156 Gifts jobs

Smile Train is the world’s largest cleft-focused organisation, supporting life-changing surgery and comprehensive cleft care for children and adults globally. Through its unique local model, Smile Train has supported more than 2 million surgeries and works with medical partners across 75+ countries to deliver sustainable, high-quality care.

The UK plays a vital role within this global organisation, contributing significant income, insight and strategic input. The UK programme is performing strongly, with income expected to reach c.£14–15m this year, underpinned by a successful individual giving and legacy programme.

Smile Train is now entering its next phase of growth in the UK, with a clear opportunity to build and strengthen high-value income, particularly across major donors and mid-value giving. 

Reporting to and working closely with the Director of UK Fundraising, you will manage a portfolio of donors and prospects, with significant opportunity to deepen relationships and grow supporters into higher-value philanthropy over time. This will be a hands-on, relationship-led role focused on building meaningful engagement and delivering long-term income growth.

This role offers an ambitious, skilled relationship developer the opportunity to build and grow Smile Train UK's major donor programme as part of its new five-year strategy, with strong organisational investment in philanthropy.

Working closely with a highly experienced and collaborative Director of UK Fundraising and broader fundraising team, you will contribute to developing ways of working, testing engagement strategies, tailoring the compelling case for support and working closely with colleagues in the UK and globally.

As Philanthropy Manager, you will:

• Manage and develop a portfolio of c.120–150 donors and prospects, primarily giving at mid-value level (up to c.£5k) with significant headroom for growth
• Build strong, long-term relationships with supporters through tailored cultivation, solicitation and stewardship
• Identify and engage new prospects, developing a sustainable pipeline of future high-value donors
• Develop and deliver individual engagement plans to retain and upgrade donors over time
• Prepare high-quality proposals, reports and communications to support donor engagement
• Support the development of Smile Train’s high-value case for support and fundraising approach in the UK
• Work closely with the Director of UK Fundraising and global colleagues to align activity and maximise opportunities
• Contribute to events, donor visits and wider engagement activity
• Maintain accurate records and support effective pipeline and performance management

Essential skills and experience:

• Experience of relationship fundraising, with exposure to major donors or mid-value giving. Other relationship-driven fundraising experience will be considered, for instance with trusts and foundations or corporate partnerships, where you can evidence income generation via relationship-building with HNWIs or purse-string holders.
• A track record of generating substantial income and securing 5-figure or higher gifts
• Confidence in managing a portfolio and delivering personalised donor engagement
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop compelling proposals
• A proactive, organised and hands-on approach, with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• The ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team

Desirable:

• Experience of working within a developing or growing high-value fundraising programme
• Exposure to international development, global health or a similarly mission-led environment
• Knowledge and use of Salesforce CRM
• Experience working within a global or matrix organisation

Smile Train UK offer an excellent employee benefits package, which includes:

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Private Medical Insurance
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Up to 7 days paid sick leave per year
• “Sunshine Fridays” early Friday finish across summer months

Join the RHN Fundraising Team and help make a profound difference to the lives of people living with neuro-disability!

We’re looking for an experienced Trusts & Major Gifts Manager to lead and grow a key area of fundraising at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability. This is an exciting opportunity to shape our trusts and foundations and major gifts programme, build strong relationships with funders and supporters, and secure significant income to enhance the lives of our patients and their families.

With a 170-year legacy of philanthropy and an ambitious fundraising programme, you’ll play a pivotal role in helping the RHN continue to deliver services and activities.

Please note this a part-time role working 4 days a week.

Job title: Trusts and Major Gifts Manager

Department: Fundraising

Contract: Permanent, part time (4 days per week)

Salary: £47,380 per annum pro rata (£37,904 actual salary for the 4 days a week)

Location: Putney, South West London with 1 day per week working from home

Key responsibilities

• Lead income generation, driving the team to achieve an annual target of £1.25m+ and developing a strong, sustainable pipeline of trusts, foundations, statutory and lottery funding.

