Fundraising innovation manager jobs

Join us in the ambitious ‘Birmingham In Action’ campaign, which commits to raising over £600 million of charitable funding and 1.25 million volunteer hours, positioning the University as one of the world leaders in university development. To help fulfil our exciting campaign ambitions, we are seeking to recruit a ‘Charitable Funding Manager’ (CFM) to maximise philanthropic funding across the University. The role will involve working to achieve a financial target by proactively identifying and securing income from Trusts, Foundations, and other charities. 

A key member of the Development and Alumni Relations Office’s (DARO) Charitable Funding team, you will navigate the university, working closely with academics and Professional Services colleagues to identify some key areas where there are funding needs. The role will bring to life some of our ground-breaking, sector leading work in a compelling and succinct way, inspiring support from new and existing funders. 

DARO exists to support this academic and student community by engaging, inspiring, and celebrating alumni, individuals, and charitable funders who give their money, time, and networks to support the University’s strategic priorities. The Office, which is comprised of five teams, is focused on fundraising and volunteering from alumni, organisations and individuals who are passionate about changing lives, through funding various research projects, supporting student bursaries, mentoring students, and providing internships, as well as providing a versatile programme of engagement opportunities for our global alumni community.

You will have experience of delivering against financial targets, along with the ability to translate complex information into a compelling ask in both verbal and written form. As a Charitable Funding Manager in DARO, you will be innovative, self-motivated, and take ownership of fundraising opportunities in this area. You will generate significant gifts for amazing philanthropic projects and encourage new donors to make long-term, sustainable gifts. You will have an enthusiasm for building relationships and the skill to interact with high-level donors and supporters. 

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. 

The Vacancy

Senior High Value Fundraising Manager

Salary: up to £51,176 (depending on experience) 

Location: Remote with regular travel to London / Downton

Hours: 35 hours per week

Contract: 12 month fixed-term

About the Role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior High Value Fundraising Manager to join our Relationship Fundraising team at Help for Heroes. This senior role will shape and lead one of our most strategically important income streams—ensuring we continue delivering life-changing support for veterans and their families.

This senior role is perfect for a confident relationship fundraiser with experience securing major gifts, running high-value campaigns, and delivering impactful special events.

You’ll lead the development and delivery of our high-value giving strategy delivering in excess of £1.2m over the next 12 months, including the £17m No One Left Behind campaign, major donor income, and a new 3-year Special Events strategy. With responsibility for a talented team, you’ll build a strong major donor pipeline, secure 5- and 6-figure gifts, and deliver exceptional supporter experiences.

You’ll collaborate across the organisation to shape compelling proposals, develop high-value communications, support our 20th anniversary plans, and ensure strong financial management and reporting.

As a senior leader, you will inspire, coach and develop your team, fostering a culture of collaboration, excellence and innovation.

About You

We’re looking for a strategic and inspirational leader with:

• Proven experience securing large (6-figure+) gifts from HNWIs
• Successful delivery of multi-million-pound campaigns or major donor programmes
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams
• Strong event leadership experience in income-generating and stewardship events
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication and relationship-building skills
• Confidence managing £1m+ targets, budgets and KPIs
• A flexible, calm and collaborative approach
• Passion for supporting veterans and their families
• Regular travel and some evening/weekend events are required.

About the Team

The Relationship Fundraising team is a key driver of sustainable long-term income for Help for Heroes securing income from Philanthropists, Businesses, Trusts and Foundations, Volunteers and Community partners. You will join a collaborative, passionate and expert team who are committed to delivering transformational support for the Armed Forces community.

In return we can offer you:

• Belonging to a team who make a difference to our community and value equality, diversity and inclusion.
• 29 days’ annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, regardless of service — plus your birthday off to celebrate!
• Opportunity to buy and sell up to 5 days annual leave per year.
• Added to our free health scheme from day one, including discounts on dental, opticians, massages, and more - with the option to upgrade.
• 3 volunteer days per year to support the Help for Heroes community.
• A generous salary sacrifice pension scheme with an 8% employer contribution and a minimum 3% employee contribution, plus life insurance up to 4× salary as an active member.
• Discounts on our branded clothing, including a free Help for Heroes hoody when you complete your induction.

Closing date: 16th January 2026

Please note: We may close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of strong applications.

Prospect Research Manager

Are you an established and confident prospect research professional with experience within the charity sector? Do you have a track record in identifying and qualifying prospects across philanthropy, corporate and/or trust markets? Are you able to communicate and present complex information to different audiences? If so, we have the perfect role for you.

We are recruiting a new Prospect Research Manager to join our team on a part time, permanent basis for 3 days per week (22.5 hours). Here at Mencap we understand that some of our office based colleagues can do their role from a range of locations, which is why we like to be flexible. We only ask for this role that you can commit to 1 day in our London Office per week, plus attend any other meetings when required.

The Prospect Research Manager will lead the development and delivery of prospect research to strengthen Mencap’s pipelines for trust, philanthropy and corporate fundraising teams in order to enable sustained income growth. Reporting into the Senior Philanthropy Manager, this post works closely with trust, corporate and philanthropy teams whilst working regularly with teams across fundraising, including community, events, fundraising operations and legacy teams.

Core responsibilities:

· Devise and implement targeted prospecting strategies to identify and qualify potential trust, statutory, corporate and philanthropy prospects.

· Support fundraisers through prospect management, portfolio development and network mapping.

· Deliver insightful prospect research to inform cultivation and engagement strategies.

