Major donor fundraising manager jobs in Manchester, greater manchester

Team: Philanthropy & Partnerships

Location: Remotely in the UK with some travel for meetings and events

Work pattern: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Salary: Up to £49,149.84 per annum

Contract: Permanent

We are the UK’s largest cat welfare charity. All over the country, our passionate employees, volunteers and supporters are using their kindness and expertise to make life better for millions of cats and the people who care for them. We have a fantastic opportunity to join our Philanthropy team where you will develop and grow a mixed portfolio of major donors and trusts. Will you join us and make a better life for cats?

Responsibilities of our Philanthropy Manager:

• The Philanthropy Manager role sits within the Philanthropy team (part of a wider Philanthropy & Partnerships function) that seeks to identify, engage, secure support from major donors and trusts.
• The team manages a significant portfolio and has ambitious growth targets, and this role will play a key part in growing the number and overall value of supporters. 

About the Philanthropy & Partnerships team:

• Philanthropy and Partnerships are a dedicated and motivated team who all believe strongly in our mission and values. We have ambitious growth plans with a large focus on growing and diversifying our pipeline
• We have a team of 21

What we’re looking for in our Philanthropy Manager:

• Identifying and cultivating relationships with high value prospects, either individual or Charitable Trusts and Foundations, and securing significant gifts
• High value donor stewardship and relationship development
• Developing and communicating high value funding propositions and products
• Line management experience
• Writing compelling cases for support and applications
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively and passionately

What we can offer you:

• A generous pension salary exchange scheme
• range of health benefits including health insure on completion of probation
• 26 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 31 with length of service
• Salary Finance, which empowers you to take control of your financial wellbeing
• and much more, which you can learn about 

Interested? Here’s how to apply:

Application closing date: 19th July 2026

Virtual interview date: 28th & 29th July 2026

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment. Please note, applications received after the closing date may not be responded to.

If successful, your recruitment journey will include:

1. Anonymised application form

2. Virtual interview via Microsoft Teams

3. Final stage informal discussion

Please note, the process may change slightly dependent on application numbers. We will inform you of any relevant changes.

Major Donor Manager (Maternity Cover)

Salary: £45,600 – £48,000
Location: Hybrid, London (ideally once a week, but can be very flexible)
Contract: Fixed term until February 2027
Closing date: 6 July

Lead a high-performing major donor programme at a pivotal moment of growth.
This is a rare opportunity to step into a well-established and ambitious philanthropy team that has gone from strength to strength, doubling income over the past two years and generating over £1.2m in the last financial year.

Joining as Major Donor Manager, you will play a central role in driving the next phase of growth. With strong internal momentum, and a culture of collaboration and shared ambition, you will lead both strategy and delivery across major giving during a key period of maternity cover.

About the role
You will lead the strategic direction and day-to-day management of a thriving major donor programme, mentoring team members, working on specific projects related to next generation philanthropy.

Working closely with colleagues across fundraising and beyond, you will:

• Drive new income growth, personally cultivating relationships with high-net-worth individuals and securing significant gifts
• Lead and develop a small team, providing hands-on coaching, mentoring and support, particularly for team members newer to major donor fundraising
• Shape and deliver clear supporter journeys, ensuring a strong pipeline of prospects and a robust moves management approach
• Support the redistribution and development of donor portfolios, helping maximise long-term value and engagement
• Identify and unlock new opportunities, including corporate HNWI prospects and wider networks linked to existing supporters
• Provide strategic oversight of cultivation activity, including high-value events and donor engagement approaches
• Work collaboratively across teams, contributing to wider fundraising strategies and shared organisational goals

This role does not hold an active portfolio of existing donors but focuses on strategic leadership, mentorship, high-value asks and team enablement to maximise collective performance.

About you
You will bring significant experience in major donor fundraising, alongside a passion for developing others and delivering ambitious income growth.

We are particularly looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• A strong record of securing high-value gifts and developing new donor relationships
• Experience working with and influencing senior stakeholders, including leadership teams or trustees
• The ability to coach, mentor and inspire a team, supporting their development and confidence
• A creative and strategic approach to pipeline development, cultivation and stewardship
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Strong financial and analytical capability, with the ability to manage performance and improve ways of working

Why join?
You will be joining a team known for its supportive, collaborative and high-performing culture. This is a group that:

• Shares a clear sense of purpose and direction
• Works closely together to problem-solve and innovate
• Encourages challenge, growth and shared success
• Creates a positive, inclusive and motivating environment

The organisation offers flexible hybrid working, with most of the team coming together regularly in the London office, typically once a week on Thursdays being a popular day, but they are pragmatic about this particular requirement.

