4 Major donor fundraising manager jobs in Manchester, Greater Manchester

PWSA UK is looking for a relationship-focused fundraiser to grow income from major donors, corporates, trusts and foundations, including pharmaceutical companies. This new role will help build lasting supporter relationships and secure significant gifts that make a meaningful difference for people with Prader-Willi syndrome and their families.

About the role

This is a new role and you will identify, cultivate, solicit and steward prospective and existing supporters, developing tailored communications, proposals and engagement opportunities that connect donors’ interests with PWSA UK’s mission. Working with colleagues, trustees and volunteers, you will manage relationships, support donor meetings and events, and maintain accurate donor records and pipeline information.

• Build and manage a portfolio of prospective and existing major donors.

• Research and identify new supporters and relationship opportunities.

• Develop persuasive proposals, cases for support and donor communications.

• Support cultivation, stewardship, meetings, visits and events.

• Keep accurate records, forecasts and pipeline reports.

About you

You will be an excellent communicator, careful researcher and organised relationship manager, with experience in major giving, corporate fundraising, or trusts and foundations. You will be confident working with donors and senior stakeholders, handle sensitive information with discretion, and share PWSA UK’s commitment to supporting people with Prader-Willi syndrome.

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to shape a new fundraising role within a specialist charity and help grow high-value support for PWSA UK’s work. 

Hours: Full-time

Pay: £42,440 GBP gross per annum (dependent on experience)

Duration: Permanent contract

Location: UK-Med Office, Manchester, UK (hybrid working) with an expectation of approximately 15% international travel/deployment, as required by UK-Med

Can you inspire visionary donors to make lifesaving healthcare possible when disaster strikes?

UK-Med is a frontline medical aid charity founded on the values and expertise of the NHS. For more than 30 years, we have worked towards a world where everyone gets the healthcare they need when emergencies overwhelm local health services. We are verified by the World Health Organization as an Emergency Medical Team a global benchmark of quality and trust. Over the past five years, we have responded to 49 emergencies, often running multiple complex operations simultaneously.

We are looking for an exceptional Philanthropy and Partnerships Manager to help shape the next chapter of UK-Med’s growth by building meaningful relationships with individuals, Trusts and Foundations, and companies who share our commitment to lifesaving humanitarian healthcare.

This is a brand-new role for the organisation demonstrating our commitment to growing sustainable income from private sources and a real opportunity for a talented, resilient fundraiser to make their mark.

This is an exciting time to join us. Over the past 5 years, UK-Med has delivered healthcare to more than 1 million people in emergencies, while our voluntary income has grown significantly. We now want to build on that momentum by welcoming more philanthropists into our mission and creating thoughtful, lasting partnerships with the potential to transform our impact.

You will bring UK-Med’s work to life for current and prospective supporters, connecting their interests and ambitions with opportunities to make a meaningful difference. Working closely with our Director of Fundraising, CEO, trustees and senior colleagues, you will create inspiring opportunities for engagement and ensure every relationship is valued through thoughtful, personal stewardship.

We’re looking for an accomplished relationship fundraiser with experience of developing major donor, Trust, and corporate partnerships and securing significant multi-year income. You will be a compelling communicator and trusted relationship-builder, able to engage people with warmth, credibility and discretion while representing communities affected by humanitarian emergencies with care and dignity.

You’ll join a collaborative and creative Fundraising & Communications team at a pivotal point in UK-Med’s journey, with the opportunity to help philanthropy become an increasingly powerful and sustainable force behind our lifesaving work.

We offer competitive benefits, a friendly working environment and the opportunity to make a real difference through humanitarian work.

How to apply

We strongly recommend that you read the Candidate Information Pack – Philanthropy Manager - August 2026 before applying for this role.

To apply, please submit a current CV and a supporting letter (2 pages) through our online jobs portal.

Please apply as soon as possible and no later than Wednesday 16th September 2026.

UK-Med is committed to safeguarding of our personnel and beneficiaries and has a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation and abuse. We conduct thorough vetting before any appointment is confirmed.

UK-Med is committed to the principles of diversity, equality, and inclusion. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive environment where employees feel respected and supported to be able to fulfil their potential.

Grade: 4

Salary: £44,080 per year

Position Type: Full-time, 37.5 hours week, Permanent (flexible working considered)

Responsible to: Senior Philanthropy and Partnerships Manager

Direct reports: None

Location: Remote (UK), within reasonable commuting distance to London to accommodate regular donor meetings. This may be up to once a week. Additionally, there will be two trips per year to our HQ in Truro, Cornwall.

