Donor development officer jobs

Job Title:  Development Manager

Location:  London

Reports to:  Chief Executive Officer

Job Summary

The Development Manager will be a dynamic and experienced fundraiser with strong technical skills in grant and funding solicitation, management and stewardship across Crisis Action’s current donor targets including major foundations, governments, and High Net Wealth Individuals (HNWI). They will serve as the anchor of a newly configured fundraising team designed to support Crisis Action to nurture its existing donors and secure the next generation of support for its ground-breaking work.

This role is pivotal in ensuring excellence in our outreach, proposals, reporting and communication to drive resource mobilisation that is essential for the organisation’s financial sustainability at a time when our distinct model and way of working is needed more than ever.

Principal responsibilities

Donor engagement and communications 

• Oversee and coordinate day-to-day engagement with current and prospective foundation, government and individual donors by members of the Crisis Action team
• Represent the organisation vis-à-vis donor representatives 
• Support HNWI donor benefits structure and cultivation plans
• Prepare compelling and timely donor reports, donor updates, letters of receipt and other outreach materials in collaboration with finance and campaign teams.

Grant management and oversight 

• Ensuring timely and skilled drafting, consultation and sign off of high-quality grant proposals 
• Timely acknowledgement of all contributions and compliance with donor requirements
• Preparation of high-quality proposal budgets and financial reports for donors in compliance with grant specifications and deadlines, in close cooperation with the Finance Team
• Review all grant agreements and monitor/ensure the organization's adherence to its contractual commitments. 

Strategic vision and guidance: 

• Provide strategic support to the Chief Executive Officer on short- and long-term fundraising strategies and broader resource mobilisation initiatives to ensure our fundraising strategy and its implementation helps achieve organisational goals
• Set fundraising targets and produce periodic funding forecasts in consultation with members of the team.

Research and intelligence: 

• Carry out donor research and provide strategic insights and donor related updates and background information to relevant colleagues.
• Monitor and ensure a solid pipeline of donor prospects

Team coordination and collaboration 

• Ensure that there is a clear workplan that anticipates what has to happen when to guide team resource allocation and workload management
• Ensure effective and efficient processes of gathering and sharing information across the team to support timely donor engagement and stewardship with clear protocols on the cadence of team calls and written updates 
• Support colleagues to adhere to agreed fundraising roles and responsibilities 

Communications 

• Ensuring effective and timely communications to donors, Crisis Action’s board and team 
• In collaboration with the CEO, ensure timely and regular flow of information to the team on fundraising progress
• Timely production of high-quality fundraising updates for our Board 

Data and Systems Management 

• Sustain, manage and where possible further develop the relevant administrative infrastructure, including grant tracking and reporting systems, Salesforce contact database, events calendars, contact lists, donor profiles, website and annual report donor acknowledgement lists and meeting minutes 

Job Specifications 

Essential Skills & Experience

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in fundraising, donor relations, or development within the non-profit or international advocacy sector
• A proven track record of engaging with foundations and government officials to secure and manage grants
• Demonstrated ability to forge new donor partnerships, and a track record of bringing in new revenue
• Strong understanding of government and foundation funding landscapes with at least some familiarity with differences between them and the stewardship of major gifts from individual giving 
• Experience in drafting compelling fundraising proposals, reports and donor updates for a variety of donors – foundations, governments and individuals 
• Strong all-round communication and storytelling skills
• Experience producing a range of communications materials for different audiences
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate organisational goals into actionable fundraising plans
• Proficiency in CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and grant management tools
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and cultures with colleagues dispersed across the world
• Financial literacy and a proven ability to understand and construct budgets
• Collaborative and empathetic approach to team and donor engagement 
• Enthusiasm, initiative and willingness to learn
• Ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines 
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills, including a systematic approach to maintaining donor tracking systems
• Fluency in oral and written English 
• Proficiency in Salesforce and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Ability/willingness to travel to staff retreats and for donor visits. 
• Legal right to work in the UK

Desirable skills and experience

• Proficiency in additional languages
• Established donor networks
• Experience managing major gifts and cultivating individual donor relations
• Knowledge of conflict, human rights, or social justice issues

Key Relationships

• Senior Management Team, Development Team, Finance Team, Campaign Leads, Office Directors

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Salary & Benefits 

Salary: We have set bands for the salary range for all positions at Crisis Action. The baseline of our salary range for this position is £40K per annum. 

