Director of fundraising jobs

Harris Hill are partnering with Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance to recruit for a Legacy Giving Manager in order to strengthen, grow and champion the charity legacy and in-memory giving programme.

Reporting to the Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships, you will lead the charity legacy and in-memory fundraising, ensuring gifts in wills continue to fund our life saving service for generations to come.

This is a strategic and hands on role, offering the freedom to shape and develop a high-performing legacy programme while delivering exceptional supporter care.

As a Legacy Giving Manager you will:

• Delivering and evolving a legacy giving strategy to grow future income
• Managing the administration of legacy gifts, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
• Stewarding legacy pledgers and in-memory supporters with empathy and professionalism
• Growing and promoting our Free Wills programme, working with local solicitors and partners
• Developing engaging campaigns and materials that reflect our mission and local impact
• Monitoring performance, trends and risks across legacy income
• Keeping up to date with sector developments and changes to probate or fundraising practice
• Working collaboratively with fundraising, marketing, supporter care teams and volunteers
• Line managing legacy or in-memory giving staff or volunteers where required

To be successful, you must have experience:

•  Proven experience in legacy and/or in-memory fundraising
• Strong understanding of legacy administration, probate law and regulation
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Highly organised, with strong attention to detail
• Confident using CRM/database systems
• Empathy and sensitivity when working with bereaved supporter

Desirable:

• Experience working with solicitors or funeral directors

• Professional fundraising or marketing qualification.
• Experience managing lotteries and raffles.

Salary: £38,000- £43,000 per annum

Location:  Wellington, Somerset, hybrid working (flexible)

Contract: Permanent, full time or part-time

Closing date: Monday 16th February at 8am

Interview: w/c 23rd February

Recruitment process: Cv and Supporting Statement to

If this sounds like you, then please do get in touch ASAP!

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

Founded in 1927, the University of Hull has a long and proud history. Through our teaching, research and civic engagement, we are helping to shape and deliver the future prosperity of our region and far beyond. 

Leading the Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement team, the Director will drive the design and implementation of the University’s inaugural comprehensive fundraising campaign, launching it at the culmination of our centenary celebrations in summer 2028. Building on progress made to date, the Director will leverage the centenary to elevate the roles of philanthropy and alumni engagement in support of the University’s future ambitions. 

Person specification: 
- Extensive knowledge of philanthropy, preferably within higher education, including fundraising best practice
- Extensive knowledge of alumni engagement and its role in building connections and supporting wider institutional priorities
- Demonstrable track record of building relationships and working with prospects to secure gifts at the six-figure level and above
- Experience of leading philanthropic campaigns and exceeding fundraising targets
- Experience of leading and managing teams carrying out philanthropic and/or engagement activities 
- Experience of strategic and data-driven operational planning and performance management

Dixon Walter is leading the candidate search on behalf of the University. For more information and details of how to apply by 15 February, please see the candidate brief.

#Director
#DirectorPhilanthropyandAlumniEngagement
#UniversityofHull

Pembroke College Oxford is seeking a highly organised and analytical Development Operations Manager to play a central role in supporting the College’s Development and fundraising activities.

Founded in 1624, Pembroke is an inclusive and dynamic College based on a central site in Oxford that combines historic quadrangles with award-winning new developments. The College has ambitious plans for the future and an active programme of alumni engagement, stewardship and fundraising to support its academic mission and long-term sustainability.

The Development Operations Manager is a pivotal role within the Development team. Working closely with the Development Director, the post-holder will be responsible for the operational foundations that underpin the College’s fundraising activity, including alumni database management, gift processing, prospect research, reporting, and insight generation. The role is essential to ensuring that the Development team works efficiently, accurately, and strategically, supported by high-quality data and robust processes.