ROLE PURPOSE

Sitting within our Philanthropy & Partnerships team, you will play a pivotal role in securing the philanthropic support that makes ShelterBox's work possible. By identifying, qualifying and developing major donor opportunities from our supporter base, networks and wider community, you will help connect more people with our mission to ensure no one is without shelter after disaster.

At the heart of this role is building and strengthening the major donor pipeline. You will proactively analyse data, identify high-potential prospects, uncover valuable connections and work with colleagues across the organisation to create opportunities for supporters to deepen their engagement with ShelterBox. Through strategic prospect research, qualification and relationship building, you will help move individuals from initial interest to meaningful philanthropic partnerships.

Working closely with colleagues across Philanthropy & Partnerships, senior leadership, volunteers and key stakeholders, you will develop and implement tailored cultivation plans that create pathways to giving and maximise the long-term potential of prospective donors. You will support the delivery of bespoke engagement opportunities, proposals and communications drawing on ShelterBox's powerful humanitarian mission, compelling stories and tangible impact to engage diverse audiences and inspire long-term philanthropic support.

You will also play a key role in coordinating the Philanthropy Advisory Board and supporting events and activities that help expand networks, generate introductions and unlock opportunities to engage prospective major donors with ShelterBox's work.

Through strategic pipeline development, relationship building and effective use of data, insight and networks, you will help grow a thriving community of future major donors whose investment enables families affected by disaster, conflict and climate-related crises to access shelter, safety and a foundation for recovery.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We are looking for a proactive and strategic fundraiser with a talent for identifying opportunities, building relationships and developing a strong pipeline of future major donors.

You will be naturally curious and enjoy analysing data, researching prospects and uncovering opportunities to deepen engagement with existing supporters. Equally comfortable networking with supporters, volunteers, senior stakeholders, and professional contacts, you will be confident initiating conversations, and skilled at connecting people to ShelterBox's work whilst creating meaningful pathways towards philanthropy.

You will have excellent communication, influencing and project management skills, enabling you to coordinate multiple prospects, cultivation activities and stakeholder relationships simultaneously. Highly organised and confident using CRM systems, supporter insight and prospect research tools, you will be experienced in managing and progressing a pipeline, ensuring opportunities are effectively qualified, cultivated and moved through the donor journey.

This is an exciting opportunity for a major donor fundraiser who enjoys opening doors, creating new opportunities, building meaningful supporter engagement and converting warm prospects into committed philanthropic supporters whose generosity will help families affected by disaster.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:

• Effectively manage a portfolio of major donors: developing strong and personal relationships, delivering bespoke stewardship and communication plans to ensure donors feel part of ShelterBox; providing them with inspiring stories, unique engagement opportunities, and strong impact reporting.
• Work with the ShelterBox team and key external influencers, connectors, partners and/or networks to grow and steward the major donor pipeline, cultivating relationships with new audiences.
• Develop a wide range of compelling communications for prospects and existing major donors including proposals, reports, and deliver concise and engaging updates via email, phone and in person.
• Work with the Senior Philanthropy and Partnerships Manager, Head of Philanthropy & Partnerships, Director of Fundraising and Communications, and CEO to steward to the top high-level donors.
• Working with the Head of Philanthropy & Partnerships to refine and implement the major donor strategy.
• Work closely with the Stewardship and Research Officer and Philanthropy & Partnerships Assistant to carry out targeted prospect research, and develop bespoke and strategic cultivation plans for prospective donors currently in the pipeline.
• Support with the development and implementation of cultivation and stewardship events to deepen donor engagement and reach new audiences.
• Utilise the grant management system when securing restricted income (i.e. tracking pipeline, asks, restricted income secured, reporting requirements).
• Act as the subject matter expert (SME) to provide knowledge and expertise in major donor fundraising and the wider ShelterBox team (UK and global affiliates).
• Maximise the benefits of the CRM to create and implement cultivation and stewardship journeys for high-level funders, keeping records updated and following Data Protection regulations.
• Be active in the fundraising sector, know and follow the latest fundraising legislation and codes of practice, seek out peer learning and peer mentoring opportunities, network and contribute.
• Represent ShelterBox as required and always work in line with our aims, values and plans.
• As part of an emergency organisation there will be times when you will be required to work evenings and weekends at short notice in response to a disaster
• Any other duties as required which are deemed appropriate to the level and grade of the post.