Benefits: 25 annual leave days (30 days after 3 years). Up to 6% contribution to pension. 3-month long service leave after 6 years and one-month sabbatical leave in year 10. CA additionally offers an annual inflationary increase, and 2% salary increase in year 2, 4 and 8 subject to availability of funds. 

DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) Statement

Crisis Action values and nurtures an inclusive culture that sees the diversity of its board, staff, partners, and all we work with as a strength and source of innovation and creativity. We welcome applications from anyone no matter your background, gender identity and expression, nationality, language, ethnicity, colour, caste, race, sexual orientation, ability, religion or belief, age, marriage, civil partnership, or parental status. Equality among all is a driving force in our work and a feature of our recruitment. We strive to ensure that all employment decisions are made entirely on merit. 

The role

 We are seeking an experienced Manager of Philanthropic Giving with a strong track record in securing major gifts. The ideal candidate will excel at building trusted, long-term relationships with donors and feel confident leading conversations that result in significant philanthropic support. This role will also contribute to the development and delivery of a trusts and foundations strategy, helping to grow and strengthen our portfolio.

Working closely with the CEO, senior leadership and trustees, you will develop compelling funding propositions, steward donors and funders through excellent reporting and engagement, and represent myaware at meetings, events and networking opportunities. You will also maintain accurate records through our CRM system, track performance against targets, and contribute to income planning and reporting. This is a strategic and hands-on role with real impact for people affected by myasthenia.

The Manager of Philanthropic Giving will be predominantly home based within the UK (with occasional working and meetings at Derby HQ) and will work in co-operation with the fundraising team and all myaware colleagues to deliver agreed fundraising targets and campaigns. Own transport is essential for this role as occasional travel throughout the UK will be required to attend donor meetings, events and networking opportunities, as well as the ability to travel to the Derby office. There may be the need to occasionally work during weekends and evenings and therefore there is a need to work flexibly when required.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for an experienced and motivated fundraising professional with a strong track record in major donor fundraising along with experience in Trusts and Foundations fundraising. You will have experience in personal communication in asking for high level funds, and experience of stewarding high net worth individuals to maintain high levels of engagement over a significant period. You will have experience of Trusts and Foundations fundraising including pipeline management and stewardship, writing compelling funding applications and impact reports.

You will be a strategic thinker with excellent interpersonal, research and organisational skills, confident managing a complex pipeline and working collaboratively across teams. You will be comfortable working independently, using CRM systems, and engaging senior stakeholders, including trustees and high-level donors. Most importantly, you will share myaware’s values, demonstrate empathy with our cause, and be committed to making a meaningful difference through philanthropy.

If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you.

Who are we?

Myaware is the only charity in the UK dedicated solely to the care and support of people affected by myasthenia. 

We are working hard to raise awareness of myasthenia, as it is a little-known condition. We provide support for people with myasthenia and their families, whilst offering advice and tips for living with the condition. 

We also fund the research that brings us closer to finding a cure as well as funding specialists nurses and advisors. 

Members of myaware have full access to a wide range of support services and events including our specialist benefits and welfare advisor. 

Myaware supports people with myasthenia and their families.  We campaign for better medical services for people with myasthenia and work to inform medical professionals. 

The myasthenias are a group of neuromuscular conditions. They are rare but also manageable and can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender or nationality. Myasthenia gravis, ocular myasthenia and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome are autoimmune conditions whereas congenital myasthenic syndrome is caused by an inherited genetic fault. It is thought that there are approximately 20,000 people currently living with myasthenia in the UK. 

Benefits

• Generous holiday allowance
• Perkbox account (global benefits and rewards platform)
• Group Life Assurance after 6 months of service 
• NEST workplace pension scheme
• Free inhouse staff benefits and welfare advice 
• Investment in your personal and professional development
• Annual salary review

Application instructions

Candidates should submit their CV and tailored covering letter by: 11:30pm on Monday 25th May 2026.

Provisional interview date will be week commencing: 01.06.2026

Interviews will be held over Microsoft Teams.

Applications submitted without a tailored cover letter will not be considered.

This post, due to its nature, duties and responsibilities, will be subject to an enhanced check by the DBS. This is funded by Myaware.

This organisation supports anonymous recruitment. That means hiding your personal identifying information, removing bias from the hiring process.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.

