Donor research manager jobs

The Sutton Trust is the UK’s leading social mobility charity. We believe every young person should have a fair chance in life, regardless of their family’s income, the school they go to or where they grow up. But today in Britain, the opportunity to succeed is heavily shaped by socio-economic background. Our mission is to change this. Our programmes empower young people to access life-changing opportunities, and our research influences national change to deliver a fairer future.

Each year, together with our university and employer partners, we support over 14,000 young people to reach their potential through our university, apprenticeship and career access programmes. And our support doesn’t stop there. We engage our thriving alumni community to help them to succeed in their professions and to act as advocates for social mobility.

Our rigorous and extensive research shines a light on barriers to opportunity from the early years to the workplace, and we strive to influence national policy change with evidence-based solutions to tackle educational and workplace inequality. Using insights from our programmes and research, we also test and scale new ideas in education and employment practice.

As an independent charity, our work is entirely reliant on the generous support of our community of donors. The need to support our work to tackle Britain’s low social mobility has never been greater.

Fundraising at the Sutton Trust

We are seeking a dynamic and confident fundraiser to be our Corporate Partnerships & Events Manager. The Sutton Trust is at an exciting point in our organisational journey, with a new Chairperson and ambitions to significantly grow our impact and fundraising as part of our 2030 strategy.

Over the past five years the impact of the Sutton Trust has increased, especially with our programmes which have gone from supporting 11,000 young people a year to 14,000 in the 24/25 programme year. We have secured a relatively stable income of c.£6m over several years, and in the last two years this has grown to £7m+. Our organisational strategy, which takes us to 2030/31, will continue this fundraising trajectory with a need to increase annual income on a sustained basis to £12m. With corporate income accounting for nearly half our fundraised income, there is considerable enthusiasm and opportunity in the corporate world for building strategic partnerships with The Sutton Trust.

Our fundraising approach will continue to focus on major gifts and strategic multi-year partnerships, leveraging a range of drivers to secure corporate support. Our highly engaged Chairperson has a commercial background and is keen to leverage contacts in the corporate world, giving a network of prospective contacts to explore.

The role and team

As Corporate Partnerships & Events Manager, you will be an experienced partnership manager and fundraiser, confident in securing new business through active prospecting and networking along with experience in securing and stewarding strategic partnerships with corporates and their associated corporate foundations. You will have an entrepreneurial mindset for income generation, able to confidently manage competing demands to balance securing new partnerships and delivering high quality account management to your portfolio of current and prospective supporters.

The role will lead a portfolio of corporate partnerships, focused on delivering shared strategic goals to increase social mobility in the workplace and supporting a more socio-economically diverse workforce for the future. The role will be the point-person within the Development Team for organisational events, working closely with key colleagues in our marketing & events and programme functions to support delivery of high-quality events. They will also take responsibility for delivering successful stewardship events, including programme visits. It will be crucial to work closely with a range of stakeholders, especially colleagues, to deliver successful stewardship events that showcase the varied work of the Sutton Trust and engage supporters with our work. This will include working closely with existing staff who lead on organisational, advocacy and programme events to ensure donors and prospects are able to attend and engage with the work.

Corporate partnerships are delivered by a talented and growing team, all with their own portfolios based on partnership level and complexity. Team members work on both new business and account management, with ambitious individual income targets.

Main duties
New Business

• Personally scope, develop and secure new five-figure+ corporate partnerships, aiming for a diverse and robust portfolio of partners with multi-year commitments, working with the Head of Corporate Partnerships, other senior staff, and senior volunteers appropriately to secure and steward.

• Proactively approach new business development within the corporate sector, cultivating relationships and networks to grow awareness of The Sutton Trust and secure major gifts.

• Support the Head of Corporate Partnerships in their work with senior volunteers to develop a strong prospect pipeline for major corporate gifts, including support for network mapping to leverage connections and cultivate prospective funders.

Events, Account Management and Development

• Manage and grow the Trust’s leadership and partner level corporate partnerships in your portfolio, including leveraging existing relationships to maximise financial income and partnership longevity.

• Appropriately leverage senior staff and volunteers to secure multi-lateral relationships with corporate partners and prospects, with the aim of retaining partnerships and uplifting income.

• Working closely with key colleagues to be the first point of contact for the Development team to support organisational events, and working with Development leadership to deliver diverse and engaging stewardship events.

• Working closely with key colleagues, support delivery of key donor messaging through Campaign Monitor or other platforms as appropriate, to align with the stewardship events goals of further engaging donors and prospects with the work of the Sutton Trust.

• Be accountable for achieving agreed corporate income targets, looking for opportunities to grow funding and diversify corporate income.

Fundraising, Finance and Reporting

• Act as an ambassador for the Trust with external audiences in the corporate space, representing the Trust with gravitas and confidence to secure major gifts and develop relationships.

• Work with colleagues across Development and Finance to ensure accurate forecasting, income tracking and reporting for your portfolio of corporate partnerships.

• Working closely with colleagues, provide corporate fundraising expertise to increase awareness of viable funding opportunities and develop organisational understanding of best practice for working with corporate partners and funders.

• Ensure you appropriately follow policies and procedures on due diligence, Salesforce and data management, account management, stewardship, and reporting.

• Stay up to date with corporate fundraising best practice, learning from senior members of the team, and keep abreast of developments and opportunities within the wider fundraising space.

• Other duties as necessary from time to time.

Person Specification

We welcome applications from individuals who have experience in:

• Experience in successfully securing, managing, and developing corporate partnerships at five-figures-plus level, from initial prospect research to contracting and ongoing stewardship.

• Experience successfully securing and/or managing corporate-charity partnerships, including engaging senior leadership on both sides to deliver strategic goals and mutual benefit.

