training and campaigning. As a charity with rich heritage and a long history of serving humanity, we are proud of our past and excited about creating a healthier, safer, more resilient future.
St John Ambulance works at the heart of communities, supporting and enabling them to access and receive physical and mental health first aid. We do this through developing and providing effective community response and outreach services (e.g. Ambulance response) and using our longstanding expertise to empower people with vital clinical skills and the confidence to use them (e.g. our Volunteers and Community Advocates, and Young Responders programmes).
Job Summary
At St John Ambulance, we're committed to saving lives through first aid, healthcare, and volunteering. To continue growing our impact, we're looking for an experienced Prospect Research Manager to lead and develop our prospect research function within the Philanthropy and Partnerships team. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of fundraising by identifying and qualifying high-value prospects, providing strategic insight, and ensuring our fundraising teams have the intelligence they need to build lasting relationships with donors, corporate partners, and trusts and foundations.
Working as part of the Fundraising, Brand and Communications Directorate, you'll develop a strategic roadmap for prospect research, oversee due diligence to help protect the charity's reputation, and work closely with colleagues across fundraising and data to maximise the potential of our Microsoft 365 CRM. Your expertise will help drive sustainable income growth while ensuring our data, processes, and practices meet the highest standards of quality, compliance, and data protection.
About You
You'll be an experienced and strategic prospect research professional with a strong understanding of how insight, data, and relationship-building can support successful fundraising. You'll combine excellent research skills with a proactive approach, using your expertise to identify opportunities, provide valuable intelligence, and help shape fundraising decisions.
To be successful in this role, you'll bring:
·Significant experience of undertaking prospect research and due diligence within a charity, fundraising, or commercial environment, with the ability to identify and assess new opportunities.
·Strong research and analytical skills, with experience using a range of research tools, databases, and CRM systems to produce accurate, insightful reports and recommendations.
·The ability to develop and implement effective strategies, systems, and processes that improve ways of working and support organisational goals.
·Experience building strong relationships and collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels, including briefing and influencing senior leaders.
·Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly, produce high-quality written reports, and tailor messages for different audiences.
·A thorough understanding of data protection principles, fundraising compliance, and ethical approaches to prospect research and donor engagement.
·Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, work independently, and deliver high-quality work to deadlines.
·A proactive and opportunity-focused approach, with the ability to spot potential, contribute positively to a team environment, and demonstrate St John Ambulance's HEART values.
You will also have strong IT skills, including experience using Microsoft Office applications and CRM databases. A good standard of education, including GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths (Grade 4/C or above), is required.
About the Role
·Lead the development and delivery of St John Ambulance's prospect research strategy, creating a roadmap that supports fundraising priorities across philanthropy, corporate partnerships, trusts, and foundations.
·Manage the prospect research function, identifying and qualifying high-value funding opportunities while providing strategic insight to help maximise fundraising income.
·Conduct high-quality prospect research, network mapping, and due diligence, ensuring all recommendations align with the charity's ethical fundraising policy and protect its reputation.
·Build and manage fundraising pipelines by identifying new prospects, tracking opportunities, and working closely with fundraising colleagues to move prospects successfully through the cultivation journey.
·Develop and embed effective processes for prospect referral, research, and data management, ensuring accurate CRM records, GDPR compliance, and the adoption of fundraising best practice.
·Collaborate with colleagues across St John Ambulance and The Order of St John, presenting research findings, sharing expertise, and helping to build prospect research capability across the fundraising team.
Please see the job description for more detail (this can be viewed on our website or once you click apply)
If you are a current St John Ambulance employee, please apply here: Click here
For all other candidates, or St John Ambulance volunteers wishing to apply: please apply below
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive high volume of applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
St John Ambulance are committed to increasing the diversity of our team and making sure we best reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.At St John, everyone is valued and supported to thrive, we have seven networks including The Armed Forces Network, The Disability & Accessibility Network, The Family & Carers Network, The Heritage & Ethnicity Equity Network, LGBTQIA + Equity, The Multifaith Network & The Women’s Network. We do nottolerate any form ofdiscriminationandengendera sense of belonging for all, by creating an environment of mutual respect, where we value unique differences and demonstrate authentic allyship.We believe passionately in equality, diversity and inclusion.
St John Ambulance is proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. We are committed to supporting current and former members of the Armed Forces, reservists, veterans, cadet force adult volunteers, and military families, ensuring they are treated fairly and are not disadvantaged in their recruitment or employment with us.
St John Ambulance is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice. Therefore, all successful applicants will undergo pre-employment checks, including DBS Clearance, as part of the onboarding process, if applicable to the nature of the role'.
Please note: St John does not accept speculative CVs and will only review CVs sent in application for an advertised vacancy.