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

Medair is a Christian humanitarian organisation that responds to conflict, disease, and disaster so that the world’s most vulnerable and hard-to reach people can live with dignity and hope. Medair UK is an affiliate of the Swiss-based humanitarian organisation, Medair International.

About The Role

We’re seeking a dynamic individual to support Medair UK’s engagement with trusts and foundations in the United Kingdom. Over the last 5 years income from trusts and foundations has gone from strength to strength increasing by 230% and the successful candidate will be part of the small team responsible for increasing this key area of funding. You will be an integral part of this growing Christian charity. You will enable support for the life-saving work Medair delivers to some of the world’s most vulnerable people by driving forward our relationships with UK trusts and foundations.

About You 

You will be a positive and solution focused fundraiser, ready to take initiative and embrace challenging targets. Ideally you will have experience in growing income from trust and foundations from both longstanding and new potential partners, or be able to demonstrate highly relevant transferable experience. You will be capable of compiling strong fundraising proposals; produce high quality reports; partner with financial colleagues in preparing complex budgets and financial reports. A compelling written communicator, you will have a keen understanding of the humanitarian sector, and of what motivates trusts and foundations to support this work. 

Key Activity Areas  

Lead Generation  

• Be responsible for account management of caseload of mid-range Trusts & Foundations.

• Work collaboratively with the Engagement Manager, Engagement Support Officer and volunteers in the identification, approach and management of UK Trusts and Foundations.  

• Regularly research and review opportunities for building potential relationships with prospective Trusts and Foundations and progressing relationships and applications with them through compelling communications. 

• Work with existing networks and contacts to identify and approach potential trusts and foundations and develop relationships with key decision makers there 

• Identify and pursue opportunities to increase income from existing Trust and Foundation relationships 

Communications and Management  

• Work towards an agreed target each year of engaged trusts and related income, both restricted project and unrestricted funds.

• Write compelling cases for support and proposals in order to secure grants 

• Effectively work with internal contacts throughout the global Medair organisation in the preparation of approved proposals, reports and supporting financial and impact information 

• Manage Medair’s engagement plan, initiating and delivering creative touchpoints throughout the year for all of Medair’s trust and foundation partners, as well as building relationships with trustees and representatives through video, online meetings, events and face-2-face opportunities 

Planning, monitoring and pipeline management  

• Maintain a good record of the application pipeline and CRM (salesforce), monitoring application output, income targets, fund allocations and reporting deadlines.

• Ensuring all grants from trusts and foundations are correctly allocated to Medair programmes, with the appropriate grant card on Medair’s project management platform and maintaining good contact with country programmes and finance partners throughout the lifecycle of Medair UK co-funded projects.

Internal Liaison  

• Liaise with Medair’s Heads of Country Programmes, Country Directors and Communications Officers in order to gather information and data for the purposes of applying and reporting to funders 

• Work collaboratively with finance colleagues in the preparation and approval of budgets and reports.

• Foster dynamic and mutually beneficial relationships with other fundraisers within Medair international and the affiliate offices, readily sharing proposals, reports and information.

Who we are:

Hope is here. The Global Returns Project (GRP) is a UK charity unlocking new philanthropy to deliver urgent solutions for our planet.

We are a fast-moving nonprofit that makes donations to high-impact nature and climate charities simple – and we don’t take any fees. We’ve already mobilised over £3 million for top environmental solutions and are working to unlock at least £30 million annually by the end of the decade.

We are growing quickly: Last year's annual fundraising was 275% higher than the previous year.

The problem: Charities protecting our planet can turn the tide on climate change and nature loss. They have the skills, strategies and networks to deliver fast and global impact. But less than 2% of philanthropy goes to climate mitigation.

Our solution: In the UK alone, around £2 trillion sits with “HNW+” individuals – those holding between £100k and £30 million. Yet traditional philanthropy largely overlooks them. We’re unlocking this funding by offering trusted, pro bono advice and a simple, portfolio approach to giving. Our expertise in UK wealth advice offers a unique path to scalability and systems-change.

What we are looking for:

Job Title: Senior Philanthropy Officer

We’re looking for a confident, capable fundraiser to play a key role in major-gift fundraising – helping to secure transformational support from high-net-worth individuals.

You’ll manage your own portfolio of prospects and donors, contributing across the full fundraising cycle: prospecting, cultivation, making direct asks, closing and stewardship. Alongside this, you’ll support the development of relationships with wealth advisers to generate referral leads, while also prospecting independently for major gifts.

