Institutional funding manager jobs in Bermondsey, greater london
How's your job search on our site?
Operation Smile is an international medical charity specialising in cleft surgery and care for babies, children and adults. Since 1982, the organisation has transformed lives through safe surgery and comprehensive cleft care, while strengthening local health systems through training, education and partnerships
Operating in more than 30 countries, Operation Smile raises around $100m globally each year. Operation Smile UK plays a vital role within this international network as a fundraising office, working closely with Operation Smile Inc. to fund programmes and support medical volunteers delivering care around the world.
The organisation is entering an exciting phase of development through its Operation 100 strategy, which focuses on strengthening surgical systems by supporting district hospitals closer to the communities they serve. This approach creates compelling opportunities for philanthropy, enabling donors to support highly tangible, life-changing interventions while helping build sustainable surgical capacity in low-resource settings.
Operation Smile UK has a strong individual giving programme and well-established relationships with corporate partners, trusts and institutional donors. Major donor fundraising, however, is still developing, presenting significant untapped potential and an exciting opportunity to help build a structured and sustainable philanthropy programme.
Operation Smile UK is now seeking a Philanthropy Manager to help grow major donor fundraising, building new philanthropic relationships and expanding support from HNWIs.
As Philanthropy Manager, you will:
- Develop and implement Operation Smile UK’s major donor strategy alongside the Director of Partnerships
- Identify and cultivate new major donor prospects through research, networking (internally and externally) and peer-to-peer introductions through supporters and board members
- Steward a small but warm portfolio of existing donors while focusing primarily on developing new prospects, delivering full lifecycle stewardship from cultivation through to long-term relationship management
- Develop compelling restricted funding propositions aligned with programmes, including geographically or thematically focused projects
- Lead cultivation activity including donor meetings, proposals, events and programme visits
- Represent Operation Smile UK confidently with major donors, prospects and senior stakeholders
- Contribute to the continued development of philanthropy fundraising within the wider Partnerships team
- Occasionally travel internationally to visit programmes and accompany donors, providing first-hand insight into Operation Smile’s impact
Essential skills and experience:
- Experience in major donor fundraising with a track record of securing five-figure+ gifts from HNWIs
- Experience managing the full lifecycle of major donor fundraising, from prospecting and cultivation through to solicitation and stewardship
- Strong prospect research and pipeline development skills, including identifying and developing new donor relationships from cold
- Experience and confidence in building rapport and trust with prospective major donors
- Experience engaging trustees, senior volunteers and colleagues in fundraising and leveraging networks for peer-to-peer introductions
- Confidence and credibility when representing an organisation to HNWIs and senior stakeholders
- Strong relationship-building and influencing skills, with the ability to champion major donor fundraising in a collaborative and thoughtful way across the organisation
- A proactive, self-starting approach and the ability to identify and develop opportunities within a growing fundraising programme
Desirable:
- Experience in international development or global health fundraising
- Experience helping to develop a major donor programme from a low base or early stage
We are open to receiving applications from early career major donor fundraisers for this role. The role offers an opportunity to work alongside an experienced Director of Partnerships who has previously built major donor programmes and is committed to supporting the successful candidate through coaching and mentoring.
Employee benefits include:
- 25 days annual leave, excluding bank holidays, with 1-day additional holiday each year to a maximum of 30 days annual leave
- 6.1% employer pension contribution
- Enhanced maternity package (min. 24 months service)
- Employee Assistance Programme
Operation Smile UK are dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that supports everyone's needs. We're happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the application and employment process, and we particularly welcome applications from diverse backgrounds.
Operation Smile UK are a Disability Confident Committed employer, so we guarantee an interview to any disabled applicant who meets the minimum requirements for the job.
About Us
IIED is an international policy and research organisation working to build a fairer, more sustainable world, in partnership with others across the globe.
- We stand up: challenging the systems and structures that perpetuate economic, social and environmental injustice – acknowledging our own role in this.
- We speak out: calling out the big blockers that prevent progress for communities and working to amplify voices, redistribute power and strengthen rights.
- We innovate: developing, co-producing and supporting evidence-based ideas to drive progress towards a thriving world for all.
- We collaborate: building connections at local, national and international levels, to support diverse partners to tackle the climate, nature and inequality crises so that people and the planet can thrive. Come and be part of this exciting journey with us.
We are now looking for a Head of Fundraising & Business Development to join us on a full-time, permanent basis, working 35 hours per week.
The Benefits
- Salary of £64,814 - £80,654 per annum
- 25 days' annual leave per year, plus bank holidays and additional leave over Christmas
- 7.5% employer pension contributions
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption pay
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Employee protection scheme (life, critical illness, income protection)
This is a pivotal opportunity for a proven fundraising leader with significant experience in international NGOs or charities and a strong track record of securing income across multiple streams to join our global organisation.
You will have the chance to utilise your fundraising expertise and leadership skills to close funding gaps and unlock new opportunities, making a lasting difference to our organisational sustainability and our international impact.
What’s more, this role offers both strategic influence and meaningful flexibility, allowing you to lead, develop others and grow long-term funding success, helping us to build a fairer, more sustainable world.
So, if you’re ready to lead ambitious fundraising that powers global change, read on and apply today.
The Role
As our Head of Fundraising & Business Development, you will lead efforts to secure and diversify funding, building a sustainable resource base to support our global mission.
Leading the Fundraising and Business Development Team, you will drive the implementation of our resource mobilisation strategy, focusing on increasing non-ODA income and expanding flexible and programmatic funding.
Working closely with colleagues across fundraising, finance, research and impact teams, you will help close funding gaps by developing strong donor relationships, negotiating funding agreements and shaping compelling funding propositions.
Alongside collaborating with the Director of Fundraising and Communications and supporting engagement with the Board of Trustees, you will manage systems, data and internal processes that strengthen fundraising performance and ensure effective delivery.
Additionally, you will:
- Gather and share intelligence on trends within the funding landscape
- Generate new fundraising ideas and opportunities with existing and new funders
- Support teams to develop fundraising plans, donor scoping and funding bids
- Analyse data to inform fundraising strategies and income generation
- Design and manage internal fundraising support processes and systems
- Oversee the team budget and support staff development and wellbeing
About You
To be considered as our Head of Fundraising & Business Development, you will need:
- Significant experience leading fundraising functions in an international NGO or charity
- A proven, impressive track record in fundraising
- Experience in partnership and consortium development
- Management experience with the ability to co-ordinate, support, motivate, energise and develop diverse teams
- The ability to design and deliver income-generation strategies across multiple streams
- A strong understanding of the evolving landscape of finance and resource mobilisation for sustainable development
- A strong understanding of policy and research related to sustainable development at an international level, particularly related to Africa, Asia and/or Latin America
- Strong influencing, negotiating, stakeholder engagement and diplomacy skills
- A degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent work experience
- The willingness and ability to travel internationally
This role requires a Basic DBS check.
IIED is a hybrid working organisation, and you are likely to be working from home most of the time. As such, you will need a suitable place to work and a reliable, fast internet connection.
The closing date for this role is 5th April 2026.
Other organisations may call this role Head of Fundraising, Head of Income Generation, Head of Partnerships and Fundraising, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Business Development Director, Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships, or Head of Grants and Partnerships.