· Maximise use of CRM system (Salesforce) and analytical tools to deliver high-quality reporting and to support forecasting and pipeline planning.

· Monitor and interpret external and internal trends and influences to ensure Mencap’s prospect pipelines are managed optimally.

· Work collaboratively to identify and qualify potential philanthropic donors from across the fundraising directorate.

· Deliver training to fundraisers on matters of prospect research, as the need arises.

Your Experience

· Strong understanding of the UK philanthropy, trust and corporate giving landscapes, including trends, motivators and vehicles for giving.

· Detailed knowledge of research tools and techniques including wealth analysis in a fundraising environment.

· Understanding of the regulatory landscape in which research exists, and the need for compliance and sensitivity.

· Established experience in delivering prospect research within the charity sector, with a track record in identifying and qualifying prospects across philanthropy, corporate and/or trust markets.

· Curiosity, creativity and innovation in exploring new sources, methods and connections.

· Skilled communicator, able to present complex insights clearly, persuasively and succinctly. Familiarity with CRM systems, ideally Salesforce.

· Extensive knowledge of compliance requirements including GDPR, Fundraising Code of Practice and others.

*More information can be found on the job description.

Why join Mencap?

At Mencap, you can bring your whole self to work. We are committed to inclusion, kindness and continuous learning, and we believe that when our people feel supported and valued, they can do their best work.

If you’re ready to make a difference, please get in touch today by providing an up-to-date bespoke CV that demonstrates all your relevant skills and experience. 

The role will close on the 18th January and we will look to hold first stage interviews week commencing 19th January. There will be a second stage interview to follow week commencing 26th January.

Benefits

Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated.

Our benefits package offers 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high-street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest-free loans, and many more exciting offerings.

For more details on what we have to offer, please see the attached document outlining all the fantastic benefits available to you as a member of our team!

About Mencap

Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

We're here to support people with a learning disability, their families and their carers. We fight for a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society for people with a learning disability to live in.

At Mencap, everyone works with people with a learning disability either providing support or advice, or alongside one another as colleagues.

Belonging at Mencap is for everyone, every day, everywhere.

· Everyone is expected to treat people well and make Mencap an inclusive organisation.

· Every day we grow and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes but we learn from them and make changes

· Everywhere people will feel respected, valued, and safe to be themselves.

We have Belonging network groups that meet online and are open to all colleagues. The groups include people who identify as Black and Asian, LGBTQIA+, disabled or with a long- term health condition, women, parents and carers, and their allies.

We want to encourage everyone to apply to work at Mencap and we offer a variety of different contract types and working patterns. We’re not looking for specific experience. It is your personality and values that will make you a great colleague. We will train and develop you to succeed in the role you’re applying for.

As our Fundraising Officer you’ll play a crucial role in raising philanthropic income for the university. You’ll be joining us at an exciting time as 2026 marks the University’s centenary.

Your work will involve planning and delivering a range of fundraising activities aimed at raising charitable donations from alumni and other supporters. Projects will include an international giving day, telephone campaign, direct mail appeals, online crowdfunding projects and raising money at public events on our campuses.

This is a chance to make a real difference during an important year. You’ll be joining a friendly, supportive and passionate team and your work will have real impact — supporting students, research and the wider community through our centenary projects.

To succeed in this role, you will have:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to work with a wide range of people
• Experience planning and managing projects
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Good all round IT skills
• Ideally gained some prior experience in a fundraising role

This role is a fixed-term full time position, working 35 hours per week, providing maternity cover for 1 year from February 2026. Working hours would normally be 9-5pm Monday to Friday, but the role will require periods of out of hours working such as during the telephone campaign.

The role requires some days working at the Whiteknights Campus each week, but The Fundraising Team supports hybrid remote working arrangements too.

Role description:

We are excited to be seeking a talented and motivated individual to join Southampton Hospitals Charity as our legacy and in-memory manager to help shape our legacy development programme and in-memory strategy.

The role will involve leading on the operational delivery of both legacy and in-memory marketing and legacy case management. The postholder will implement donor-centric approaches to legacy and in-memory campaigns and events, case management, and supporter stewardship.

We are looking for an individual who is as passionate about fundraising as the work we do as a Charity to join our team. This role will be key, as we launch our ambitious new strategy to grow our income, reach and impact.

Main responsibilities

Legacies

• Develop and implement a comprehensive legacy strategy, identifying new opportunities, products, and campaigns to increase engagement, consideration, and pledger numbers.
• Work across the Charity to ensure legacies are integrated across relevant channels to reach key audiences.
• Build a portfolio of case studies to showcase how legacy giving has had a transformative impact across our hospitals.
• Build and nurture relationships with legacy pledgers and prospects, organising legacy information and engagement events to position the Charity prominently in legator consideration.
• Responsible for legacy case management and be the main contact for our legacy consultancy partner, ensuring all processes are compliant, efficient, and deliver for the Charity and for its supporters.
• Communicate with empathy and professionalism with executors, solicitors, and beneficiaries’ families, including handling enquiries and confirming receipt of legacy notifications.
• Work with the director of operations & resources on disputes and contested legacies, to ensure these are handled appropriately and sensitively.
• Work with the director of finance to ensure all information is recorded appropriately to ensure correct accounting and accrual of legacy income.
• Support the director of finance on legacy matters relating to the Charity’s annual external audit.

