Head of fundraising jobs in Bristol
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What we do is extraordinary.
And we need a Head of Fundraising who understands all of that.
Let’s start with the obvious.
You’ll need a sense of humour for this job.
Because we work with animals and children — and both have a habit of humbling you, daily.
HorseWorld Trust rescues abused and neglected horses and gives them a second chance at a meaningful life. Some of those horses go on to support vulnerable children and young people — including those with SEMH needs, SEND and children in care — through our Discovery – Discover Horses, Discover Yourself™ programme.
What we do is extraordinary.
It is also muddy, unpredictable, emotional, joyful, heartbreaking, funny and deeply human.
About HorseWorld (the real version)
Horses are incredible animals. They’ve carried humans into war; it’s no wonder they can read exactly what a child needs, often before the child knows it themselves.
Sadly, some people still abuse and neglect them. That’s where the HorseWorld hug comes in. With us, horses are safe. They live out all year round, form herds, roll in the mud, escape occasionally (because… horses), and get to live like horses again.
Our 160-acre farm is minutes from Bristol and Bath, but feels like a different world. In winter, photoshoots and tours involve waterproofs and wellies. In summer, it’s an outdoor oasis.
We do serious work — and we also believe in joy:
· Horse Festivals
· Carol services
· Massive corporates on their knees pulling ragwort
We are kind, committed, slightly irreverent, and very proud of what we do.
Why this role exists (the honest bit)
We raise around £1.5m a year against operating costs of around £2.5m.
Fundraising needs to grow — but more importantly, it needs to work better.
This role exists to:
- grow sustainable, controllable income
- improve return on investment (ROI)
- focus on what actually delivers impact
- stop doing things that don’t (even if they’re well-loved)
You won’t be expected to perform miracles.
You will be expected to bring clarity, judgement and leadership — with empathy and humour intact.
The role (what you’ll actually do)
As Head of Fundraising & Communications, you will:
- Sit on the Senior Management Team and report to the CEO
- Lead all fundraising and marketing comms activity
- Take responsibility for income and cost-effectiveness
- Shape strategy, set priorities and make evidence-based decisions
- Personally steward a small number of key major donors and partners
You’ll lead a talented team covering:
· Individual Giving
· Major Donors & Philanthropy
· Corporate Partnerships
· Trusts & Grants
· Digital Content
- Data, CRM & Compliance
You’ll also work closely with our Heads of Equine Welfare and Discovery to fundraise for our work with vulnerable horses & children.
Who this role is for
You’ll probably thrive here if you:
· Are an experienced charity fundraiser who’s seen how things really work
· Understand that “more activity” is not the same as “more impact”
· Care about ROI and relationships
· Can make tough decisions without losing kindness
· Are both proactive and adaptable
· A great communicator and relationship builder
· Are comfortable talking to Trustees one minute and standing in a muddy field the next
· Can laugh when a horse wanders into a carefully planned moment (because it will)
You don’t need to be an equine expert — but you do need to like animals, people, and the beautiful messiness of both.
What we offer
· A genuinely senior SMT role with real authority and Board backing
· Space to think, not just react
· A values-led organisation that tells the truth
· A team that works hard, laughs often and cares deeply
- Horses who will keep you grounded (sometimes literally)
Final thought
This is not a polished, corporate fundraising role.
It is a meaningful one — rooted in rescue, recovery, growth and second chances.
If you want to lead fundraising in a place where the work matters, the people are lovely, the horses are honest, and humour is not optional — we’d love to hear from you.
Key Details
Salary: £50,000 per annum depending on experience plus benefits
Hours: 35 per week (Mon–Fri, some weekends)
Location: HorseWorld Trust, Bristol
Reports to: CEO
DBS required
Application Details
To apply for this role please complete the application form (available to download from our website or contact us to request the form).
This role is subject to a DBS check, and you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK. We are a Safer Recruitment organisation and this is mandatory.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end-of-life charity. We are the largest non-NHS provider of end-of-life care in the UK, the only provider across all 4 nations, delivering community nursing and hospice care across the country, while providing information and support on all aspects of dying, death, and bereavement. Our leading research pushes the boundaries of what we know about good end-of-life, and our campaigns fight for a world where everyone gets to have the best possible quality of life while living with an illness, they’re likely to die from.
Job DescriptionAs Deputy Head of Fundraising, you’ll play a key leadership role in delivering our regional fundraising plans and contributing to Marie Curie’s wider UK fundraising strategy. Working closely with the Head(s) of Fundraising, you’ll help translate strategy into action driving income growth, strengthening supporter relationships, and leading high-performing, geographically dispersed teams.
This is a varied and influential role that blends strategic thinking with hands-on delivery. You’ll work collaboratively across fundraising disciplines and with colleagues in marketing, communications, policy and caring services to ensure activity is joined-up, audience-focused and impactful.