IIED is a Global organisation that serves the Global Majority. We are committed to equity of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in IIED’s workforce, including members of minority groups and those with lived experience of the work we do. Even if you don't satisfy all the criteria, we still encourage you to apply, as we will offer training and development to upskill the right candidate for the role.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About Us
IIED is an international policy and research organisation working to build a fairer, more sustainable world, in partnership with others across the globe.
- We stand up: challenging the systems and structures that perpetuate economic, social and environmental injustice – acknowledging our own role in this.
- We speak out: calling out the big blockers that prevent progress for communities and working to amplify voices, redistribute power and strengthen rights.
- We innovate: developing, co-producing and supporting evidence-based ideas to drive progress towards a thriving world for all.
- We collaborate: building connections at local, national and international levels, to support diverse partners to tackle the climate, nature and inequality crises so that people and the planet can thrive. Come and be part of this exciting journey with us.
We are now looking for an English and Spanish speaking Researcher to join us on a full-time basis, working 35 hours per week, for a 12 month fixed-term contract.
The Benefits
- Salary of £44,892 - £55,773 per annum
- 25 days' annual leave per year, plus bank holidays and additional leave over Christmas
- 7.5% employer pension contributions
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption pay
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Employee protection scheme (life, critical illness, income protection)
This is an unmissable opportunity for a high-calibre, English and Spanish speaking research professional with experience in forest and farm development work in Latin America to join our international organisation.
You’ll have the chance to design and deliver vital work that helps to shape understanding in an area that matters deeply to communities, livelihoods and the environment.
What’s more, you’ll join a globally connected organisation that values collaboration, innovation and learning, and offers access to hybrid working, as well as a strong benefits package designed to support your wellbeing and long-term development.
The Role
As a Researcher, you will deliver research and analysis on forest and farm finance across the Global South, with a special emphasis on Latin America, working to strengthen sustainable finance models that support people, nature and climate goals.
A significant focus of the role will be designing and delivering action research projects, generating qualitative and quantitative evidence and applying appropriate research frameworks to deepen understanding of forest and farm finance.
Working with forest and farm producer organisations, you will analyse findings, develop new knowledge and produce research outputs that support the development of green value chains, improved access to finance and stronger self-generated finance models.
You will also co-ordinate collaborative projects with international partners, contribute to funding proposals and support communication and engagement activities that share research insights with wider audiences.
Additionally, you will:
- Support project planning, reporting and budget management
- Write and edit research outputs for publication and dissemination
- Build and maintain partnerships with stakeholders, funders and research networks
About You
To be considered as a Researcher, you will need:
- A solid research background with skills and experience evidenced by a track record of growing publications in your own field (e.g. research reports, policy briefs, tools or toolkits)
- Field research and in-country experience in forest and farm development work in Latin America
- Experience in research or in technical capacity development in relevant areas such as forestry or agroforestry, forest enterprise development, climate or development finance
- Experience of research team coordination, including from a distance
- Fluency in both English and Spanish
- Knowledge of institutions, actors, and current debates and research agendas in the field of forestry, agriculture and development
- An understanding of how to work effectively with partners in developing countries
- A relevant postgraduate degree in an area such as forestry, land use, economics, sustainable development or similar, or equivalent experience
- Professional training and/or a certification in economics or access to finance for vulnerable communities
- The willingness to travel to developing countries
This role requires a Basic DBS check.
IIED is a hybrid working organisation, and you are likely to be working from home most of the time. As such, you will need a suitable place to work and a reliable, fast internet connection.
The closing date for this role is 12th April 2026.
IIED is a Global organisation that serves the Global Majority. We are committed to equity of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in IIED’s workforce, including members of minority groups and those with lived experience of the work we do. Even if you don't satisfy all the criteria, we still encourage you to apply, as we will offer training and development to upskill the right candidate for the role.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Salary: £42,850–£47,130 per year
Location: London – hybrid (three days a week in the office)
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: 9-day fortnight
This role offers the chance to shape and grow an international organisation’s institutional funding portfolio at a pivotal moment in its mission to accelerate climate action. You will build relationships with major donors, lead the development of high-value proposals, and help secure the support needed to deliver programmes that reduce global emissions. If you enjoy turning ideas into fundable projects and working collaboratively across teams, this role will give you scope to make a real impact.
The role
You will develop and manage relationships with government agencies and foundations, identifying opportunities that align with organisational strategy. You’ll lead the full proposal process — from shaping concepts and coordinating colleagues to writing persuasive six- and seven-figure bids.
You will also manage a diverse funding pipeline, support high-quality donor reporting, and help strengthen internal processes that support donor compliance and bid development.
What we’re looking for
- Significant experience securing institutional or government funding
- Strong understanding of European institutional donors
- Excellent bid-writing ability and clear, confident communication
- Strong numeracy and ability to design and interpret complex budgets
- Good understanding of monitoring and evaluation approaches
- A collaborative, organised and solutions-focused approach
What we offer
- Permanent role with a 9-day fortnight working pattern
- 25 days’ holiday plus public holidays and three additional Christmas closure days
- 10% employer pension contribution
- Health cash plan and private medical insurance (after probation)
- Enhanced family-friendly policies
- Monthly wellbeing allowance and Headspace membership
- Paid volunteering leave, moving-house leave and life assurance
- E-bike and bike loan schemes, and season-ticket loans
- Learning and development opportunities
Our commitment
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, perspectives and experiences.
We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.
About Us:
Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting is the world’s only movement for every girl and any girl because we believe that each of them deserves to be the best they can be. Girl Guides and Girl Scouts learn by doing, make friends and have fun. In brave, local spaces, girls develop the skills and attitudes to change themselves, their communities and our world. The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts supports 153 national Girl Guide and Girl Scout organisations around the world to be united, thriving and growing.
Job Purpose:
This is a key role within a small but global team collaborating with a range of experts and specialists with in-depth knowledge of both the global Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting Movement and the international development sector. Working across a mix of corporate, global trusts & foundations, and institutional funders, your primary focus will be securing new funding partnerships as well as delivering excellent stewardship and management of existing partnerships. The role is responsible for making a recognisable contribution towards organisational income targets. There will be a strong focus on securing restricted income in support of a portfolio of global non-formal education programmes across key thematic areas including climate, STEM, online safety, leadership, gender-based violence prevention, and menstrual health & hygiene – all with cross-cutting themes of gender equality and advocacy. There may also be time spent on seeking and securing funding to support wider organisational projects as necessary, as well as exploring opportunities to secure unrestricted / flexible core funding.
About You:
As our Strategic Partnerships Manager, you will work across a mix of corporate, global trusts & foundations, and institutional funders, your focus will be on securing new funding partnerships as well as delivering excellent stewardship and management of existing partnerships. You’ll need to build effective working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders and be comfortable working in a complex and global organisation.
Key Responsibilities:
- Identify, engage, and cultivate new funding partnerships that are aligned to WAGGGS vision, purpose, and programme offer ensuring a strong and well-managed pipeline of new and qualified prospects.
- Work cross-departmentally to develop and write high-quality and compelling funding and partnership proposals with a strong case for support, ensuring they are deliverable, measurable, accurately costed, and aligned to WAGGGS strategic priorities.
- Deliver effective stewardship and management of a small number of existing funding partnerships. From contracting, partnership reporting, growth and renewal. Build and expand strong relationships with partner contacts at multiple levels, drawing on key WAGGGS senior staff to support when appropriate, and use WAGGGS communications platforms effectively to raise the profile of partnerships.