• Experience network mapping and networking to build and manage relationships that lead to corporate donations to non-profits, particularly with senior non-profit volunteers.

• Experience planning and delivering events that provide high-quality stewardship to donors and prospects, engaging them with the work of a non-profit and promoting strong relationships.

• Experience managing events with an organised and clear project management approach, including influencing and working with a variety of stakeholders internally and externally.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including networking at C-suite and senior management level and strong presentation skills, with the ability to prepare and deliver engaging and persuasive cases for support.

• First-class interpersonal skills - a natural ambassador able to represent the Sutton Trust with gravitas and confidence in a range of settings, especially the corporate world and with senior leaders.

• Knowledge and experience of the education and/or not-for-profit sector.

• Knowledge of the UK fundraising environment, including corporate fundraising trends and regulations that affect corporate partnerships.

• Experienced at using Salesforce or other fundraising CRM software to accurately record funding relationships.

We are also looking for an individual who:

• Sympathetic to the aims of the Trust and our mission to increase social mobility.

• High degree of initiative and the ability to take responsibility for corporate fundraising activity.

• Dynamic and entrepreneurial fundraiser, with a passion for personally engaging supporters.

• Able to think strategically about the bigger picture and manage hands-on fundraising.

• Proven ability to influence stakeholders at all levels and encourage giving.

• Excellent attention to detail with strong analytical skills.

• Able to work independently and as part of a team

• Is eligible to work in the UK (see here for information about right to work)

Terms of Appointment

• Contract: Full time, Permanent

• Salary: £42,025-£46,000

• Working location: Minimum of two office days per week. Our home working policy gives staff the option to work from home for up to 60% of the time, with approval from their line manager.

• Office location: The Sutton Trust, 9th Floor, Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP.

• Hours: The standard working hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. This role is likely to also be required to attend events / meetings outside of normal working hours during weekday evenings and occasionally at weekends, in line with organisational policies.

Interviews

Applications should reach us by 10am, Monday 25th May, with first round interviews held on Tuesday, 4th June, and second round interviews held on Wednesday, 10th June. Both rounds will be held in our London office.

Safeguarding statement

The Sutton Trust believes that a child, young person or vulnerable adult should never experience abuse of any kind. We all have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe. Therefore all posts undergo a safer recruitment process, including but not limited to, disclosure of criminal records where necessary and eligibility to work in the UK. We have procedures in place to promote safeguarding and a safe culture at the Trust.

Contextual recruitment

The Trust is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity and that all applicants receive equal consideration for employment. We strongly encourage individuals from all backgrounds, including those underrepresented at present at the Trust, to apply for this role. As such we particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities, Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ and from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds. We are committed to being an inclusive and welcoming place to work and know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for the young people we support.

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for disabled candidates throughout our recruitment process and during employment.

We also operate contextual recruitment at the Sutton Trust. Our application process gives you the option to include information about your background, such as whether you were eligible for free school meals, whether your parents went to university, or whether you attended a state school. For more examples and information on contextual recruitment, please see our website.

Fundraising Manager

Location: York or Burgess Hill / Hybrid

Salary: £42,000 - £45,000 per annum DOE

Hours: 35hrs per week

Why join us?

Brainkind is a charity that aims to improve the lives of people with brain injuries in the UK. Our assessment centres, rehabilitation units and hospitals use expert neurorehabilitation to support people to regain the skills they have lost. We treat people with a range of brain injuries – sustained through trauma, illness, substance abuse and more – to recover and meet their personal goals. Our employees are incredibly passionate about the jobs they do – you will find a strong team spirit across our services and amazing colleagues who always pull together and look out for each other.

MAIN PURPOSE:

 We are seeking an experienced and strategic Fundraising Manager to lead and grow a diverse income portfolio across multiple fundraising disciplines.

This is a leadership role responsible for contributing to and delivering a national fundraising strategy aligned to Brainkind’s organisational priorities, financial sustainability goals, and growth ambitions.

The postholder will manage and develop a small fundraising team, embed high-performance standards, and drive income generation across statutory trusts and foundations, major donors, corporate partnerships, community fundraising, events, and individual giving.

 MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership

• Contribute to, develop and deliver a multi-year fundraising strategy to achieve sustainable income growth.
• Set and manage annual income targets exceeding £500k to £1m.
• Identify new income streams aligned to Brainkind’s service model and expansion priorities.
• Work closely with senior leadership to align fundraising with operational and strategic objectives.

Income Generation (All Disciplines)

Lead and oversee income generation across:

• Trusts & Foundations – Develop compelling proposals for health, social care and rehabilitation funding.
• Corporate Partnerships – Secure and manage mutually beneficial local partnerships.
• Community & Events Fundraising – Grow supporter-led activity nationally.
• Individual Giving & Digital Campaigns – Strengthen acquisition, retention and legacy programmes.
• Statutory & Health Sector Funding (where applicable outside commissioned services).

Team Management

• Line manage, coach and develop a small fundraising team.
• Foster a high-performance, collaborative culture.
• Set KPIs and ensure strong pipeline management and reporting.

Relationship & Stakeholder Management

• Act as an ambassador for Brainkind externally.
• Build strong internal relationships with operations, clinical teams, finance, and communications to gather impact data and case studies.
• Work closely with marketing/communications to strengthen brand-led fundraising campaigns.

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with fundraising regulations and best practice (e.g. Fundraising Regulator, GDPR).
• Monitor ROI and cost-effectiveness across fundraising activities.

ABOUT YOU:

• Knowledge of a broad range of fundraising and charity sector activities.
• Knowledge of legal obligations for fundraising activities and all internal procedures and regulations and adherence to best practices, as defined by the organisation and Institute of Fundraising Code of Practice & Fundraising Regulator
• Proven track record of achieving and exceeding fundraising income targets at £500k+ level (or comparable scale).
• Experience in managing successful campaigns, both digitally and within the community.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to analyse data and manager performance pipelines.
• Be able to research, identify and build on opportunities for fundraising initiatives.
• Creative and innovative.

