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.
Registered Charity 
51 - 100
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Role Overview
The Talent Set are delighted to partner with a wonderful international development charity on a fantastic Interim Head of Philanthropy & Partnerships role. This strategic position involves leading the development and management of high-value partnerships, with a focus on corporate collaborations, donor stewardship, and growth.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development and execution of partnership strategies, particularly with corporate organisations.
- Cultivate and steward relationships with high net worth individuals, key stakeholders, and corporate partners.
- Identify new business opportunities through prospecting and strategic outreach, ensuring alignment with organisational values and goals.
- Collaborate with the team to enhance existing partnerships, drive revenue growth, and increase mutual value, particularly focusing on corporate and high-value donors.
- Oversee and support team members responsible for partnership development, stewarding, and new business, fostering a collaborative environment.
- Work closely with leadership to shape the organisation’s partnership offerings and positioning at a strategic level.
- Manage and report on partnership performance, ensuring targets are met and stakeholder engagement remains robust.
- Line manage a team of 2-3.
Person Specification
- Proven experience in developing and managing corporate partnerships, preferably within the international development sector.
- Strong commercial acumen combined with excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to identify strategic opportunities, craft compelling propositions, and negotiate mutually beneficial agreements.
- Exceptional communication skills, capable of engaging diverse audiences from high-net-worth individuals to corporate executives.
- Experience in managing and motivating teams, with a collaborative leadership style.
- Ability to work at pace, adapt to shifting priorities, and deliver results within tight timelines.
- A strategic thinker with a practical approach to securing and growing high-impact partnerships.
What’s on Offer
Salary: £237.15 per day + £35.57 holiday pay PAYE.
How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button (please do not apply via email). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.
Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.
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.
