Major donor fundraiser jobs

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

IRC UK
IRC UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its global headquarters in New York. Our team in the UK works to raise profile, deliver policy and practice change, and increase funding to help restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Since 2021, IRC UK has also provided integration services directly to refugees in the UK. 

Job Overview
The External Relations (ER) department is comprised of three main but complementary functional areas: Private fundraising, Communications, and Advocacy. The main objective of the department is to enable the organisation to have the resources needed to continue serving  millions of people worldwide in places affected by war and disaster.

The Director of UK Philanthropy will provide leadership and strategic direction for individual high net worth fundraising activities focused on the UK market, ensuring the delivery of significant, multi-year resources for the IRC's global mission. The Director will also serve as the primary high-value fundraising partner to the UK Executive Director as they facilitate cross-team collaboration, accountability, and success among all private fundraising teams in the UK (Philanthropy, Global Corporate Partnerships, Foundations & Trusts, and Mass Markets). The Director will play a leadership role in IRC UK more widely as a member of the UK Senior Management Team (UKSMT). The UKSMT is collectively responsible for achieving the cross-functional goals of IRC UK’s strategy and actively fostering an inclusive workplace at IRC UK.

This role will be responsible for:
•  Leading a team of fundraising professionals focused on raising unrestricted and restricted contributions from High-Net-Worth Individuals.
•  Managing a personal portfolio of significant donors and partners focused on securing six and seven-figure commitments.
•  Facilitating cross-functional collaboration, ensuring strong coordination and accountability across all UK-based high-value fundraising teams as well as with other team leaders in the UK (e.g. Communications, Advocacy, and Programmes).
•  Serve as the high-value fundraising representative on the UK Senior Management Team, directing and progressing strategic goals in fundraising as well as advising on the wider management of IRC UK. 
•  Serving as the primary fundraising/partnerships contact for the IRC's UK Board, leveraging their networks and influence to advance the team's revenue targets.
•  Directly driving the UK Executive Director's engagement in fundraising and external partnership activities.
•  Interfacing closely with US-based and other international colleagues in External Relations to ensure global strategic alignment.

The Director will craft and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies for the UK market, mentor and guide the team to optimise the size and impact of gifts and ensure donor-centric fundraising practices are consistently deployed. This critical role involves developing and implementing strategies informed by bold revenue targets. 

Major Responsibilities

Fundraising and Partnerships
•  Manage a focused, complex portfolio of individual high-value prospects and supporters that results in increasing gifts at the six and seven-figure level.
•  Design and execute customised fundraising and partnership strategies for their personal portfolio, to maximise size and impact of gifts to the IRC.
•  Travel and meet with donors and prospects across the UK and occasionally internationally as required.
•  Achieve personal and team-wide goals and metrics related to visits, solicitations, gifts/pledges closed, and other critical key performance indicators.
•  Serve as the primary staff liaison and resource for the IRC's UK Board on all matters relating to philanthropy and partnerships, ensuring their engagement is maximised for fundraising impact.

Leadership and Management
•  Lead and directly supervise a team of approximately 3 individuals across the UK-based Philanthropy team, inspiring, motivating and challenging them through active mentorship and fostering an environment that supports new ideas and innovative approaches to donor relationship management.
•  Provide comprehensive thought leadership for the team's efforts towards increased financial revenue and other modes of private sector engagement that support the impactful delivery of the IRC's mission.
•  Partner with the Senior Director of International Philanthropy to develop a strategic plan, including setting annual goals and key outcomes for the team. This will include but is not limited to collaborating with the UK Board and Senior IRC leadership in identifying, cultivating, and stewarding donors through strategic engagement opportunities such as meetings and events.
•  Provide strategic oversight and manage collaboration between the UK-based leads of the Foundations and Trusts, Global Corporate Partnerships, and Mass Markets teams, ensuring strong coordination in executing comprehensive donor engagement strategies across the UK market. 
•  Collaborate as a peer with other UK leaders on the UK Senior Management Team, holding collective accountability for achieving the goals of the UK strategy and advising on the wider management of IRC UK to support those goals. 

Executive and Global Collaboration
•  Proactively drive the UK Executive Director's fundraising activities, including identifying and vetting high-level engagement opportunities, preparing briefing materials, and ensuring excellent donor/partner stewardship.
•  Interface and collaborate superbly with US-based colleagues in External Relations to ensure consistent messaging, coordinated prospect management, and alignment with global fundraising priorities.
•  Facilitate the deployment of IRC leaders (including the UK ED and global Executive Board and programme leadership) throughout the donor life cycle to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward five, six, and seven-figure commitments.

Candidate Requirements

•  Significant demonstrable years progressive experience or proven background of non-profit fundraising experience and expertise in high-net-worth individual fundraising, and/or foundation/trust/corporate partnership development.
•  Demonstrated history of being an empowering and supportive manager to front-line fundraisers.
•  Outstanding communication skills, including writing, listening, verbal presentation, and speaking.