In-Memory

• Support with the development and management of stewardship programmes for in-memory donors, ensuring journeys are sensitive, supportive, and effective.
• Have responsibility for the efficient use of all in-memory payment platforms, ensuring that they are utilised correctly, report accurately, and are employed as part of a strong stewardship programme.
• Work closely with the hospital engagement team for the promotion of in-memory giving opportunities
• Working with the marketing & campaigns manager, develop and implement relevant campaigns, including within our hospitals, to increase awareness of in-memory giving
• Support the events & community fundraising officer with events organised by families and friends in memory of loved ones, ensuring appropriate stewardship processes are put into place.
• Look for new opportunities for developing in-memory products, developing cases for support and implementation plans to ensure the Charity’s in-memory programme is at the forefront of new practice.
• Work closely with the grants manager to ensure restricted and tribute funds are able to have an impact in the areas donors wish to see.
• Develop and cultivate strong relationships with supporters by offering suitable opportunities to remember someone special.
• Working with the marketing and communications team, source and develop case stories for use across the in-memory programme and charity.

Knowledge and experience

• Proven experience in legacy administration within the charity sector
• Certificate in Charity Legacy Administration (ILM) is desirable
• Proven experience in developing and delivering legacy, in-memory, and/or individual giving strategies and campaigns across multiple channels.
• Extensive experience in donor stewardship, fine-tuning supporter journeys, and delivering excellence in supporter care.

Personal qualities

• Curiosity, with an ability and willingness to explore issues and opportunities to their fullest potential
• Commitment to learning and developing knowledge and understanding of the Charity and how it operates
• Desire to improve things– dissatisfaction with inefficiency
• Self-motivated, pro-active and solutions focused, with ability to work on own initiative and to provide recommendations.
• Personable with excellent manner and ability to engage stakeholders.
• Flexible approach to working hours to meet the needs of the role.

Skills

• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across teams and externally with agencies and solicitors.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple campaigns and priorities, and deliver to deadlines.
• Ability to analyse campaign data and insights, applying learning to improve activity and outcomes.
• Working knowledge and experience of budget management, forecasting, and reporting.
• Strong IT skills including Microsoft word, Excel, as well as bespoke systems

Voyage is seeking a part‑time, income‑focused and results‑driven Head of Fundraising and Strategic Partnerships to help secure long‑term, diversified investment for our youth leadership programmes, with a particular emphasis on trusts and foundations, business development and strategic partnerships in the CSR youth, heritage and environmental space.

We are therefore seeking an experience professional who has a great production understanding of the role fund raising plays in shaping applications and grants. We therefore seek someone who can equally sit across trusts and foundations, business development and partnership building and help Voyage move from “opportunity‑led” to strategic, long‑term income growth.

Sightsavers works in more than 30 countries across Africa and South Asia to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote the rights of people with disabilities. Join us and together we can create a world where no one is needlessly blind and people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

Title: Digital Fundraising Insight and Optimisation Executive

Location: UK Remote with regular office days (approx. 1 – 2 per month) or hybrid (our head in Haywards Heath is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for those who prefer to work from the office regularly)

Contract:  Permanent

Hours:  This is a full-time role with some flexibility around hours worked

Salary:  £29,000 to £34,000 pa

About the role

Sightsavers are looking for a Digital Fundraising Insight and Optimisation Executive to drive data-led decision-making and enhance the performance of our global digital fundraising activities.

As the Digital Fundraising Insight and Optimisation Executive, you will deliver actionable insights through data analysis and reporting to inform strategic decisions and optimise digital fundraising performance. You’ll play a key role in supporting conversion rate optimisation (CRO) by analysing test results, maintaining data integrity and identifying opportunities to improve supporter journeys and retention.

You’ll work closely with colleagues across various teams to enhance campaign effectiveness and deliver measurable impact. This is a hands-on role where your expertise will directly influence income growth and supporter experience.

Responsibilities

• Analyse performance data across channels (GA4, BigQuery, SQL) to identify trends and optimisation opportunities.

• Create clear dashboards and reports to improve campaign effectiveness and supporter engagement.

• Track and report on KPIs, translating complex data into actionable insights.

• Support CRO activity including analysing test results and recommending improvements to impact conversion and donor retention.

• Ensure best practice in data capture, tagging and reporting across teams.

• Conduct competitor analysis and benchmarking to inform optimisation strategies.

• Develop guidance and training resources to upskill colleagues in data interpretation and reporting.

• Share best practices and learnings from testing and optimisation activities.

• Stay up to date with analytics tools and techniques to enhance insight capabilities.

About you

As the ideal candidate, you will combine strong analytical skills with a creative approach, using data to uncover insights and spot opportunities for optimisation. You’ll have experience with GA4 and data visualisation tools and be confident in interpreting and presenting complex data in a clear, actionable way that drives performance improvements.

Jobholder Requirements

Essential

• Strong analytical skills with experience in GA4 and data visualisation tools (e.g. Google Looker Studio).

• Ability to interpret and present complex data in a clear, actionable way.

• Familiarity with CRO concepts.

• Knowledge of A/B testing and experimentation frameworks.

• Experience with Google Tag Manager and marketing platforms like Hotjar, A/B testing tools like VWO and email marketing platforms.

• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills.

Desirable

• Proficiency in SQL and experience working with large datasets (BigQuery desirable).

• Experience in a fundraising or non-profit environment.

This is a hands-on, impactful role with the opportunity to strengthen digital fundraising performance. Please read the full Job Description for further details.