The post-holder will manage the College’s alumni database (DARS), acting as a knowledgeable and trusted first point of contact for database queries, and will lead projects to improve data quality and compliance. They will also play a key role in analysing giving patterns and engagement trends, preparing reports for colleagues and committees, and supporting the identification and tracking of potential donors. In addition, the role includes dotted-line management responsibility for the Development Coordinator, with a particular focus on overseeing operational activity.

This post would suit someone who is confident working with complex data, highly numerate, and able to spot patterns and trends. The successful candidate will be an excellent communicator, able to work collaboratively within a small, interdependent team, while also exercising discretion and sound judgement when handling confidential information.

Benefits include membership of the University staff pension scheme, free lunches during working hours when the College kitchens are open, and a generous annual leave entitlement of 30 days, in addition to public holidays. Opportunities for training and professional development are also available.

Key responsibilities

The main duties to be carried out by the post-holder include:

Data and Database Management

• Manage the alumni database (‘DARS’) and ensure that data held on alumni is GDPR compliant, comprehensive, and up to date.
•  Oversee projects to maintain and improve the quality of the College’s alumni data and ensure engagement activities are accurately and effectively recorded.
•  Produce data exports for third-parties such as consultancies and mailing houses and ensure any data received is processed and imported accurately.
• Produce accurate data content for publications such as lists of stewardship group members and deceased alumni.
• Become a competent ‘super-user’ of the DARS database and act as first point of contact for the Pembroke Development team for any queries about the database, ensuring that the team is both confident in using it and consistently recording data in line with GDPR.
•  Actively engage with the central University team delivering the successor to DARS, ‘Halo’, to ensure it meets the College’s requirements, and lead on the migration to Halo at the appropriate time.

Prospect Research and Tracking

• Undertake prospect research to identify potential major donors among the College’s alumni and supporter base.
• Oversee research into alumni in particular regions in advance of College trips.  
• Manage Pembroke’s prospect management processes, working with fundraisers and others to identify and assign new prospects within the team.
• Work with the Development Coordinator to prepare donor and prospect profiles ahead of events, trips, and meetings.

Insights, Trends and Segmentation

• Working closely with the Development Officer (Regular Giving and Legacies), proactively and creatively analyse patterns of giving to enable the team to target and segment Regular Giving appeals more effectively.
• Conduct research into wider sector giving trends, and provide recommendations for better engagement.
• Prepare regular reports on donor and engagement activities for the team and wider College, including the Development Committee and Campaign Board.

Gift Processing

• Ensure all changes to Direct Debits including cancellations and amendments are actioned in the agreed timescales. Communicate with donors in respect to these changes.
•  Liaise regularly with the PCFNA (Pembroke’s 501(c)(3)) to ensure donations made through it are accurate.
• Record all donations including cheques/PCFNA/one-off bank payments as pledges on DARS.
• Identify missed pledge payments or recurring gifts.  
• Support the Finance Business Partner in all Gift Aid administration including Gift Aid compliance, securing outstanding Gift Aid declarations and updating old Gift Aid declarations and review of non-eligible declarations.
•  Liaise closely with the finance team to ensure donations are accurately classified and reported
•  Ensure that gift agreements and associated commitments (e.g. Gift Aid, pledges, payment schedules) are recorded accurately and actioned.
•  Research into historic donor funds, where necessary.

Gift Acceptance

•  Manage the gift acceptance process, ensuring that the College accepts gifts appropriately and in line with its Gift Acceptance Policy and Fundraising Policy.
•  Undertake all necessary research and due diligence on prospective donors, and liaise with the central University and third-party providers of due diligence services where required.
•  Oversee the gift acknowledgement process.

Management

•  Supervise (with a dotted line reporting relationship) the Development Coordinator, with particular responsibility for overseeing their work in the Operations functional area.
• Be available for regular 1:1 meetings and as a point of contact for any queries, and support their line manager in making sure they receive all necessary training, induction and information to succeed in their role.

Other

• In common with all posts, ensure compliance with the College’s policies and procedures, statutory obligations, and best practice. 
• Be the principal liaison with the Gift Registry and DARS teams, and keep upto-date with changes/improvements to the system and how to utilise them.
• To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably required by the Development Director, which may include travel and occasional event attendance outside standard working hours.