REWARDS:

You can look forward to excellent benefits including:

• A competitive salary of £42,000 - £45,000 per annum DOE
• 38 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays) (pro rata)
• Buy and sell up to 5 days annual leave.
• Health Cash Plan
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Excellent training and support
• Group life assurance.
• Eye voucher scheme
• Free parking
• Company Pension
• Long Service and Staff Awards

We also put a big focus on employee wellbeing and support. It matters to us that you feel at your best. Career development is a priority. We will ensure you get all the training and learning opportunities you need to achieve your goals.

**Please note we will be shortlisting and interviewing candidates on a rolling basis until the role is filled therefore, we recommend applying as soon as possible. **

*All successful candidates are subject to compliance checks including 3 years of checkable references and DBS/PVG checks*

Brainkind are a Disability Confident Employer. As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy. Brainkind is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive organisation. It is a place where we recognise, celebrate, and live our values which includes offering a range of inclusive employment policies and staff engagement forums to support employees from all backgrounds.

Prospectus is excited to be partnering with our client in the search for a permanent Philanthropy Manager.

The organisation is a charity committed to improving social mobility in the UK. Their work is focused on improving social mobility through education opportunities. Their mission is to level the playing field for young people from low-income backgrounds so that they have a fair chance of accessing leading universities, apprenticeships, and jobs. With a three-pronged approach including programmes, research, and policy advocacy, the organisation supports nearly 12,000 young people each year and they have been able to work towards keeping social mobility high in the political agenda.

As the Philanthropy Manager you will predominantly manage the portfolio of Fellows giving at the being £15k, £5k, and £1k per year level, as well as relationships with donors giving much more. The Philanthropy Manager will be responsible for developing the alumni giving campaign and will spot opportunities for further cultivation and donor engagement throughout the philanthropy portfolio of the organisation. The Philanthropy Manager will be a true relationship management and will line manage a Philanthropy Assistant while reporting to the Head of Philanthropy, working closely too with the Director of Development.

To be successful as the Philanthropy Manager you will have experience of building and managing donor relationships with individuals giving four-figures and above per year in a philanthropy team or other fundraising capacity through structured giving schemes. You will have experience of working with key senior colleagues across and organisation to secure major gifts and steward relationships and will have good knowledge of the UK fundraising environment, including trends in philanthropy.

This role is a full-time permanent position that will have hybrid working in the London offices for at least two days per week. The salary for this role is £42,025 to £48,000.  

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds. Please let us know if we can help you with the application process in any way. We are more than happy to make any reasonable adjustments to enable all interested candidates to apply. If you have any disability and would like assistance with completing an application then please contact Ryan Burdock at Prospectus.

If you are interested in applying to this Philanthropy Manager position, please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will send you the full job description and will arrange for a call and/or meeting to brief you on the role. You’ll then have all the information you need to formally apply. We are looking forward to connecting with you soon.

An exciting new opportunity has arisen to join our Experience and Development Team on a permanent contract

Working as part of the Experience and Development Team, this varied role is instrumental in leading the planning, coordination, and delivery of Glasgow Science Centre’s fundraising activity, ensuring the effective implementation of a diversified fundraising strategy across individual giving, corporate partnerships, statutory funding, and trusts & foundations.

You will lead the development and stewardship of relationships with funders, donors, and strategic partners, ensuring long-term engagement, effective relationship management, and maximised support for organisational priorities.

CUF wants to build flourishing communities and tackle poverty, by partnering with churches and groups all over England, and we are looking for a Philanthropy Manager to shape and grow a major gifts programme which has been identified as a key opportunity for growth. You’ll be working closely with our Head of Fundraising and Communications in a small team that values fundraising creativity, and has some great partnerships and resources for you to build on.

We’re seeking a motivated self-starter, with a track record of initiating, managing and developing relationships with high net worth individuals and grantmaking bodies, and securing 5 figure donations and grants.

You will find, and nurture relationships with, philanthropists and non-statutory grant-makers. Some of these will be existing donors, and warm prospects, and others you will identify by research (we’ll provide some administrative help). You’ll also engage with Trustees, and senior staff, to identify and nurture Christian philanthropists and grant body decision-makers within their spheres of influence.

You’ll develop cases for support and write funding applications (helped by the wider staff team) and will build a robust income pipeline based on relational asks, including in person. Stewardship is key, so we want a skilled communicator with great organisational skills. You’ll have a passion for local social action, and will thrive in our collaborative team culture.

How to apply

For an informal conversation about this role and for more information, please contact our Deputy CEO, Adam Edwards (please see job pack for details). 

To apply, please email an up-to-date CV and covering letter (we will only shortlist CV’s with a covering letter!) outlining your relevant skills and experience as relating to the responsibilities and person specification to: HR Officer (please see job pack for details).

Closing date: 5:00pm on Monday 1st June with interviews to be held on 16th June; whether online or in person to be confirmed.

About us

Every day, SOHK transforms lives. We work with young people at risk of exclusion and disengagement from education, empowering them to break cycles of disadvantage and realise their potential. Through a combination of rugby and social and emotional learning, we help participants develop the confidence, skills, and resilience they need to succeed in life and education.

We plan to double the number of young people engaging with our programmes over the next five years. We are also making significant investments in our impact function, to better understand how we can maximise the benefits for participants and attract more attention and investment to social and emotional learning (SEL) interventions.

Job Overview

We are seeking a dynamic and driven Events & Corporate Partnerships Manager to play a key role in delivering our fundraising ambitions across England and Wales. This is a varied and hands-on role, combining strategic relationship-building with high-quality event delivery to generate income and deepen supporter engagement.