• Manage and develop the team, setting targets and KPIs, allocating opportunities effectively, and providing coaching, support and constructive feedback.

• Build and nurture funder relationships, identifying new prospects, developing tailored stewardship plans, and representing the RHN through meetings, visits and presentations.

• Develop compelling funding applications, working across the organisation to demonstrate impact, understand funding needs and secure multi-year and transformational grants.

• Stay ahead of the funding landscape, monitoring trends and emerging opportunities and advising on potential new sources of income.

• Oversee effective fundraising management, including budgets, reporting, CRM records, application deadlines and performance against targets.

Person specification: Essential (E) and Desirable (D)

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent) (E)

• Fundraising qualification (D)

• Working knowledge of fundraising best practice; at least 2 years’ experience of grant fundraising; proven record of securing gifts of 5/6 figures and multi-year opportunities (E)

• At least 2 years’ experience in a team management role (E)

• Experience of Raiser’s Edge (or similar fundraising database) as a tool in supporter relationship management and proficiency in Microsoft Office. Appropriate training can be provided. (E)

• Experience of using research techniques to acquire information about existing and prospective funders (E)

• Excellent prospect research and profile creation. (E)

• Excellent interpersonal skills – strong influencing, relationship building and networking skills to develop and nurture donor relationships.  Ability to quickly establish rapport with a diverse range of people. (E)

• Ability to conceive and develop complex proposals (E)

• A flexible approach to work as this role will require some outside of normal office hours working. (E)

• Comfortable working in a hospital setting where interaction with patients, staff, and families is common place (E)

Why the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability is a great place to work:

• Generous Annual Leave entitlement

• Free counselling and therapy sessions and other mental wellbeing support through our partner CIC Wellbeing 

• Get involved in our free on-site wellbeing programs, including weekly yoga, and monthly pottery club (we are the UK’s only hospital with its own kiln)!

• Draw down a percentage of your monthly wages a few weeks early to help with unexpected costs.

• Financial support services such as low-interest loans and help with savings accounts through our partnership with London Capital Credit Union.

• Join our wellbeing networks to connect with people in our hospital; we have a Pride network, Women’s network, and our Race Equality network. We also have heritage events to celebrate the diversity of our workforce – most recently we had a South East Asian celebration.

• Free on-site parking (rare in London!)

• More benefits: Cycle2Work scheme, tech purchase support scheme, Blue Light Card discounts, and more

For more details and a full Job Description, please click the apply now button to be re-directed to our careers page.

Who we are

Nature is in crisis. People are destroying and consuming the natural world at a devastating rate, threatening the ecosystems on which all life depends. Birds are our early warning system, revealing the health of our planet and helping us understand the urgent action needed to protect it.

BirdLife International is the world’s largest partnership for nature conservation, bringing together 125 national organisations across six continents to protect birds, biodiversity and the natural systems that sustain life. Through our unique local-to-global approach, we work at the intersection of science, policy and community action to tackle the global nature and climate crises.

Using world-leading bird science, we collect and analyse data from across continents, landscapes and seascapes to identify the most effective and innovative conservation solutions. Our work conserves species, safeguards critical habitats and empowers communities to create lasting change for nature and people.

At the heart of BirdLife is a powerful global movement. More than two million birders, scientists and local volunteers help track, study and protect birdlife around the world, generating the knowledge and action needed to drive conservation impact at scale. Together, we are giving nature a voice and building a future in which birds, wildlife and people can thrive.

BirdLife International’s Development Team is in an exciting new phase of recruitment and growth and will be hiring for a number of roles to support growth and sustainability across the organisation – including this newly created role.