Preferred Experience & Skills
•  Consistent track record of securing 6 and 7+ figure gifts/partnerships from a complex portfolio of diverse donors and prospects, including qualifying prospects and upgrading donors.
•  Proven organisational leadership experience, for example on senior management teams. 
•  Experience in international organisational collaboration, including interfacing effectively with leadership and colleagues based in other countries.
•  Proven experience leading and directly supervising front-line fundraisers.
•  Experience in leveraging and managing a Board or high-level volunteer leadership for fundraising success.
•  Ability to develop creative and multifaceted donor strategy often carried out in partnership with programme staff or senior leadership.
•  Ability to navigate CRM systems.
•  Dedication to fundraising for international development, humanitarian, human rights, gender and racial equality, social justice, and migrant communities

Working Environment
•  IRC UK has a hybrid working policy. 
•  Occasional travel across the UK and internationally as required.

About Cardiomyopathy UK

Cardiomyopathy UK is the only UK charity dedicated to supporting people affected by all forms of cardiomyopathy and myocarditis. We provide expert advice, trusted information, and support to individuals and families, while championing earlier diagnosis, better treatment and improved care. This is an exciting time to join a growing organisation with a strong, patient-centred mission and an ambitious programme of work across research, policy, services and awareness.

Role Purpose

The Communications & Marketing Manager will lead our communications, brand and digital presence, ensuring Cardiomyopathy UK reaches and engages the people who need us most. You will shape and deliver high-quality, impactful communications across all channels, strengthening our voice, raising awareness of cardiomyopathy, and supporting the growth of our services, fundraising and partnerships.

This is a hands-on role for a skilled communicator who can balance strategic thinking with delivery. You will work in a highly matrixed team, supporting colleagues across services, fundraising, events, research, and public affairs. You will collaborate closely with the Executive Leadership Team, clinical experts, fundraisers and our community to tell powerful stories and drive meaningful engagement.

Key Responsibilities

Communications & Brand

• Lead the development and delivery of Cardiomyopathy UK’s communications and marketing strategy.
• Manage and maintain the charity’s brand identity, ensuring consistency across all channels, publications and partnerships.
• Produce high-quality written content including blogs, newsletters, web copy, reports, press releases, campaign assets and patient stories.
• Support internal colleagues across departments with communications planning, copywriting and brand guidance.

Digital Marketing (Website & Social Media)

• Oversee content, structure and performance of the Cardiomyopathy UK website, working with external developers where required.
• Manage social media channels (Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), including planning, creating and scheduling high-quality content.
• Monitor digital analytics and provide insights and recommendations to improve reach, engagement and conversion.
• Lead email marketing activity, including newsletters, segmentation and performance monitoring.

Campaigns & Awareness

• Plan and deliver integrated awareness and marketing campaigns aligned to strategic priorities including early diagnosis, patient support services, fundraising and major events.
• Coordinate campaign content creation, timelines and measurement, ensuring campaigns are impactful and audience driven.
• Work with partners, funders and patient contributors to develop compelling stories and campaign assets.

Media & Public Relations

• Act as the first point of contact for media enquiries and support the CEO and spokespeople with interview preparation.
• Build relationships with journalists, sector press and broadcast media to raise awareness of cardiomyopathy and the charity’s work.
• Draft press releases, media lines and Q&A briefs for key announcements and campaigns.

Cross-Organisational & Matrixed Working

• Work closely with the event manager to promote flagship events, patient webinars and professional engagement activities.
• Partner with public affairs colleagues to amplify policy, research and advocacy messages and ensure alignment across channels.
• Support the fundraising team with donor communications, appeals, supporter journeys and marketing collateral.
• Work closely with clinical colleagues to deliver compelling, on-brand, educational and information materials for various audiences.
• Ensure coordinated planning across teams so that communications reflect organisational priorities and opportunities.

Community & Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with clinicians, researchers, patient advocates and charity partners to strengthen our communications and visibility.
• Amplify the voices and experiences of people living with cardiomyopathy through inclusive, ethical storytelling.

Person Specification

Essential

• Proven experience in communications, marketing or digital roles – ideally within a charity, health or public sector context.
• Strong copywriting and content creation skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly and sensitively.
• Experience managing websites, digital content and social media channels.
• Ability to plan and deliver multi-channel campaigns.
• Confident in managing media enquiries and developing press materials.
• Experience working collaboratively in a matrixed or cross-functional team, supporting multiple stakeholders simultaneously.
• Excellent organisational and project-management skills with the ability to prioritise a varied workload.
• Strong analytical skills with experience using digital analytics tools.
• A collaborative team player with a commitment to empowering patients and improving health outcomes.

Personal Qualities

• A natural people person, approachable, supportive, and empathetic.
• Solution focused and resourceful, able to stay calm and find ways forward in challenging situations.
• A strong sense of initiative and ownership, with a hands-on, can-do approach.
• An inspiring communicator who builds trust and enthusiasm across teams and partners.
• Adaptable and open to change, always looking for opportunities to improve.
• Demonstrates Cardiomyopathy UK’s values and integrity in all aspects of work.
• A genuine team player who contributes to a positive and inclusive working culture.