Fundraising relationships manager jobs

The Funding and Development Officer will play a key role in identifying, securing, and managing income streams through grants, partnerships, donations, and fundraising initiatives. This role will also support organisational growth by developing strategic relationships, improving funding processes, and enhancing the charity’s visibility and impact.

The Funding & Development Officer will work closely with the Centre Manager to identify a strategic funding & finance plan to ensure sustainability for all the charities projects.

LYCC is a youth and community organisation (registered charity) dedicated to empowering young people, adults and strengthening local communities. We provide inclusive programmes, opportunities, and support that help individuals develop confidence, skills, and a sense of belonging. Our name change in 2011, to Litherland Youth & Community Centre, and our building redevelopment in 2014/2015 reflects how our organisation had shifted from a traditional “boys club” and “youth centre” to now a youth and community centre. Taking a holistic approach in relation to our services facilitated and support offered. LYCC identified the need for this holistic approach and has worked since to provide services and support for individuals of all ages within our community. The Funding & Development Officer, will help LYCC be proactive to local identified need and help to source and secure funds to faciltiate support. 

Current charity turnover approx. £300k. 

Designed by families, for families, The Ark was opened in September 2019 by the Mayor of London. The grounds offer wheelchair accessible outdoor experiences, including a Woodland Walk through a 7-acre nature reserve, a hydrotherapy pool and overnight suites for families to be close to their loved ones. At The Ark we are able to provide Specialist Care and Nursing for babies, children and young people, supporting their full clinical, emotional, social and practical needs. We have created a space where children who are seriously unwell are accepted as they are, safe to play, explore, express themselves and build confidence.

JOB DESCRIPTION 

Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice helps babies, children and young people who are seriously unwell, and their families, make the most of every day. The charity aspires to become a centre of clinical excellence for children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.

We’ve been on a major upward trajectory in recent years, with more children being supported, more major hospitals being partnered with and more supporters donating. We’ve transformed from being an enthusiastic start-up delivering care in the community, to a serious player delivering major impact both in the community and at our state-of-the-art hospice building, The Ark, opened in 2019.

Philanthropy, which covers Grants, Trusts & Foundations and Major Donor fundraising streams, is pivotal to Noah’s Ark, typically accounting for around 50% of the charity’s voluntary income. This is an area of real expertise for Noah’s Ark, with much scope for further refining. The successful candidate will therefore be instrumental in taking this key income stream forward, add to an exciting portfolio and gain further training and support, working as part of a high-performing and super supportive team, ready for its next development phase.

The Grants, Trusts & Foundations Manager will work closely with and report to the Head of Philanthropy to develop the Trust pipeline, along with instrumental cross-team work on applications and reporting processes for other income streams. Whilst we work towards developing a more diverse funding model and navigate changes to the external Trust environment, sustaining and growing income from Trusts will remain vital.

The post-holder will manage a Philanthropy Officer (Trusts & Major Donors) and, together, they will be instrumental in taking the Trust programme to the next level, establishing lasting relationships with funders, securing new grants, increasing multi-year gifts and improving both quality and volume of applications and reports. They will also support the Philanthropy Officer, and the wider team, to the same end with their respective portfolios.

ABOUT YOU

You will be a highly organised, dedicated and reliable individual ready to play a significant role in income generation. An exceptional and eloquent communicator, excellent at managing your time and a natural relationship builder. You will have a collaborative mindset, and be willing to engage with colleagues across the fundraising team and wider charity to create the greatest outcomes for the children and families we support.

You will have considerable experience fundraising from grant makers and will be able to demonstrate your success with securing high value gifts and building meaningful relationships. You will have confidence in your ability to make an impact through collaborative lateral thinking. You will also support other team members with their applications, as well as acting as a key liaison with our Care team to obtain latest information about service delivery.

If you have ample experience of fundraising from Trusts, have achieved outstanding success in a short period of time or have held a key position within a Trust programme, including securing numerous significant – ideally six-figure – grants, we would love you to apply.