The ideal candidate will be excited to build networks of wealth managers, private-client teams and other advisers to HNWIs, and to convert adviser introductions into committed support. You’ll complement this with proactive outreach to identify and engage new major donors beyond existing referral channels.

To succeed, you’ll develop strong fluency across three distinct fundraising pitches: a business case for advisers; an impact case to persuade donors to support our portfolio charities; and a systems-change case to win backing for GRP’s operating costs (salaries, office costs, etc) to keep the charity running fee-free.

You’ll be comfortable making direct asks for funding, ideally with experience of securing significant gifts or multi-year commitments. You’ll be hands-on in day-to-day fundraising activity and able to manage multiple relationships and priorities effectively.

You’ll thrive in a small, fast-moving team—taking initiative, being collaborative, and contributing to shared goals. Crucially, you’ll care deeply about climate and nature.

Experience required:

Strong experience in frontline fundraising (as a guide, likely 3-6 years).

Please see the full job description attached for information on skills required and main duties and responsibilities.

Location: Centrally located, light and airy office on Regent Street, London. Estimated two days per week in the office. 

Benefits: 20 days’ annual leave (pro-rata), plus statutory bank holidays (pro-rata). Occasional 1–2 days’ additional paid leave over Christmas period. Flexible working.

Reports to: CEO

Preferred start date: Monday 29th June 2026. Applications reviewed on rolling basis.

The Saint John Southworth Catholic Academy Trust is seeking an ambitious early-career professional with excellent organisational skills and a strong interest in community fundraising to join our Development Team as a Community Fundraiser Officer. This is a fantastic opportunity to build and nurture the Trust’s fundraising and engagement goals.

Location: 89 Addison Road, London, W14 8BZ, and other Trust sites across London

Contract Type: Full time, all year round

Salary: £31,980-£33,870

Start Date: 10th August 2026

About the Role

Working closely with the Development Manager and the Development Director, you will play a key role in strengthening relationships with the schools’ communities, supporting fundraising initiatives and delivering engaging communications and events that foster lifelong connections with the Trust and its schools.

Key Responsibilities

• Build meaningful relationships across school communities and alumni networks, bringing people together and inspiring them to support the Trust’s vision
• Lead creative fundraising and engagement initiatives, from community campaigns to reunions and events, helping to drive a vibrant culture of giving
• Boost the Trust’s growth and sustainability by supporting data‑driven fundraising, managing donor stewardship, maintaining accurate customer relationship management (CRM) records and contributing to strong grant proposals

What We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate will be:

• A confident communicator with excellent interpersonal and writing skills who can engage a vast range of stakeholders
• Experienced in relationship management, fundraising or engagement
• Organised, detail-oriented and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Skilled in using CRM systems and digital communication tools
• Passionate about education and community building
• A team player with a proactive and positive approach

 About the Trust

The Saint John Southworth Catholic Academy Trust is a growing family of Catholic schools (primary, secondary and post-16), a registered charity and a trading company committed to providing an outstanding education rooted in faith, aspiration and service.

Our Shared Services Team provides high-quality professional and operational support across the Trust, enabling schools to focus on teaching, learning and pastoral care.

What We Offer

• A supportive and collaborative working environment
• Opportunities for training and development to help you grow in your career
• The chance to contribute to a trust committed to delivering high-quality education and supporting staff wellbeing
• Hybrid working during school holidays
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme and generous holiday entitlement

 How to Apply

For further details on the role, please view the Job Description and Person Specification or visit our website to find out more about us.

To apply for this role, please complete the application forms available on our Vacancies webpage.

Closing Date: 5pm on 21st May 2026

Shortlisting Date: 22nd May 2026

Interviews: Week commencing 1st June 2026

The Saint John Southworth Catholic Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. All roles are subject to satisfactory vetting, including an Enhanced DBS check with Children’s Barred List.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (amended 2013 and 2020)) provide that when applying for certain jobs, certain spent convictions and cautions are protected and they do not need to be disclosed to employers. If they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website and further information about filtering offences can be found in DBS filtering guide.

Join us in our mission to cultivate an educational environment that inspires growth, respect and academic achievement!

As the school looks ahead to its next chapter, philanthropy will be central to expanding opportunity, enhancing facilities, and ensuring that RGS remains a place where talent and ambition can flourish. To support this vision, we are seeking an exceptional Director of Development to lead a modern, strategic, and inspiring development programme.  This post is funded by The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe Foundation CIO (Charity number: 1179234).

