Major donor manager jobs in Cardiff, wales

Role Overview

The Talent Set are delighted to partner with our client on a fantastic Senior Marketing Manager role. This position involves leading strategic, multi-channel marketing initiatives to maximise supporter engagement and long-term value, supporting the organisation’s Legacy and Mid-Value programmes through innovative and audience-focused approaches.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership to a team responsible for delivering legacy and mid-value supporter programmes.
• Develop, implement, and optimise integrated marketing plans across channels, including digital, direct mail, email, and media, to meet ambitious targets for supporter acquisition, retention, and income.
• Oversee supporter journeys and stewardship strategies to deepen long-term relationships and increase lifetime supporter value.
• Analyse audience insights and campaign data to inform strategic decisions, optimise activity, and improve programme performance.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to maximise opportunities for supporter engagement and fundraising success.
• Lead the development of compelling content and creative that resonates with diverse supporter audiences.
• Manage programme budgets and resources efficiently, ensuring activities deliver strong return on investment.
• Coach and motivate a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor programme performance, using insights and testing to refine strategies and ensure objectives are met.
• Maintain compliance with industry best practice, legal standards, and regulatory guidelines in all marketing activities.
• Manage high-profile campaigns, proactively addressing risks, challenges, and deadlines.

Person Specification

• Proven experience leading large-scale acquisition and supporter engagement programmes within the charity or international development sectors.
• Demonstrable success in managing and developing high-performing teams, with a focus on collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Extensive understanding of multi-channel marketing, including digital, mail, and telemarketing, with the ability to develop integrated, audience-led supporter journeys.
• Strong analytical skills with experience interpreting complex data to inform strategic decisions.
• Ability to prioritise effectively, balancing multiple projects and deadlines to deliver impactful results.
• Skilled in developing engaging content and creative across varied channels to inspire action.
• Experience managing significant marketing budgets with clear focus on measurable outcomes and return on investment.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and relationship-building skills, capable of working across teams and with external partners.
• Innovative, adaptable, and committed to upholding best practices in supporter stewardship and ethical fundraising.

What’s on Offer

Salary: £50,100-£55,400
Contract until December 2026
Hybrid working - 1 day a week in Central London

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button (please do not apply via email). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.

Commitment to Diversity

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.

Senior Partnerships Officer

Do you have experience of successfully developing new major donor/client relationships or corporate partnerships, either in a charity or business environment? Are you confident in asking for and securing gifts or financial commitments?

If you do and have outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, then apply today and join a nature restoration charity, whose mission is to restore beavers to regenerate our landscapes.

Position: Senior Partnerships Officer

Location: Remote, resident in mainland Britain

Hours: Part-time; 3 days per week

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £29,403 per annum, pro rata

Closing Date: 9.00 am on Monday 24th August. We reserve the right to interview candidates and close the ad ahead of the closing date, should a strong candidate be identified.

Interview Date: Online interviews will be held on Monday 14th September. You will be asked to give a short presentation to the interview panel and may also be given a task to undertake prior to or during the interview.

About the Role

The Senior Partnerships Officer (SPO) will work closely with the Chief Executive (CEO) and Fundraising Lead (FL) to ensure the charity has sufficient funding to achieve its mission. This primarily involves developing new donor relationships and partnerships to grow fundraising income streams. The fundraising strategy focuses on high-value grants, gifts and partnerships. We recognise that the lines between major donors, corporate partners and family foundations are often blurred. Therefore, the charity have chosen not to silo work in this way and instead have created a new role focused on developing new relationships across all these income streams. The focus of the role is on ‘winning new business’ and will suit an entrepreneurial candidate with experience in business development, and/or building new corporate or philanthropic partnerships. 

Key areas of responsibility include:

• New business development - acquiring prospective donors and partners
• Solicit gifts
• Relationship management & stewardship
• Be part of the Beaver Trust fundraising team

About You

You will be entrepreneurial and a self-starter, driven to build a network of meaningful relationships with prospective donors and supporters. Able to work independently and make decisions with little supervision.

You will have:

• Excellent prospect research skills, and an understanding of the motivations of donors and how to use this insight to create persuasive propositions and deliver compelling pitches.
• Experience of successfully developing new major donor/client relationships or corporate partnerships, either in a charity or business environment.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills and be able to interact confidently and persuasively in a range of settings with existing and prospective major donors and partners.
• Experience of representing an organisation’s interests and advocating for them.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to move donors, supporters and partner organisations along a donor journey, from initial contact and relationship building to soliciting a donation and ongoing stewardship.
• Knowledge of all relevant fundraising, data protection and other regulations.
• Resilience and be a problem solver, able to withstand negative reactions and find solutions.
• The ability to think strategically and translate ambitions into actionable plans and delivery.
• Highly competent IT skills, preferably Google Workplace, and high standards for visual content.