For person specification, please see the Job Description attached.

To apply, please submit an up-to-date CV and a covering letter, together with details of two referees.

Hoxton Health helps hundreds of local people to manage long term conditions and stay mobile and independent as they age.  We are seeking a new director for our calm and friendly complementary therapy clinic based in St Leonards community hospital.

About Us
Hoxton Health is a well-valued local charity, established over 30 years ago, providing low-cost complementary therapy treatments for older people and those with long term conditions. We fundraise and build partnerships to subsidise treatments, offering lower costs to older patients. Based in St Leonard’s Hospital in Hackney, our friendly team consists of independent practitioners delivering therapies through the week, two other part-time office staff, and a team of volunteers who run the reception.

What will you be doing?
The Centre Director is responsible for the management of all aspects of the organisation's operations and development – internally and externally.
This includes:

• Governance and strategy, including support for Trustee Board
• Oversee smooth running of the clinic
• Finance and fundraising
• Staff management
• Monitoring and evaluation of grant funding
• Development of new projects
• Partnership engagement with other agencies

The clinic is small but busy, with varied days and experiences. We foster a friendly and supportive environment for both our patients and team members. Leadership, guidance and inspiration for this must start with the Centre Director’s work and influence.

Why join us?

• Opportunity to shape the future of a well loved, longstanding service for older people and those with complex needs
• Satisfaction of leading a service with real and valued impact on the health of local people
• Opportunity to join and lead a friendly and welcoming team
• Employer Pension contribution
• Complementary therapy treatments at staff rate

#Director
#Centre Director
#Clinic Director
#Charity Director

For more than 30 years, War Child has been driven by a single goal: to ensure a safe future for every child affected by war. We work in some of the world’s most challenging contexts, reaching children as quickly as possible when conflict breaks out and remaining long after the cameras have gone. Through protection, education, community support and advocacy, we help children heal, learn and rebuild their lives. One child caught up in conflict is one too many, and we exist to make sure they are never forgotten.

We are now seeking an Interim Director of Finance & IT (maternity cover) to join our Leadership Group at a pivotal moment for the organisation. Reporting directly to our CEO, this role is about continuity, momentum and leadership. You will take responsibility for two critical functions and play a central role in shaping how War Child UK is funded, governed and enabled to deliver impact, both independently and as part of the wider War Child Alliance.

This is a role for someone who wants their expertise to matter. You will lead our finance and IT functions, ensuring our systems, processes and data provide the clarity and confidence needed to make bold, informed decisions. Your insight into income, cost and performance will directly influence how we invest, grow and maximise our fundraising potential.

Alongside this, you will play a key role in long-term financial planning and cross-Alliance collaboration, helping to build robust frameworks that support sustainable growth and accountability. Working with fellow directors, you will help steward the organisation as a whole, ensuring War Child UK remains resilient, ambitious and ready to meet the scale of the need we exist to address.

You will be a qualified accountant with significant strategic and operational experience. While prior international development experience is not essential, you will need to demonstrate the ability to build trusted relationships across cultures and geographies. Experience in a complex, fundraising-led organisation will be highly advantageous.

We are keen to hear from both experienced directors and senior leaders who are ready to step into their first executive role. If you are motivated by purpose, thrive in complex environments and want your leadership to create real change, we would love to hear from you.

Tall Roots is acting as an employment agency partner to War Child UK. For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Mark Crowley at Tall Roots.

Direct Marketing Manager, European New Donors

Location:  London

Hiring Range:  46,000-55,000 GBP per year

Reporting to the Director of New Donor Engagement, the Direct Marketing Manager leads IFAW’s international new donor acquisition and global reactivation efforts. This role oversees the strategy and execution  of IFAW’s direct mail and face-to-face fundraising for four European markets:  Germany, France, UK and The Netherlands.  This role also designs and executes strategies to re-engage long lapsed supporters in all markets. Collaborate with the digital acquisition team to amplify results and leverage the strategies to attract new donors and reactivate lapsed donors. The manager collaborates with internal teams and external vendors to ensure campaigns are delivered effectively and in alignment with organizational goals.