The Director of Development will lead the design, delivery, and growth of a comprehensive fundraising strategy that supports the school’s long‑term ambitions. This is a senior leadership role requiring strategic insight, operational discipline, and the ability to build meaningful relationships across the RGS community.

A major priority will be to refresh, rebuild, and modernise the school’s fundraising data, creating a reliable, insight‑driven foundation from which to plan and execute fundraising activity. Alongside this, the postholder will lead a transformational capital appeal to deliver a new state‑of‑the‑art STEM facility by 2030 — a project that will shape the educational experience of future generations.

The role also includes developing a legacy giving programme, expanding regular giving among parents, and introducing innovative school‑based fundraising initiatives that engage pupils, staff, alumni, and the wider community

This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in growing a major donor programme that directly supports life-changing eye care services in the Holy Land. You will work closely with the Executive Director, UK (EDUK) and senior leadership, including the CEO and Trustees, to contribute to the long-term sustainability of a respected and impactful international charity.

As part of a small, ambitious and collaborative UK team, you will play a major role in shaping and developing the major donor programme, building meaningful relationships with supporters and seeing the tangible impact of your work on patients and communities.

The St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group (SJEHG) is a UK-registered charity delivering expert eye care to the people of the Holy Land, regardless of ethnicity, religion or ability to pay. It operates through two locally-registered charities to provide services in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.

WHO WE ARE

We are Zarach, the children’s bed charity, and we’re on a mission to end child bed poverty, helping children get a good night's sleep, and the chance to thrive at school.

In our nearly seven years as a registered charity, we’ve captured the hearts and attention of many individuals, community groups, businesses and funders who want to support us on our mission. We’ve also been given an incredible media platform from which we have raised awareness of child bed poverty at local, regional and national levels. This support and awareness has seen us deliver over 17,000 bed bundles to children to date. 

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

As we grow, we are looking to recruit a Communications Officer to join the Communications team.

As our ideal candidate you will need to be in commuting distance to our Leeds warehouse, meaning you can travel regularly to meet with the team. This is a hybrid role based between the Leeds warehouse and home, with at least one day per week at the warehouse. Some travel to other locations may be required occasionally for events.

You will be someone who has good experience of the broad range of day-to-day communications admin and management activities that working in a small team brings and someone who enjoys the busyness and variety of this.

Alongside your Communications Officer-related skills and experience, we’ll be looking to see that you have a genuine care for our mission and, as such, are self-motivated to do a great job and be a values-led member of our team.

Ideally, you’ll have experience of engaging and growing audiences in the charity sector, due to some of the specialities that come with this, such as understanding the donor experience as opposed to commercial endeavours. But charity experience is not essential if you can demonstrate an appetite and track record for continual learning and development across your working life to date. 

WHAT WE OFFER

• Starting at £26,000 with progression up to £30,000 p/a (FTE) 

• 28 days annual leave, plus Bank Holidays (prorated for part-time work)

• Healthcare Cash Plan

• Quarterly Staff Recognition Award

• A great working environment! One of our colleagues described us as- “Zarach is a wonderful place to work with the mission at the core of all that we do” 

To decide if you’d like to bring your skills and experience to bear in the pursuit of our mission, please have a look at the job description, our website and the coverage of us across social media.

Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. Therefore, we encourage you to submit your CV and cover letter as soon as possible.

Are you a commercially minded fundraiser, passionate about garnering support for a cause you love? Come and join #TeamMercury as our new Head of Development and Partnerships.

We are looking for someone with a strong track record in identifying and securing funding, building commercial partnerships, and nurturing meaningful strategic relationships that drive sustainable growth.

The successful candidate is creative, highly collaborative and forward-thinking. You will bring experience across a range of fundraising approaches and the ability to make the most of a mix of commercial streams. We would love to hear from you!

To find out more, download the candidate pack.

Applications close at 10am on Monday 18 May 2026. First round of interviews will take place on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.

Purpose of the job

As Major Donor Manager, you will support the delivery of UK Youth's major donor programme, cultivating high-value, long-term relationships with high-net-worth (HNW) individuals in support of UK Youth's mission and vision. You will build and manage a pipeline of major donors and prospects, working towards income targets that grow year on year, and play a critical role in securing unrestricted funding, programme funding and transformational capital investment.