About the role

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer and working with colleagues worldwide, the Head of Major Gifts will lead the organisation’s major gifts programme, taking responsibility for both strategic development and frontline fundraising. The Head of Major Gifts will build pipeline, create new opportunities, strengthen fundraising discipline and embed a proactive new-business culture across the major gifts function. Seeking to grow and develop this area, the Head of Major Gifts will play both an operational and strategic role – personally winning and managing relationships at the £250k+ level, as well as developing the team and the strategy. It will also have the opportunity to partner with the Chief Development Officer on principal gifts at the £1m+ level.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a major and principal gifts strategy to grow high-value individual giving across the UK, US and other global markets, in partnership with the CDO.
• Lead, coach and develop the Major Gifts team of 3, providing direct, hands-on role-modelling in cultivation and solicitation.
• Represent Major Gifts on the Development Management Team to steward the Development programme at BirdLife and collectively lead transformational change, especially the shared delivery of the Development strategy.
• Represent Major Gifts on the Principal Gifts Working Group.
• Identify opportunities to grow BirdLife’s donor base in key regions, particularly in the U.S. and Europe.
• Personally develop and manage a portfolio of £250k–£1m+ donors and prospects and provide direct, hands-on support to the CDO on principal-level (£1m+) relationships and proposals.
• Ensure each team member undertakes new business activity to build a robust pipeline within designated markets and giving levels, feeding future portfolio growth for the team.
• Set and monitor major gifts income targets and performance goals; track progress and pipeline health and provide regular reports to leadership on revenue generation and donor engagement and take corrective actions as needed.
• Manage the Major Gifts team budget, recruitment and resource allocation.

Who we are looking for

This role would suit a seasoned major gifts leader, ideally with experience in the conservation and/or international NGO space. We are looking for someone who enjoys being both hands-on and strategic, with experience securing and managing transformative (£250k+) gifts – and coaching others to maximise their own portfolios. A new-business mindset is crucial, as this role will continue BirdLife International’s major-giving growth trajectory.

• Experience personally raising six- and seven-figure gifts from individuals.
• Experience of successfully developing and delivering a major gifts/principal gifts strategy.
• Experience coaching or line-managing fundraisers to develop their own donor relationships.
• Experience working in an international, complex, not-for-profit environment.
• Experience managing a small major gifts team, including budgetary responsibility.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and with external stakeholders using a partnerships approach.

Location: Remote, UK, with travel to the David Attenborough Building in Cambridge
Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 5th October

Salary: £50,000 - £55,000
Contract: Permanent, Full Time
Location: London - Hybrid
Closing date: Friday 11^th September
Benefits: 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays (rising to 29 days with service), additional Wellbeing Day, generous pension contribution of up to 16%, health cash plan, life assurance, employee assistance programme, employee discount scheme and interest-free season ticket loan.

Principal Gift Manager
Are you a successful philanthropic fundraiser with experience securing six and seven-figure gifts? This is an exciting opportunity to join a leading animal welfare charity and play a pivotal role in delivering transformational income that will help shape the future of one of the UK's best-loved charities.

As Principal Gift Manager, you will manage a portfolio of ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, developing meaningful long-term relationships that result in significant multi-year philanthropic commitments. Working closely with senior leaders, trustees and ambassadors, you will create bespoke cultivation and stewardship plans, build compelling cases for support and help drive the growth of the principal gifts programme.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced major donor fundraiser who enjoys building high-value relationships, influencing senior stakeholders and delivering exceptional donor experiences that lead to transformational impact.

To be successful as the Principal Gift Manager you will need:

• A proven track record of securing six and seven-figure gifts from high-net-worth individuals.
• Significant experience managing a major gifts or principal gifts portfolio and delivering against ambitious income targets.
• Experience leading complex donor relationships through cultivation, solicitation and stewardship cycles.
• Strong relationship-building and influencing skills, with the credibility to engage effectively with senior stakeholders, trustees and donors.

If you would like to discuss this role with us, please contact us and quote the reference 3090EI.

