Smile Train is the world’s largest cleft-focused organisation, supporting life-changing surgery and comprehensive cleft care for children and adults globally. Through its unique local model, Smile Train has supported more than 2 million surgeries and works with medical partners across 75+ countries to deliver sustainable, high-quality care.
The UK plays a vital role within this global organisation, contributing significant income, insight and strategic input. The UK programme is performing strongly, with income expected to reach c.£14–15m this year, underpinned by a successful individual giving and legacy programme.
Smile Train is now entering its next phase of growth in the UK, with a clear opportunity to build and strengthen high-value income, particularly across major donors and mid-value giving.
Reporting to and working closely with the Director of UK Fundraising, you will manage a portfolio of donors and prospects, with significant opportunity to deepen relationships and grow supporters into higher-value philanthropy over time. This will be a hands-on, relationship-led role focused on building meaningful engagement and delivering long-term income growth.
This role offers an ambitious, skilled relationship developer the opportunity to build and grow Smile Train UK's major donor programme as part of its new five-year strategy, with strong organisational investment in philanthropy.
Working closely with a highly experienced and collaborative Director of UK Fundraising and broader fundraising team, you will contribute to developing ways of working, testing engagement strategies, tailoring the compelling case for support and working closely with colleagues in the UK and globally.
As Philanthropy Manager, you will:
- Manage and develop a portfolio of c.120–150 donors and prospects, primarily giving at mid-value level (up to c.£5k) with significant headroom for growth
- Build strong, long-term relationships with supporters through tailored cultivation, solicitation and stewardship
- Identify and engage new prospects, developing a sustainable pipeline of future high-value donors
- Develop and deliver individual engagement plans to retain and upgrade donors over time
- Prepare high-quality proposals, reports and communications to support donor engagement
- Support the development of Smile Train’s high-value case for support and fundraising approach in the UK
- Work closely with the Director of UK Fundraising and global colleagues to align activity and maximise opportunities
- Contribute to events, donor visits and wider engagement activity
- Maintain accurate records and support effective pipeline and performance management
Essential skills and experience:
- Experience of relationship fundraising, with exposure to major donors or mid-value giving. Other relationship-driven fundraising experience will be considered, for instance with trusts and foundations or corporate partnerships, where you can evidence income generation via relationship-building with HNWIs or purse-string holders.
- A track record of generating substantial income and securing 5-figure or higher gifts
- Confidence in managing a portfolio and delivering personalised donor engagement
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop compelling proposals
- A proactive, organised and hands-on approach, with the ability to manage multiple priorities
- The ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team
Desirable:
- Experience of working within a developing or growing high-value fundraising programme
- Exposure to international development, global health or a similarly mission-led environment
- Knowledge and use of Salesforce CRM
- Experience working within a global or matrix organisation
Smile Train UK offer an excellent employee benefits package, which includes:
- 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Private Medical Insurance
- Life Assurance
- Income Protection
- Up to 7 days paid sick leave per year
- “Sunshine Fridays” early Friday finish across summer months
Smile Train UK is partnering with Laura Macnamara at QuarterFive on this appointment.
A cover letter is not required when applying via CharityJob. However, we would welcome any additional information you can provide to demonstrate how your experience and skills align with the person specification.
Laura will provide full support to suitable candidates who are invited to progress to the formal application stage.
We are grateful for the time and interest of everyone who applies. Due to the anticipated volume of applications, we may not be able to respond individually to every applicant. Candidates selected to progress will be contacted directly.
Registered Charity 
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Thank you!
Community Volunteers Enabling You (COVEY) has been a lifeline for children, young people and families across Lanarkshire since 1992. We provide one-to-one and group-based befriending, mentoring and family support services tailored to those who need it most. Our mission is to help children, young people and families become more resilient, safe and better equipped to reach their full potential.
As Fundraising Manager, you will lead the development of community fundraising, corporate fundraising and fundraising events (either held by us or undertaken by members of the public such as the Kiltwalk), helping COVEY grow sustainable unrestricted income and build long-term relationships with supporters.
This is a brand new role with real scope to build on COVEY’s trusted place in the local community, developing new fundraising opportunities and partnerships, as well as building on our existing relationships with volunteers, staff, trustees, supporters, funders, schools, employers, community partners and local networks.
You will also help shape fundraising activity linked to COVEY’s 35th anniversary in 2027, using this milestone to celebrate the children, young people and families we have supported over this time (and the volunteers and staff that made it happen), in turn raising our profile and build long-term supporter relationships beyond the anniversary year.
This role would suit someone who is confident, proactive and relationship-focused, with the ability to engage people, spot opportunities, make compelling asks, build partnerships and turn interest into meaningful support for COVEY.
What we’re looking for:
- A successful track record of generating income, developing partnerships, identifying new leads and converting opportunities into active support
- Previous experience of fundraising, which could include community fundraising, corporate fundraising, supporter stewardship, sponsorship, challenge events, employee fundraising, Charity of the Year partnerships, etc
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, including confidence in networking, presenting and making fundraising asks
- Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage fundraising activity, events, budgets, supporter communications and CRM records
- A collaborative, supporter-focused approach and a strong commitment to COVEY’s mission, values and outcomes
COVEY is entering an important period of growth. Our 2025-28 Strategy sets out ambitious plans to increase income, grow unrestricted funding, strengthen our external profile and develop wider community support for the charity. The Fundraising Manager will play a key role in achieving this, and will be able to shape exactly how we do this from the ground up.
What We Offer
We offer a rewarding and fulfilling role with the opportunity to develop your skills and career in an enriching environment. Our benefits package includes:
- 6% employer pension contribution
- 22 days annual leave (rising to up to 27 days) and 10 public holidays
- One special leave day to celebrate your birthday
- Flexible working
- HSF Health plan (including dental, optical, physio claim back, personal accident coverage, GP, mental health counselling, legal support, and discounts for gym, cinema, and shopping)
- Quarterly staff wellbeing activities
- Access to ScotWest Credit Union (loans, mortgages, and savings accounts)
- Access to learning and development opportunities