This role requires a strategic, relationship-led approach and a deep understanding of major gift fundraising. You will work closely with senior leadership to ensure credibility, effective stewardship and meaningful donor engagement. The Major Donor programme prioritises depth of relationship and long-term value over short-term income targets, and you will be instrumental in embedding this culture across the organisation.

The role sits within the strongly performing and highly motivated Fundraising department, including events, corporate, trust and foundation fundraising.

Why work at UK Youth?

Every young person deserves a youth worker. UK Youth exists to make that a reality. As the UK’s infrastructure body for youth work, we support a network of thousands of youth organisations to improve young lives every day. At the same time, we are transforming the policies, investment, and ideas needed to future-proof youth work for generations to come.

UK Youth exists to widen the reach and deepen the impact of youth work and outdoor learning. By joining UK Youth, you can help create a society that backs young people – through each spark, struggle and success.

Key responsibilities

• Major Donor Fundraising and Pipeline Development

• Cultivation, Stewardship and Events

• Capital Appeal Support – Avon Tyrrell

• Communications and Engagement

• Strategy and Performance

Experience we're after

• Proven experience in major donor fundraising, with a track record of cultivating and securing five or six figure gifts from HNW individuals.

• Experience of building and managing a major donor pipeline from prospect identification through to solicitation and stewardship.

• Experience of senior stakeholder management, including working with CEOs, trustees and senior volunteers.

• Experience of managing a diverse workload with multiple deadlines, stakeholders and deliverables.

• Experience of thinking strategically and developing compelling fundraising propositions aligned to organisational priorities.

• Experience of delivering cultivation and stewardship events for major donors.

What we can offer you

We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance, excellent learning and development opportunities and vibrant organisational culture:

• Flexible/Agile Working

• 27 days annual leave (24 days + 3 days winter closure) plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees)

• Funded training provided in; Safeguarding, GDPR, Information and Cyber Security & Equality & Diversity

• Other training available in support of your personal and professional development

• Pension scheme (currently UK Youth match employee contributions up to 5%)

• Membership of our life insurance scheme which would pay-out up to 4 times your salary

• Employee Assistance Programme to support employees both professionally and personally

• 20% discount off bookings at Avon Tyrrell, our New Forest Outdoor Centre, including camping, lodges and outdoor activities.

• IT equipment provided for the duration of contract

• CycleScheme and TechScheme

How to apply

If you would like to be considered for this fantastic opportunity, please complete an application via our completely anonymised recruitment system provided by Applied which looks to create a fair and unbiased application process for all. Scroll to the top of the page and start your application.

Closing date: 29th April 2026 at 23:59 (midnight)

Provisional Interview Dates: TBC

As this role involves working in a regulated environment with young people, any offer will be conditional to satisfactory background checks, which include criminal record check and employment reference.

Head of Fundraising & Partnerships

Salary band: c. £60,000 per annum, negotiable based on experience

Reporting to: CEO

Key leadership role in a dynamic, friendly charity transforming young people’s lives in London.

Construction Youth Trust is an ambitious, impact-led organisation pushing the boundaries of how charities work in partnership with business to create social change. We are seeking a dynamic and motivated fundraising leader to join our Senior Leadership team as Head of Fundraising and Partnerships. A genuine passion for social mobility is essential, as well as a deep commitment to creating effective charity-industry partnerships that drive social impact. This is a key external facing role with responsibility for fostering strong partnerships with our funders and supporters.

Social mobility is at the heart of Construction Youth Trust, and our mission is to enable young people achieve their full career potential through meaningful early engagement with employers in an important growth industry. We prioritise young people from low-income backgrounds and under-represented groups and those facing significant barriers to employment. Through our long-standing partnerships with employers in the built environment sector (over 200+ across London), we connect young people to relatable role models, world of work experiences and ultimately rewarding jobs and apprenticeships. The built environment sector is at the forefront of achieving net zero and future economic growth, offering young people substantial opportunity for career progression.

The role

Construction Youth Trust is in a strong financial position with an excellent Fundraising & Partnership team, supported by well-established systems. We already have a strong pipeline in place to meet our fundraising targets (£2M - £2.5M p.a.) This is an opportunity for a Senior Fundraising Leader with the skills and experience to consolidate and build on this success. We are looking for someone with the drive and experience to help the Trust meet our ambition to significantly increase opportunity for disadvantaged young people within the build environment.

