Duchenne UK works tirelessly to challenge barriers, deliver practical solutions, and speed up progress for families affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The charity collaborate with leading researchers, clinicians, industry and charity partners to deliver hope and measurable progress for people living with DMD in the UK.
Founded by two mothers whose sons were diagnosed with DMD, the charity has raised more than £34 million to accelerate research, improve care and help transform outcomes for families affected by this life-limiting condition.
As the charity enters a new phase of growth, it is investing in the structures, stewardship and fundraising expertise needed to build on that success while preserving the entrepreneurial spirit and close community connections that have made it so successful.
A newly created role, the Head of Relationship Fundraising will lead a diverse portfolio spanning Family & Friends fundraising, community fundraising, mid-value and major donor relationships, charity partnerships and corporate fundraising opportunities. Reporting to the Director of Income Generation, you will inherit an established portfolio of supporters and partners while identifying new opportunities for growth across the Duchenne community and beyond.
A key focus will be Duchenne UK’s Family & Friends Funds programme, a nationwide network of more than 50 family-led funds. You will combine ambitious income generation with exceptional supporter care, building trusted relationships with families, supporters, partners and donors whose connection to DMD is often deeply personal.
Working closely with the Director of Income Generation, CEO and co-founder Emily Reuben OBE, co-founder Alex Johnson OBE, and wider senior leadership team, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future direction of relationship fundraising and helping to build a more strategic and sustainable fundraising programme for the years ahead.
As Head of Relationship Fundraising, you will:
- Lead delivery of Duchenne UK’s relationship fundraising strategy, driving sustainable income growth across multiple income streams
- Develop and grow Family & Friends fundraising, community fundraising, mid-value, major donor, partnership and corporate fundraising opportunities
- Build and steward a pipeline of supporters and prospects, developing meaningful long-term relationships
- Develop the Family & Friends Funds programme, ensuring excellent and compassionate supporter experiences
- Develop supporter journeys, stewardship plans and relationship management processes that increase engagement and retention
- Strengthen fundraising systems, processes and ways of working to support future growth
- Operationally lead relationships with charity partners and key stakeholders
- Monitor fundraising performance, pipeline activity and KPIs
- Line manage the Community & Events Fundraiser and help shape the wider fundraising function’s future direction, structure and growth
Essential skills and experience:
- Significant experience in relationship fundraising, with a track record of delivering sustainable income growth
- Experience managing complex supporter or donor relationships in emotionally sensitive or values-led environments
- Experience working with high-value supporters or philanthropy audiences
- Experience developing community, peer-to-peer, high-value or partnership fundraising relationships
- Demonstrable success in achieving income targets and building fundraising pipelines
- Strong relationship management and influencing skills, with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders
- Experience developing supporter journeys and stewardship approaches that improve engagement and retention
- Strong financial awareness, including pipeline management and forecasting
- Excellent communication skills and experience using CRM systems effectively
- Exceptional emotional intelligence, empathy and a commitment to outstanding supporter care
- A proactive, entrepreneurial and solutions-focused approach
Desirable:
- Experience within a health, medical research or disability-related charity
- Experience of diagnosis-led, in-memory or bereavement-related fundraising
- Knowledge of fundraising regulation, GDPR and Gift Aid
- Experience using Salesforce
Employee benefits
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata)
- Summer Fridays – half days on Fridays in July and August (pro rata)
- Team wellness day and team away day
- Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support
Application at this initial stage:
- Your CV, ensuring alignment with the person specification
- Answers to the two screening questions (click on Apply Now to answer these)
Suitable applicants will then be invited to an initial call and full support will be provided for formal application (CV and supporting statement).
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Forest Farm Peace Garden is a small East London charity offering ecotherapy and community gardening to support people’s mental health and wellbeing.
We are looking for a strategic, hands‑on Director (21 hours per week) to lead our next chapter, working closely with a committed staff team, trustees and volunteers.
As Director you will hold overall responsibility for the charity’s vision, strategy and day‑to‑day operations, ensuring our programmes run safely, sustainably and in line with our values. You will lead on fundraising and finance, including developing and delivering a fundraising strategy, managing budgets and reporting to funders and the Board of Trustees.
You will line‑manage our Ecotherapy Worker, Gardener, and three sessional staff, nurture a positive, inclusive culture, and make sure staff and volunteers are supported to do their best work. Building relationships with local mental health services, community organisations and partners will be central to the role, helping us reach people who can benefit most from time in the garden.
This role would suit someone who enjoys combining strategic thinking with practical delivery in a small organisation, and who is confident working independently while collaborating closely with others. If you care about mental health, social justice and nature connection, and want to help a much‑loved local project thrive, we would love to hear from you.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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Main Purpose of Role:
· Devise and implement a mixed programme of community fundraising activities, to generate a sustainable source of unrestricted income to meet agreed targets.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Launch, implement and run innovative income generating projects to maximise donations to SWA, to look after relationships with existing donors and build on relationships created to ensure fundraising potential is optimised.
- Set up and manage a volunteer community fundraising team
- Organise and manage community fundraising activities (including digital) and events to maximise all fundraising opportunities and work to raise the profile of the SWA.
- Keep abreast of developments in the third sector relating to fundraising and have an awareness of the local competition for donations.
General Responsibilities:
Responsible for the Health, Safety and welfare of yourself and your colleagues, ensuring the duties and responsibilities are clearly understood and that legislative requirements are adhered to.
- Respect the confidentiality of all information obtained in the course of duties, perform and refrain from disclosing such information without written consent from management, except where disclosure is required by order of a Court of law.
- Maintain professional competence by complying, at all times, with the training and competence procedures set down by the Organisation. Generally, keep abreast of developments affecting your duties and responsibilities.
- Be aware of the Organisation’s Equal Opportunities Policy regarding both employees and service users to assist in eliminating all areas of inequality and discrimination.
- Become familiar with the aims, ethics and aspirations of the Organisation and to sustain and promote them. Participate enthusiastically in the growth and prosperity of the Organisation.
- Undertake any other business development/funding duties, as directed that can reasonably be accommodated within the salary range for the job and your expertise.
Job Description and Review
The job description reflects the present requirements of the post. The description will be reviewed in consultation of the job holder as and when the duties and responsibilities change. Such review will normally also take place at the Annual Appraisal Meeting.
Desirable
- Charity fundraising qualification
- Membership of Institute of Fundraising or other relevant professional body.
- Ability to speak Welsh
Essential
Experience
- Minimum of two years’ experience in community fundraising with a proven track record of achieving funding target
- Experience in planning, organising and delivering fundraising campaigns, events and activities
- Developing and evaluating new opportunities for partnerships and community fundraising
- Raising funds via social media activities/digital marketing
- Experience of managing or working with volunteers to support fundraising activities
Knowledge
- Charity community fundraising
- Donations
- Proven knowledge of online fundraising tools, digital marketing and social media
- Regulatory knowledge to include Gift Aid, general data protection regulations and fundraising best practices.
Skills/Personal Qualities
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, and experience with Customer Relationship Management software systems.
- Numerate and attentive to detail, with the ability to maintain accurate records
- Good networking skills
- A proactive self -starter who is able to work on their own initiative, managing and prioritising their work to meet agreed deadlines and targets
- An excellent communicator, with persuasive, engaging and creative writing skills
- Understanding of, and enthusiasm for, SWA’s work, mission and values
- A passion to raise funds for SWA
Other
- Full UK driving licence and access to a suitable vehicle
- Able to lift and transport equipment
- Willingness to travel locally and to work occasional evenings and weekends
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.