Benefits

Sightsavers offers flexible working, a collaborative culture and benefits to support wellbeing. Our comprehensive benefits package includes generous annual leave allowance, pension, season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, discounted gym memberships and wellness discounts. If you choose to work in or are visiting our collaborative, modern office space, you will find it an easy 20-minute train journey from Brighton or 45 minutes from London.

Next steps

To apply for this exciting new opportunity, please complete an application via our recruitment portal. We are particularly interested in learning of your motivations for applying.

We anticipate that remote interviews will take place from 19 January onwards and the interview process will likely include two stages with a task. We will provide interview themes in advance to support candidates.

Closing date: 11 January 2026

As an equal opportunity employer, we actively encourage applications from all sections of the community. Sightsavers is a Disability Confident Leader and qualified people with a disability are particularly encouraged to apply.

We are looking for an experienced, motivated fundraising professional to oversee corporate partnerships and individual giving, embedding the corporate and individual giving journey into all aspects of ERIC’s communications, and broadening the charity’s approach to donor stewardship to treat all service users and website visitors as future donors. You will also oversee all ERIC’s external and internal communications including our website, social media and PR.

As part of ERIC’s Senior Leadership Team, you will contribute to strategic planning, policy and decision-making across the whole organisation. This role provides strategic and operational leadership for ERIC’s fundraising and communications team. You will play a pivotal role in maximising supporter-led fundraising income, ensuring every supporter has a positive experience and feels inspired to continue supporting ERIC.

As Head of Fundraising and Communications, and a Senior leadership team member you will be responsible for implementing ERIC’s overall strategy. Our primary strategic objective in this area is to build our corporate and individual donor base, and you will use user data, stewardship strategy, website user experience, social media, segmented email and online service design to deliver this.

You will work closely with the CEO and provide effective line-management for two staff, and you will work with contractors and freelancers who provide social media support, videography and web development services etc.

ERIC’s reputation is built on providing families and professionals with health information that is accurate, up-to-date, clearly written and accessible. You will work with our team of qualified and experienced staff to ensure that robust systems are in place for checking and approving all the health information that ERIC publishes.

What we can offer you:

In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, ERIC offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 25 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays per year), rising one day per year as a long service reward up to a max of 5 days.
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to wellbeing resources
• 3% Employer Pension contribution
• Living Wage Accredited Employer

We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital training programmes and other training as required by the role.

Who we’re looking for 

We’re looking for an exceptional Director of Fundraising and Communication who will lead our fundraising and communications with vision and purpose, helping us grow our reach, deepen our impact and amplify our voice. You’ll be joining a people-centred, mission-driven team, united by a shared commitment to making a meaningful difference. At a time when vulnerable young people face increasing challenges, our work has never been more urgent. If you’re motivated by impact and driven by purpose, this is a good opportunity to contribute to lasting change. 

You will be stepping into a well-established and highly effective organisation, but one that remains energised by innovation and continuous improvement. We actively welcome fresh thinking and new approaches that help us evolve and enhance our work. 

What will you do? 

This is a pivotal moment to join JET as we build on fourteen years of impact and enter a new chapter in our journey. We have ambitious plans to expand our reach and influence, and we’re seeking someone who can help us strengthen our funding base and sharpen our message. 

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will lead and develop our fundraising team, shaping a cross-stream strategy and an integrated communications plan. You’ll be responsible for setting the strategic direction for fundraising, communications and events across the organisation. By doing so you will raise JET’s national profile, grow our supporter base and significantly increase income to support programme expansion. 

You’ll bring strong experience across multiple fundraising streams, with a proven track record of securing significant multi-year funding and building lasting relationships with funders—both individuals and organisations. Alongside leading our fundraising efforts, you’ll take ownership of our brand, ensuring clarity and consistency in our messaging, helping partners tell our story, and securing positive media coverage. 

You’ll lead the development of campaigns, fundraising and marketing activities, and digital engagement that not only enhance our national profile but also drive supporter engagement and income growth.

This is a home-based role, with travel required to and within the regions where we operate, including attendance at key events. 

About you 

You will provide strategic leadership across fundraising, communications, marketing and events. Your work will be closely aligned with JET’s five-year strategy, enabling continued growth in funding and programme delivery. 

You’ll bring a wealth of experience in leading fundraising and communications at a strategic level, with a strong understanding of the sector and a track record of securing and sustaining major gifts and partnerships. You’ll be adept at managing integrated campaigns across multiple channels and growing income through sustainable funding models. 

Your leadership style will be collaborative and empowering, with the ability to build high-performing teams and foster a culture of accountability and innovation. You’ll be a confident communicator, able to inspire and influence, with excellent relationship-building skills and a strategic mindset. 

Above all, you’ll be passionate about JET’s mission to empower young people facing adversity. You’ll be a credible ambassador, committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and driven by the desire to make a meaningful difference. 

Across the JET team we cultivate a culture of inclusion that respects individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe that our differences enable us to be a better team – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better outcomes for our young people. We welcome applicants whatever your background and whatever your stage in life, so if you are returning to the workforce after a period away, or even seeking a change of pace, please get in touch.  

About the Jon Egging Trust (JET)

At JET, we support vulnerable young people to get back on track and realise their potential; more than 45,000 young people right across the UK to date, and there’s so much more we can do. We’re an organisation that really values its people and we’re immensely proud that our team culture is based on caring and raising each other up.