Please refer to the Job description for further information on this role. 

Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from groups who are currently under-represented in our staff.

Our diversity council is working hard to construct positive changes within our organisation. We are a disabilty confident employer and part of our commitment is to interview all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for a job vacancy and consider them on their abilities.

Department

The Office of Philanthropic Partnerships and Alumni (OPPA)

Office of Philanthropic Partnerships and Alumni (OPPA) works with a community of global alumni and donors to  deepen their ties with York and each other, and encourage them to support the University through York Giving.  This role is part of the Individual Philanthropy Team, which manages major individual philanthropy and the legacy giving programme, working closely with the other OPPA teams:

Corporate and Foundation Philanthropy: developing long term, strategic partnerships with philanthropic  corporate and foundation supporters.

Fundraising Programmes: managing mass fundraising appeals, crowdfunding campaigns, community  fundraising and student projects.

Operations and Experience: providing business intelligence, information and insight, governance and  stewardship of supporter and alumni relationships, and managing all mass communications with alumni and  supporters. 

York for Life: developing alumni communities, volunteering and alumni engagement programmes in  support of the University’s strategic aims. 

OPPA is part of the University’s Directorate of External Relations, and works closely with other sections of the  directorate, which are Marketing, Recruitment, Outreach and Admissions, Communications, Public Engagement  and Events, and International Student Recruitment, Partnerships and Mobility.

About the Role

The role of Philanthropy Manager is to inspire and encourage philanthropic income from major individual donors to the University of York.  You will work to build engagement and involvement of potential major donors and colleagues across the University to develop and deliver a pipeline of significant philanthropic gifts to York Giving’s priority projects. 

You will manage a portfolio of major donor prospects and have responsibility and accountability for fund management and other priority projects for philanthropic funding, including liaising with academic theme coordinators.

This is a demanding and rewarding role that requires resilience and a long term view.  The post holder will work to individual financial cash and pledge targets and KPIs based on meetings, moves, proposals and asks made.

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

• Proven experience in a relationship management role, with both internal and external stakeholders.  Ease at working with people and developing personable relationships with a wide range of people.
• Experience of fundraising or role generating new business.
• Knowledge and understanding of the principles related to donor cultivation, asking and  stewardship
• Experience of organising events
• Experience of working in a high education or not for profit fundraising environment.
• Knowledge of data protection laws as they related to donor information
• Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge / NXT database or similar relationship management database

Interview date:To be confirmed

The Community Fundraising Team is an integral part of the Charity Fundraising Portfolio, by supporting a diverse range of inspiring supporter led fundraising activities. It is an exciting time to join the Team, as we plan for 25/26.  

You will be one our 6 Regional Community Fundraisers, based across the UK. Covering Yorkshire, Northeast and Northwest of England, you will focus on our key audiences of Individuals, Supporter Groups, Community organisations, Regional Corporates & Volunteers. Through the provision of exceptional stewardship & fundraising support, you will engage the community, maximising opportunities to raise funds in the Region. You will make the most of your boundless energy & creativity to inspire our community and will be the regional driving force, ensuring our Supporter Groups continue to thrive, & our annual Community Fundraising Campaigns including, The Big Bake & Twilight Walk Own Walks are a success. 

You will be passionate about the Role and in supporting the delivery of our strategic plans and objectives across the Region.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

You’ll be a talented and highly motivated individual with a proven track record in community fundraising. With a “can do” approach, passion and enthusiasm, you’ll inspire and motivate our supporters. You will work tirelessly to ensure that they receive the best possible experience and see themselves as an integral part of our community. You will be confident in juggling a myriad of competing priorities and work well under pressure to meet deadlines. With exceptional communication skills & the ability to build relationships with a range of stakeholders, you will be creative & agile in your approach in making the most from a fundraising opportunity.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

· Developing & implementing a Regional Community Fundraising Strategy 25/26.