Ashby Jenkins Recruitment are a specialist charity recruitment agency. We use our extensive sector knowledge and experience to match candidates to the most suitable charity jobs.

We are passionate about improving equality across the sector and are committed to encouraging applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

We take a relationship-led approach to recruitment in the charity sector and partner with you throughout the recruitment process.
If enough applications are received, the charity reserves the right to close the application period sooner.
 

Senior Principal Gifts Manager – The British Museum – Location: London – Salary: £54,000

Help shape one of the most ambitious cultural transformation projects of our generation.

The British Museum is embarking on a landmark £1.3 billion Masterplan, reimagining one of the world's most iconic cultural institutions for the 21st century while preserving its unique role as a museum for everyone. To support this vision, we are launching a major philanthropic campaign with a target of raising £500 million+.

We are seeking an exceptional Senior Principal Gifts Manager to secure transformational philanthropic support from leading UK and international donors. Working closely with senior leadership, trustees and campaign volunteers, you will develop and manage relationships with principal-level philanthropists, guiding complex donor journeys and securing significant multi-year gifts.

Key Responsibilities

▪ Manage a portfolio of principal gift prospects and donors.

▪ Develop and deliver strategies to secure transformational philanthropic commitments.

▪ Lead peer-to-peer fundraising activity with senior stakeholders and volunteers.

▪ Establish and manage the Masterplan Campaign Board.

▪ Coordinate complex fundraising projects across the Museum and wider stakeholder network.

▪ Build compelling cases for support aligned to the Museum's strategic priorities.

About You

You will be an accomplished fundraising professional with a proven track record of securing major gifts, ideally within the arts, culture, heritage, charity or higher education sectors. You will combine exceptional relationship-building and influencing skills with strong project management expertise, strategic thinking and the confidence to engage high-profile donors and senior stakeholders.

Why Join Us?

This is a rare opportunity to play a leading role in one of the most significant fundraising campaigns in the cultural sector, helping secure the future of a world-renowned institution that cares for over eight million objects spanning human history.

For an informal and confidential discussion, please speak with our advisors at Berwick Partners:

William Pringle

Partner, Head of Charity, Arts, Culture & Heritage Practice

Berwick Partners

+44 (0) 207 518 2635 / +44 (0) 7515 919 648

Closing date for applications: Thursday 15th October 2026

The Urology Foundation is looking for a Trusts and Foundation Manager, to develop and grow income from charitable trusts, foundations, grant giving bodies and public funders. This will include identifying opportunities, developing persuasive cases for support, cultivating meaningful relationships and securing significant grants including multi-year grants for both core work and project-based activities. TUF has a well-established and growing Trusts and Foundations portfolio. It is an important fundraising stream, raising between £600,000 to £1,000,000 annually supporting the delivery of The Urology Foundation’s strategy.

As Trusts and Foundations Manager, you will build and manage a grant giving programme, securing significant gifts from trusts, foundations and other grant-making bodies to support The Urology Foundation’s strategic objectives and £5 million Research Appeal. You will manage existing funder relationships and develop new opportunities while delivering excellent stewardship. A central aspect of this role will involve gathering knowledge and data from a range of sources to identify compelling funding packages in order to create strong cases for support and funding applications. Therefore, an entrepreneurial, pro-active attitude, strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach are essential.

The role will suit an experienced fundraiser with a proven track record in growing grant income, successfully managing and delivering grant fundraising programmes and securing five and six figure gifts. A self-starter with an interest in research and / or urology, the ideal candidate will use initiative and work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation and stakeholders to secure income and support the delivery of TUF’s work.

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
 

Are you an exceptional philanthropy leader with a track record of securing transformational seven-figure gifts? Do you combine outstanding relationship-building with the ability to lead talented fundraising teams and turn ambitious strategy into results?

We’re creating two new Principal Philanthropy Lead roles at GOSH Charity: Principal Philanthropy Lead – Best Chance and Principal Philanthropy Lead – Best Childhood.