- Work closely with colleagues and teams who directly support the 153 national Member Organisations delivering Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting globally to understand the needs, priorities, and challenges of girls and young women around the world and to engage Member Organisations for input to funding proposals, and ensure programme development reflects local needs, context, and priorities.
- Line management of one Strategic Partnerships Coordinator providing direction, support, and development opportunities for the post-holder.
Please refer the attached JD for the detailed key responsibilities.
To apply for this role, please submit your CV and a Cover Letter (the cover letter should be no longer than 1 A4 page).
In your Cover Letter please demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the following criteria;
- Experience of building long-term relationships and partnerships across a variety of funders.
- Coordinating and delivering funding bids and proposals, working to tight deadlines.
- Building effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders at all levels.
We are the largest voluntary movement dedicated to empowering girls and young women in the world.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
At Global Witness, we’re on a mission to shift the balance of power from the polluters profiting most from the climate emergency to the people most adversely affected.
We are an independent, global organisation of investigators and campaigners using cutting edge investigative methods. We shine a light on the financial and political systems that enable corporate abuses of power that harm people and planet.
We are all determined and confident that together we can secure a better tomorrow for everyone. If you are inspired to join us as we investigate and expose abuses of power, tell the stories the world needs to hear and campaign for systemic change, we would love to hear from you.
About the role
We are looking for an experienced Grants Manager to join our Fundraising team and play a key role in stewarding relationships with our institutional funders. You will manage a portfolio of trusts, foundations and statutory donors, ensuring excellent account management and delivering high-quality applications and reports that help secure and grow vital funding.
Working closely with colleagues across fundraising, campaigns and finance, you will identify opportunities to deepen partnerships with existing supporters while ensuring compliance, strong communication and long-term relationship building. Your work will directly contribute to achieving our fundraising targets and supporting the organisation’s long-term financial sustainability.
About you
You are an experienced grants professional with a strong track record of securing significant income from trusts, foundations or statutory funders. You are highly organised and confident managing multiple relationships, from identifying opportunities and developing compelling proposals through to reporting and ongoing stewardship.
You are an excellent communicator with the ability to translate complex information into clear, persuasive proposals and donor updates. Collaborative and proactive, you enjoy working across teams, building trusted relationships with colleagues and funders alike. You are motivated and comfortable using own initiative.
Global Witness has a talented team of people worldwide with offices in London, Washington DC and Brussels.
We aim to be a diverse and inclusive place to work. We value new perspectives, original ideas and different ways of working. We believe that diverse views and experiences improve the way we do our work. We do our best to make our jobs accessible to all regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation or identity.
We offer an excellent benefits package including a competitive salary and 25 days annual leave (excl. bank holidays). We also offer healthcare insurance, wellbeing days and policies to support you during key life events.
We are currently in the first year of a shorter working week pilot where everyone works 30 hours Monday to Thursday, with Friday off with no impact on full time salary. We operate a hybrid working model which requires at least 2 days in the office.
How to apply
Please send in your CV (max 2 pages) and your responses to the shortlisting questions below to PeopleOps by Midnight GMT Sunday 22 March.
Shortlisting Questions
1) Please provide an example of how you successfully secured a 5 or 6+ figure grant from a Trust, Foundation or Statutory funder. (The funder can remain anonymous, but please provide details including size and length of grant, and be clear about the role you played in securing the grant/ renewal).
2) How have you maintained and built long-term, successful funder relationships? Please outline some of the key elements and tactics you have used to ensure this is done successfully.
3) What do you see as the main challenges in the external fundraising context over the course of the next 12 months for an organisation like Global Witness?
200-250 words each question
To help us track your application please use the following in the subject heading of the email: Grants Manager, and please use the following file name protocol for your CV: "First Name_Last Name_CV".
Interview
It will be a two-stage interview process. First round virtual interviews will be held on 31 March and 1 April, with second round (likely in-person) taking place the following week, but if anything changes, we will let you know. You will receive the interview questions 1 week ahead of the interview via email to enable you to prepare.
There will be a short writing assignment/test to be completed alongside the first interview. This will be sent in advance.
If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format or would like us to make any reasonable adjustments to enable you to apply or attend any interview, please let us know.
Equality and diversity
We would appreciate your participation in completing our Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form.
Global Witness wants to meet the aims and commitments set out in its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy. This includes not discriminating under the Equality Act 2010 and building an accurate picture of the make-up of the workforce and candidates in encouraging equality and diversity.
Our goal is a more sustainable, just and equal planet.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Location: UK - We have offices in Newcastle and London
Hours of work: Full time, Fixed term 12 months
Salary: The salary will be commensurate with our global salary scales
Transform Trade works for trade and climate justice. In South Asia and East Africa, we support farmers, workers and artisans to benefit from more sustainable and equitable trade, and in the UK we advocate and campaign for changes to business practices and government policy.
It is an exciting time to join our organisation. Following a strategic review, we are embarking on a process of change to shift power to groups in the global south, and to rethink the way we work in the UK. We are committed to equality and providing a diverse and inclusive workplace. We particularly welcome applications from those who are significantly underrepresented in our sector, including disabled people and individuals from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.
We are looking for a Partnerships and Programme Funding Coordinator to drive institutional fundraising for our international programmes. This role is responsible for building and maintaining strong relationships with donors, identifying new funding opportunities, and coordinating the end-to-end development of proposals and presentations that align with our organisational strategy. You will work closely with teams across the organisation to ensure projects are compelling, technically robust, and fully costed, while supporting timely donor reporting and relationship management.
The ideal candidate has proven experience in international development and excels at producing high-quality funding proposals efficiently and consistently. You are able to translate project ideas into persuasive applications, manage complex budgets, and respond rapidly to donor queries. You thrive in a fast-paced environment, are highly organised, and can balance multiple funding streams while ensuring all proposals meet strategic and quality standards.
Interested? Further details including a full job description and application form can be found on our website
Closing date for applications: 24/3/26
Provisional date for interviews: 1/4/26
# Partnerships & Programme Funding Coordinator
# Partnerships
# Programme
# Funding Coordinator
To work with producers and workers to create a just and sustainable trading system

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
The Vacancy
We are looking for an entrepreneurial and proactive Partnerships Manager with a strong instinct for business development and a track record of turning opportunities into significant funding partnerships. You will be energised by identifying new prospects, opening doors and building relationships with trusts, foundations and corporate partners. Creative and strategic in your approach, you will be comfortable shaping compelling propositions and developing confident high seven figure funding asks that resonate with large philanthropic donors.
You will also be a mature, thoughtful and kind manager who can lead and develop a high performing team. We are looking for someone who can set ambitious targets, encourage initiative and create an environment where colleagues feel trusted, motivated and able to grow, while playing a central role in expanding and diversifying a major global funding portfolio.
JOB PURPOSE
The Partnerships Manager will be a key position within the fundraising team, managing key private donors and co-leading on developing and implementing a new business strategy focused on significantly increasing trust and foundation and corporate funders.
They will also be working with SLT members to put together strategic seven and eight figure grants and strategic plans to engage large global donors to support Start Network programming.
The Resource Mobilisation team works collaboratively with those in programmes to manage internal and external relationships, adopting a coordinated approach when it comes to donor management and reporting.
