Major Gifts Officer

Greenpeace is a movement of people who are passionate about defending the natural world from destruction. Their vision is a world where everyone has equal access to clean air, water, and energy; where the nature we love is protected, precious habitats are restored and communities are united by ambitious climate action.

Greenpeace UK’s Key Relationships programme raises around £15–16 million each year from major donors, trusts, foundations and legacies, playing a vital role in funding the organisation’s campaigning work.

We are looking for a talented relationship fundraiser to manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects, building authentic relationships that inspire significant philanthropic support for some of the world’s most urgent environmental challenges.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join one of the charity sector’s most successful major gifts programmes. Working closely with the Deputy Head of Major Gifts, you will take ownership of a portfolio of committed supporters, developing tailored cultivation strategies, making significant asks and delivering exceptional stewardship.

Much of your portfolio will comprise existing donors with considerable potential for growth, while you’ll also bring new supporters into the pipeline through thoughtful prospecting and relationship building. You’ll create meaningful opportunities for donors to connect with Greenpeace’s work, whether through one-to-one meetings, campaign briefings, events or bespoke engagement experiences that reflect their individual interests and motivations.

You’ll join a highly collaborative fundraising team with dedicated Events & Operations support, prospect research resource and strong internal relationships across the organisation. This is an opportunity to develop your major gifts expertise, take ownership of high-value relationships and play a visible role in the continued growth of Greenpeace UK’s philanthropic fundraising.

As Major Gifts Officer, you will:

• Manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects, building trusted relationships that maximise long-term philanthropic support
• Develop and deliver tailored cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies for each supporter, taking responsibility for the full donor journey
• Identify new prospects, secure meetings and create bespoke engagement plans that build a strong pipeline of future supporters
• Make compelling asks through face-to-face meetings, telephone conversations and written proposals, securing significant gifts for Greenpeace UK’s priorities
• Create meaningful opportunities for donors to engage with Greenpeace’s campaigning work through events, briefings, visits and other bespoke experiences
• Work closely with colleagues across fundraising, campaigns and communications to develop inspiring donor propositions and stewardship
• Manage your portfolio using donor insight, research and pipeline planning, ensuring accurate CRM records and contributing towards ambitious income targets
• Play an active role within the Major Gifts team, sharing intelligence, supporting colleagues and contributing to the continued success of the programme

Essential skills and experience:

• Experience identifying, cultivating and securing significant gifts from HNWIs or experience of personally securing high value income through developing relationships with individuals, for example strategic corporate partnerships or relevant out-of-sector experience.
• Experience managing a portfolio of donors, clients, accounts or comparable external relationships, developing tailored engagement strategies that build long-term relationships
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to develop compelling proposals, pitches and donor communications, and build credibility with senior stakeholders
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple relationships simultaneously, prioritise competing demands, maintain accurate records and deliver against income or commercial targets
• A warm, authentic and emotionally intelligent relationship-builder, able to adapt your approach to different audiences and create meaningful engagement opportunities
• Confident representing an organisation professionally at meetings, events and other external engagements
• A collaborative approach, sound judgement and genuine commitment to Greenpeace UK’s values and mission

Desirable, but not essential:

• Substantial major donor fundraising (full cycle) experience with track record of personally securing 5-figure gifts
• Experience securing high 5-figure or 6-figure+ gifts or comparable high-value income
• Experience of capital campaigns or other strategic relationship fundraising

Diversity and Inclusion

Greenpeace UK recognise the value in having a diverse workforce, as well as the importance of creating equal opportunities for all. Applications are welcomed and encouraged from people of all backgrounds.

Applications are particularly encouraged from people of colour, disabled people, and people who identify as working class now or in the past.

Candidates will be selected based on how well they meet the criteria for the role and all applicants will be treated fairly throughout the recruitment process.

If you have any specific requirements which would enable you to participate in the recruitment process more fully, in particular if these relate to a disability or access issue, please contact Laura at QuarterFive as soon as possible. If you require the job pack in a different format, please get in touch and we will happily provide you with one.

Anti-racism and inclusion commitments

Greenpeace UK wants its team to reflect the diversity of the communities it works alongside. It is committed to fairness, inclusion, and challenging discrimination and oppression in all its forms.

The environmental sector still has further to go when it comes to representation. Greenpeace UK has published ambitious race representation targets and, through its Anti Racism Plan, is working proactively to achieve stronger representation of people of colour, particularly within leadership positions.

As part of this commitment, a Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS) is being piloted. Greenpeace UK aims to offer an interview to everyone who opts into the scheme and meets the essential criteria. Guaranteed interview applications will be processed by QuarterFive and shared only with the Greenpeace UK recruiting manager and HR team.

If you identify as a person of colour and meet the essential criteria for the role, you can choose to opt in to the Guaranteed Interview Scheme via the screening questions (click on 'Apply' to view these). 

Don’t meet every single requirement? Research shows that women and people of colour may hesitate to apply unless they meet every area of the person specification. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet all the criteria, you are encouraged to apply.

Employee benefits

Employee benefits include: 

• 25 days annual leave for full-time staff, with additional leave accrued according to length of service up to a maximum of 32 days
• Once a month, all Greenpeace staff take an organisational ‘breather’ day where the office closes with no expectations of output on these days
• Office closure normally occurs between Christmas and new year and staff are not required to use annual leave to cover this period
• Employer pension contribution of 8.5% of basic salary, provided employees contribute at least 3%
• Interest free season ticket loan, or a tax efficient bicycle loan
• Life assurance scheme (4 x annual salary)
• Employee Assistance Programme that includes access to free confidential advice with a qualified counsellor