Role and Responsibilities

· Lead all facets of direct mail new donor acquisition and reactivation programs, including strategic planning, budget oversight, creative strategy, vendor management, and process optimization.

· Support and participate in direct response TV campaigns and leverage that strategy to amplify results in direct mail and face to face channels.

· Develop and implement country-specific acquisition and reactivation strategies to maintain or grow donor file size in alignment with departmental goals.

· Conduct in-market research and stay informed on emerging donor acquisition methods and trends.

· Collaborate with Direct Marketing Directors to ensure newly acquired and reactivated donors align with overall fundraising goals and audience segmentation strategies.

· Oversee vendors and internal colleagues to ensure acquisition and reactivation campaigns are executed accurately, efficiently, and on schedule.

· Apply direct marketing principles, fundraising strategies, and analytical insights to design and optimize acquisition and reactivation campaigns.

· Research, identify, and recommend acquisition and reactivation test plans that support innovation, cost efficiency, and departmental growth objectives.

· Contribute to the development and management of the annual budget and three-year projections, ensuring alignment with strategic fundraising priorities.

· Deliver timely and accurate monthly forecast updates to the Director of New Donor Engagement, accompanied by a clear narrative outlining key performance trends, strategic adjustments, and changes impacting acquisition and reactivation campaigns.

· Review vendor contracts to ensure compliance with legal standards and alignment with organizational policies, fundraising ethics, and operational expectations. Ensure that vendors operate within contractual agreements.

· Lead the vendor selection process by issuing bids, evaluating proposals, and managing onboarding to ensure alignment with organizational standards and campaign goals.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

· 5+ years of direct marketing experience, preferably within a nonprofit or fundraising context

· Strong leadership and organizational skills, with a track record of self-motivation, effective time management, and team development

· Proven success managing cross-functional teams and external vendors to execute complex projects on schedule and within scope

· Exceptional communication abilities, both written and verbal, with a focus on clarity, persuasion, and donor engagement

· Demonstrated ability to meet and exceed fundraising goals, with a solid understanding of donor acquisition and retention strategies

· Global marketing exposure or international campaign experience is highly desirable

· Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business administration, communications, or a relevant experience preferred

At IFAW, we aim to create and foster a workforce that reflects and contributes to the diverse, global community in which we work to improve the lives of both animals and people.  We are dedicated to fostering justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion so we actively encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds.

To apply, please submit CV and letter of interest to Careers | IFAW

About us

We’re Breast Cancer Now, the research and support charity. We’re the place to turn to for anything and everything to do with breast cancer. However, you’re experiencing breast cancer, we’re here. 

The brightest minds in breast cancer research are here. Making life-saving research happen in labs across the UK and Ireland. Support services, trustworthy breast cancer information and specialist nurses are here. Ready to support you whenever you need it. Dedicated campaigners are here. Fighting for the best possible treatment, services and care for anyone affected by breast cancer.

About the role

Do you live in Cardiff or the surrounding area?

As a senior community fundraiser, you’ll will an important part of the team building Breast Cancer Now’s presence in Wales, with a particular focus on South Wales. 

We’re looking for someone who is an experienced relationship builder, someone who can find and develop new supporters.  You’ll need excellent local knowledge, and the enthusiasm to develop the local region.

The successful candidate will also be part of the team working on our large-scale project supporting and growing Asda Tickled Pink, our award-winning partnership with Asda and CoppaFeel! which has already raised over £100 million.

You’ll work directly with passionate colleagues across Asda stores in your region driving new fundraising initiatives, inspiring communities, and celebrating their incredible successes.