These pivotal new positions will strengthen the leadership of our growing Philanthropy programme as we enter an exciting new chapter for fundraising at GOSH Charity. 

As a Principal Philanthropy Lead, you’ll join the Philanthropy leadership team, lead a team of eight colleagues including three Senior Managers, personally secure significant philanthropic investment and act as a deputy to the Head of Philanthropy.

Principal Philanthropy Lead – Best Chance will lead philanthropy across pioneering medical research, innovation and new treatments, as well as our growing US Giving programme. The role will help shape our next major fundraising campaign, significantly increasing our ambition for philanthropic investment in research and innovation. It will also offer senior leadership for Fundraising Research, our prospecting, insight and due diligence service across Relationship Fundraising.

Principal Philanthropy Lead – Best Childhood will lead philanthropy across our hospital environment, capital infrastructure and patient and family experience, including senior leadership of the final phase of our £300m Build It. Beat It. appeal and the transition towards our next major campaign. The role will also offer senior leadership for Stewardship across Relationship Fundraising, supporting exceptional supporter experiences, impact reporting, recognition and engagement.

Salary

The salary for these positions is £71,831 per annum.

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.

We operate a hybrid working policy of a minimum of 2 days per week in the office with Monday as the fixed in-person Philanthropy team day.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead philanthropy fundraising across Best Chance or Best Childhood, shaping strategy and securing transformational support for GOSH Charity’s most ambitious priorities.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team of eight colleagues, including three Senior Managers, fostering collaboration, ambition and exceptional performance.
• Personally deliver an annual fundraising target of £2m+, managing high-value relationships and securing significant gifts from philanthropists, trusts and foundations.
• Act as a deputy to the Head of Philanthropy, contributing to overall philanthropy strategy, business planning and performance, while building influential relationships with senior volunteers and stakeholders.
• Provide senior leadership for key strategic priorities: 

For Best Chance: the transition to our next major campaign, US Giving and Fundraising Research across Relationship Fundraising; 

For Best Childhood: the final phase of Build It. Beat It., transition to next campaign and Stewardship across Relationship Fundraising.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Significant experience leading philanthropy, major gifts or principal gifts fundraising, with a proven track record of income growth and securing seven-figure+ gifts.
• Exceptional relationship-building and influencing skills, with experience engaging philanthropists, high-net-worth individuals, trusts and foundations, senior volunteers and executive stakeholders.
• Strong strategic and people leadership, with experience developing high-performing teams and translating organisational priorities into ambitious fundraising plans.
• Experience managing and soliciting a portfolio of high-value donors and prospects, alongside strong judgement, resilience and the ability to lead through complexity and change.
• Relevant large-scale fundraising experience: for Best Chance, research fundraising, international philanthropy or similar programmes; for Best Childhood, capital or major fundraising appeals.

About the team

 You’ll join our ambitious Philanthropy team, working with high-net-worth individuals, charitable foundations and other influential supporters to secure transformational investment in the research, innovation, capital and patient experience projects at the heart of GOSH Charity’s work.

The team secures a significant number of £1m+ gifts and is at the forefront of delivering some of the Charity’s most ambitious fundraising priorities. 

This is a particularly exciting time to join us. Alongside completing the £300m Build It. Beat It. appeal to help deliver the world-leading Children’s Cancer Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital, we are shaping the next chapter of philanthropy fundraising.

Our new strategy is centred around two pillars – Best Chance and Best Childhood – which will form the foundation of an exciting new fundraising appeal. Our Philanthropy team will play a central role in bringing this ambition to life and securing the transformational support that helps give every seriously ill child the best chance, and the best childhood, possible.

The creation of these two Principal Philanthropy Lead roles represents an important investment in the team’s future: increasing our leadership capacity, strengthening day-to-day leadership and creating clearer development and succession pathways as our programme grows.

