Location: Homebased (requirement to attend meetings at The Grange, periodically)
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday
What you will be doing
This is a strategic and creative role at the heart of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People’s national fundraising and engagement efforts. The post holder will lead the development and delivery of national community and challenge event programmes across all four UK regions (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland).
Using strong project and campaign management skills, the role will grow existing initiatives charity owned initiatives such as the Great British Dog Walk and the 28 Challenge and develop new, audience-led campaigns that inspire public participation, drive fundraising, and deepen long-term engagement with the charity.
In addition to the owned initiatives, the role will promote Hearing Dogs for Deaf People to participants of external national events such as The Great North Run or the London Marathon.
The ultimate objectives are to drive income generation and guide supporters from initial involvement to becoming volunteers for the broader work of the charity and legacy pledgers.
Desired candidate
- Proactive and confident self-starter with proven experience in campaign management, digital fundraising, and audience engagement.
- Strong understanding of social media tools, digital platforms, and challenge event management (e.g. Fundraising).
- Excellent project management and cross-team collaboration skills.
- Ability to develop creative propositions and media plans based on audience insight.
- Comfortable working in a hybrid environment with occasional travel to events and HQ.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills coupled with an enthusiastic and positive approach.
How to apply
If you are interested in working with us in this varied and immensely rewarding job, please send your CV and a cover letter explaining why you'd be perfect for the role.
Closing date for applications: Midday on Monday 6th October 2025.
Please send your CV and a cover letter explaining why you'd be perfect for the role.
Thank you!
You will be joining us at a time that holds the greatest potential for fundraising in our history, following the launch of the UK Government’s Delivery Plan for ME and initial findings of the DecodeME genetics study (co-led by Action for ME) in Summer 2025.
Building on our charity’s already established level of support from major donors, you will provide exceptional relationship management to existing donors alongside growing our network of high value supporters.
Working closely with the CEO, alongside managing a portfolio of donors and prospects ensuring excellent stewardship, you will support our Breakthrough-ME Group (a group of high net worth and highly networked individuals). There is an established level of support from major donors at Action for ME so this is a role that will require exceptional relationship management to retain our current valued supporters while growing this crucial area of fundraising.
This would be an ideal role for an experienced philanthropy professional seeking to work for a small but ambitious charity, helping us to achieve our mission to improve the lives of all people affected by ME – better meeting their needs today while taking action to secure change for tomorrow.
Key duties
Major Donor Fundraising
• Successfully develop and implement the philanthropy strategy to secure and maximise funds from high value individuals for Action for ME achieving annual income of £250k+
• Set plans and budgets which will deliver income through major gift fundraising and philanthropic giving through family trusts and foundations, including quarterly forecasting.
• Manage a portfolio of prospects and donors at the £5k to £100k level, to develop and maintain strong and long-standing partnerships
• Work closely with the Director of Fundraising and Development and other colleagues to ensure that plans and activities for fundraising from high value individuals are integrated into the overall fundraising strategy and plan for significant growth.
• Be responsible for our Breakthrough-ME Group with high quality proposition development. Contribution to Group fundraising activities with a specific focus on ensuring their networks support pipeline growth for future fundraising.
• Lead the delivery of our biennial fundraising gala dinner, maximising income and new opportunities from attendees.
• Develop engaging and inspiring opportunities to steward and cultivate support creating a calendar of activities including events, presentations, approaches, networking and meetings.
• Utilise the CRM database (Raisers Edge) to provide the data required to strategise your approach to philanthropy, monitor progress and provide a high-quality donor experience.
• Ensure utilisation of insight & data, producing management information data to inform planning and strategy development.
• With the Director of Fundraising & Development, create inspiring cases for support and resulting propositions with clear budgets and outcomes.
• Create adequate systems and processes to support the major donor programme.
• Undertake and manage research into prospects and major donors, preparing for approaches and presentations and briefing senior leadership and trustees for donor meetings and events.
• Develop and maintain relationships with donors, a wide range of staff and volunteers from trustee level down.
• Provide regular feedback and internal reporting to line management.
• Work with other fundraisers to ensure that all fundraising opportunities and leads are followed up – particularly in corporate, community and trust fundraising.
• Work with Trustees, the Chief Executive and members of the Leadership Team to develop relationships with major donors.
• Self-administrate including managing your own diary and meetings, keeping accurate and up to date records of activity
• Occasional travel to London, Bristol & events
Other duties
• To positively promote the work and activities of Action for M.E. at all times.
• To contribute to the team’s overall, ongoing and annual planning and budgeting.
• To undertake any other reasonable activity in line with the responsibilities of the post as requested by the Director of Fundraising and Development, Chief Executive or any other senior Action for ME management.
• Act as an advocate for the Charity and its work.
• To work in accordance with Action for ME’s values of collaboration, equity and empathy.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
Our mission is to improve the lives of people affected by ME. Better meeting their needs today while taking action to secure change for tomorrow.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.