No 2 days will look the same as you travel, connect and engage supporters to help us grow income to deliver our mission.

The role is initially offered as an 18-month contract with the potential to become permanent.

About you

We’re looking for someone who is:

Confident in approaching new contacts and are experienced in developing new relationships from scratch. This may currently be in a customer service, account management or stewardship role.

Experienced in managing and building new and established relationships with a focus on retention and income growth.

Enthusiastic, proactive, organised and unafraid to test and try new ideas.

This role will involve being out and about in the community you’re building, so you must be able to work independently outside of the office in varying locations and enjoy being busy.

Previous experience working in a charity is not required. The ability to speak Welsh would be desirable.

Job description and benefits

Please download the job description and our attractive benefits package.

Primary location of role

The candidate will need to be based in Cardiff or the surrounding area with unlimited access to their own car. Regular travel will be required to meet supporters and visit Asda stores in your region, as well as occasional travel to our London, office.

When applying

We hope you choose to apply for this role. To support your application, you’ll be asked to submit your anonymised CV. Please refer to the essential criteria on the person specification and clearly provide as much information as you can with examples, to demonstrate how and where you meet the criteria. If you’ve any immediate questions, please contact the Brast Cancer Now Recruitment team

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

We’re committed to promoting equity, valuing diversity and creating an inclusive environment – for everyone who works for us, works with us, supports us and who we support.

Closing date  Thursday 19 February 2026 9am

Interview date First stage interview: 23, 24, 25 February 2026

Second stage interview: 1, 2 March 2026

We reserve the right to close this advert early. Therefore, to avoid disappointment please submit your application as soon as possible, if you’re interested in this opportunity.

Winning Leishman is one of Scotland’s leading fundraising consultancies. We have successfully raised millions of pounds for charities over 25 years in business. We offer a full range of services and we tailor the services we offer for each of our clients.

Winning Leishman are seeking an experienced Fundraiser to join our team. This post will involve research into grant makers, developing funding proposals and following up with reports and communications to maximise long-term income generation on behalf of Winning Leishman’s clients.

Position in Organisation

Report to the Winning Leishman Directors.

Responsibilities
• Support the identification of trust and foundation funding opportunities through research
• Create tailored applications to a wide range of funders
• Create reports and other communications to funders
• Maintain a schedule of applications and reports

Person Specification
Skills & Experience
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in preparing funding applications to trusts and foundations (essential)
• Experience of working in the charity sector (essential)
• Reliable and well organised with good time management skills and ability to meet deadlines
• Excellent IT skills, Excel and MS Office, with a working knowledge of database systems
• Strong written skills
• A creative and lateral thinker
• Professional, courteous, respectful and confident
• Proactive and self -motivated with a positive and enthusiastic approach to teamwork
Qualifications
• Degree (in any subject), studying towards a degree or equivalent (desirable)

Key Dates
Closing date: Monday 16th February at 12 noon
Interviews (by Teams): Wednesday 25th & Thursday 26th February
Start date: By arrangement

Horatio’s Garden charity is looking for an experienced fundraising leader to develop this newly created role within the fundraising and events directorate. We are a growing, award winning, national charity delivering garden-based support to improve the mental health of people with spinal injuries across the UK. 

You will be joining the charity in an incredibly exciting year, as we launch our new 5 year strategy and head into a Capital Appeal for our tenth garden in Wakefield.

Our newly created role of Head of Philanthropy & Partnerships will play a critical part in this next chapter, leading the development of our existing high value fundraising portfolio to support our growth ambitions. This is both a strategic and hands-on role, operating in a small team environment and requiring the postholder to work with the Director of Income Generation and CEO to shape strategy, build relationships, and deliver income directly. 

The role will work across major donors, trusts & foundations and corporate partnerships, supporting a talented team of four fundraisers: Senior Philanthropy Manager (Trusts & MD), Senior Regional Partnerships Manager, Trust & Foundations Fundraiser and Trusts & Foundations Assistant.