We are seeking a Head of Fundraising & Partnerships with a strong desire to play an active Senior Leadership role and contribute to the Trust’s wider strategy, governance and day-to-day charity management. There is the opportunity to play a significant role shaping and steering the Trust’s next business planning cycle. Ideally, the post-holder would be willing/able to deputise for the CEO and the salary offered to the successful candidate will be dependent on experience and level of responsibility.  There is significant headroom at the Trust for a fundraising leader who is looking to take on a more strategic role within this dynamic charity, either immediately or with structured development and support.

How do I apply?

If you are an ambitious fundraising leader and are passionate about transforming the life chances of young people, please send your CV and your supporting statement (no more than 500 words) explaining why the role interests you and how/where you meet the person specification. Short-listed candidates will be asked to complete our application form in due course, but if you are interested in this role we are keen to hear from you as soon as possible.

Closing date: 5pm 14th May. However, we strongly recommend that you send your CV as soon as possible as we will reach out to potential candidates as we receive suitable applications and could close the application deadline earlier if a successful candidate is found.

We will hold 2-stage interview process with first interviews planned for week commencing 18th May.

You can access Job Description, and Person Specification for this role directly via this Charity Jobs page.

We strongly believe that a diverse and inclusive team is vital to our work. We are especially interested in hearing from individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds and/or those with a lived experience of the young people we support.

If you have not heard from us 2 weeks after the application closing date your application has been unsuccessful at this time.

Benefits and entitlements:

You’ll be eligible for many of our benefits including:

• 25 days annual leave per year (pro rata for part-time or any period less than 1 year) which increases by a day each year after 2 years’ service up to a maximum annual leave entitlement of 30 days per year

• Discretionary “Day for You” as an additional well-being day

• Opportunity to take a 6-week sabbatical after 3 years of service

• The Trust’s contributory pension scheme after three months – The charity will match your employee contribution up to 7%

• All travel expenses covered over and above your regular commute to and from work. Any extra travel for  work purposes will be reimbursed.

• Access to Workplace Options EAP (a provider of employee support services)

• Opportunity to Work from Home (in line with Trust policy)

• Opportunity to take part in the wider team’s wellbeing and social activities

• A supportive Training and Development policy which encourages colleagues to develop as professionals and achieve relevant qualifications (e.g. CIOF’s Certificate in Fundraising).

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We will only consider candidates for employment that share this commitment. All roles are subject to safer recruitment practices, and this position will require an Enhanced Disclosure with Barred list check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

At Bookmark, we have a simple vision: we want every child to read. We have seen significant growth over the past few years, building a network of engaged supporters and an effective Partnerships Board. As we pass the halfway mark of our three-year strategy, we are recruiting a major donor fundraiser to play a key role in the growth of our philanthropy programme, securing and developing relationships with high-net-worth individuals that change the story for children. 

This individual will join a successful team, stewarding and cultivating existing supporters as well as managing a pipeline of prospects through their giving journey. You will work directly with the Head of Fundraising and be responsible for your own portfolio of major donors, trusts and family foundations. By August 2027 Bookmark aim to have reached 500,000 children with our literacy programmes, you could be part of that incredible goal.

Experience in philanthropy is welcome but not essential. We are equally interested in candidates with a strong track record of managing high-value relationships and delivering excellent stewardship in commercial or client-facing roles.

Job Description

Delivering the Philanthropy plan

• Work with the Director of Fundraising to grow the major donor portfolio within the wider strategy 
• Build and maintain a portfolio of existing and new major donors who give or can give £20,000 or more, ensuring a first-class cultivation and stewardship journey
• Line manage the Philanthropy Executive and support their professional development, providing direction, support and guidance
• Work with our Fundraising Research & Administration Intern to identify new potential Bookmark major donors, working with Trustees, senior stakeholders, and our wonderfully supportive Partnerships Board to secure introductions and make asks of prospective supporters
• Design and deliver creative events and activities to generate income, cultivate and steward donors
• Create compelling, relevant and tailored funding proposals, reports and collateral to inspire and inform donors, reflecting Bookmark’s strong brand. 
• Use Salesforce to manage the accurate recording, progression and forecasting of major donor relationships, enabling efficient reporting and KPI management