· Achieving agreed regional fundraising KPIs & contributing to the overall delivery of annual fundraising budgets and targets.

· Recruiting, building and maintaining relationships with the Community across the Region.  Aiming to increase their fundraising and encourage their ongoing participation in events and activities. This may be through community fundraising or using our fundraising products or initiatives.

· Recruiting, training and managing a network of regional volunteers who will support activity in the Region.

· Working collaboratively across the wider Charity Team to identify fundraising opportunities & maximise income in the region.

· Keeping our CRM fully up to date with information about our supporters and their activities. Using that data to understand what motivates our supporters in order to provide excellent stewardship.

Corporate partnerships manager

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.

Sense has an exciting opportunity for a Partnerships Manager to join our fantastic engagement team in London. This will be a full time permanent, hybrid position working flexibly between home and our offices in King's Cross London.

The successful candidate will play a key role in growing Sense’s corporate income by securing new high value partnerships and managing a portfolio of existing corporate supporters. The role is responsible for delivering income against agreed targets through effective prospecting, partnership development and excellent stewardship, helping to ensure sustainable funding for Sense’s services.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and manage a strong pipeline of corporate prospects that align with Sense’s priorities, delivering against agreed KPIs and income targets.
• Secure new high value corporate partnerships through proactive prospect research, pitches and applications.
• Lead partnership pitches and proposal development, working collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation.
• Actively manage and grow an existing portfolio of corporate partnerships, increasing income year on year.
• Maintain high renewal rates across the portfolio, minimising partnership drop off through effective stewardship.
• Deliver against new partnership targets, providing regular updates on progress, risks and opportunities.
• Lead due diligence and legal processes related to corporate partnerships in line with organisational policies.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders, volunteers and corporate contacts.

About You

• A proven track record of securing corporate support or new business income against targets.
• Experience of developing and managing a new business pipeline from research through to close.
• Experience of managing and growing an existing portfolio of corporate accounts.
• Previous experience of securing partnerships within a charity or business to business environment.
• Experience of negotiating and influencing to secure positive financial outcomes.
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills.
• Strong written skills with the ability to develop compelling proposals and applications.
• Confident presentation and pitching skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise a varied workload and meet deadlines.
• Good problem-solving skills with a solution focused approach.

About Sense

We believe that every disabled person should have the opportunity to connect with others and be included in the world. We use our knowledge and expertise to deliver personalised, creative and flexible support at every stage of life. Sense is proud to be a disability confident leader.

Working at Sense can be incredibly rewarding; we offer the opportunity to work in a large, diverse and successful charity where people can develop their skills, knowledge and careers in a supportive and flexible environment. In addition, we have excellent training and development, the opportunity for you to join our Group Personal Pension scheme and a generous annual leave entitlement.

To apply

Please use the link below to complete your application. Managers will use your application to shortlist candidates for interview; in relation to the Personal Specification. Therefore, it is very important you complete this section thoroughly.  We would recommend that you read the job description and person specification before applying.

Please note to avoid disappointment, we advise you to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close posts at any time.

No agency submissions please: any submissions without prior authorisation from the Sense Recruitment Team will be treated as our own and as such no fee will be payable.

Sense is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children and adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. Therefore, all offers of employment, where appropriate, are subject to a DBS check; level dependent on the nature of the role.

Job Title: New Business Fundraising Consultant
Location: Home-based
Contract: Part-time or Full-time, for 3 months
Day Rate: £400 per day
Start: early January 2026

Charity People are a recruiting for a well-established national organisation dedicated to making a meaningful impact in our communities, who require a New Business Fundraising Consultant for a period of three months from January 2026. This role requires an experienced fundraising professional to drive new business opportunities and help the charity secure vital income for their work.