The Partnerships Manager, together with the Head of Resource Mobilisation, will set and deliver a strategy that maximises trust and foundation and corporate funding and set a clear path to bring in new donors and increase income substantially over the coming three years. Currently the funding portfolio you will be managing is over £30million from 13+ global donors. This means this role is personally responsible for engaging and retaining 60% of our donors. This role will set a strategy to increase income according to targets, maximise donors plus retain all key strategic donors through robust engagement plans. Beyond this, the person in post will line manage three with scope for growth in 2026.
Additionally, across 2026-2028 and beyond they will lead on the development of an employee engagement offering with our corporates and corporate foundations in order to create a new avenue of unrestricted funding.
Beyond this, we expect this role, to lead on behalf of the resource mobilization team key global events, particularly Skoll / Marmalade and Shift the Power. In collaboration with the Institutional Funding Manager they will also plan our activities London and NY Climate Weeks. They will set the plans and strategy for the organization to engage with these events and work with Directors, CEO, Heads of, and coordinate cross organisational plans for this together with our Head of Advocacy and Influence.
Finally, this role will act as a key point of contact for the communications and advocacy teams and will need to make sure donor requirement and visibility will be taken into account across teams projects and strategies.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Increase new business from trusts and foundations and corporate funders
- Lead on the development of an innovative strategy together with the Head of Resource Mobilisation and Director of Business Development to identify and drive new business from trusts and foundations and corporates.
- Responsible for growing our funding from new geographical areas (focus on US and Asia) and sectors (Insurance) – and set a plan that will enable the diversification of our funding portfolio.
- Oversee the development and implementation of an employee engagement offer in order to create a new avenue of unrestricted income and boost the interest of corporate donors.
- Drive high quality prospecting of new potential funders across the organisation by working with and guiding heads of teams and the CEO strategically to engage with this task.
- Oversee how the organisation engages strategically with large trusts and foundations and corporates (potential giving 7 and 8 figures).
- Co-lead on the planning of key global events with our external affairs team such as Climate Week (New York and London) and make sure we have a cross organisational strategic approach to these events.
- Oversee the strategy to catalyse new relationships with middle sized trusts and foundations and corporates with a potential giving of 6 figures.
- Set a plan to attract more flexibility funding that can enable the organisation to catalyse key strategic projects that fall out of our programmes.
- Lead on developing positioning for corporate partnerships (insurance, finance, and tech industries), new areas of business for Start Network.
- Lead on the business planning process for the Trust and Foundations and Corporates Team.
- Manage large event budgets and make sure resources are used effectively.
- Work with programmes teams and colleagues to understand funding needs and develop creative ways to position and pitch areas of Start Network such as hubs, innovation etc.
- Work with programmes teams and finance team to drive and support the development of robust budgets and narrative proposals for large and medium sized asks.
- Attend and speak at key advocacy events, representing the resource mobilisation team as required, in order to meet donors and advocate for Start Network’s mission
Ensure high quality stewardship of current philanthropic donors
- Responsible for the overall stewardship of several high giving trusts and foundations (6, 7 & 8 figures).
- Oversee the development of quality reporting and updates for donors and make sure we have clear processes and systems for this to happen
- Responsible for making sure the resource mobilization team is creating informative and engaging updates across programmes for T&F and corporate donors.
- Work across teams to implement the insurance advisory group and make sure this group links back to resource mobilization strategies.
- Work with heads of teams to develop an engaging agenda for the insurance advisory group, taking into account the function and work with finance team to ensure appropriate expenditure of grant. Oversee the development of complex donor budgets and make sure they are ready for CFOO and Director approval.
- Support grant management function and work with finance team to ensure appropriate expenditure of grants.
- Work closely with the communications team in order to set up a strategic comms plan that will enable the organisation to position itself as a trend setter in the humanitarian sector, particularly around our core areas of work.
Influence externally
- Work with the Head of Resource Mobilisation and Director of Business Development to position Start Network strategically in global funding discussions.
- Engage key donors at strategic events and meetings.
- Work with the Head of Advocacy and External Affairs to coordinate advocacy messages for donors.
- Represent the organisation in key donor events globally, as required.
- Build knowledge and capacity within the organisation
- To carry out the responsibilities of the role in line with the Start Network Code of Conduct and with a commitment to safeguarding adults and children.
- A commitment to the Start Network vision, principles, values, and approach.
- The Start Network team is an agile group of individuals who use their experience and skills across the network, so flexibility to work in and with different teams and functions is a part of our culture.
Line Management
- To carry out effective line management of a team, including recruiting and training direct reports and having an active role in building an inclusive team culture in line with our values
- Oversee and manage high performing team.
- Coach and mentor team members, as appropriate, enabling them to fulfil their potential.
- Mentor hubs and in country fundraising manager, sharing and catalysing foundation and corporate opportunities for hubs.
- Ensure the organisation builds its capacity around donors’ compliance and policies.
- Deputise for the Head of Resource Mobilisation where required.
- Ensure all staff members in the Trust and Foundation and Corporate team have relevant objectives, targets and other KPI’s.
- Lead by example, building the team’s confidence, supporting them as appropriate and being a positive influence across the organisation.
- Drive a positive culture of fundraising within the Resource Mobilisation team and across Start Network.
Start Network Culture
- To carry out the responsibilities of the role in line with the Start Network Code of Conduct and with a commitment to safeguarding adults and children
- A commitment to the Start Network vision, principles, values, and approach
- The Start Network team is an agile group of individuals who use their experience and skills across the network, so flexibility to work in and with different teams and functions is a part of our culture.
This role description is non-exhaustive and includes any other duties that may reasonably be required for the role.
PERSON PROFILE
Skills, Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- A well stablished fundraiser, with experience of developing relationships with a wide range of private funders (including 7-8 figure multi-year grants).
- A leader with management experience who can grow a team effectively.
- Good understanding the humanitarian sector and key stakeholders and can represent Start Network accordingly in global external event.
- An experienced bid writer who can oversee the process of bids creation and can write them when required.
- A person who is experienced in putting together multi million pound budgets, working across teams.
- An experience fundraiser who has managed large donors such as Gates, Hilton, IKEA.
- Experience in managing a £10m annual plus portfolio.
- Experience negotiating complex multi-million pound contracts.
- A confident speaker who can pitch and convince technical donors to fund our cause.
- A leader with experience in setting funding strategies and executing them
- Proactive and strong skills in business development, with experience of taking the lead on identifying and securing new funding opportunities.
- A creative eye, with skills and experience supporting and leading on the development and implementation of communications strategies for fundraising.
- An individual who is keen to be part of a smaller organisation, playing a significant role in furthering a collaborative fundraising culture, with the autonomy to try new approaches and build on existing relationships.
- A person who is target and output driven and is looking to set ambitious goals for themselves and the team and not afraid to try, fail and improve
- A fundraiser who enjoys working across complex proposals and donors requirements and is solutions focused
Desirable
- Experience in impact investment, insurance or blended finance
- Masters in relevant subject such as international development, international relations, etc.
- Fluency in Spanish or French and other languages
The Company
Start Network is made up of more than 90 non-governmental organisations across five continents, ranging from large international organisations to local and national NGOs. Our programmes allow members to deliver humanitarian action around the world.
Our mission is to create a new era of humanitarian action that will save even more lives. We aren’t driven by media headlines or political will, we’re here for the communities affected by and at risk of crises.