Work with the rest of the Fundraising team

• Work closely with the rest of the Fundraising team to ensure opportunities to maximise income for the fundraising team
• Devise and deliver annual plans, together with associated budgets, in line with the charity’s strategic objectives
• Work with the Senior Leadership Team, Chair of Trustees and colleagues across the charity to ensure major donor fundraising activity is aligned with the charity’s wider plans and objectives
• Ensure that all activity helps to build Bookmark’s brand and is always brand compliant
• Ensure Bookmark’s ethical fundraising policy is adhered to

Person Specification

Essential

• A successful track record in managing high-value relationships, including a proven track record of securing five-figure gifts
• Experience working towards and meeting, or exceeding, income targets
• Experience developing high value relationships through all stages of the giving cycle 
• A demonstrable ability to build internal relationships and use senior stakeholders (CEO, Trustees, Senior Leadership Team) to help progress major donor relationships
• Experience working on successful events that meet fundraising targets
• Great verbal communication skills, demonstrated by strong external and internal relationships. You will have the skills to influence, motivate and persuade people to donate
• Demonstrable experience of writing successful, inspiring, emotive, and technically accurate cases for support and proposals tailored to a high value audience
• Experience growing and managing a pipeline, planning for your portfolio and increasing income
• An understanding and ability to build budgets and work with financials
• Experience using of Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Experience using Salesforce, or another fundraising database

Bonus Points

• Major donor and/or Trusts & Foundations experience 
• Line management experience
• Experience working with a fundraising board or high value committee
• Experience managing and developing a high value giving circle
• Experience running matching campaigns or large mailings

Location: Minimum two days per week based at the Bookmark office (London), with flexibility around home working for the remaining days.

Contract type: Permanent - Full Time / Part-time (0.8/4 days) will be considered.

Salary: £40,000 - £42,000 (0.8 FTE - £32,000 - £33,600)

Reporting to: Director of Fundraising 

Application deadline: 11th May at 10am, but please note that interim shortlisting will occur on 29th April at 10am.

Want to know more?

We will be running an online session for anyone wishing to understand more about the role on Wednesday 22nd April at 2pm.  Please find the link to sign up on the relevant job description on our website.

Equality and Diversity

Bookmark is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals can make best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment, and in which all decisions are based on merit. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies and opportunity for flexible working arrangements to support team members from different backgrounds.

Bookmark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the well-being and welfare of children and requires everyone associated with the charity, including all trustees, employees, and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will need to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the role, including references from past employers and Disclosure and Barring Service checks.

At Bookmark, we are a small but growing team of hard-workichang people, who care about what we do. We love to roll up our sleeves, try new ways of doing things, and support each other so that we can achieve our goals. If that sounds like you and you share our vision and values, we'd love to hear from you.

Safeguarding

Bookmark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the well-being and welfare of children and requires everyone associated with the charity, including all trustees, employees, and volunteers to share this commitment.  Successful applicants will need to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the role, including references from past employers and Disclosure and Barring Service checks.

Our client champions and funds world-class research to transform the lives of everyone affected by a mental health condition. They strive to create a world where mental illness is better understood, diagnosed, treated, and hopefully someday, prevented. With a new CEO and committed board of trustees and team, MQ will hire a Director of Development with Prospectus supporting the search.

Director of Development

c. £75,000

Permanent

Hybrid from the London office

The Director of Development is a senior, strategic leadership role at the organisation responsible for driving significant income and managing a successful team, while simultaneously personally delivering philanthropic income for the organisation. The Director will develop and deliver our client's overall fundraising and income strategy and will personally lead and secure six and seven figure gifts, grants and contracts. Reporting to the CEO who has an excellent fundraising background and as member of the Executive Leadership Team,  the postholder will represent the organisation externally at high-level events and donor networking opportunities.

The selected candidate will have a proven track record of securing philanthropic gifts and leading an overall fundraising team and department. You will ideally have significant senior leadership experience in fundraising or income generation within the charity, research, or mission-driven sector and will enjoy leading a high performing team. The organisation has a strong track record of philanthropy so the candidate will also be in-tune with philanthropic trends and best-practice on an ongoing basis.

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy/maternity. If you have any disability and require reasonable adjustment/s to any part of the process then please contact Ryan Burdock at Prospectus.

If you feel you meet some of the criteria but not all, we really hope you'll enquire and learn more. Prospectus can advise and support on each part of the role and hopefully your application, so we look forward to hearing from you.      

In order to apply please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will arrange for a 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.