Our commitment
We are committed to building an inclusive workplace and welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds and experiences. We believe diverse perspectives strengthen our work and help us achieve greater impact.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.

Philanthropy Manager

·£45,000 plus benefits 

·Remote with occasional travel to regional offices in Burgess Hill or York offices

·Closing midnight Friday 17th July 2026

·Annual leave allowance / any other stand out benefits

Role 

Brainkind is the UK’s leading charity that supports people that have been affected by brain injury. The charity provides a range of services that includes innovative rehabilitation and ongoing support to ensure that there is life after brain injury. 

The organisation provides support to individuals at all stages of their rehabilitation. This includes

·Supported living

·Neurological Centres

·Residential homes

·Hospitals

The Philanthropy Manager is responsible for leading the leadership and development of Brainkinds philanthropy fundraising activities. This role will focus on the delivery of Brainkind’s capital fundraising initiatives, cultivation and stewardship of high-net-worth individuals and grow strategic corporate partnerships. This is a newly created role that will play an integral part of the Brainkind fundraising strategy.

The primary duties for the role will include

·Develop and deliver capital fundraising strategies to support major infrastructure and service development projects

• Identify and secure major gifts (£25k+) to support capital appeals.
• Develop and manage a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals and prospective major donors.
• Identify, research, and cultivate new prospects through networking, events, and relationship mapping.
• Develop and implement a corporate fundraising strategy aligned to Brainkind’s mission and values.
• Secure new corporate partnerships including strategic, multi-year, and employee engagement partnerships.

Experience and skills required for the role will include

·Previous experience of working in a philanthropy focused role with understanding of engaging with high-net-worth individuals, potential major donors and corporate partners.

·Strong organizational and planning skills

·Excellent relationship management and donor stewardship skills 

·Strong verbal and written communication skills 

·IT literate with the ability to use Microsoft Office and an in-house CRM system

Please download the Candidate Info Pack provided for further information about the role, timelines and next steps. 

Please note, we cannot shortlist candidates who have not had a screening call so please allow enough time to have a call before the closing date. 

Closing date for applications: Midnight Friday 17th July 2026 

Interviews are expected to be held on the week commencing Monday 27thJuly 2026via Teams. 

The Talent Set are delighted to be working with a well-established national charity to recruit an Interim Major Donor Manager on a 3-6 month contract basis.

This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of a significant relationship-building project, assessing the potential of an established donor portfolio and identifying opportunities to generate long-term support for the organisation.

The successful candidate will be an experienced major donor manager who can quickly assess opportunities, build relationships and create a clear strategy for future growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess the value, potential and viability of an inherited major donor portfolio.

• Review existing donor relationships and evaluate the current pipeline of opportunities.

• Identify areas of strategic alignment between supporters' interests and the charity's work.

• Develop and implement a relationship-building and engagement plan for key supporters.

• Build and strengthen relationships with high-value donors and prospects.

• Explore donor networks and identify opportunities to broaden support and engagement.

• Assess future fundraising potential and provide recommendations on long-term stewardship and investment.

• Work collaboratively with internal stakeholders to maximise opportunities and share insights.

• Where appropriate, secure philanthropic support and progress opportunities through the pipeline.

• Take ownership of the project and provide clear reporting on progress, opportunities and recommendations.

Person Specification

• Proven experience working with major donors, philanthropy or high-value fundraising programmes.

• Experience assessing donor portfolios, pipelines or fundraising opportunities and making strategic recommendations.

• Ability to quickly understand a new fundraising landscape and identify areas of opportunity and risk.

• Strong relationship-building skills with experience engaging high-value supporters and senior stakeholders.

• Demonstrable experience developing cultivation and engagement strategies for major donors.

• Comfortable working autonomously, taking ownership of projects and operating with minimal supervision.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess pipeline value, prioritise opportunities and develop clear action plans.

• Excellent communication and influencing skills.

• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on relationship management.

• Available to start in July.

What's on Offer

• £160 - £205 per day plus daily holiday pay (PAYE).

• Full-time contract.

• Remote working.

• Initial 3-6 month contract.

• Opportunity to shape a significant fundraising opportunity with long-term potential.

How to Apply:

"To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the “apply now” button."

The Process:

"If your experience aligns with what we're looking for, a member of our team will be in contact to discuss the role with you in more detail before presenting your profile to the client. We will also ensure that all applicants receive an email to inform them of the outcome of their application. To avoid any potential delays or your application being missed, please apply solely via the “Apply Now” button."

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:

The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.