This function is relatively new to organisation. Whilst they have an existing pipeline, activity has been limited, and they are looking for someone to drive this forward. The role will focus on building out the new business pipeline, identifying internal opportunities that would appeal to corporate partners, networking, and securing meetings with influential stakeholders across a range of sectors. A new business brochure is in place but requires a refresh. The pipeline run from six figures and beyond.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identify and develop new business fundraising opportunities
• Build and maintain relationships with potential corporate partners and donors
• Create compelling proposals and presentations to secure funding
• Work collaboratively with internal teams to align fundraising strategies with organisational goals
• Monitor progress and report on outcomes to senior leadership

You will bring:

• Proven experience in new business fundraising within the charity sector
• Strong networking and relationship-building skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities
• Knowledge of corporate partnerships and income generation strategies

Ideally you will already be set up with your own business account working on a self-employed basis and responsible for your own taxes, expenses, and leave. There is flexibility in how many days this role is worked per week.

If this opportunity might be of interest and you have capacity to take on some work in the New Year, please apply with your CV in the first instance.

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.

Harris Hill is working with a large national children’s charity to recruit a Fundraiser to support volunteer boards and deliver sustainable, high-value income.

This role will focus on building strong relationships with senior volunteers and supporters, enabling them to use their networks to generate income through events, corporate partnerships, and other high-value opportunities. Working closely with the corporate partnerships team, you will help develop and support fundraising initiatives that deliver long-term impact.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing and stewarding relationships with senior volunteers and board members
• Supporting volunteer-led fundraising projects and events
• Collaborating with corporate partnerships colleagues to maximise business-led fundraising opportunities
• Contributing to income planning, reporting and evaluation
• Ensuring fundraising activity is compliant and supporter-focused

About you:
You will have experience in fundraising, partnerships or relationship management, with strong communication and organisational skills. You’ll be confident working with senior stakeholders and motivated by making a positive difference to children’s lives.

To apply, please submit your CV and a short covering statement outlining your interest in the role and your relevant experience.

For a full job description and details on how to apply, please contact Hannah at Harris Hill on [email protected]

Harris Hill is a certified B Corp™ and a leading charity recruitment agency, committed to equitable and inclusive recruitment practices. Applications from all sections of the community are actively welcomed, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality, or other protected characteristics.

The Community Fundraising Team is an integral part of the Charity Fundraising Portfolio, by supporting a diverse range of inspiring supporter led fundraising activities. It is an exciting time to join the Team, as we plan for 25/26.  

You will be one our 6 Regional Community Fundraisers, based across the UK. Covering London & Central England, you will focus on our key audiences of Individuals, Supporter Groups, Community organisations, Regional Corporates & Volunteers. Through the provision of exceptional stewardship & fundraising support, you will engage the community, maximising opportunities to raise funds in the Region. You will make the most of your boundless energy & creativity to inspire our community and will be the regional driving force, ensuring our Supporter Groups continue to thrive, & our annual Community Fundraising Campaigns including, The Big Bake & Twilight Walk Own Walks are a success. 

You will be passionate about the Role and in supporting the delivery of our strategic plans and objectives across the Region.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

You’ll be a talented and highly motivated individual with a proven track record in community fundraising. With a “can do” approach, passion and enthusiasm, you’ll inspire and motivate our supporters. You will work tirelessly to ensure that they receive the best possible experience and see themselves as an integral part of our community. You will be confident in juggling a myriad of competing priorities and work well under pressure to meet deadlines. With exceptional communication skills & the ability to build relationships with a range of stakeholders, you will be creative & agile in your approach in making the most from a fundraising opportunity.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

· Developing & implementing a Regional Community Fundraising Strategy 25/26.

· Achieving agreed regional fundraising KPIs & contributing to the overall delivery of annual fundraising budgets and targets.

· Recruiting, building and maintaining relationships with the Community across the Region.  Aiming to increase their fundraising and encourage their ongoing participation in events and activities. This may be through community fundraising or using our fundraising products or initiatives.