We are an organisation committed to doing things differently. For some roles, we need more technical humanitarian expertise, but for other roles, we are looking for relevant transferable skills, the right attitude, and a passion to bring change.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Kids Club Kampala are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Trusts & Foundations Manager to join our small but highly effective team, helping to raise funds and awareness of our work in East Africa through grant fundraising.
About Kids Club Kampala and the Role
Kids Club Kampala is a children’s charity with a Christian ethos working across East Africa. Our mission is to transform children’s lives, empower communities, and reduce poverty throughout East Africa. We do this by meeting children’s and families’ immediate needs and strengthening their futures through child protection, access to education and family strengthening. Together, we can help more children not just survive but thrive. We envision a world where every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. By remaining child-centred and prioritising the needs of the poorest, by 2035 we will have made a tangible impact in over 5 million lives.
We have grown significantly in recent years and last year expanded our work from Uganda to across East Africa. Grant fundraising remains one of our primary income streams and the Trusts & Foundations Manager will build on our strengths and successes in this area, developing our existing relationships and working to generate new partnership opportunities.
Job Description
Strategy & Pipeline Development
-
Develop and execute an annual Trusts & Foundations strategy to meet income targets and diversify the portfolio.
-
Research, prospect and cultivate our grant funding pipeline of international funding opportunities.
-
Maintain an up to date knowledge of the broader grants fundraising environment.
Bid Development & Proposal Writing
-
Write high-quality, evidence-based proposals that translate East African programme data into persuasive narratives.
-
Collaborate with the Head of Finance on project budgets and support the Finance & Grants Officer with research, applications and reporting.
-
Develop bespoke bids for institutional funding applications while maintaining the integrity of operational goals.
Partnership Management & Stewardship
-
Manage a portfolio of existing donors, building long-term partnerships through proactive engagement.
-
Provide bespoke updates and support the CEO with preparing and presenting at virtual or in person meetings.
-
Execute strategies to move one-off grants toward multi-year commitments for sustainable income.
-
Support to develop and expand our corporate partnership portfolio.
Impact Reporting & Grant Management
-
Produce accurate, high-quality progress and impact reports.
-
Maintain precise CRM records, tracking all reporting deadlines.
-
Monitor grant expenditure and milestones, flagging potential risks or deviations to senior leadership.
Person Specification
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, whether or not you have a degree. If you meet most of the following criteria, we encourage you to apply.
-
Commitment to our mission and values.
-
Experience working in the charity sector.
-
Strong track record working within grants fundraising.
-
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
-
Ability to craft compelling narratives and proposals.
-
Experience working with budgets and financial information.
-
Excellent organisational and time management skills.
-
High attention to detail and accuracy.
-
Proficiency in Microsoft Office / Google Workspace.
-
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
-
Adaptability and the ability to prioritise tasks in a fast-paced environment.
What We Offer
-
Annual Leave: 25 days of annual leave pro rata, plus 8 public holidays and an additional day off for your birthday.
-
Flexible Working: Fully remote working with flexible hours.
-
Pension: 5% employer pension contributions.
-
Professional Development: Individual training and development plan, with ongoing investment in your growth.
-
Project Visit: Option to visit East Africa after your first year of employment.
-
Team Wellbeing: Quarterly team meet-ups, including an annual wellbeing day, and a Christmas get-together.
-
Training Days: Annual training days and a generous training budget.
How to apply
Please apply via CharityJob with your CV along with a covering letter, detailing why you are applying for the job and how you meet the person specification before the closing date of Friday 27th March 2026. Interviews will be held via video conference the week of the 6th April 2026.
If you have any questions or need further information about the role, please feel free to reach out.
Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
At Kids Club Kampala, we are committed to building an inclusive organisation where diversity is celebrated, and everyone feels they belong. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented groups. Please note, you must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this position.
Helping kids in East Africa survive and thrive


The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
Who we are:
Hope is here. The Global Returns Project (GRP) is a UK charity unlocking new philanthropy to deliver urgent solutions for our planet.
We are a fast-moving nonprofit that makes donations to high-impact nature and climate charities simple – and we don’t take any fees. We’ve already mobilised nearly £2 million for top environmental solutions and are working to unlock at least £30 million annually by the end of the decade.
We are growing quickly: Last year's annual fundraising was 50% higher than the previous year.
The problem: Charities protecting our planet can turn the tide on climate change and nature loss. They have the skills, strategies and networks to deliver fast and global impact. But less than 2% of philanthropy goes to climate mitigation.
Our solution: In the UK alone, around £2 trillion sits with “HNW+” individuals – those holding between £100k and £30 million. Yet traditional philanthropy largely overlooks them. We’re unlocking this funding by offering trusted, pro bono advice and a simple, portfolio approach to giving. Our expertise in UK wealth advice offers a unique path to scalability and systems-change.
What we are looking for:
Job Title: Philanthropy Lead
We’re looking for a confident, experienced fundraiser to lead major-gift fundraising — securing transformational gifts from high-net-worth individuals. This individual will also assist with building wealth-adviser relationships that generate referral leads. You’ll own the full pipeline: prospecting, cultivation, making direct asks, closing and stewardship.
The ideal candidate will be excited to cultivate networks of wealth managers, private-client teams and other advisers to HNWIs, and to convert adviser introductions into committed support. Importantly, you’ll also prospect independently for major gifts outside those referral streams.
To succeed you’ll master three distinct fundraising pitches: a business case for advisers; an impact case to persuade donors to support our portfolio charities; and a systems-change case to win backing for GRP’s operating costs (salaries, office costs, etc) to keep the charity running fee-free.
You’ll be comfortable making direct asks for funding, with evidence of having closed high-value gifts or multi-year commitments. You’ll be willing to roll up your sleeves and get hands-on with everyday cultivation tasks. You’ll thrive in a small team, taking initiative and juggling priorities. Crucially, you’ll care deeply about climate and nature.
Experience required:
Substantial experience in frontline major gifts fundraising (as a guide, likely 5+ years), or an exceptional track record in adjacent fields (private client advisory, philanthropy advisory, etc).
Please see the full job description attached for information on skills required and main duties and responsibilities.
Location: Centrally located, light and airy office on Regent Street, London. Minimum one day per week in the office. Approx. one day London/UK travel per week.
Benefits: 12.5 days’ annual leave (pro-rata), plus statutory bank holidays (pro-rata). Occasional 1–2 days’ additional paid leave over Christmas period. Flexible working.
Reports to: CEO
Preferred start date: 30 March 2026. Applications reviewed on rolling basis.
Applicants should apply via CharityJob with both a CV and cover letter addressed to the CEO, Jack Chellman. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Please include the name, email and phone number of a reference we can contact.
Hope is here. We're unlocking new philanthropy to deliver urgent solutions for our planet.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), one of the world’s foremost independent international policy and research organisations, is seeking an outstanding fundraising and communications leader to work alongside our Executive Director and senior team.
Following the launch of our strategy - Manifesto for a Thriving World – and a recent organisational restructure, we decided to bring the functions of fundraising and communications together under a single Director. This is a tactical move, appreciating our funding sources, audiences, and how to reach them are quickly shifting, with the need to think differently about our brand, positioning, use of technology and relationships.
You will lead and shape our strategy in these areas, while also managing strong existing teams and being a key voice in IIED’s governing bodies. You will be the focal point for our institutional funding partnerships and take accountability for achieving a fundraising target and set of objectives. You will be at the heart of guiding IIED’s impact-focused communications, brand, marketing and influencing approach, as well as creating a reinforcing positive trajectory by connecting fundraising and communications.