The Events & Corporate Partnerships Manager will take ownership of a portfolio of major fundraising events, from planning and budgeting through to delivery and follow-up. This includes developing the annual events strategy, managing income and expenditure, supporting ticket and table sales, sourcing prizes, and ensuring an exceptional supporter experience throughout.

Working closely with the Head of Fundraising, they will build and convert a pipeline of corporate partners, developing compelling proposals and securing new partnerships to meet income targets. They will also lead on the stewardship of these relationships, delivering tailored engagement plans that demonstrate impact and maximise retention.

Alongside delivery, the Events & Corporate Partnerships Manager will monitor performance, manage budgets, and maintain accurate reporting and CRM data, working collaboratively with Fundraising and Marketing colleagues to maximise results.

Key Responsibilities

Major SOHK Events

• Events Lead: Take full ownership of the SOHK organised major events in England, Scotland and Wales.
• Develop and deliver an annual events strategy & Calendar that is aligned with FRT targets
• Set and manage event budgets, income targets and KPIs
• Ensure exceptional supporter experience at all touch points.
• Source high value auction and raffle prizes
• Work closely with FRT to sell tables & tickets at events.
• Ensure prize donors, table buyers and supporters have a great experience of SOHK – feeling thanked and appreciated.
• Plan thoroughly for post event stewardship and follow up

Corporate Partnerships (working with Head of Fundraising)

• Build a pipeline of potential corporate partners and continually seek to add to pipeline as needed
• Research and make high quality approaches
• Confidently write winning pitches and present at meetings
• Secure new partnerships to achieve income targets
• Stewardship: Act as the main point of contact for partnerships that are allocated to you; nurturing and strengthening the relationships
• Develop and implement tailored cultivation and stewardship plans to enhance partner engagement and retention
• Demonstrate the impact of partner contributions to maximise retention (alongside our Marketing & Comms Team)

Reporting, Monitoring & Budgeting

• Report as required on all activity and progress to the Head of Fundraising
• Monitor and manage expenditure related to fundraising activities – managing P&L sheet
• Ensure data capture for CRM (Beacon) from all events

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Proven experience in event management, including planning, delivery, and evaluation of fundraising or engagement events
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple events and competing priorities
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
• Experience working with a wide range of stakeholders, including donors, sponsors, volunteers, and suppliers
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to represent the organisation professionally
• Experience managing event budgets and delivering activity within financial targets
• Ability to problem-solve and adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment
• Understanding of the role events play in fundraising, supporter engagement, and awareness-building
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with event or CRM systems
• Willingness to travel and work occasional evenings/weekends as required
• Genuinely buy into the SOHK mission, purpose and values

Desirable

• Experience supporting or delivering corporate partnerships, sponsorships, or donor engagement initiatives
• Knowledge of fundraising principles and income generation through events
• Experience working in the charity or not-for-profit sector
• Ability to identify and develop partnership opportunities that align with organisational values
• Experience with volunteer coordination and stewardship
• Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce, Raiser's Edge)
• Understanding of marketing and communications to support event promotion and partner visibility
• Awareness of compliance, safeguarding, and ethical considerations within a charity setting
•  

Terms of Appointment

• Salary range: £37,000 - £40,000
• Full-time
• 28 days annual leave entitlement plus public holidays.
• South East England (based). This role requires weekly travel to London, with occasional travel to other locations across the UK.
• Disclosure and Barring Service check will be required for successful candidates and the job is dependent on suitable references.

How to Apply

Please send a current CV and a cover letter no longer than two sides of A4. Please express why you think you could do this job for School Of Hard Knocks (SOHK). 

School Of Hard Knocks (SOHK) is an inclusive charity committed to broadening the diversity of our organisation and is keen to attract people from a wide range of backgrounds.

Applications close at 10pm on Sunday 17th May. In-person interviews will be held in London on 21st and 22nd May.

Looking to use your fundraising expertise to make a real global impact? This is your opportunity to join a world-leading international organisation driving change where it matters most. As a Development Manager, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping fundraising strategy, securing critical funding, and managing donor relationships across a global network.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop high-quality grant proposals, donor reports, and communications
• Oversee grant compliance, budgeting, and financial reporting processes
• Support fundraising strategy, forecasting, and pipeline development
• Conduct donor research and provide strategic insights to internal stakeholders
• Coordinate cross-team collaboration to deliver effective fundraising outcomes

Essential Skills & Experience
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in fundraising, donor relations, or development
• Proven track record securing funding from foundations and government donors
• Strong proposal writing, reporting, and storytelling skills
• Experience building donor pipelines and developing new partnerships
• Financial literacy, including budgeting and grant reporting

My client can offer flexible working arrangements, with 1-2 days a week in the office.

Applications for this role are now under review, and the deadline could well be brought forward if the suitable candidate is found. Therefore, do not delay in submitting your application!

We’re looking for someone passionate about delivering an outstanding donor experience that will ensure our supporters feel engaged, inspired and motivated to give through SCF to build stronger communities in Somerset.

We need someone who can confidently create and deliver fundraising strategies for growth, using data and insight to inform and evaluate their success. You’ll be methodical and analytical, confident balancing multiple workstreams and have superb attention to detail. And you’ll be a great communicator, able to effortlessly write clear and compelling copy that’s tailored to our audiences.