· Recruiting, training and managing a network of regional volunteers who will support activity in the Region.

· Working collaboratively across the wider Charity Team to identify fundraising opportunities & maximise income in the region.

· Keeping our CRM fully up to date with information about our supporters and their activities. Using that data to understand what motivates our supporters in order to provide excellent stewardship.

This is an opportunity to join the Individual Giving team, which raises money to support the National Theatre from individuals through tiered levels of membership (£84 - £12,000), appeals, one-off donations and legacies.

The Patrons Manager will be responsible for a portfolio of donors and prospects - identifying, soliciting and stewarding annual gifts from £1,000 and above. They will retain and increase support at these levels through a year-round programme of engagement and excellent relationship management.

The successful candidates will have the following:  

• Previous experience in a fundraising capacity, and a proven track record of securing gifts of £1,000 or more from individuals
• Experience building relationships with supporters
• Experience of event administration and organisation
• Confident, articulate and persuasive both in person and in writing, including experience of writing copy
• Experience of line management and/or management of a project team.
• Strong organisational skills, with an ability to manage and prioritise a busy workload, meeting deadlines and with attention to detail

If that sounds like you, then we would love to hear from you!

The closing date for the receipt of a completed application is Thursday 8th January at 12 noon

St Wilfrid’s Centre is one of the most significant expressions of social action in the Catholic Diocese of Hallam — a place of welcome, dignity and hope for adults who are vulnerable, isolated or at risk of homelessness. For over 30 years, the Centre has offered daily support, practical help, community and opportunities for rebuilding confidence and connection.

We are now seeking a values-led Director to lead the Centre into its next chapter of renewal. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to shape a respected diocesan service as it evolves towards a clearer strategic purpose, stronger partnerships, greater sustainability and an impact-led culture.

About the role

The Director will:

• Provide visible, compassionate and strategic leadership.
• Lead service development and cultural change, embedding trauma-informed and inclusive practice.
• Strengthen governance, safeguarding, operational excellence and staff wellbeing.
• Build strong relationships with Sheffield City Council, health partners, universities, VCSEF - voluntary, community, social enterprise and faith organisations and local parishes.
• Oversee the Centre’s transformation into a renewed model (community hub or hybrid model shaped by local needs).
• Support long-term financial sustainability through partnership-building and fundraising.

About you

We are looking for someone who brings:

• Strong senior leadership experience in social care, homelessness, health, community or related sectors.
• A track record of managing teams, leading change and improving outcomes for vulnerable adults.
• Understanding of safeguarding, risk and quality service delivery.
• Strategic insight, emotional intelligence and resilience.
• A commitment to — and sympathy with — Catholic social teaching, coupled with a strong belief in inclusive services for all.

“St Wilfrid’s Centre is a treasured part of our family and a vital support for the most vulnerable in our community. We seek a Director who will lead with integrity, vision and compassion; someone who will strengthen the Centre’s mission and help secure its future for generations to come.”
— Bishop Ralph Heskett, Bishop of Hallam and Chair of Trustees

Home based with regular travel across the UK and Ireland

About us

Our purpose is simple: to save lives at sea. 24 hours a day, every day, RNLI lifesavers are ready to launch to the rescue.

This is an exciting role which has been created specifically to deliver an ambitious legacy events programme. Initially a fixed-term temporary role with scope to continue. Legacy fundraising is undergoing a transformation at the RNLI. Legacies account for over two thirds of the RNLI’s annual income today and will continue to be a vital fundraising stream for many years to come. In this role you’ll be responsible for supporting and delivering a range of regionally based legacy events, engaging with cold audiences across the UK and Ireland, potentially stewarding a limited number of existing high-level pledgers and developing and nurturing relationships with regionally based colleagues.