Our benefits package includes:

• Flexible working

• Enhanced annual leave

• Homeworking allowance 

• Occupational pension scheme

• Occupational sickness scheme

• Special paid leave provision

• Enhanced family leave 

Download the Candidate Information Pack

Read our Applicant Privacy Notice 

Child and adult at risk protection policy statement 

The Jon Egging Trust is committed to providing a safe and positive environment for everyone involved in its services and activities. The Trust takes its extended moral and legal duty of care very seriously in relation to children, young people, staff and volunteers. We seek to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children and to protect them from harm or abuse when they engage in any of our activities. JET expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. The suitability of all prospective employees or volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. 

To apply

Please complete our online application form. 

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. The advert will close on Friday 16 January 2026 at [23:30] but may close earlier if a suitable candidate is found, so we encourage early applications. 

Provisional Interview Process

Stage 1 

• First interview: Online interview 

Stage 2 

• Online Workshop and fireside chat 

• Face-to-face interview with presentation in London

Questions?

Contact us through our website.

Please note:

Due to our anonymised recruitment process, if your application is not shortlisted, we are unable to provide personalised feedback.

To become an employee at JET, you must be able to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK and a satisfactory DBS check – enhanced with children's barred is required for this role.

As part of our recruitment process, we want to make clear that we are not able to offer visa sponsorship for this position. 

Please note that the interview process outlined above is provisional and may be subject to change. 

�� Help give animals in Sussex a good life — and shape the future of one of the most-loved local charities ��

Raystede is one of Sussex’s most loved animal charities, caring for over 400 animals every day. We're investing in our future — and fundraising is at the heart of that journey.

We’re looking for an experienced Individual and Community Giving Manager to lead and grow our public fundraising programme across Regular Giving, Community Fundraising, Events, Appeals, Legacies, Lottery, Sponsorship and Digital.

You’ll manage a talented team, develop supporter journeys, embed data-led decision making and drive income growth to help secure Raystede’s long-term future.

We’re looking for someone with:

· A strong track record in public fundraising

· Experience managing multiple fundraising streams

· Leadership and team development skills

· Excellent storytelling, relationship-building and data literacy

· A passion for ethical fundraising and animal welfare

Some evening/weekend work required (TOIL provided). Full driving licence is essential.

What we're building

Every year, 3,000+ swimmers take on some of the UK's most iconic open water challenges, including the Dart10k, Bantham Swoosh and The Hurly Burly along with our growing series of 24-hour Wild Swim Relays. They swim so that disabled kids who need it most can get life-changing swimming lessons.

Last year, these swimmers raised over £1m. This year, we want to double it. And we need someone who can help us get there.

We're Level Water, a founder-led charity solving learn-to-swim for disabled children. We're not your typical charity. We own the events and run them like a business.  We move fast, test everything, and we're building something that doesn't exist anywhere else.

We've just brought in a new Fundraising Director, and this role is a cornerstone of the team we're building. If you want to help define how a modern charity does supporter care, this is your chance.

The opportunity

This isn't a "send some emails and answer some queries" role. This is a "build something and make it brilliant" role.

You'll own the entire experience for our 3,000 swimmers from the moment they sign up, through their training and fundraising journey, to the event itself (yes, you'll be there), and beyond. You'll design the journey, execute it, measure it, improve it, and scale it.

You'll have the freedom to experiment. Want to test a new communication sequence? Build a WhatsApp community? Launch a training programme? Run in-person meet ups? Create a membership product? Brilliant, build the business case and let's do it.

You'll work with real people who are doing something remarkable. You'll get to know them, thank them, support them, and help them raise more money than they thought possible. And you'll do it in a way that makes them want to come back year after year.

You'll also work closely with our Fundraising Director, Events and Marketing teams to turn our swimmers into our best marketing channel, because the people who've experienced our events are the ones who'll bring their friends next year.

And you'll grow with us. We're scaling fast, and we need people who can scale with us, whether that's into senior leadership, building out new teams, or launching new products.

This is a mission-critical role in driving Level Water’s income growth. Every strong supporter relationship you build helps unlock more funded swimming lessons, bringing us closer to a future where every disabled child can have a great swimming lesson with a confident, qualified teacher.

This is the most exciting job in the charity sector for the right person.

What you'll actually do

This role owns the supporter experience as a growth engine. You’ll set strategy, drive innovation, and be accountable for how supporter care translates into income, retention and long-term loyalty. You’ll work closely with the Senior Leadership Team to shape priorities, influence decisions, and build something that scales - not just for this year’s events, but for the future of Level Water.

Build relationships that matter

• Get to know our swimmers. Design the experience. Call them. Thank them. Make them feel valued.

• Be there at events throughout the summer meeting people, creating unforgettable experiences, and giving them reasons to come back.

• Deliver the personal touches that deepen connections: handwritten cards, phone calls, training tips, impact updates, recognition, celebration.

Design and optimise the supporter journey

• Own the end-to-end experience: from sign-up emails to post-event stewardship.

• Map out communications across our events portfolio throughout the year and execute them brilliantly.

• Use data to spot opportunities; where are people dropping off? Where can we increase average fundraising? What messages work best?

• Test everything. Buttons, subject lines, timing, tone obsess over the details that drive results.

Identify and unlock growth opportunities

• Spot the swimmers who could become major donors, corporate partners, or monthly givers and move them along that journey.

• Cross-sell and upsell: if someone's just completed their first challenge, how do we make them another offer that they can’t refuse? 

Track, report, and improve

• Keep our CRM up to date and use it intelligently.

• Report regularly on what's working and what's not: fundraising targets, engagement metrics, retention rates.

• Stay ahead of the curve: what are the best organisations doing? What can we learn and adapt?