It’s an exciting time to join the Philanthropy and Marketing Team at SCF. After investing in our Philanthropy and Marketing capacity, we’ve grown fundraising income by 60% and added almost £10 million to SCF’s endowment since 2021. We recently launched our new 10-year strategy with ambitious plans to grow our endowment to £35 million by 2035 to significantly increase the funding we can provide our communities for generations to come. This role will be key to our growth. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead the development and delivery of our individual giving programme and strategy, including leading on the delivery of SCF’s annual Surviving Winter Appeal, reviewing our existing donor base and offer, refreshing and embedding stronger donor journeys, and undertaking research and data analysis to explore new supporter audiences Lead the planning and delivery of a high-quality stewardship events and engagement programme, including our Annual Celebration, ‘below the radar’ fundholder events, learning and networking events for our professional advisor partners, and donor visits to charities in collaboration with the Philanthropy and Marketing Director, Senior Philanthropy Manager, and wider team Support the coordination and delivery of SCF’s legacy fundraising programme, working closely with the Philanthropy and Marketing Director and Senior Marketing Manager to deliver our new legacy fundraising strategy Support the delivery of our Collective Giving Funds and annual Fundholder Impact Reports Make best use of Salesforce to support effective donor management and reporting and maintaining high-quality data

ABOUT YOU

You may: have experience in delivering fundraising appeals be confident in creating and delivering donor stewardship plans and/or donor journeys have experience working with Marketing/Communications colleagues to create compelling content to support income generation and stewardship You will: have a proven track record of fundraising across multiple income streams, including individual giving, mid-level/major donors and/or legacies have strong event planning and management skills and experience of delivering high quality events for donors or clients have strong project management skills and experience of managing multiple workstreams in one role have excellent copywriting skills and the ability to tailor communications to a variety of audiences have experience of using a CRM system such as Salesforce or similar to manage data and monitor performance using reports have an understanding of the vital role that small, local charities play in our communities and a commitment to tackling inequality in Somerset a clean UK driving license and access to a car

We operate a flexible working policy, including voluntary working from home arrangements. This role will be formally based at Yeoman House, Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet BA4 6QN and will typically be expected to work from our Shepton Mallet office at least 1 day per week. 

Looking to use your fundraising expertise to make a real global impact? This is your opportunity to join a world-leading international organisation driving change where it matters most. As a Fundraise Development Manager, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping fundraising strategy, securing critical funding, and managing donor relationships across a global network.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop high-quality grant proposals, donor reports, and communications
• Oversee grant compliance, budgeting, and financial reporting processes
• Support fundraising strategy, forecasting, and pipeline development
• Conduct donor research and provide strategic insights to internal stakeholders
• Coordinate cross-team collaboration to deliver effective fundraising outcomes

Essential Skills & Experience
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in fundraising, donor relations, or development
• Proven track record securing funding from foundations and government donors
• Strong proposal writing, reporting, and storytelling skills
• Experience building donor pipelines and developing new partnerships
• Financial literacy, including budgeting and grant reporting

My client can offer flexible working arrangements, with 1 day a week in the office.

Applications for this role are now under review, and the deadline could well be brought forward if the suitable candidate is found. Therefore, do not delay in submitting your application!

About Degrees

The Degrees Initiative is a UK-based NGO that builds the capacity of the Global South to evaluate solar radiation modification (SRM) geoengineering, a controversial proposal for reducing some impacts of climate change by reflecting sunlight away from the Earth. Degrees is neutral on whether SRM should ever be used, but we believe that the Global South should be empowered to conduct its own research and to play a central role in SRM discussions. The initiative has been working in different forms for fifteen years, and our work receives worldwide coverage and widespread acclaim. 

We seek a Fundraising / Development Manager to manage relationships with our existing funders and to help bring in new donors and partners to diversify our funding base. This position offers a fantastic opportunity for the right candidate to increase the capacity of a field-leading charity, help empower the Global South, and contribute to one of the world’s most important climate-change debates. If you are an ambitious, relationship-driven fundraising leader with an interest in climate policy, science or global development, this is an opportunity to step into a role with purpose, international influence, and real impact.  

The charity is rapidly scaling up, recently doubling its annual budget to £6 million. Degrees has partnered with leading climate change funders and research partners including the Quadrature Climate Foundation, Open Philanthropy, Crankstart, Navigation Fund, Outlier Projects, LAD Climate Fund and UK Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA). Transparency of funding is essential to our work. We do not accept support from anonymous donors or funding from the fossil fuel industry.

Role

We now seek a full-time team member to build on this base. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and working closely with the Founder & CEO and the Chair of the Trustees, the Fundraising / Development Manager will support and coordinate fundraising efforts aimed at securing multi‑year, diversified funding. He / she will also introduce robust processes for pipeline management and donor stewardship, and will support and coordinate the complete donor lifecycle (from identification to cultivation to solicitation and stewardship) of a portfolio of top prospects. The post holder will receive initial onboarding support from the Senior Philanthropy Advisor. As fundraising grows, the team may expand in the future.

Initial priorities include expansion beyond the current donor pool, with a strong push to engage new funders, and putting in place the systems (CRM, reporting cadence, key performance indicators) to support growth at scale.

As this is a new role, responsibilities are expected to evolve but some key items will include: 

Strategy & planning

• Work with the CEO, COO, Senior Philanthropy Advisor, the Chair of the Trustees, and other senior staff to support the development and implementation of a multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with organisational objectives; 

Pipeline development & new opportunities 

• Maintain and coordinate the fundraising pipeline, supporting the fundraising activities of senior staff and the Chair; 

• Support the identification and development of new funding opportunities from trusts and foundations, government funders, and multilateral donors in the development and climate sectors on an ongoing basis; 

• Reach out to networks of climate philanthropy advisors for referrals; 

• Manage contact with funding opportunities; 

Grant writing 

• Draft and coordinate the preparation and submission of grant proposals; 

Donor stewardship & reporting 

• Maintain excellent relations with existing funders by keeping them informed on charity and sector updates, inviting them to events, and ensuring the delivery of annual reports and notices; 

• Ensure and manage ongoing reporting; 

Events & engagement 

• Working with the Events Manager, help design and deliver fundraising events for existing and potential funders, particularly in the UK and US; 

• Manage invitation lists, track attendance and ensure bespoke follow-up to attendees; 

• Assist in the design of events that will inspire and engage funders while involving Southern experts in the Degrees research community; 

• Coordinate all fundraising outreach and related programming for the Degrees Global Forum (a conference to be held in 2027); 

Processes, systems & administration 

• Support the development and implementation of structured processes across the entire fundraising and donor lifecycle; 

• Develop and track KPIs, providing regular reports to senior staff and the Trustees; 

• Be responsible for fundraising data, contacts and administrative records. 