Some of the benefits

• 26 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Competitive pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Health and dental cash plan

Your role

As a Legacy Engagement Manager in the Legacy Team, you will be focused on:

• Developing and delivering a world-class stewardship programme, with personalised experiences for existing and new high-level pledgers in your area.
• Developing and leading on a programme of tailored events to suit pledgers and prospects at varying stages of their legacy journey.
• Collaborating with regionally based colleagues to deliver legacy training to community teams and develop a legacy volunteer network.
• Working with the wider Legacy team supporting integrated plans to embed our Legacy and In Memory Giving messaging throughout our community networks.

About you

You’ll be comfortable nurturing long-term relationships and exceeding customer expectations. Working collaboratively with colleagues in other disciplines, you’ll create a network of legacy advocates. To be considered for this role you’ll need to have:

• Experience in planning, managing and delivering events and exhibitions.
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of event management principles, event resources and best practice.
• Demonstrable experience in relationship management.
• Excellent skills in communicating in person, on phone/video or in writing to a range of audiences.
• Excellent and effective relationship management with internal stakeholders to ensure that plans are integrated with RNLI activity across multiple departments.
• Ability to work in an organised and structured manner balancing your time appropriately to meet short term and longer-term goals.
• Capability to travel to meet donors and ability to work on your own or collaboratively within a larger team.
• A valid driving licence.

If you have a passion for relationship management and are looking to be part of a successful and growing team with ambitions to grow further, this could be the role for you. Please apply via the button shown.

Closing date: 4 January 2026.

Interview date: w/c 19 January 2026 (via Teams).

The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; protecting a person’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out dependent on the eligibility of the role. (England & Wales; DBS check, Scotland; Disclosure Scotland PVG, Northern Ireland; Access NI, Republic of Ireland; Garda Vetting; International, International Child Protection Certificate process).

Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.

Are you an exceptional fundraiser who excels at cultivating high-value relationships and securing transformational gifts? Do you enjoy working with senior volunteers and philanthropists who are deeply committed to changing children’s lives?

Step into a pivotal role within one of the UK’s leading philanthropy teams as you lead our flagship Tick Tock Club appeal — inspiring major donors and volunteers to drive extraordinary impact for seriously ill children.

Salary

The salary for this position is £52,526 per annum and we operate a hybrid working policy of a minimum of 2 days per week in the office. 

In line with our EDI strategy and Total Reward policy, we calculate our salaries based on benchmarking data across the charity sector. To ensure fairness for existing staff and new joiners, we do not offer salaries above the advertised rate.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver a personal fundraising target of £1.5m+, securing six- and seven-figure gifts and multi-year commitments from high-net-worth individuals and charitable trusts.
• Lead the £20m Tick Tock Club appeal, shaping strategy and driving one of GOSH Charity’s flagship philanthropic initiatives.
• Recruit, inspire and collaborate with senior volunteers, campaign boards and influential supporters to accelerate high-value fundraising.
• Manage a portfolio of donors and prospects, using insight-led approaches to build long-term engagement and maximise impact.
• Oversee campaign events, communications and tailored proposals, ensuring activity aligns with income targets and delivers an exceptional supporter experience.
• Provide motivating line management to a small team, fostering professional development, wellbeing and high performance.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• A strong track record of securing six- and seven-figure philanthropic gifts.
• Experience partnering with senior volunteers and campaign boards on major fundraising initiatives.
• Strategic leadership skills with the ability to galvanise a team around ambitious goals.
• Exceptional relationship-building, influencing and presentation abilities.
• A creative, solutions-focused mindset with resilience under pressure.

Please refer to the full job description below for more information.

About the team
 

You’ll join our sector-leading Philanthropy team — recognised as one of the most high-performing and respected in the charity sector. We partner with some of the most generous and committed philanthropists in the UK and beyond to transform the lives of seriously ill children.

Our talented and supportive team of 20+ works closely with colleagues across fundraising, clinical, and research teams to create inspiring, high-impact opportunities for supporters. In partnership with senior volunteers and committees, we drive landmark campaigns including the £300 million Build It. Beat It. appeal and the Tick Tock Club, with exciting plans for a major new research-focused campaign on the horizon.