Who we're looking for

We care much more about how you work than what you've done. You don't need fundraising experience. You don't need charity sector experience. You don't even need customer success experience though if you have it, great.

What you do need:

• Hustle and drive. You take ownership. You spot opportunities and go after them. You don't wait to be told what to do. You’re looking for opportunities. 

• A knack for building relationships. You genuinely care about people and you're good at making them feel it whether that's over email, on the phone, or in person.

• A data brain. You can look at numbers and spot the story. You know that "engagement is up 12%" means something, and you know how to act on it.

• A bias for action. You test things. You move fast. You're comfortable with uncertainty and you learn by doing.

• An entrepreneurial mindset. You think like an owner. If this were your business, how would you grow it?

• Ambition. You want to grow. You want to get better. You want to build something you're proud of.

• Organisation: Strong attention to detail, with the ability to juggle multiple projects and stay calm under pressure.

Bonus points if:

• You love being outdoors (swimming, hiking, wild camping, anything that gets you outside).

• You've worked in a startup, scale-up, or high-growth environment.

• You've designed customer journeys, retention strategies, or growth loops.

• You've worked in sales, account management, hospitality, retail management, or anything that required you to build relationships and hit targets.

Why Level Water?

Our values - Bold, Driven, Personal, and Joyful - are at the heart of this role. You’ll be expected to bring ambition, move with purpose, care deeply about people, and help create experiences that feel genuinely joyful to be part of. 

• Bold. This isn't a "follow the playbook" role. We want your ideas. We want you to challenge us. We want you to help us build something better.

• Driven. We're growing fast and we need people who can scale with us. If you're ambitious, there's a huge opportunity here.

• Personal. We're a small, founder-led team. We move fast, we debate hard, we test everything, and we care deeply about what we do.

• Joyful. You'll work on some of the most iconic outdoor swims in the UK. You'll be part of creating experiences that people remember forever.

Practical details:

• Flexible working: remote, hybrid, or (even better) office-based in Tunbridge Wells or Exeter, your choice.

• You'll attend weekend events throughout the summer (with time off in lieu).

• Salary: £30k-£45k depending on experience. 

How to apply

We want to hear from you in whatever way best shows us who you are and how you think.

Get creative. We really want to get a feel for your personality and style. A traditional CV and cover letter? Absolutely fine. A video introduction? Great. A presentation deck? Bring it on. Whatever format helps you shine and show us who you are. 

Here's what we'd love to know:

1. How you think about supporter experience:
   Imagine one of our swimmers has just signed up for the Dart10k but hasn't started fundraising yet. Walk us through how you'd engage them over the next 8 weeks to help them raise as much as possible and feel brilliant about it.

2. What excites you about this role:
   Tell us why this opportunity appeals to you specifically.

3. Something you're proud of:
   Share one thing you've built, grown, or improved. Doesn't have to be in charity or even at work, it could be anything that shows your drive and ability to make things happen.

Before you apply:

If you've got questions about the role, the team, or whether this might be right for you, please reach out. I'm Andy Punter, Fundraising Director at Level Water, and I'd genuinely love to chat.

Deadline: 

We're reviewing applications on a rolling basis and will close this advert once we've found the right person. So if this excites you, don't wait, but do take the time to show us who you really are. 

We'd rather see your best work than a rushed application. If you need a bit of time to put that together, talk to us.

We're excited to meet you. Let's build something brilliant together.

Harris Hill are delighted to be working with a national charity to recruit for a Senior Events Fundraising Officer in order to lead a portfolio of fundraising events, with a particular focus on developing new events, delivering excellent supporter experiences, and ensuring income and expenditure targets are met or exceeded.

This is a hands on role for someone who enjoys balancing strategic thinking with operational delivery, and who thrives on building strong relationships with supporters, colleagues, volunteers and external partners.

As a Senior Fundraising Officer you will:

• Take budgetary ownership of a range of owned and third-party fundraising events and partnerships, from feasibility and planning through to delivery and evaluation.
• Lead on new event development, working closely with innovation colleagues to research ideas, build proposals and business cases, and measure success using financial and non financial KPIs.
• Prepare and manage live event budgets, ensuring accurate forecasting and clear reporting on expenditure and true ROI.
• Manage relationships with suppliers, event providers and key stakeholders to ensure high quality delivery and added value for participants.
• Ensure all events meet legal, contractual and health & safety requirements.
• Deputise for the Events Fundraising Manager when required and provide guidance and support to Events Officers, including line management where appropriate.

• Lead on event volunteering plans, overseeing recruitment, training and volunteer care to increase engagement and retention.
• Work collaboratively across fundraising, marketing, press and digital teams to develop and deliver effective marketing and PR plans for events.
• Build long-term relationships with supporters through thoughtful, empathetic communication across email, social media and phone.

To be successful, you must have experience:

• Experience working in a fundraising, marketing or customer service environment
• Proven experience of planning and delivering events
• Strong budget management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, particularly by telephone
• A creative and innovative approach to event development
• Strong relationship building skills with colleagues, supporters and external partners
• An understanding of supporter care principles
• Confidence using Microsoft Office and social media platforms

Desirable

• Knowledge of current trends in charity fundraising events
• Understanding of supporter motivations
• Experience working with agencies and suppliers
• Relevant fundraising or marketing qualifications

Salary: £32,577

Location:  London, hybrid working or fully remote

Contract: 2 years FTC

Closing date: on rolling basis  

Interview: TBC

Recruitment process: Cv and Supporting Statement to

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

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

About the role

This is an exciting time to join Moorfields Eye Charity and work within an established prospect research team, be an integral part of a smooth-running fundraising team, and support the delivery of the charity’s ambitious fundraising programme.