Qualifications 

Essential 

• At least ten years’ experience in fundraising or transferrable relevant experience;

• Track record of helping secure six- and seven-figure grants income from foundations, major individual donors, and/or public agencies; 

• Strong organisational and project management skills; 

• Experience and comfort with Microsoft 365, fundraising CRMs and other common software tools; 

• Experience organising events; 

• Ability to write clearly and communicate effectively in English with a keen attention to detail; 

• Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills, including an ability to work with people of all levels and backgrounds; 

• Experience creating and maintaining fundraising processes; 

• Ability to adapt and remain comfortable in a dynamic, remote start-up environment in a small organisation; 

• Ability to travel internationally; 

• Legal right to work in the UK. 

Desired

• Experience successfully fundraising from climate donors; 

• Experience with a strong network of international funders; 

• Experience building and scaling a fundraising effort; 

• Experience supervising staff (as we expect the team to grow in future); 

• Tech savvy and eager to work with new software solutions; 

• Knowledge of climate science, policy and SRM. 

Benefits of working at Degrees 

• You will join a growing and dynamic charity operating at the intersection of climate change and global development.

• You will have the opportunity to contribute to a potentially high-impact issue by helping shape global conversations on climate science, empowering researchers in the Global South, and collaborating with some of the world’s leading SRM experts.

• The role is fully remote, allowing you to live anywhere within the United Kingdom. The charity has no central office and offers each employee up to £250 per month (including VAT) to cover co-working space costs. The team meets face-to-face at quarterly ‘awaydays’ in the UK, which are organised and paid for by the charity.

• Degrees provides an 8% employer pension contribution with no required employee contribution, which is generous by the standards of the UK third sector.

• The role includes opportunities for international travel.

• You will receive 36 days of annual leave per year, including UK public holidays.

• Personal development budget of £1,000 per year.

Looking to use your fundraising expertise to make a real global impact? This is your opportunity to join a world-leading international organisation driving change where it matters most. As a Fundraise Development Manager, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping fundraising strategy, securing critical funding, and managing donor relationships across a global network.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop high-quality grant proposals, donor reports, and communications
• Oversee grant compliance, budgeting, and financial reporting processes
• Support fundraising strategy, forecasting, and pipeline development
• Conduct donor research and provide strategic insights to internal stakeholders
• Coordinate cross-team collaboration to deliver effective fundraising outcomes

Essential Skills & Experience
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in fundraising, donor relations, or development
• Proven track record securing funding from foundations and government donors
• Strong proposal writing, reporting, and storytelling skills
• Experience building donor pipelines and developing new partnerships
• Financial literacy, including budgeting and grant reporting

My client can offer flexible working arrangements, with 1 day a week in the office.

Applications for this role are now under review, and the deadline could well be brought forward if the suitable candidate is found. Therefore, do not delay in submitting your application!

Prostate Cancer Research – Individual Giving Manager

Location: Holborn, London. Hybrid working.

Salary: £43,000–£48,000 per annum, with a clear progression pathway.

Contract: Permanent, full-time hours.

Prostate Cancer Research is seeking a driven Individual Giving Manager to play a pivotal role in building and delivering a high-performing fundraising programme at a time of significant growth.

Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK. At Prostate Cancer Research (PCR), the focus is on accelerating better outcomes for patients, from funding pioneering research to shaping national screening policy. Individual Giving is central to this mission. With a rapidly expanding supporter base and increasing investment in growth, PCR is looking for someone who can help take this programme to the next level.

Working closely with the Head of Individual Giving and Legacies, this role will act as the operational lead for Individual Giving activity, translating strategic direction into effective, insight-led campaigns. The post-holder will take ownership of campaign planning and delivery across multiple channels, driving both acquisition and retention, ensuring activity is optimised for impact and return on investment.

​​​​​​​This role will lead the implementation of integrated campaigns across digital and offline channels, including social media, search, email, direct mail and telemarketing. It will also involve managing agency relationships and analysing performance data while continuously testing and refining approaches to maximise results. Alongside this, the Individual Giving Manager will play a key role in developing supporter journeys, creating compelling content and strengthening long-term supporter engagement.

​​​​​​​The successful candidate will have proven experience in Individual Giving, with a strong track record in delivering multi-channel campaigns across acquisition and retention. They will be confident managing agencies, working with digital platforms such as Meta and Google Ads and using data to inform decision-making. Strong communication, organisational and analytical skills are essential, alongside a proactive mindset and a desire to test, learn and innovate.

​​​​​This is an exciting opportunity for someone looking to step into a role where they can shape and grow an Individual Giving programme in a forward-thinking, life-saving charity.
​​​​​
Please download our Candidate Pack for further information [PDF], which includes details on how to apply.

Closing date: Wednesday 13th May

Role Purpose

The Head of Philanthropy is accountable for delivering significant philanthropic income for Justice & Care, including through personally secured major gifts, alongside building and leading a high-performing philanthropy function.

The postholder will design and execute the philanthropy strategy, hold and actively manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects, and personally secure five- and sixfigure gifts through direct relationship management and solicitation.

