Major gifts officer jobs in Guildford, surrey

Role Purpose

The Relationship Fundraiser will support the Philanthropy Manager to secure and increase income through the charity’s Philanthropy strategy.

The post holder will support with developing a robust pipeline of prospects and will be responsible for managing a portfolio of new and existing major donor relationships. You will be creative and analytical and provide first class research, administration, relationship management and database skills and provide excellent donor stewardship.

Main Responsibilities

· Work with the Philanthropy Manager to prepare and implement creative donor cultivation and stewardship plans to secure new donors and develop current relationships, including:

- Creative cases for support with associated budgets.

- Adapting information for specific donors using different approaches for different audiences.

- Developing engaging thank you letters and reports. 

· Manage an agreed portfolio of mid-value major donor relationships and prospects, with the support of the Philanthropy Manager and deliver excellent stewardship and tailored fundraising proposals.

· Provide timely and high-quality updates to donors on the charity’s activities and impact and value of gifts. Work with the Communications team to ensure that major donor supporters receive engaging and relevant marketing materials.

· Research and identify potential donors to build a strong list of prospects, matching against key fundraising priorities, to maximise opportunities and build a healthy prospect pipeline.

· Develop processes and systems to ensure the effective management of all relevant information, including keeping all records up to date on the CRM database (Sales Force) including all actions, communications and proposals in-line with the monthly KPIs and analyse to identify further opportunities.

· Support your line manager with income tracking and processing, contributing to financial targets, re-forecasts, budgeting and reporting.

· Be an active and supportive member of the Fundraising team and wider CBUK team, contributing to the Fundraising team’s development and targets as well as working collaboratively with colleagues.

· Ensure all associated activities are compliant with charity law, regulatory requirements and best practice, including those of the Data Protection Act and GDPR.

· Develop strong working knowledge of these areas of income generation and the wider fundraising and charity sector.

· Identify and complete relevant training, regularly reviewing relevant press and publications and keeping up to date with industry news.

· Represent the charity at meetings and events as required. This will sometimes require travel within the UK and occasionally an overnight stay.

Person Specification

Education/Professional Qualification

Essential

· Fundraising experience, preferably in a charity environment

· Experience of using a CRM database

· Experience of working with High Net Worth Individuals

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills

· Analytical approach to tasks

· Strong interpersonal skills

· Ability to multi-task and prioritise whilst maintaining excellent attention to detail

· Strong planning and organisation skills

· Strong IT skills with good working knowledge of Microsoft Office programme

· Ability to travel to meetings and events within the UK as required

Desirable

· Experience of using Sales Force database

Please don’t be discouraged from applying if you don’t meet every requirement listed in the person specification. We’d still really like to hear from you and learn more about the experience and strengths you can bring.

Benefits

· 28 days’ holiday plus bank holidays (pro rata if applicable) with increase for long service.

· TOIL for our hours work.

· Contributory pension scheme.

· Company sick pay.

· Employee Assistance Programme.

· Life assurance.

· Training loans.

· Enhanced family friendly policies.

Recruitment Timetable

Application deadline: 19th July 2026 at 5pm

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications for the role before the closing date.

For further details, please see the Recruitment Pack for this role.

At HOPE worldwide UK, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to overcome poverty and fulfil their God-given potential. We have helped over 8,000 people experiencing homeless in London find a place to call home, and empower communities around the world to access education, healthcare and economic empowerment opportunties. Could you help us build on that impact as HOPE worldwide UK’s first dedicated Fundraising Manager? 

About HOPE worldwide UK:

HOPE worldwide UK is a Christ-centred charity with a mission to empower people to overcome poverty and homelessness through compassionate service. In the UK, we help people who are homeless access and sustain suitable accommodation and deliver holiday clubs for at risk children. Internationally, we partner with locally-led programmes that provide practical support including education, humanitarian aid, vocational training and healthcare. We are part of the wider HOPE worldwide international family - serving communities through a shared commitment to dignity, compassion and practical action.

The Opportunity:

We are seeking an experienced Fundraising Manager to grow support for our work in the UK and internationally. 

You will lead the implementation of our 2026–2028 fundraising strategy, develop compelling supporter journeys and creating inspiring propositions that connect donors with the difference their generosity makes. Working closely with the CEO, Senior Management Team and Fundraising Committee, you will bring focus, energy and professional fundraising expertise to a charity with a loyal supporter base and significant potential for growth. 

Key Details:

Location:  UK (Flexible: Remote or Hybrid if preferred). There will be a few in-person meetings/events in our London office or other specific venues each year, with flexibility to work where convenient (office or home) most of the time. 

Hours: Part-time, 3 days per week (0.6 FTE). Flexibility over how hours are distributed across the week.

Salary:  £37,000 – £43,000 FTE, pro rata (c. £22,200 - £25,800 for 3 days per week), depending on experience 

Start Date:  September (negotiable)

Contract:  Permanent 

Benefits:  5% Employer Pension Contribution; 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays 

What You will do:

• Lead the delivery of HOPE worldwide UK’s fundraising strategy, with clear plans, priorities, KPIs and income targets.
• Develop a compelling case for support that inspires existing donors, re-engages lapsed supporters and reaches new and younger audiences.
• Design and deliver segmented supporter journeys across individual giving, regular giving, appeals and stewardship activity.
• Support the growth of sustainable income from high-potential streams including trusts and foundations, major donors, legacy giving, challenge events and corporate engagement.
• Work with programme colleagues to capture impact, develop strong donor reports and translate frontline insight into persuasive fundraising propositions.
• Oversee the effective use of the fundraising CRM, improving data quality, segmentation and insight-led decision making.
• Manage, mentor and encourage the Communications & Fundraising Team, creating clarity, focus and momentum.
• Ensure all fundraising activity is legal, ethical and compliant with the Code of Fundraising Practice, data protection requirements and internal policies.