All shortlisted candidates will be contacted by Tuesday 1st September 2026. If you have not heard from us by this date, please accept our thanks for applying and assume that you were not shortlisted on this occasion.

About the Organisation

Join a nature restoration charity, restoring beavers to regenerate our landscapes. Our client’s team is small with a diverse skillset and extensive experience in beaver ecology and restoration, human-wildlife coexistence, and policy. They provide practical solutions to help people to co-exist with beavers and influence legislation in Scotland, Wales and at Westminster that rebuilds ecosystems, improves river health, and strengthens climate resilience in a time of ecological and climate crisis.

Benefits include:

• 25 days holiday, plus Christmas day through to New Year’s Day paid, plus 6 days of floating holidays.
• Flexible approach to hours of work.
• Travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses will be met by the trust in
• Pension contribution of 3% of your total pay each month
• One-off contributions toward the cost of an ergonomic office chair and toward purchases of essential devices (laptop, mouse and smartphone)
• Monthly home working allowance, plus an annual contribution toward the maintenance and/or replacement of the essential devices.

We are committed to inclusive recruitment and are happy to make reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, especially those underrepresented in the environmental sector, including people of colour, disabled people, those from low-income backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ communities and all other protected characteristics

You may have experience in roles including Major Donor, Major Gifts, Corporate Partnerships, Major Donor Fundraiser, Major Gifts Fundraiser, Corporate Partnerships Fundraiser, Corporate Partnerships Lead, Senior Corporate Partnerships Officer.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People. #INDNFP

Hours: 30–35 hours per week
Location: Hybrid/home-based. Ideally within easy reach of Chelmsford and London. Regular travel to meet colleagues, funders and visit programmes across England.
Reporting to: CEO

This position is being re-advertised; previous candidates need not apply.

Be part of a mission that's transforming children's futures through food, farming and the countryside

For more than 45 years, The Country Trust has been connecting children from the UK's most disadvantaged communities with the land that sustains us all. Through inspiring farm visits, food education and countryside experiences, we've already reached more than 600,000 children, and we're just getting started.

We're entering an exciting new chapter as we develop our next organisational strategy, and we're looking for an experienced fundraising leader to help shape our future.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious and strategic fundraiser to join our Senior Leadership Team and lead the next phase of our income growth, enabling even more children to benefit from our life-changing programmes.

About the role

As Head of Fundraising, you'll provide strategic leadership across all fundraising activity while remaining hands-on in securing major income and developing key relationships.

You'll lead a dedicated fundraising team, drive innovation, strengthen fundraising systems and processes, and develop a sustainable fundraising strategy that diversifies income across:

• Trusts and foundations
• Corporate partnerships
• Major donors
• Individual giving
• Legacies
• Gaming and Streaming for Good
• Emerging fundraising opportunities

Working closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team, Digital and IT colleagues, you'll help embed new fundraising systems, champion data-driven decision making and ensure fundraising excellence across the organisation.

About you

We're looking for an inspiring fundraising leader who combines strategic thinking with practical delivery.

You'll bring:

• Significant senior-level fundraising leadership experience
• A proven track record of securing substantial income across multiple fundraising streams
• Experience developing and delivering fundraising strategies that drive sustainable growth
• Strong leadership skills with experience developing high-performing teams
• Excellent relationship-building, communication and influencing skills
• Financial and commercial awareness, including budgeting and forecasting
• Knowledge of fundraising regulation, GDPR and fundraising best practice
• A passion for improving opportunities for disadvantaged children

Experience developing new income streams, digital fundraising and CRM systems would be particularly valuable.

Why join us?

At The Country Trust, you'll be joining an ambitious charity where collaboration, learning and innovation are at the heart of everything we do.

We offer:

• Hybrid and flexible working
• 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (FTE)
• Workplace pension
• Homeworking allowance
• Mileage and agreed travel expenses
• A supportive, values-led culture
• The opportunity to shape our future strategy and make a lasting difference to children's lives

We're committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

Key dates
Closing date: 11:59pm, Sunday 13th September
Interviews from: Monday 21st September
 

The Country Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

Fundraising Communications Officer

Are you a highly competent and collaborative storyteller?

We are open to candidates qualified by experience, so if you have the skills we are looking for then apply today!

Position: Donor/Fundraising Communications Officer

Salary: Circa £33,000 to £38,500 per year, depending on experience

Location: Remote/UK-based, (we are also open to applicants from the United States or the Netherlands)

Hours: Full-time

Contract: 9-month fixed term contract, maternity cover

Closing date: 21st August 2026

About the role

The Development Team is responsible for generating income to support the organisation. They raise income from philanthropists, corporates, trusts and foundations, individuals and community fundraisers, building strategic partnerships that deliver long-term, sustainable funding and deepen engagement.