Building on the success of the capital campaign and in line with its five-year fundraising strategy, the charity has ambitious plans to embed and create a step change in the role of philanthropy across the Moorfields partnership, transitioning from a fundraising programme with a core focus on capital support for the new centre to a programme supporting a broader, and more diverse, portfolio of research, education and innovation. The prospect research assistant will join a growing team and will contribute to increasing the size and quality of Moorfields Eye Charity’s prospect pipeline by undertaking high quality and insightful prospect research to help build and replenish our prospect pipeline.

You will provide valuable administrative support that will feed into improved systems and processes across our fundraising operations. You will have demonstrable investigative research skills and a methodical approach with effective organisational skills. The role requires good communication skills with the ability to present information in a variety of formats. The postholder will have prior experience in research and have the skills to produce accurate research reports and collect and process data in compliance with GDPR and other relevant legislation under the prospect research manager’s guidance. Some training will also be provided in using a variety of tools to identify and qualify prospective supporters capable of making a major gift.

This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a friendly and supportive team. The role would suit a positive, proactive individual with a curious mind and who is looking to build on their skills and experience to develop their career in the fundraising sector. You will have the chance to develop skills in information gathering and data analysis

Role Description

Research and administration

• Work with the prospect research team to identify, qualify and profile new major donor prospects (including individuals, trusts & foundations and companies) in the UK and internationally by using a number of tools and research techniques to gain insight on prospective supporters, estimated wealth and philanthropic interest.
• To work jointly with the prospect research team to complete larger acquisition projects and work independently on special research projects in line with Moorfields Eye Charity’s fundraising strategy.
• Provide general administrative support to the prospect research and philanthropy teams including ensuring accurate record keeping on the ThankQ Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system in compliance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Moorfields Eye Charity’s policies.
• Keep abreast of news and information sites for relevant developments on current and prospective donors and developments in philanthropy and ophthalmology.

Cross team working and collaboration

• Proactively work across teams to identify opportunities for prospecting and operational efficiencies in support of the charity’s wider business plans.
• Contribute to supporting the philanthropy team to use the database effectively with data entry as appropriate.
• Undertake any other duties within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job, the title of the post and its grading as requested by the prospect research manager or head of philanthropy.
• Deputising for the prospect research manager and/or prospect research officers when required.

Other duties

• Any other duties as may be requested from time to time by your line manager.
• Ensure that all activities are compliant with law, best practice and the charity’s policies and procedures.
• Occasional evening and weekend work as required.
• Ensure that you treat everyone with dignity and respect and adhere to, and champion, the charity’s EDI policy and values.
• As a member of the charity team to conduct your work and self to a high standard of professionalism and timeliness, being responsible and polite with all stakeholders. To be collaborative with, and considerate and supportive of colleagues as we work together to meet the common goal of delivering the charity’s strategy to maximum impact.

Further details and person specification in the job pack.

How to apply

Your application should include your CV and your response (up to 500 words each) to the following questions:

• What attracts you to this role and Moorfields Eye Charity?
• How does your experience and skills apply to this role?
• How would you approach the identification and qualification of new prospects for the charity’s philanthropy programme?

If you think you could do the role, but don’t have all the desirable experience, we would still welcome an application from you. The closing date for applications is 5pm Thursday 22nd January 2026.

Interviews will be held in-person at Moorfields Eye Charity’s office on 4th February 2026.

We are aware that you may use AI to support your application, but we ask you to use your own words as much as possible.

Head of Development and Communications

Job Description

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

£46,200 - £50,200 per annum FTE

The Head of Development and Communications plays a pivotal role in driving In2scienceUK’s mission to change lives by opening doors to STEM degrees and careers for young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. 

As a senior leader, you will shape and deliver a bold, integrated development and communications strategy that brings our mission to life, tells powerful stories of change, and inspires confidence and commitment from donors, partners, and key stakeholders that unlocks new opportunities for innovation and expansion.

In this role, you will manage a small, high-performing team and oversee the creation of compelling narratives and effective engagement strategies that inspire donors, partners, alumni, and key stakeholders, supporting a resilient and diversified income portfolio.

Working closely with programme teams, you will ensure that development and communications activity amplifies the impact of existing programmes, while identifying and developing new opportunities that deliver meaningful outcomes for young people across the UK.

You will drive the development of strategic partnerships and funding relationships to expand the reach and influence of In2science’s work. Combining strategic vision with operational expertise, you will take a proactive, entrepreneurial approach to growth, shaping how the organisation connects with its audiences, builds its reputation, and communicates the impact of its work in support of long-term strategic goals.

In2scienceUK operates on a remote basis, with necessary UK-wide travel for partner and funder meetings, events, and staff co-working days. 

Direct Reports

Development Team: Development Manager, Development Officer, External Fundraising Consultancy.

Comms Team : Senior Communications Officer.

Responsibilities 

Development

• To collaborate with the senior leadership team and trustees in setting organisational strategy and building strategic partnerships to support In2science’s vision for 2026 and beyond.

• Lead on planning, implementation and delivery of segmented fundraising and stewardship campaigns across programmes and audiences with a 2026 income target of £1.5m. 

• Lead and manage a diverse fundraising portfolio, including corporate partnerships, trusts and foundations, research grants (e.g., UKRI), government funding, and individual giving.