The charity has a history of building successful high value relationships, and we are looking for someone with the experience and ambition to help us build on this solid foundation to deliver our 5-year strategy and complete our core capital appeal programme. 

You will need to have significant fundraising experience gained in a charitable environment across major donors, trusts and foundations and corporate partnerships. You will work with the team to develop compelling case for supports, identify and cultivate prospects and build partnerships to secure high value gifts.

Harris Hill has an exciting opportunity for a Marketing professional to support a charity based in London for 3 months, on a full time basis, however, open to flexible working arrangements.

This marketing role will pay up to £40k, with two days a week in their central London office, working there Tuesdays and Thursdays.

This role is supporting a recruitment gap and will sit within the Marketing team and report to the Marketing and Partnerships Director with the following core responsibilities: 

Partner Status Updates - creation of presentations for corporate partners and reporting using website analytics and quantitative data to demonstrate the impact of their partnerships 

Partnership Strategy Presentations - creation (under supervision) of presentations to pitch ideas to partners on new partnership activation initiatives

Partner Marketing Campaigns - development/delivery of marketing campaigns working with existing partners including asset creation, posting content etc. 

New Partner Proposals – creation (under supervision) of proposals to prospective new partners, researching suitable contacts/organisations for potential funding for these proposals.

This is basically to cover some elements of the vacant Account Management and Fundraising roles they currently have. The work would be closely supervised and the main tasks will be the creation of high-quality branded presentations and proposals so excellent Powerpoint skills, creative skills and the ability to articulate information in written form clearly and concisely will be critical. 

If you would like to find out more, please apply for further information.

Best wishes

Stay Up Late is a charity fighting for the right of people with learning disabilities and autistic
people to live full social lives — to go out, stay up late, and have fun. We’re best known for
Gig Buddies, our flagship project built around music, nightlife, and friendship.

This is a senior, hands-on leadership role, providing strategic and practical leadership across
income generation and financial management. Fundraising and sustainability are shared
responsibilities at Stay Up Late — this role leads and coordinates that work, helping us focus
on what will have the greatest impact while ensuring strong, proportionate financial
oversight.

You’ll bring senior charity finance experience, a good understanding of income generation,
and a collaborative, values-led approach. You’ll be comfortable working closely with the
Director, trustees, staff, and freelancers in a small organisation where trust and teamwork
matter.

Closing date: 9am, Monday 23 February
Interviews: after 5 March
Start date: flexible
To apply, complete the application form on our website.

We’re committed to equality, inclusion, and doing things differently — applications are
encouraged from people who share our values.

Director of Income Generation & Business Development
Salary - £55,000 - £60,000 dependent on experience
Location: Leeds (hybrid working)

For over 50 years, Leeds Women’s Aid has been a lifeline for women and children experiencing domestic violence and abuse. The organisation has grown significantly, from a c.£600–700k income charity 10 years ago, to one now approaching £5m annual income. With this growth comes bold, renewed ambition to diversify income, strengthen influence and ensure LWA’s voice, values and impact are communicated with clarity and confidence to reach those who need them most. 

It’s an exciting time in LWA’s development. With a growing footprint, deeper community roots, expanding services and renewed ambition to influence systemic change for women. This newly established Director of Income Generation & Business Development role is designed to bring together income generation, marketing and communications, and retail under one strategic umbrella to shape the next chapter of LWA’s development and impact. 

As Director of Income Generation & Business Development you will set the strategic direction for all income related activity across the charity, ensuring LWA develops a sustainable, diversified income portfolio that is aligned with the charity’s purpose and values. This is an opportunity to shape a sustainable future for LWA – ensuring it can continue to grow its impact and that its work remains rooted in the voices and experiences of women and children. 

You’ll play a key role in the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to collective leadership, organisational governance and the long-term resilience and strategic direction of the charity. 