DBS - note a basic DBS check is required for this role

How to Apply

Please click on the apply button in the top right-hand corner where you will be taken to a short application form to complete.

Closing date: 23 September 2026

First interviews will be held: Tues 6 / Wed 7 October 

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and we reserve the right to close the roles prior to the closing date should suitable applicants be found. Therefore, you are encouraged to apply early to avoid disappointment.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Legacy Administration Officer to join our Legacy Administration Team at Diabetes UK.

You will be playing a crucial role in securing long-term, sustainable income that is critical in achieving Diabetes UK’s strategic goals, including funding research, tackling stigma and supporting people to live well with diabetes. Legacies are thoughtful gifts which help us to make a significant difference to the lives of those living with diabetes across the UK, and continue our fight towards a future where diabetes can do no harm.

This Legacy Officer role offers the chance to develop your own skills and capabilities within legacy administration whilst promoting the Diabetes UK values and positive culture at all times. There is the opportunity to manage your own case load of pecuniary gifts depending on expertise and enthusiasm to learn.

Do you want to be part of a dynamic and innovative fundraising team? Do you want to raise money for some of society’s most pressing challenges and play a key role in an ambitious fundraising and volunteering campaign?

We are looking to recruit a Philanthropy Officer to join us at this very exciting time. The Philanthropy Officer will be responsible for the relationship management of a portfolio of around 100 prospective donors in order to raise funds for a range of key projects. They will be responsible for the entire prospect relationship management process including researching, cultivating, asking and stewarding. 

This role will play an integral part in supporting donations to improve student experience and across key areas of research.

As part of an award-winning team and led by some of the most respected names in higher education fundraising, you’ll get the chance to work across the team and wider university to encourage new donors to make long-term, sustainable and significant £10k plus gifts. You will also have the opportunity to work with our senior team on proposals to top donors enabling you to get experience of working with some of the most successful and experienced major gift fundraisers in the UK Higher Education sector. 

You will be provided with a robust induction and an ongoing training program that will include support from the University as well as expert external providers.

As a Philanthropy Officer you will have responsibility for managing a portfolio of current and prospective donors. You will have the confidence to ask for donations, be a strong communicator, and be passionate about making a difference to some of the biggest challenges the world faces.

The Philanthropy Officer will take ownership of the end-to-end relationship management process of a prospect, from initial research to stewardship activity:

1. Personally manage a portfolio of circa 100 of the University’s (4- and 5-figure) donors and prospective donors, maintaining close relationships with each prospect and integrating them with the University whenever possible to bring the prospective donors to the point where you can ask for philanthropic support.

2. Secure over £100,000 of donation pledges in the first year and develop a sustainable pipeline of prospects and philanthropic income.

3. Demonstrate an understanding that successful fundraising is based on building effective relationships, which match a prospective donor’s philanthropic interest with an area of strength and/or opportunity at the University. Be responsible for the end-to-end relationship management process of your contacts including:

· Identifying new prospective donors from your networks.

· Making the approach and managing a cultivation process, tailored to your prospect.

· Understanding the University’s campaign priorities and bringing them to life for individual supporters. through various communication channels.

· Asking confidently, passionately and effectively for key priorities.

· Building long-term relationships that are centred on the donor, including maximising volunteering opportunities where appropriate.

· Stewarding the donor once a gift is made, ensuring the individual remains connected to the University, the project, and the impact which they have made.

4. Responsible for adhering to relevant fundraising regulation and GDPR whilst ensuring fundraising processes are ethical and that due diligence is undertaken as necessary.

5. Deliver against set targets including money raised, asks made, meetings secured and gift close rate.

6. Communicate effectively with prospects, donors, volunteers, alumni, academics, researchers and businesses using a wide range of communication skills.

7. Communicate effectively with prospects and donors by phone, email, LinkedIn, letter and face-to-face.

8. Work internally with academics to showcase projects to potential donors and work with colleagues across the university to bring gifts to fruition.