In this role, you will:
- Work alongside the Head(s) of Fundraising (Region) to deliver integrated regional fundraising plans aligned to Marie Curie’s UK fundraising strategy
- Drive income growth by identifying, developing and maximising fundraising opportunities across multiple disciplines
- Lead and support geographically dispersed teams to deliver against agreed plans, targets and priorities
- Monitor income performance, budgets and KPIs, taking action to optimise opportunities and mitigate risk
- Champion an audience-focused, place-based approach to fundraising, ensuring activity is joined-up and supporter-led
- Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders across fundraising, marketing, communications, policy and caring services
- Strengthen supporter stewardship and ensure high standards of supporter care across the region
- Act as a visible ambassador for Marie Curie, representing fundraising internally and externally with supporters, partners and stakeholders
- Support talent development, coaching and succession planning within the fundraising team
- Ensure effective fundraising operations, compliance, governance and use of data and systems
Skills Needed
- Proven experience leading, coaching and developing teams, ideally across multiple locations
- Ability to inspire high performance, lead through influence and build shared ownership of plans
- Strong commercial mindset with experience of income growth, budgeting, forecasting and ROI
- Confidence working with performance data, KPIs and financial reporting
- Excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across teams and disciplines
- Credibility and confidence engaging with senior stakeholders, supporters and external partners
Please see full job description
Application & Interview Process
- As part of your online application, you will be asked for a CV. Please review both the advert and job description and outline your most relevant skills, experience and knowledge for the role.
- Close date for applications: Wednesday 20th May 2026
Salary: £36,900 - £41,000 DOE
Contract: Full time, Perm
Based: Homebased role based in Bristol due to regular travel in the community
Benefits you’ll LOVE:
- Flexible working. We’re happy to discuss flexible working at the interview stage.
- 25 days annual leave (exclusive of Bank Holidays)
- Marie Curie Group Personal Pension Scheme (we will match your contribution up to 7.5%)
- Loan schemes for bikes; computers and season tickets
- Continuous professional development opportunities.
- Industry-leading training programmes
- Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programmes
- Enhanced bereavement, family friendly and sickness benefits
- Access to Blue Light Card membership
- Subsidised Eye Care
At Marie Curie, our values are central to everything we do. They guide how we care for people, how we work together, and how we make decisions every day. We are committed to creating a workplace that is safe for everyone — staff and volunteers alike — supportive, inclusive and rewarding. We take stringent steps to ensure that anyone who joins our organisation are suitable for their roles and are committed to safeguarding all our people from harm. We actively consider our impact on the planet, embedding sustainability into everyday decisions to create a lasting, positive difference for the individuals we care for and the world we share.
We believe everyone should have the opportunity to thrive and fulfil their potential. Marie Curie is deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, recognising both the social justice imperative and the strength a diverse workforce brings. We actively encourage applications from people of all cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.
We are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. If you require any support, please contact us at .
Every application we receive is personally reviewed by a member of our Talent Acquisition team, and in return, we ask that your application authentically reflects you — your experience, perspective and voice.
Thank you!
About Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance
Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) exists so nobody in Scotland suffers or dies because medical help cannot get there in time. People can get sick or have accidents anywhere and anytime. But in Scotland there are places where urgent medical help cannot reach people. Or help gets there too late. And when lives are at risk every minute matters. As a charity we rely on donations from the Scottish public, companies and communities to ensure that urgent medical help gets to the patient when it is needed, wherever they are and at whatever time of day.
The Role
We are seeking an experienced fundraising professional to join us as Head of Fundraising. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering our fundraising strategy across community, events and volunteering, trusts and grants, corporate and philanthropy by crafting ambitious regional plans, nurturing high-performing teams, and driving excellence in supporter engagement and recognition. The Head of Fundraising will work collaboratively with the Individual Giving and Engagement team to drive new business pipelining and amplify fundraising campaigns, develop new fundraising products, and represent SCAA at external events and sector initiatives.
The ideal candidate will be an experienced team leader with significant experience working across a variety of fundraising disciplines and of developing and implementing fundraising strategies.
The successful candidate can be based from home, but this role will require regular travel to our bases at Perth and Aberdeen Airports and throughout Scotland. The usual hours and days of work will be Monday to Friday, 9am—5pm.
About You
Essential
-
Strong background in a variety of fundraising disciplines and a track record in growing fundraising income over multiple years within a charity, non-profit or values-led organisation.
-
Experience of developing and implementing fundraising strategies aligned to organisational objectives.
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Experienced team leader who can motivate, inspire and guide others to deliver results.
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Strong understanding of data protection (GDPR), confidentiality and safeguarding requirements.
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Strong knowledge of Scottish charity regulations, governance and compliance requirements.
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Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, financial processes, and procurement.
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Experience delivering community fundraising products and scaling ideas that support donor acquisition and retention.
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Ability to use insight and ambition to shape pipeline and stewardship planning.
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Understanding of CRM systems.
Desirable
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Ability to deliver training to staff or volunteers on processes or systems.
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Experience of community, events, volunteering and partnerships and philanthropy fundraising.
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Experience of working with Boards or Trustees in a fundraising context.
Our Benefits
- Pension: 12% employer’s & 5% employee’s contribution (after 3 months’ service)
- Annual Leave: 36 days (incl. public holidays) + an extra day for your birthday (and additional days with long service)
- Death in Service benefit: 3 times annual salary
- Optional Private Medical Insurance plan and Cashplan
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Enhanced Maternity/Adoption/Paternity Pay
- Access to Blue Light Card
- Learning and Development Opportunities
Selection Process
First interviews will take place at our base at Perth Airport in Scone during the week commencing 25th May. Second stage interviews will be held at our Perth base the week commencing 1st June.
How to apply
Please refer to the full job pack on our website.
Application deadline is 5pm on Sunday 10th May 2026.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
To ensure no one in Scotland dies because help cannot get there in time.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.