• To lead a small but effective development team, including an external fundraising contractor to build upon our success to date to achieve funding targets and foster strategic relationships with funding and delivery partners.

• Budget and resource all aspects of development and communications, including engaging with external contractors to maximise our output and upskill our teams.

• Work closely with the Head of Operations to oversee our CRM, ensuring accurate pipeline reporting and forecasting, as well as utilising the system for tailored stewardship opportunities.

• Work closely with our programmes team to ensure that deliverables are met and in line with our mission and objectives.

• Explore opportunities for partnership to launch new programmes and initiatives, working with the Data and Impact manager to use national data to ensure we deliver the greatest possible impact to those most in need.

Communications

• Oversee the organisation’s external communications, ensuring all messaging is on-brand, reflects our values, meets high standards, and effectively tells the story of our impact on young people.

• Oversee resourcing of the communications function, balancing 70% development and brand engagement with 30% programme-focused activity.

• Identify opportunities to maximise brand presence through strategic partnerships, policy engagement, and media activity.

• Work closely with the SMT and Trustees to respond to media, speaking, and event requests, ensuring consistent and impactful messaging.

• Ensure digital and web platforms effectively showcase our impact and support compelling storytelling.

• Manage the Senior Communications Officer to deliver campaigns that drive organisational growth and engagement with donors, partners, volunteers, and beneficiaries.

Governance

• To work with the SMT, CEO, and Trustees to ensure strong charity governance, including leading the Growth Subcommittee and preparing reports for quarterly board meetings.

• Identify organisation-wide opportunities to streamline and improve performance across the organisation.

• Working with SMT and trustees to ensure charity compliance. Including the charity commission, funding regulator, ICO.

• Identify and manage organisational/operational risk and ensure that all measures are in place to mitigate this.

As duties and responsibilities change, the job description will be reviewed and amended in consultation with the post holder. The postholder will carry out any other duties that are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job as requested by the line manager. All staff must undertake all mandatory training, checks and compliance as instructed by the organisation.

Person Specification

Essential:

• A passionate advocate for social mobility in STEM.

• An inspiring leader who can inspire and collaborate across the organisation to achieve our collective goals.

• Three years experience of leading a development team to generate a seven-figure annual income from a diverse range of donors, ideally in a charitable organisation.

• Knowledge of all streams of fundraising, with direct experience in at least two of the following: corporate fundraising, trust and foundations, research grants e.g. UKRI, government grants or individual giving (incl. high-net worth donors).

• A target driven individual with a proven track record of personal six-figure income generation and achieving or exceeding personal targets.

• Excellent relationship management skills to steward existing and potential partners and donors.

• Experience of line management including developing personal development plans and setting KPIs.

• Proven experience of managing a brand, ensuring consistent and impactful communications that maximise reach amongst our target audiences.

• Superb written and verbal communication skills with the ability to persuade and influence at all levels.

• Proven experience of overseeing communication campaigns to engage new prospects across a variety of audiences.

• Evidence of efficient and accurate management of budgets and resources.

• Willingness to work flexibly and attend occasional events or meetings on evenings/weekends when required.

• Working collaboratively and supporting fostering a collegiate workplace environment.

• Upholds the values of our code of conduct and is respectful to all.

Desirable:

• Direct knowledge and/or experience of the barriers young people face in accessing STEM degrees or careers.

• Direct knowledge and/or experience of working with education organisations or STEM sector employers, incl. knowledge of current trends.

• Experience of working in collaboration with across teams to deliver new initiatives that maximise outcomes for young people and attract relevant funding.

• Evidence of delivering highly impactful events.

• Prior experience of public speaking, thought leadership and engaging with the press.

• Experience of governance in a small charitable organisation and utilising Trustees to support the organisation's goals and objectives.

Benefits: 

At In2scienceUK we practise what we preach by giving all staff opportunities to progress in their careers. You will have the opportunity to develop your career with your line manager to get you to the next level from day one. 

Although we take our career development seriously we also value work-life balance. You will have the opportunity to work flexibly from home, balancing your caring responsibilities, volunteer commitments, hobbies and anything else that makes you happy. 

You will have 28 days of annual leave per annum, plus bank holidays. 

Commitment to Safeguarding: 

In2scienceUK is committed to our responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults as outlined in Working Together to Safeguard Children. We are committed to recruiting candidates who share this commitment to safeguarding, and therefore we apply robust recruitment and selection procedures to ensure that the people selected are right for the job, and that all candidates are appropriately screened prior to appointment. 

The following pre-employment checks will be undertaken as applicable:

• References 

• DBS check and/or Overseas criminal records check where applicable

• Self-Disclosure 

• Identity check 

• Right to work in the UK 

• Evidence of qualifications applicable to the role 

• Confirmation of registration with applicable registered body where applicable 

Many of our roles involve working with children and we will therefore take up references prior to your appointment. You should provide details of referees including your current and previous employers, covering the last 5 years. Your current or previous employer will be asked about disciplinary offences relating to children, if the role involved working with children, including any in which the penalty is time expired. We will also ask if you have been the subject of any child protection concerns and if so, the outcome of any enquiry or disciplinary procedure. 

Diversity and Inclusion:

In2scienceUK is committed to being an inclusive and diverse organisation where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those who are underrepresented in STEM and the charity sector, including but not limited to people from minoritised ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

We recognise that talent and potential come in many forms, and we welcome applicants with different experiences, perspectives, and ways of thinking. We are committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and working environment, and we will make reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. If you require any adjustments, please let us know.