This is a hands-on income-generating role: the Head of Philanthropy will lead from the front on donor cultivation, stewardship and asking, while also setting direction, prioritising effort and building capability within the team to maximise long-term philanthropic income.

They will work closely with the Global Director of Fundraising on key relationships and strategic opportunities, supporting the growth of philanthropy across the UK and expansion into the US and emerging markets.

This role combines senior-level leadership with significant personal income delivery; candidates should expect to spend a substantial proportion of their time directly engaging donors and securing major gifts.

Global Scope

This role will support the growth of philanthropy across multiple markets, including strengthening the UK portfolio and developing opportunities in the US and emerging markets (e.g. Middle East), working closely with senior stakeholders to shape and deliver market-specific approaches. 

Main Responsibilities

Your key responsibilities include, but are not necessarily limited to:

1. Strategic Leadership and Income Delivery

• Lead the development and delivery of the philanthropy strategy, with a clear focuson generating major donor income in the UK and driving growth in the US and emerging markets
• Be accountable for achieving philanthropy income targets, including through personally secured major gifts, working closely with the Global Director of Fundraising
• Translate organisational priorities into fundable propositions and compelling donor opportunities
• Actively shape and drive the philanthropy pipeline, making clear, evidence-based decisions about where time and effort are invested
• Work with the CEO, Board and senior leaders to prepare and support major donor asks, including co-solicitation where appropriate

2. Major Gifts and New Business

• Personally manage and grow a portfolio of high-value donors and prospects, typically at £25k-£250k+ level
• Lead all stages of the donor journey: identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship
• Personally secure new major gifts through one-to-one relationship building, tailored proposals and direct asks
• Develop and maintain a live pipeline of prospective donors with clearly defined next steps
• Take primary responsibility for preparing and delivering high-value asks, working closely with the CEO, Board members and Global Director of Fundraising
• Convert access to senior networks into tangible income outcomes

3. Team Leadership and Development

• Line manage and develop the Philanthropy Specialist and future members of the team
• Build capability within the team to support pipeline growth, donor stewardship and future expansion of the philanthropy function
• Establish strong ways of working, including prioritisation, pipeline management and CRM discipline
• Set clear objectives and KPIs for the team

4. Events and Strategic Engagement

• Design and lead a programme of philanthropic events with clear income andpipeline objectives
• Personally leverage high-value donor events to progress relationships towards major gifts
• Use international engagement and trips selectively where they support donor cultivation and solicitation
• Represent Justice & Care in philanthropic networks to generate new donor relationships

5. Pipeline, CRM and Reporting

• Own and maintain a live, decision-ready major donor pipeline
• Ensure robust pipeline management and accurate forecasting
• Maintain high-quality CRM data and reporting (Salesforce)
• Provide strategic insight on income performance, risks and opportunities

6. Other ad hoc duties

• Collaborate across the organisation to support delivery of shared objectives
• Contribute to cross-functional projects and organisational initiatives
• Undertake other tasks as required to support Development Team and organisational priorities

The Sutton Trust is the UK’s leading social mobility charity. We believe every young person should have a fair chance in life, regardless of their family’s income, the school they go to or where they grow up. But today in Britain, the opportunity to succeed is heavily shaped by socio-economic background. Our mission is to change this. Our programmes empower young people to access life-changing opportunities, and our research influences national change to deliver a fairer future.

Each year, together with our university and employer partners, we support over 14,000 young people to reach their potential through our university, apprenticeship and career access programmes. And our support doesn’t stop there. We engage our thriving alumni community to help them to succeed in their professions and to act as advocates for social mobility.

Our rigorous and extensive research shines a light on barriers to opportunity from the early years to the workplace, and we strive to influence national policy change with evidence-based solutions to tackle educational and workplace inequality. Using insights from our programmes and research, we also test and scale new ideas in education and employment practice.

As an independent charity, our work is entirely reliant on the generous support of our community of donors. The need to support our work to tackle Britain’s low social mobility has never been greater.

Fundraising at the Sutton Trust

We are seeking a dynamic and confident Philanthropy Manager to join our high-performing fundraising team. The Sutton Trust is at an exciting point in our organisational journey, with a new Chairperson and ambitions to significantly grow our impact and fundraising as part of our 2030 strategy.

Over the past five years the impact of the Sutton Trust has increased, especially in our programme numbers, securing a relatively stable income of c.£6m over a number of years. In recent years this has grown to c.£7m, and our organisational strategy to 2030/31 will continue this fundraising trajectory to increase income to £12m. With a growing portfolio of philanthropic income from individuals – currently accounting for c.£1.2m – there is considerable enthusiasm and opportunity to build upon existing relationships and establish new ones in support of the work of The Sutton Trust.

Our fundraising approach will continue to focus on major gifts, harnessing and increasing our networks, and multi-year partnerships to leverage a range of drivers to secure philanthropic support. We anticipate utilising the structured giving schemes designed for our individual supporters to build a robust pipeline for future major gifts. This will include a focus on building out our newly refreshed Fellowship scheme and, importantly, working with the Head of Philanthropy to implement a segmented fundraising campaign with our 40,000 strong alumni community. Additionally, there is significant opportunity to build upon recent successes and further develop our approach to legacy fundraising.

Main duties

New Business

• Managing and growing the Trust’s Fellowship scheme through scoping, developing and securing new four and five-figure gifts from individual supporters, working closely with the Director of Development, Head of Philanthropy, and senior volunteers appropriately to secure and steward.

• Work with the Head of Philanthropy to identify and cultivate a prospect pool of potential donors at all levels, including utilising the CRM, current low-level donors, stakeholder network mapping through the Board and Trustees, as well as prospects research of philanthropists with an active interest in education/ social mobility.