In joining IIED, you will have the opportunity to work with creative, innovative and committed colleagues striving to achieve IIED’s six propositions. You will be part of an organisation hosting the Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, supporting the Least Developed Countries in international negotiations and delivering highly influential research, events and equitable partnerships tackling climate change, nature loss and inequality.
About Us
IIED is an international policy and research organisation working to build a fairer, more sustainable world, in partnership with others across the globe.
- We stand up: challenging the systems and structures that perpetuate economic, social and environmental injustice – acknowledging our own role in this.
- We speak out: calling out the big blockers that prevent progress for communities and working to amplify voices, redistribute power and strengthen rights.
- We innovate: developing, co-producing and supporting evidence-based ideas to drive progress towards a thriving world for all.
- We collaborate: building connections at local, national and international levels, to support diverse partners to tackle the climate, nature and inequality crises so that people and the planet can thrive. Come and be part of this exciting journey with us
The Benefits
- Salary of £78,715 - £91,102 per annum dependent on experience
- 25 days' annual leave per year, plus bank holidays and additional leave over Christmas
- 7.5% employer pension contributions
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption pay
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Employee protection scheme (life, critical illness, income protection)
This is a rare and exciting opportunity for a senior fundraising and communications leader with significant experience in an international NGO or charity settings to join our globally influential organisation at a moment of strategic transformation.
About You
To be considered as the Director of Fundraising and Communications, you will need:
- Significant experience leading fundraising functions, delivering multi-stream income generation strategies
- Significant experience overseeing a broad communications portfolio, including research communications, brand positioning, digital engagement and media, and internal communications.
- An impressive track record in securing large-scale funding and have exceptional communications and influencing skills across diverse stakeholders.
- Strong leadership experience in multi-cultural environments, building high-performing, values-led teams.
- The willingness and ability to travel internationally.
If you are ready for a career-defining role at a pivotal point for our organisation and the global community, we are waiting to hear from you.
The closing date for this role 24 March 2026.
IIED is a Global organisation that serves the Global Majority. We are committed to equity of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in IIED’s workforce, including members of minority groups and those with lived experience of the work we do. Even if you don't satisfy all the criteria, we still encourage you to apply, as we will offer training and development to upskill the right candidate for the role.
So, if you want to become our Director of Fundraising and Communications, please apply via the button shown. This vacancy is being advertised by Webrecruit. The services advertised by Webrecruit are those of an Employment Agency.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Project Manager, Policy Fellow
Terms: full time; 3 year contract
Salary: £36,400-46,000
Location: Remote working, option to use co-working space. There will be requirements to travel internationally.
Start Date: As soon as possible
Reports to: Programme Manager, Senior Policy Fellow, Dr Chiara Cervasio
Please note: Applicants must have the right to work in either the UK, Italy or Germany and be either currently located in one of these countries or prepared to relocate prior to commencing employment. In this case, BASIC is not providing any relocation assistance and is unable to sponsor VISAs.
About BASIC
BASIC is an independent, non-profit think tank working to safeguard humanity and Earth's ecosystem from nuclear risks and interconnected security threats, for generations to come. Our vision is for a global security consensus founded on multilateralism, the recognition of the indivisibility of security, adherence to Earth's planetary boundaries, and consideration of future generations.
For nearly 40 years, we have built a global reputation for groundbreaking dialogue and incisive thought leadership to strengthen international peace and security. We are an intellectually and culturally diverse team of 20 expert-practitioners with deep institutional experience, headquartered in London with additional presences in Berlin and Rome. We are independent, receive no core funding from any state, and our project work is funded transparently.
BASIC's approach to resolving contemporary nuclear dynamics is centred on dialogue as both a practice and a philosophy. We interpret dialogue broadly, recognising that meaningful engagement takes many forms: from facilitating direct strategic conversations between adversaries grounded in conflict resolution principles, to developing networks and diplomatic initiatives that build consensus around shared objectives, to shaping the intellectual foundations of policy discourse through rigorous research and thought leadership.
BASIC is a fast-paced and rewarding environment with an exceptionally positive and inclusive team culture. We have experienced rapid growth over the past decade and are well-suited to people who are motivated by our mission, able to work at a sustained pace, keen to develop professionally, and enjoy being part of a collaborative team working on consequential issues.
What We Offer
-
Competitive salary with room for growth
-
30 days annual leave (pro rata), plus bank holidays and closure days over the December festive period
-
Employer pension contributions of 5% (above the national minimum)
-
Flexible working arrangements, with set days (Wednesdays required) but flexibility on hours
-
Remote working with option to use co-working space
-
1-2 all-staff in-person team away day per year, as well as other in-person working opportunities
-
Opportunities for professional growth and development
-
Excellent team culture built on respect, openness, and inclusion
The Role
The Project Manager is an adept and organised professional, esteemed within the nuclear policy community for their level. Responsible for overseeing a discrete package of work, they must demonstrate a clear understanding and alignment with broader programme goals, strategies, and objectives. The role will report to the Programme Manager.
Taking charge of project deliverables, the Project Manager will navigate the entire project cycle, from generating fundraising ideas to developing them further and building knowledge of funding relationships. The role will also include deputising for the Programme Manager during periods of absence, ensuring continuity of delivery, external engagement, and team support as required.
The Project Manager will take responsibility for the South Asia portfolio under the Responsibilities and Global Governance (RGG) Programme. The RGG Programme works to strengthen global security by supporting the development of responsible governance frameworks for weapons and dual-use technologies in cross-cutting operational domains. Under the South Asia portfolio, the RGG Programme has facilitated research and dialogue with the Indian and Pakistani nuclear policy communities with a focus on regional crisis prevention, management, and de-escalation practices.
The Project Manager should possess a solid understanding of global security and conflict resolution and a deep understanding and demonstrable knowledge of military security dynamics in South Asia, coupled with a proven ability to design and execute high-quality project management and research. The ideal candidate is an established researcher with a specialisation in nuclear weapons issues and South Asia. As the candidate will be expected to facilitate India-Pakistan nuclear dialogues, it is important that they will show an ability to engage impartially with all parties.
It is expected that the Project Manager will have solo authored, policy relevant, publications. The Project Manager should possess the skills to expand their network in their area of specialisation, benefiting BASIC, and be capable of line managing other team members within their project.
This role necessitates a formal project or programme management qualification – BASIC will provide the Project Manager with such training and qualifications if they do not already possess one. The Project Manager will collaborate with their line manager to identify a professional development plan, closing skills gaps and aspiring to become an internationally respected leader in their field.
Key Responsibilities
1. Project Delivery
Applicants will need to be able to demonstrate the ability to:
-
Manage project timelines, budgets, and reporting requirements
-
Line manage, mentor/coach, and provide pastoral care for the project team: policy fellows, project assistants and interns
-
Write high-quality, policy-relevant research reports, op-eds and briefings
-
Organise international roundtables, workshops and other events with track 1 and 2 participants
-
Manage relationships with stakeholders and build BASIC’s network and reputation
-
Independently represent BASIC at international meetings
2. Fundraising
Applicants will need to be able to demonstrate the ability to:
-
Develop a project, by independently and confidently scoping funding opportunities
-
Liaise with the Programme Manager on funding priorities and opportunities
-
Manage projects with minimal day-to-day manager input.
