Legacy giving officer jobs in Birmingham
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Our University has a proud history of philanthropy stretching back to its foundation in 1900. With a clear vision to change the lives of the people of Birmingham, Joseph Chamberlain raised the funds required to build the University from citizens and corporations based locally and around the globe. Since then philanthropy has continued to play an important role in shaping the University. There have been a number of fundraising campaigns, including a £1m urgent capital appeal after the Second World War and a £1.4m campaign to fund the Vale ‘student village’ in the 1960s. In 2015 we closed the Circles of Influence Campaign, raising £193 million, making it the largest HE fundraising campaign outside Oxbridge and London.
The University has global reach, including several partnerships with other leading universities around the world, and is grounded in our local community, having opened the first fully comprehensive University secondary school in the country in 2015. We are an ambitious and successful research-intensive University (one of the top 100 research-led universities globally) and have produced 10 Nobel Prize winners, including three who received their awards in 2016. Academics here are exploring the impact of climate change, helping to address global health epidemics, and changing our understanding of Shakespeare. Our students come from nearly 150 countries and our flagship outreach programmes mean that almost 25% of our student population come from underrepresented backgrounds: one of the highest proportions in the UK.
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.
As an office, we are committed to sustainability and value green working practices. The environment is an integral part of our campaign and we encourage eco-friendly ways of working in order to have a positive impact on our campus and global surroundings.
Role Summary
The Donor Experience Officer role is your opportunity to join our excellent team at an exciting time. Stewardship and donor experience are vital activities to the success of any philanthropic campaign. Donors of time and money need to be thanked and understand what their support has achieved, and how integral their gifts have been to making a positive and meaningful difference to the student community and to academic research. In doing so, donors are encouraged to continue their giving, and to increase and diversify their support.
The Donor Experience Officer will work with the Donor Experience Manager and second Donor Experience Officer, in a team of three. The Donor Experience Officer will be expected to manage and support with the stewardship activity for a number of our supporters, including our regular donors, legacy pledgers, volunteers, charitable and corporate organisations and major donors. The successful candidate will work with our Communications and Events Teams to deliver appropriate, meaningful and effective activities that express gratitude and communicate impact. They will work closely with colleagues in the Philanthropy, Charitable Partnerships, Volunteering and Regular Giving teams to build programmes to steward these key donor communities and will work alongside the Data team to help manage donor data and segmentation.
The successful candidate will have outstanding communication skills with experience in writing for impact, in creating digital content, and an understanding of the needs and expectations of different audiences. They will be able to balance creativity and imagination with a structured, thoughtful and organised approach to their work. They will be creative and conscientious programme deliverers who value integrity and sincerity, and who will demonstrate these qualities through their work.
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.
Registered Charity
More than 1000
World-class research and outstanding global education
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
At Alzheimer’s Society, every action we take is about making life better for people living with dementia and their carers. We are advisors, supporters, fundraisers, researchers, communicators, and so much more. Some of us are volunteers, some are employees, but together we are a community united by a shared purpose: to make a real difference when it matters most.
We are looking for a Assistant Legacy Case Officer who wants to be part of that mission. This is more than a job. It is a chance to play a pivotal role in securing the future of our work. Through your care, attention, and expertise, you will manage legacies that help ensure we can support thousands of people affected by dementia now and in the years to come.
What You Will Do
Every day in this role is about people and purpose. You will care for a diverse caseload of around 300 pecuniary and specific legacies, guiding them with sensitivity, professionalism, and empathy. You will build trusting relationships with solicitors, executors, co-beneficiaries, and other stakeholders, helping them navigate what can be a complex and emotional process.
Your work will ensure that all legal requirements are met and that every legacy is handled with integrity. You will collaborate closely with colleagues across the Legacy team, sharing knowledge, supporting one another, and contributing to projects that keep our work running smoothly.
You will also help raise awareness of legacy giving, making connections with key stakeholders and helping secure vital income for the Society. Every receipt you issue, every file you progress, and every relationship you nurture directly helps people living with dementia and their families.
This is a role where you can grow. You will have the opportunity to develop expertise across residuary and trust legacies while building your professional skills in a supportive and inclusive environment. Every case you handle is a story of impact, and your work will leave a lasting mark on our mission.
About You
We want to hear from people from all walks of life. You do not need to tick every box, because we value motivation, potential, and alignment with our values as much as experience. You might:
- Have experience in Legacy Administration or a willingness to learn, with familiarity with First Class 4 or similar systems
- Have some understanding of Wills, Probate, or Trust law, or be keen to develop this knowledge
- Be working towards, or interested in, an ILM Certificate in Charity Legacy Administration or similar professional development
- Be able to thrive in a busy administrative environment, balancing multiple priorities independently or as part of a supportive team
- Be comfortable using Microsoft Office, including Outlook and Excel
- organised self-starter with attention to detail and pride in delivering accurate, high-quality work
- Communicate sensitively and professionally, showing empathy and respect to colleagues, stakeholders, and people affected by dementia
You understand that every legacy you manage is a story, and your work helps ensure those stories continue to make a lasting impact.
Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.
We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society.
Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups help us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people.
Our hiring process
During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and can be at your best. We are working hard to ensure our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible, so please do inform us of your experience and anything you think we could do better by completing our candidate survey when you apply. Please also contact Alzheimer's Society Talent Acquisition Team via [email protected] for application support or any adjustments you might need.
To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value it truly adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to showcase them in your own voice.
We try to avoid closing roles early where possible, however if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close earlier than the advertised closing date. Should this occur, we will aim to provide you with at least 48 hours' notice.
We are committed to safer recruitment and ensuring the welfare of those we work with, due to the nature of some of our roles, we might need to carry out a Criminal Record Check at the relevant level. You can read more information via our Website.
Giving back to you
Our employees work hard every day to make a true difference in people's lives. We are proud to support them with a range of benefits, recognition and many options for working agilely, all contributing to a strong work life balance. We also have various learning programmes to support you in your development and help you grow to realise your potential and shape a career with Alzheimer's Society.
You can also visit our Working for Us pages, which give you more information about what it's like to be an employee at the Society.