As Director of Income Generation & Business Development you will:

• Strategically lead a multi-year income generation and business development strategy, setting key objectives and enabling diversification that aligns with LWA’s values and new organisational strategy. 
• Provide strategic leadership for marketing and communications, ensuring organisational-wide narrative building that reflects the values and impact of LWA, while championing the voices of women and children. 
• Ensure strategic leadership for LWA’s retail function, developing growth strategies that balance community impact alongside financial performance. 
• Develop compelling, adaptable cases for support that reflect LWA’s impact and ambitions, ethically and meaningfully embedding survivors’ voices. 
• Strengthen organisational resilience through income diversification beyond statutory funding, establishing strong communities of support and identifying opportunities for growth. 
• Work collaboratively with the Director of Services & Engagement and Director of Strategy, Partnerships & Influence to identify and develop new commissioning and business development opportunities, ensuring viability and strategic alignment. 
• Represent LWA with authenticity, integrity and sensitivity to ensure the values of the organisation are upheld and that organisational decision making reflects women-centred principles. 

The role would best suit:

• A senior income generation leader, with broad multi-stream experience and a proven track record of strategically driving growth and diversification of fundraised income. 
• A strategic leader with the ability to develop a team across income generation, marketing and communications and retail. 
• An individual with experience of developing income generation strategies that intersect with organisational strategies and ambitions. 
• Someone with the ability to balance income generation with ethical storytelling/responsibility, public accountability and regulatory considerations. 
• An individual who demonstrates commitment to LWA’s values and the Nolan Principles: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. 
• Someone with demonstrated commitment to, and understanding of, women-led and women-centred support services, including the importance of trauma-informed, inclusive, and empowering practice for women and girls.

Please get in touch as soon as possible to express an initial interest, the deadline for applications (CV and Application Questions) is Tuesday 24th February with first stage interviews scheduled to take place Thursday 5th/Monday 9th of March.  

Due to the nature of the services provided and the population supported, this post is subject to an Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (Part 1) of the Equality Act 2010, and therefore the postholder must be female. This requirement is applied lawfully and proportionately, reflecting the organisation’s provision of specialist women-centred services and the need to maintain safety, trust, and authenticity in leadership and external representation.

Appointment to this role will be subject to safer recruitment checks, including satisfactory references, right to work verification, and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at the appropriate level.

We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Spurgeons, who believe in creating brighter futures for children, young people, and families. As one of the UK's leading children's charities, firmly supported by Christian beliefs and values, Spurgeons helps vulnerable children and their families by delivering projects that support them and their communities to find long-lasting solutions to the challenges they face.

We are seeking a Senior Philanthropy Manager to secure transformational income through high-value giving strategies across major donors, legacies, trusts, foundations, and corporate partnerships. By building meaningful relationships and inspiring generosity, you'll create long-term partnerships that deliver life-changing support for children, young people, and families.

As a member of the fundraising management team contributing to shaping and delivering the overall Fundraising & Engagement strategy, you'll provide supportive line management to two direct reports. You'll develop and implement high-value donor giving strategies to drive sustainable year-on-year income growth, while building and nurturing meaningful relationships with high-value donors and managing your own portfolio with robust cultivation and stewardship plans.

Working with the Director of Fundraising & Engagement, you'll collaborate with senior leaders and trustees to identify new income opportunities. You'll implement and drive the Legacy and In-Memory strategy, oversee stewardship programmes for legacy pledgers, lead strategic pipeline development for Trusts and Foundations, and develop and deliver a Corporate Fundraising strategy. Conducting in-depth research and wealth screening, you'll identify and evaluate prospects while monitoring KPIs, budgets, and ROI against strategic plans.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:

• Proven experience of line management and team leadership
• Proven experience of donor management, demonstrating the ability to build and steward high-value, income-generating relationships
• Demonstrable experience of achieving or exceeding income targets, delivering year-on-year net income growth
• Track record of developing, managing and growing high-value pipelines across major donors, trusts and foundations, legacies and corporate partners
• Proven success in major gift fundraising, including securing five or six figure gifts through face-to-face asks