-
Develop new and existing relationships with funders
-
Write and edit funding applications
3. Communications
Applicants will need to be able to demonstrate the ability to:
-
Collaborate with various stakeholders including international partners to build strong relationships.
-
Facilitate dialogue and cooperation among diverse stakeholders.
-
Promote our / their work confidently and internationally
-
Confidently use online social media platforms, and if possible, press contacts
4. Office support
Applicants will need to be able to support the running of the organisation and colleagues with a range of administrative tasks wherever required.
Person Specification:
Essential:
-
Educated to Master’s level – or demonstrate the equivalent in work experience
-
5+ years of work experience in a think tank, research institute, NGO, foundation or government working on international security issues
-
Demonstrable knowledge of South Asian military security issues
-
Passion and commitment to our organisational mission of promoting dialogue to advance global security
-
Demonstrated ability and track record in leading the creative development and delivery of policy projects in the UK or internationally, including budgeting and reporting
-
Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders from a variety of professional and cultural backgrounds and with broad variations in seniority and function
-
Excellent analytical and methodological skills, and an organised approach to research
-
Well-developed interpersonal skills, including evidence of working successfully as part of a team
-
Track record of previous fundraising experience and success
-
Strong track record of publications, including policy-relevant ones
-
Experience organising policy roundtables and workshops
-
Willingness to travel internationally including to India and Pakistan when required
-
Strong organisational skills and an eye for detail
-
Good personal network in their research area
-
Previous line management experience
Desirable:
- Educated to PhD’s level
- Formal programme/project management qualification
Please note that, due to the large number of applications we receive, we are not able to acknowledge receipt of all applications and only shortlisted candidates will be notified. If you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date, you have not been successful.
Working to safeguard humanity and Earth’s ecosystem from nuclear risks and interconnected security threats
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
Our partner, a respected international development organisation, is seeking a qualified Finance Manager to lead the financial management and oversight of a large, multi-country donor-funded project. The postholder will ensure timely, accurate and compliant financial accounting, reporting, and donor compliance, while supporting strong financial management across the wider programme portfolio.
Responsibilities
- Lead on the financial management, planning and reporting of a multi-country project, ensuring transactions are accurate and compliant with donor and organisational requirements.
- Oversee budgeting, forecasting, cost recovery and co-financing, and maintain up-to-date financial data in grant management and tracking systems.
- Prepare and deliver timely internal and donor financial reports, ensuring consistency between internal records and external submissions.
- Monitor project and portfolio expenditure, analysing variances and providing actionable insights to senior management and programme teams.
- Strengthen financial controls and compliance frameworks, including development of tools, manuals and checklists to ensure adherence to donor and internal policies.
- Support audits (donor and statutory), maintaining trackers for audit actions and disallowances, and ensuring audit readiness.
- Review and approve partner budgets, sub-grant agreements and financial reports, ensuring compliance with donor terms and promoting financial capacity building.
- Provide technical support and training to field teams and partners on donor regulations, financial management, procurement and reporting standards.
- Collaborate with programme teams to align financial management with programme delivery and results.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of financial systems and processes across the organisation.
- Occasional international travel may be required (approx. 1–2 trips per year).
Requirements
- Qualified accountant (CCAB or equivalent) with experience managing finances for complex, large-scale donor-funded projects; experience working with UN Agencies and the World Bank is highly desirable.
- Strong experience in budgeting, forecasting, grant management and donor reporting; familiarity with institutional donor requirements highly desirable.
- Proven experience in financial controls, audit preparation, and compliance for multi-grant, multi-country programmes.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to non-financial colleagues.
- Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills; able to build effective relationships across diverse teams and cultures.
- Proficient in Excel and financial systems, with strong numeracy and attention to detail.
- Fluent written and spoken English.
- Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities effectively.
This is a London-based role with hybrid working (minimum two days per week in the office). Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.
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!
Philanthropy Manager
Location: ZSL London Zoo, Regents Park, London NW1 - Hybrid
Vacancy Type: Permanent
Salary: £40,000 per annum
Business Area: Enabling Functions and Professional Services
Purpose of the role
We are looking for a passionate and strategic Philanthropy Manager to help drive our mission to restore wildlife and create a world where wildlife thrives. This role is focused on raising vital funds from individuals to support ZSL’s global ambition. You will lead on engaging new and cultivating existing supporters, securing high-value and major gifts. As part of your stewardship and cultivation work, you will build deep, lasting relationships and grow a sustainable income stream that powers our global impact.
This is a hybrid role, with the expectation of spending two days a week in the office at a minimum, alongside attending occasional off-site meetings with donors and stakeholders. As with many major gift roles, there may be some evening or weekend work to support events, donor visits, or special experiences.
Key responsibilities:
Fundraising Strategy: Contribute to strategic planning to ensure a coordinated and donor-centric approach that maximises philanthropic support, in collaboration with the Head of Philanthropy.
Donor Cultivation and Stewardship: To manage and grow a personal portfolio of high-value and major donors, securing income from high-value and major gifts.
Prospect Research: Identifying and researching potential donors who align with the organisation's mission and goals, with support from the Prospect Researcher.
Proposal Writing and Donor Reporting: Craft compelling and personalised proposals and presentations to secure funding, and work closely with the wider fundraising and project delivery teams to produce high quality reports.
Event Management: Support the organisation and delivery of events to cultivate relationships with donors and prospects.
Financial accountability: Keep accurate records and handle accompanying gift administration and recognition.
About you
- Experienced fundraising and donor development professional within the charity or cultural sectors, with a proven track record of securing five- and six-figure gifts from individuals, trusts, foundations, and institutional partners.
- Confident in developing compelling proposals and presentations that engage and inspire individual philanthropists.
- Experience working with fundraising databases and donor management systems.
- A proven track record in working with senior volunteers in a fundraising context.
- Knowledge of fundraising best practices and ethical considerations.
- Strong communication, interpersonal and relationship management skills.
About us
We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.
What do we offer?
At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits. Our benefits include:
- Our vision and purpose - you’ll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about science-led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct
- Pension scheme - we offer a generous pension scheme with up to 12% contributory pension
- Flexible working – talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you
- Holidays – 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays
- Wellbeing – access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
- Life assurance – eligible employees will be enrolled in ZSL’s life assurance scheme from their first day
- Complimentary tickets – annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a 30% discount in online and retail shops
- Cycle2Work - our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle
- Season ticket loan - we offer an interest free loan for eligibly London-based employees to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work
- Family friendly policies – we offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption packages
If you have any questions about this role, we’d love to hear from you! Please get in touch with our recruitment team
Closing Date: 6th April 2026
We may close this role early or extend the closing date due to the number of applications we receive, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
The selection process will involve two stages:
First interview – held virtually via video call.
Second interview – held in person and will include a skills-based assessment.
We anonymise applications until interview stage to ensure a fair hiring process. It’s important to highlight your unique skills, experience, and knowledge. Over reliance on AI-generated content may miss key criteria outlined in the job description and reduce the effectiveness of your application.
Interested?
If you would like to apply and find out more about this position, please click the apply button to be directed to our website.
This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including confirmation of your right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
ZSL recognises that conservation is one of the least diverse sectors, and we actively encourage applications from candidates who identify as part of underrepresented communities. We are committed to building a supportive and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage.
No agencies please.