About the Role

2026 marks 100 years since Gunnersbury Park was opened as a public park, and Gunnersbury Museum and Park Development Trust are looking to hire a freelance development manager to help us make the most of our centenary year. 

We are looking for an experienced development professional to join our team on a freelance basis as part of an Arts Council funded project. This role will be a real opportunity to become embedded in an organisation at the beginning of a transformative period, as we focus our energies on raising awareness of the great work of GMPDT.

The successful candidate will lead GMPDT towards increased financial resilience by identifying new funding opportunities and managing the development of a new fundraising campaign.

They will work with staff and volunteers to develop a ‘project bank’ of fundable projects across the Museum and Park and identify appropriate funding streams for each.

They will also identify one key project to launch Gunnersbury’s first fundraising campaign, working with freelancers/subcontractors to create supporting materials for the chosen campaign.

About You

Experience

• Experience of fundraising and donor engagement in museum/heritage sector and/or environmental sector
• Proven ability to create and deliver successful fundraising campaigns
• Experience of writing compelling cause messaging, or managing the delivery of cause messaging
• Experience of working with small organisations
• Experienced in CRM databases including Beacon
• Confident in managing projects to tight deadlines
• Extensive knowledge of grant writing and reporting
• Experience in writing and producing impact reports

Skills:

• Self-starter with the confidence to work alone as well as within a small, busy team
• Excellent communication skills to reach a wide range of audiences
• A strong leader and trainer of others
• Comfortable working with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders
• Creative thinker with new ideas for donor engagement and fundraising campaigns.
• Attention to de reporting requirements and compliance for successful grants.

Key Responsibilities

• Audit the existing fundraising/development functions of the organisation, and identify any gaps or missed opportunities
• Working with the Project Board hold workshops with staff and volunteers to develop a ‘project bank’ of fundable ideas, which will include detail of the ideas, potential funding sources and timeline for completion
• Develop new cause messaging, and help to foster a culture of identifying key stories to share with our audiences
• Work with the project team to identify a single project to anchor a new fundraising campaign
• Develop a suite of digital and print content to support the fundraising campaign, and train existing team on the best way to deliver messaging around the campaign
• Report regularly to the project board on the progress of the work stream, and identify any project delivery risks

The Church of England’s Net Zero Carbon (NZC) programme has been established to help the Church deliver its commitment to reaching its NZC goals. It aims to equip, resource and support all parts of the Church to reduce carbon emissions from the energy used in its buildings, schools and through work-related transport.

All parts of the Church will need to raise funds to implement this Net Zero plan. To this end, the Dioceses of Bath and Wells, Bristol, Exeter, Salisbury and Truro are collaborating on the shared ambition to achieve NZC across our dioceses and are looking to appoint a fixed term Fundraising Officer to work across the region to identify funding opportunities and secure funding towards delivering net carbon zero projects.

This is a new role and, as such, offers an excellent opportunity for the successful candidate to make their mark. You will develop and maintain relationships with a range of potential funders and internal and external stakeholders across the region. You’ll need drive, initiative, resilience and the ability to shape an approach to NZC fundraising across the region. Above all, you’ll need to be an excellent communicator and relationship builder with a proven ability to adapt your approach as appropriate, be this creating links with the national NZC Team, influencing and securing funding from grant-making bodies, or delivering training and advice on securing funding locally. Given the scope and nature of the role you’ll also need to be highly organised, flexible and sympathetic to the ethos of the Church of England.

We recognise that this is a specialised role, and training and support will be available for the post-holder both locally and from the national Church of England NZ Fundraising team. The role is hybrid and involves regular travel across the region. The role will be employed by the Diocese of Bath and Wells so a regular presence at the Diocesan Offices in Wells will be required.