By month 3, you'll have reviewed current high-value fundraising strategies and met key internal stakeholders including the Director of Fundraising, SLT, and Trustees. By month 6, you'll have launched refined Major Donor and Legacy strategies, developed a robust prospect pipeline, and initiated at least one new corporate partnership. By month 12, you'll have delivered a measurable increase in high-value income across all streams, embedded legacy messaging across all fundraising channels, and secured multi-year commitments from at least two major donors or trusts.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a team that isn't just goal-driven, but fuelled by creativity, passion, and a love for bold ideas to drive positive change! You'll be part of a team that celebrates successes and believes in fostering a positive and supportive environment where everyone feels valued and inspired to do their best work.

For more information, please contact Nick Thomas, Senior Consultant, Charisma Charity Recruitment. Your application should be submitted through the Charisma website and include your CV and supporting statement.

Charisma is committed to inclusive and accessible recruitment processes. If you have any reasonable adjustments or wish to apply for this role under the Disability Confident Scheme, please confirm in your application, or contact our Operations Teams separately. Charisma will ensure all candidates who disclose that they wish to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and that meet the minimum criteria for the role will receive an opportunity to interview with the Charisma Consultant representing the vacancy.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or other category protected by law.

Location: Home based

Closing date: Sunday 8th February 2026

Charisma vetting interviews must be completed by Tuesday 10th February 2026

1st round interviews with Spurgeons: w/c 16th February 2026

Final round interviews with Spurgeons: w/c 23rd February 2026

The Vacancy

Job Title: Head of Fundraising, YMCA Essex

Location: Chelmsford

Salary: £55,000 per annum

Weekly Hours: 35

Reference: YMC1154754

Make a lasting impact with YMCA Essex.
We’re embarking on an exciting journey to redevelop our iconic Victoria Road site — creating a vibrant community space that transforms lives. To make this vision a reality, we’re seeking a dynamic Head of Fundraising to lead the generation of income across multiple streams and help shape the future of our organisation.

About the Role
As Head of Fundraising, you’ll play a pivotal role in delivering YMCA Essex’s income generation strategy, ensuring sustainable and diverse funding for our redevelopment project and wider community initiatives. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, you’ll bring creativity, strategic thinking, and drive to build meaningful partnerships and deliver strong results.

You’ll lead on securing income from a variety of sources including trusts and foundations, corporate partners, major donors, legacies, community fundraising, and social enterprise. With ambitious targets and a clear vision, you’ll identify new opportunities, manage risks, and ensure a healthy return on investment.

This role will also see you collaborate across teams - engaging staff, residents, volunteers and community supporters in our mission. You’ll be a visible and inspiring leader, fostering a culture of energy, growth, and shared purpose.

About You

You are seeking an opportunity where there’s space and scope to build something amazing from the ground up. This means you’ll almost certainly be an experienced fundraiser or income generation professional who thrives on building relationships and achieving results. You’ll combine strategic insight with hands-on delivery and bring a proven track record of meeting ambitious income targets for capital projects.

Key qualities include:

Experience in one or more of the following: trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, major gifts, or community fundraising.

Strong, pragmatic communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to engage senior leaders, donors, and partners.

The ability to innovate, plan strategically, and manage competing priorities effectively.

A commitment to YMCA Essex’s core values of Kindness, Fairness, Professionalism, Perseverance, and Joy.

Why Join Us?
At YMCA Essex, we believe in creating opportunities for everyone to thrive. You’ll be joining a passionate, supportive team driven by a shared purpose - to strengthen our community and change lives for the better.

If you’re ready to bring energy, expertise, and vision to this transformative project, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today and be part of something extraordinary.

Our recruitment process is anonymised and candidates' names are hidden. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. Safer recruitment is important to us and the successful applicant will be asked to provide two references. They will also be required to complete a safeguarding self-declaration, safeguarding training and undertake a DBS check.