Starting Date: ASAP
Contract type: Full-time and open-ended
Salary: If based in London - £62,707, Delhi - INR 3,350,997, Lahore - PKR 8,697,613, Abidjan - €4,095 per month
Location: London, Lahore, Delhi, Côte d'Ivoire
Application closing date: 25th March 2026
About the Job
The Grant Programme Manager is responsible for overseeing a portfolio of grant-funded projects across multiple sub-funds and geographies. Working closely with programme partners, this role ensures that funded projects not only produce certified Better Cotton but also deliver measurable impact aligned with BCI’s strategic targets. The role includes stewardship and oversight of significant donor funding and accountability for strong financial, performance and compliance standards across the portfolio.
Are you purpose-led and ready to embark on a journey to shape the future of sustainable cotton? Join us at Better Cotton Initiative as Grant Programme Manager and play a key role in delivering high-impact funding programmes for the world’s largest cotton sustainability initiative. We support more sustainable farming practices and farm livelihoods for nearly 1.6 million farmers across 15 countries.
The Challenge
Looking ahead to 2030, BCI is targeting a 50 percent reduction in GHG emissions from cotton production, significant reductions in synthetic pesticide use, improved soil health across our network, increased farm income and stronger support for women’s empowerment among farmers and farm workers.
As a Grant Programme Manager, you will oversee a multi-country grant portfolio, ensure strong financial stewardship, drive performance against strategic targets and strengthen partnerships with programme partners and donors.
Responsibilities
We are seeking a motivated Grant Programme Manager to join our Global Programmes team within GIF. In this role, you will be responsible for managing a complex grant portfolio and ensuring effective delivery, financial oversight and strategic alignment.
- Oversee and manage a portfolio of Small Farm Fund projects across multiple countries, ensuring delivery against BCI strategy and BCSS targets.
- Lead grant application and assessment processes, including reviewing proposals, analysing organisational viability and contributing to funding recommendations.
- Ensure effective financial stewardship of donor funds, reviewing budgets, tracking expenditure and identifying risks or corrective actions where required.
- Monitor and evaluate portfolio performance, ensuring robust data quality, learning integration and continuous improvement.
- Represent GIF in internal governance forums, including the Field Investment and Innovation Committee, contributing to funding decisions and strategic discussions.
- Engage with donors and external stakeholders, supporting reporting, relationship management and future funding opportunities.
- Support Large Farm Fund and Knowledge Partner Fund rounds, including assessment, monitoring and stakeholder engagement.
- Strengthen grant management systems and processes, identifying and implementing improvements to enhance efficiency, compliance and transparency.
- Collaborate closely with country programme teams, MEL colleagues and finance teams to ensure coordinated delivery and alignment across functions.
- Contribute to annual reporting, portfolio analysis and strategic planning for the GIF and wider Global Programmes function.
Experience
We are looking for candidates with the following skills, knowledge and experience:
- Degree in Agronomy, International Development, Anthropology or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- Demonstrated experience managing complex grant or project portfolios within rural development or sustainability contexts.
- Experience working with commercial and institutional donors, including proposal development and reporting.
- Strong financial oversight experience, including reviewing budgets and financial performance.
- Experience using MEL frameworks, logframes and performance monitoring tools.
- Willingness to travel for project visits twice a year (trips of between 7-10 days), and up to 2 trips per year for team/organisational meetings in Europe. If the successful applicant is based in one of our programme countries ie. CDI, India or Pakistan, the number of project visits would be greater.
Desirable
- Expertise in smallholder agriculture.
- Experience supporting organisational development of partners.
- Experience communicating with donors and representing programmes externally.
- Experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia.
- Additional language skills relevant to programme geographies.
What we offer
- Hybrid working – 2-3 days per week in our London, Delhi, or Lahore offices. Fully Remote in Côte d'Ivoire
- The opportunity to work from anywhere in the world for up to one month per year
- Flexible working, with core hours from 10 am to 4 pm local time
- Continuous learning and development
- Pension scheme
- A generous annual leave package, including paid holiday, public holidays, additional paid days off during the festive season, study and exam days, and extra discretionary leave for life events such as family weddings or moving home
- Enhanced parental benefits
- The opportunity to make your mark and make a difference.
Working arrangements
The position is full-time (40 hours per week) and will be based either in London, Delhi, Lahore or Côte d'Ivoire. Better Cotton Initiative offers flexible working, with core hours being 10 am – 4 pm. The position will require limited travel.
Send us your CV (2 pages maximum) and a brief cover letter (1-page maximum) by or before 25/03/2026 via the application link.
In your cover letter, please include an explanation of why your experience is specifically relevant to this role at Better Cotton Initiative. We want to see your personal style – what makes you tick and why you think your next opportunity is here with us.
Better Cotton Initiative does not use artificial intelligence or automated screening tools in its hiring process. Every application is reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team and relevant hiring managers to ensure a fair and human-led assessment experience.
Our hiring process
Initial Screening:
Applicant screening is a crucial step in our recruitment process. This stage may involve a brief phone interview or video call to evaluate your suitability for the position. During this screening, we review resumes and cover letters, and may conduct initial background checks to narrow down the pool of applicant. Internal candidates are encouraged to inform their line manager about their application to promote transparency and help facilitate a smooth transition if selected.
Interviews:
If you successfully pass the initial screening, you will be invited for interviews. The interview process at Better Cotton Initiative may include one or more rounds of interviews with various stakeholders, such as the hiring manager, team members, and potentially senior management. As an internal candidate, you may have discussions regarding your current responsibilities and how they will transition to the new position.
Assessment and Testing:
Depending on the role, you might be required to complete assessments, technical tests, or skills evaluations to gauge your competency and suitability for the position. Internal candidates may have the option to demonstrate their existing skills through current job performance or past project outcomes.
Reference Checks:
Once you progress further in the process, reference checks are conducted to validate your work history, skills, and qualifications, and for some roles, your education and criminal history. Internal candidates may be asked for references from current or previous supervisors within Better Cotton Initiative to provide insights into their performance and capabilities.
Offer stage:
After completing interviews, assessments, and reference checks, the hiring team evaluates your performance and fit for the role. If you are selected and your references are relevant and satisfactory, you will receive a formal job offer letter outlining the terms of employment, compensation, benefits, and any other relevant details. For internal candidates, the offer process may include a discussion about how your transition to the new role will be managed and any support needed for a smooth handover.
About Better Cotton Initiative
Better Cotton Initiative is a global not-for-profit organisation supporting the production of more equitable and sustainable cotton at farm level. We exist to catalyse the cotton farming community with partners, governments and others to continuously drive positive impact by setting standards and facilitating the supply and demand of more sustainable cotton from farm to brand. In just 15 years we have aligned more than a fifth of the world’s cotton with our standard and helped farmers and farming communities thrive. Join us in building a better, more sustainable future for cotton worldwide.
About our Values
The post holder will be expected to operate in line with our workplace values which are:
- Trustworthy (including honest, transparent, credible)
- As having Integrity (including responsible, authentic)
- Positive (including problem-solving, pragmatic)
- Engaging (including adaptable, inclusive, holistic)
- Daring (including courageous, innovative, game-changing)
Being you @ Better Cotton Initiative
Better Cotton Initiative is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to good practice and transparency in the management of natural, human, and financial resources.
We have a zero-tolerance approach to any attitudes or behaviours that put children or adults at risk of harm. Safeguarding incidents are acts of serious misconduct and are grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including, dismissal and referral to relevant authorities for criminal prosecution. Therefore, all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.