9. Work closely with the Volunteering, Events, Campaign Management, Donor Experience, Regular Giving and Legacy Teams to maximise opportunities for collaboration with prospective donors.

10. Working in partnership with other fundraisers and members of DARO including sharing best practice and ensuring prospect development by playing in senior stakeholders at the right time.

11. Use Blackbaud CRM to record meetings and proposals effectively to allow accurate performance monitoring and reporting.

12. Take ownership of all processes and communications in relation to your prospects to include writing proposals, first approach communication, thank you letters and gift paperwork as appropriate.

13. Work with the Philanthropic Finance Team to ensure pledges are fulfilled and donations are correctly managed.

14. Being familiar with methods of tax efficient giving in the UK.

15. Seeking out opportunities for professional development.

16.  Fosters a fair and equitable workplace for all staff.

17.  Supports the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.

18.  Any other duties commensurate with the grade.

Sightsavers is looking for an experienced and strategic Head of Major Donor Fundraising to lead the next phase of growth for our high value individual giving programme. This role can be worked full time or part time, with a minimum of four days per week, and is UK based with regular travel to our Haywards Heath office.

As part of the Fundraising and Marketing directorate, you will develop and deliver a long-term major donor strategy, lead a specialist team and personally manage a focused portfolio of high value donors and prospects. The role will focus on supporters giving £10,000 or more per year, while also strengthening nurture and loyalty programmes that help build a sustainable future pipeline of philanthropic support.

Working closely with colleagues across fundraising, technical leadership, programme delivery, finance, planning and senior leadership, you will identify compelling funding opportunities and help build strong cases for support. You will also represent Sightsavers externally with donors, prospects, philanthropy advisers, wealth advisers and sector networks.

We would like to hear from confident and collaborative senior fundraisers with experience of leading or managing a high value fundraising programme. You will bring a strong track record of securing, cultivating and stewarding significant gifts, including six-figure prospects, alongside the ability to use data and insight to manage pipelines, forecast income and support decision-making. You will also bring the relationship-building skills to work effectively with trustees, senior leaders, high net worth individuals and external advisers.

Application and interview process
To apply, please complete an application through our recruitment portal by uploading an up-to-date CV and answering the job-specific questions. We are particularly interested in understanding your motivation for applying. We anticipate a two-stage interview process, with first interviews from w/c 12 October and second-round interviews expected w/c 19 or 26 October 2026. The process will include a role-specific presentation task at first interview stage, and one interview will be held in person at our Haywards Heath office. We would like the successful candidate to start by the end of January 2027.

Sightsavers is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences and are committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

PWSA UK is looking for a relationship-focused fundraiser to grow income from major donors, corporates, trusts and foundations, including pharmaceutical companies. This new role will help build lasting supporter relationships and secure significant gifts that make a meaningful difference for people with Prader-Willi syndrome and their families.

About the role

This is a new role and you will identify, cultivate, solicit and steward prospective and existing supporters, developing tailored communications, proposals and engagement opportunities that connect donors’ interests with PWSA UK’s mission. Working with colleagues, trustees and volunteers, you will manage relationships, support donor meetings and events, and maintain accurate donor records and pipeline information.

• Build and manage a portfolio of prospective and existing major donors.

• Research and identify new supporters and relationship opportunities.

• Develop persuasive proposals, cases for support and donor communications.

• Support cultivation, stewardship, meetings, visits and events.

• Keep accurate records, forecasts and pipeline reports.

About you

You will be an excellent communicator, careful researcher and organised relationship manager, with experience in major giving, corporate fundraising, or trusts and foundations. You will be confident working with donors and senior stakeholders, handle sensitive information with discretion, and share PWSA UK’s commitment to supporting people with Prader-Willi syndrome.

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to shape a new fundraising role within a specialist charity and help grow high-value support for PWSA UK’s work. 

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.