Head of Individual Giving & Supporter Engagement

The Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS) is dedicated to protecting orangutans, their forests, and their future. Together with our local partners in Sumatra, we’re protecting vital ecosystems and creating resilient landscapes where orangutans – and people – can thrive.

We’re looking for an experienced and creative fundraiser to lead our individual giving and supporter engagement programmes, grow our supporter base, and champion innovation in public engagement and income generation. You’ll be rallying resources which will ultimately help us grow our impact for wild orangutans and the people living alongside them.

The Role

As Head of Individual Giving & Supporter Engagement, you’ll lead the strategic development and delivery of SOS’s public fundraising portfolio – inspiring individuals around the world to take action and give generously for the future of Sumatra’s rainforests and wildlife.

You’ll be responsible for individual giving, digital acquisition and retention, legacies, appeals and campaigns, and supporter events. You’ll be given the freedom to innovate, identifying and developing new income streams and engagement products and approaches that help us reach and inspire new audiences.

We’re particularly interested in candidates with strong acquisition experience, who can help us grow and diversify our supporter base.

Reporting to the CEO, you’ll work closely with communications, partnerships, and programmes colleagues to build an engaged community of supporters and advocates for SOS.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead the development and delivery of SOS’s public fundraising strategy, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s mission and income targets.

• Set and manage income and expenditure budgets for all individual giving fundraising streams, ensuring healthy ROI and sustainability. 

• Set clear targets and KPIs, with robust financial planning, forecasting, and monitoring.

• Foster innovation across public fundraising, developing and testing new products and propositions.

• Promote a culture of data and insight-driven decision-making, continuous improvement, and connecting our supporters to the impact they enable.

• Adhere to the Fundraising Regulator Code of Practise and Data Protection legislation and ensure the SOS Donor Promise and Fundraising Values are alive and visible in all fundraising activity.

Individual Giving & Donor Development

• Oversee acquisition, retention, and uplift strategies for individual donors, ensuring a seamless and inspiring supporter journey.

• Design and manage a calendar of appeals and campaigns, including the Big Give Christmas Challenge.

• Work closely with Communications & Marketing colleagues to deliver compelling creative content and integrated fundraising campaigns across digital channels.
   

Digital Fundraising

• Lead on digital acquisition strategy and performance, testing and optimising paid and organic campaigns to grow SOS’s online giving and supporter base.

• Manage and optimise digital giving platforms, donor journeys, and analytics to improve conversion, retention, and lifetime value.
   

Legacies & Events

• Develop and implement SOS’s legacy marketing strategy, raising awareness and nurturing pledgers and enquirers with care and authenticity.

• Manage fundraising events (such as our Buffoonery comedy night) and oversee community fundraising initiatives, optimising engagement and lifetime value.
   

Collaboration & Management

• Line manage the Development Assistant, ensuring that our supporters receive outstanding stewardship.

• Work closely with colleagues across Development, Communications, and Programmes to ensure a joined-up approach to engagement, conversion, and storytelling.

• Keep up to date with sector trends, digital innovations, and regulatory requirements, ensuring compliance and best practice in all fundraising activity.
   

About You

You’re a strategic and practical fundraiser who knows how to inspire public giving. You combine creativity with an analytical approach, and you’re motivated by purpose and impact. You’ll flourish in a small, committed team where innovation and collaboration are key.

Essential:

• Significant experience in individual giving and/or digital fundraising, including both strategy development and delivery.

• Proven track record of meeting or exceeding income targets across multiple channels.

• Familiarity with CRM systems and digital fundraising platforms.

• Strong understanding of digital acquisition and retention techniques, data-driven fundraising, and supporter journeys.

• Experience managing appeals and campaigns, ideally including match-funded initiatives (e.g. the Big Give).

• Excellent copywriting, creative and analytical skills, with an eye for compelling storytelling.

• Experience in budget management and performance reporting.

• Collaborative and adaptable, with excellent project management and communication skills.
   

Desirable:

• Experience in product development or innovation in the charity sector.

• Knowledge of legacy fundraising.

• Interest in environmental, conservation, or international development causes.