• Undertake prospect research across the spectrum of philanthropic income in collaboration with the Head of Philanthropy – including identification, due diligence, qualification, and creating briefings and outreach plans.

• Work with the Head of Alumni Engagement to proactively identify Sutton Trust alumni with the capacity and inclination to support our work, developing meaningful relationships, identifying relevant opportunities to deepen their connection to the Trust, and influencing alums to start and continue their giving journey.

• Work with the Head of Fundraising Operations and Head of Philanthropy to design, implement, and promote a low-level online giving journey, including automated stewardship activation.

• Supporting the Head of Philanthropy to implement a compelling legacy campaign.

• Work with colleagues across the Development team to identify, qualify, cultivate and secure prospects, using resources effectively where there are links between corporates, individuals, and trusts & foundations.

Account Management and Development

• Manage and grow the Trust’s Fellowship major donor scheme, creating meaningful, mutually beneficial and long-term relationships.

• Create meaningful and personalised donor plans for your portfolio, including reporting, regular written updates and in person meetings where appropriate.

• Working with the Director of Development and Head of Philanthropy to support the stewardship and management of the Board, and other major donors.

• Be accountable for achieving individual agreed income targets, looking for opportunities to grow funding and diversify philanthropic income.

• Support the Head of Philanthropy in developing high-quality Fellowship and philanthropy collateral and communications.

• Take responsibility for all elements of event management for individual donors, including creating, planning and managing events that create meaningful experiences for donors. This may include drinks receptions, small private dinners, panel events, and programme visits.

Fundraising, Line Management, Finance and Reporting

• Effectively line manage and coach the Philanthropy Assistant, supporting their development as a fundraiser.

• Work with colleagues to deliver impactful events to cultivate prospects and steward partners, with a focus on experience for individual supporters and prospects.

• Act as an ambassador for the Trust with external audiences, delivering presentations and providing expertise as required.

• Work with colleagues across Development and Finance to ensure accurate forecasting, income tracking, donor record keeping, and reporting for philanthropic income.

• Working closely with colleagues, provide philanthropy fundraising expertise to increase awareness of viable funding opportunities and develop organisational understanding of best practice when working with individual supporters.

• Ensure you and your line report appropriately follow policies and procedures on due diligence, Salesforce and data management, account management, stewardship, and reporting.

• Stay up to date with philanthropy fundraising best practice, embedding it across the Philanthropy team’s work, and keep abreast of developments and opportunities within the wider fundraising space.

• Other duties as necessary from time to time.

Person Specification

We welcome applications from individuals who have experience in:

• Experience building and managing donor relationships with individuals giving four-figures and above per annum in a philanthropy team or other fundraising capacity, and through structured giving schemes.

• Experience of all elements of the cultivation cycle, including prospect research via multiple sources, to develop a prospect pool of individual supporters.

• Experience of working with key senior colleagues across an organisation to secure major gifts and steward relationships, including making the ask for five-figure gifts.

• Experience of managing meaningful donor events and experiences, from concept to delivery.

• First-class interpersonal skills - a natural ambassador able to represent the Sutton Trust with gravitas and confidence in a range of settings.

• Excellent verbal and written communication, including the ability to write persuasive and engaging funding collateral, and to network with Sutton Trust stakeholders and donors to inspire and encourage giving.

• Experience of building or inputting into donor strategy and planning.

• Experience of managing line reports, including effective supervision, feedback and development.

• Experience with working with membership groups such as alumni, implementing online-giving schemes and supporting legacy campaigns (desirable).

• Strong analytical skills.

• Knowledge and experience of the education and/or not-for-profit sector.

• Knowledge of the UK fundraising environment, including trends in philanthropy and the different giving mechanisms utilised by individual donors (i.e. donor-advised funds, family foundations etc).

• Experienced at using Salesforce or other fundraising CRM software to accurately record funding relationships

We are also looking for an individual who:

• Sympathetic to the aims of the Trust and our mission to increase social mobility.

• High degree of initiative and the ability to take responsibility for a range of philanthropy fundraising activity.

• Strong communicator, skilled at persuading others through writing and conversation.

• Excellent attention to detail.

• Able to multi-task and prioritise multiple funder relationships.

• Able to work independently and as part of a team.

• Is eligible to work in the UK (see here for information about right to work)

Terms of Appointment

• Contract: Full-time, Permanent

• Salary: £42,025-£48,000

• Working location: Minimum of two office days per week. Our home working policy gives staff the option to work from home for up to 60% of the time, with approval from their line manager.

• Office location: The Sutton Trust, 9th Floor, Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP

• Hours: The standard working hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. This role is likely to also be required to attend events / meetings outside of normal working hours during weekday evenings and occasionally at weekends, in line with organisational policies.

Interviews

Applications should reach us by 10am, Monday 18th May, with first round interviews held with first round interviews held on Wednesday, 27th May, and second round interviews held on Tuesday, 2nd June. Both rounds will be held in our London office.

Safeguarding statement

The Sutton Trust believes that a child, young person or vulnerable adult should never experience abuse of any kind. We all have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe. Therefore all posts undergo a safer recruitment process, including but not limited to, disclosure of criminal records where necessary and eligibility to work in the UK. We have procedures in place to promote safeguarding and a safe culture at the Trust.

Contextual recruitment

The Trust is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity and that all applicants receive equal consideration for employment. We strongly encourage individuals from all backgrounds, including those underrepresented at present at the Trust, to apply for this role. As such we particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities, Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ and from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds. We are committed to being an inclusive and welcoming place to work and know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for the young people we support.

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for disabled candidates throughout our recruitment process and during employment.

We also operate contextual recruitment at the Sutton Trust. Our application process gives you the option to include information about your background, such as whether you were eligible for free school meals, whether your parents went to university, or whether you attended a state school. For more examples and information on contextual recruitment, please see our website.