This job is for you if you:

• Enjoy building relationships, telling powerful stories, and helping supporters see how their generosity creates lasting change in a Christian context.
• Combine strategic thinking with practical delivery.
• Are a confident, competent and values-led communicator.

Essential requirements:

• Faith: A faithful follower of Jesus Christ, committed to the vision and values of Hww UK. 

• Experience: Demonstrable success in fundraising, with a strong track record in individual giving and recurring gift growth. 

• Strategy: Experience in building or delivering a successful fundraising strategy and compelling cases for support. 

• Communication: Excellent storytelling skills with the ability to tailor messages for different audiences (faith-based, secular, and younger donors). 

• CRM and Data: Confident user of a fundraising CRM, able to manage data, segment supporters and use insight to inform decisions.

We know that there will be strong candidates who will not fit all the criteria, or who have important skills we have not mentioned. If that is you, please do not hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.

Desirable experience and skills: 

• Experience in a faith-based, homelessness, poverty relief or international development charity.
• Knowledge of legacy fundraising, trust fundraising or major donor relationships.
• Experience of community, church or challenge event fundraising.

Why Join Us?

This role offers real ownership: the chance to shape systems, strengthen supporter relationships and build sustainable income that directly supports people experiencing poverty in the UK and overseas. If you are motivated by faith, compassion and measurable impact, we would love to hear from you.

Equal Opportunities:

In light of the Christian ethos of the Charity and the nature and context of the work to be undertaken by this role, it is considered that there is an occupational requirement for the Fundraising Manager to be a practising Christian in accordance with Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010. 

Candidates will require Right to Work in the UK.

The requirements of job applicants and existing members of staff who have a disability will be reviewed to ensure that, wherever possible, reasonable adjustments are made to enable them to enter into or remain in employment with us. 

How to apply:

Please submit a CV and cover letter outlining your motivation, skills and experience.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to online interviews during August.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Location: Remote

Salary: £29,000 - £32,000 pro rata depending on experience (£17,400 - £19,200)

Hours of work: 3 days (21 hours) per week

Contract type: Fixed, 12-month Maternity Cover

Why work for Kids Matter?

• Generous annual leave – 25 days (plus bank holidays) per year pro rata, with time off between Christmas and New Year's additional to this allowance.
• Remote working contribution – receive £26/month pro rata towards the costs of working from home and/or using a co-working space.
• Access to coaching sessions, training opportunities and our Employee Assistance Programme (a confidential support service for staff).
• Flexible working across weekdays to suit your schedule.

About us

Kids Matter is one of the UK’s fastest growing children’s charities. Our vision is to see every child in need raised in a strong family. Our mission is to reduce the impact of poverty on children through community-based parenting programmes.

Research shows that group-based early intervention parenting groups are the most effective way to support children in need. We train peer facilitators in local churches - the largest voluntary body in the country - to run our affordable, accessible and highly effective parenting programmes, written by Clinical Psychologists. They come alongside parents and carers, building long-lasting community in addition to encouraging confidence and learning positive parenting skills.

We value difference and diversity, and we want our workplace to be built on shared values of equality and mutual trust, with team members representing the wide range of backgrounds and experiences that exist within the UK. We therefore actively encourage applications from people of diverse backgrounds and varied experiences, particularly those who are African, Afro-Caribbean, Asian or part of other minority ethnic communities, who have lived experience of the impact of low-income/low-support circumstances, and who are living with a disability or identify as being neurodivergent.

About the role

The Executive Assistant to the CEO role involves:

• Coordinating and maintaining the CEO's diary including organising all appointments, meetings and travel arrangements.
• Identifying, anticipating and preparing CEO information requirements for meetings, appointments and presentations, following up on internal and external requests for information.
• Managing all administration processes relating to the SLT.
• Supporting the CEO and the Fundraising Team with major donor management, including keeping contacts and actions updated, researching prospective donors, communicating with existing donors, coordinating thank you cards and gifts, and tracking secured donations.

About you

Do you have strong attention to detail and accuracy? Can you use initiative and be proactive? Are you a Christian with an active faith in Jesus? Do you have a passion for Kids Matter’s vision of seeing every child in need raised in a strong family?

Then we would love to hear from you!

How to apply

You can apply for the Executive Assistant to the CEO (maternity cover) position by clicking ‘Apply via Website’ and completing a copy of our online application form.

The deadline for applications is Tuesday 28th July. All successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email.

We also ask for all applicants to submit an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form, which will be sent to you to complete following the submission of your application. This form will be used for anonymous analysis to ensure our overall recruitment procedures are fair and transparent. It will never be viewed or used as part of the selection process. It is optional to submit this form.

If you would like any application/interview support or you need any reasonable adjustments throughout the application process, or if you would like an informal phone call to ask questions or discuss the role, please contact Katie Washington (HR & Systems Manager).

Please see the job pack for more details on the role and application process.

This is an exciting opportunity for a proactive fundraiser who enjoys both bid writing and relationship building.

Working closely with the Fundraising Manager, you will play a key role in securing income from trusts and foundations, supporting donor stewardship, and helping to grow community fundraising activity. You will contribute directly to the financial sustainability of the charity while helping more children gain access to books of their own.

The role is ideally suited to someone who is highly organised, a strong writer, and confident managing multiple fundraising activities simultaneously.