The Donor Communications Officer sits within the Development team and reports into the Head of Philanthropy and will work closely also with the President and COO, supporting them in their communications with donors. You will also work closely with the Communications Team.

You will create and coordinate compelling content for donors, this ranges from reports to presentations, emails and proposals, and collateral for events.

The scope is global, covering both philanthropy and a select group of key institutional donors. 

Key responsibilities include:

• Writing and Content Creation
• Donor Communications
• Proposal Development
• Event Communications

About you

We are open to candidates qualified by experience, willingness to learn and ability to learn quickly are considered more important than formal qualifications. 

Personal attributes we are looking for:

• An outstanding communicator.
• A highly structured, organised, and hands-on self-starter.
• A supportive and committed colleague.
• A team worker.
• Somone who thrives in a fast-paced environment.
• Highly detail-oriented.
• Someone who is punctual and meets deadlines.
• Willing to learn.
• Creative.

You will need:

• Proven ability to tell stories and produce (written) content of the highest quality.
• Evidence of experience in donor reporting.
• Comfortable working from home for most of the time.
• Knowledge of CRM systems.
• Willingness and ability to be in London frequently, and to travel to the US as needed.

Whilst there is a strong preference for the post holder to be UK-based, we are open to applicants from the United States or the Netherlands. This role is based full-time working from home, therefore you must have access to an appropriate workspace and full right to work in your country of residence.

To apply, please submit a current CV alongside a covering letter outlining how you fit the person profile, including your relevant experience in donor communications.

Please combine your CV and covering letter into one PDF document. Applications may close early if a high volume is received.

About the organisation

The organisation is an international charity that works with artisan communities to protect and revitalise cultural heritage. Its programmes support traditional crafts, restore historic buildings and improve access to healthcare and education for artisans and their families.

Other roles you may have experience of could include Fundraising, Fundraiser, Fundraising Officer,  Fundraising Communications,  Campaigning.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, NFP People.

About us

We are a long-established UK research institution with charitable status and accounting operations in both the UK and East Africa. With an annual turnover of over £1 million, our finances span two entities and a range of restricted and unrestricted funds, consolidated for reporting. We are looking for a qualified accountant to join us as a contractor in a part-time, ongoing capacity to strengthen the running of our finance function.

The role

Our accountant in the East Africa office handles the day-to-day transactions — raising invoices, recording expenses and paying supplier bills. You will work alongside them, providing the qualified oversight, payment control and monthly discipline that keep the finance function running well, and supporting their development along the way.

It is a varied role that combines hands-on accuracy with oversight and coaching. In practice, you will:

• Support, guide and coach our accountant so that accounting entries are made correctly and consistently, building their skills over time.

• Run payment preparation and approval process in the UK entity, approving payment runs for release by local signatories.

• Financial management of project funds: accounting, expense management, funds transfers and accurate financial reporting.

• Review monthly results and report, examining the Statement of Financial Activities and underlying entries, and tracking performance against budget.

• Own the budgeting process, maintaining and updating the existing annual budget and monitoring it each month, and reporting quarterly to funders.

• Run a reliable monthly close and provide cover for our accountant during leave or absence to keep the accounting running.

• Lead on risk, taking an active interest in risk assessment, management and internal financial controls, working with compliance officer for local regulatory compliance.

• Attend and co-ordinate the finance and development meeting, support Companies House and Charity Commissions returns and updates.

• Administrative support for grant applications and management of these.

Key requirements

• Qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA or CIPFA), or a finalist with strong relevant experience.

• Right to work in the UK.

• Proficient in Xero, and either proficient in Joiin or a similar consolidation system such as Hyperion and able to learn it quickly. Familiarity with payment platforms (desirable).

• Sound understanding of payment controls, dual authorisation and segregation of duties.

• Experience of maintaining a budget and reviewing monthly performance against it.

• Detail-focused and hands-on, with the judgement to review, oversee and coach a colleague.

• Charity or non-profit experience is useful but not essential, including experience of managing project funds, expenses and reporting to funders.

What does success look like

In this role, success means:

• Accounting is accurate and correctly recorded across both entities.

• Monthly review and reporting is completed reliably and on time.

• The budget process is mastered and embedded in monthly reporting, with performance tracked against budget categories.

• Dual authorisation of key processes is operating successfully.

• Key processes in both entities are learnt, so you can cover for the East Africa accountant in the event of absence.

• The payment process is smooth, reviewed, and presented to the Director for second approval.

• Risk assessment is formalised and internal financial controls are maintained.

Who it suits

This role would suit an accountant who wants to broaden their range of experience, or an experienced accountant from the commercial or non-profit sector who now wishes to work part-time and contribute to the smooth running of a respected institution.

Our systems

We use Xero for our accounting and Joiin for consolidated reporting. Both are already implemented and stable. Proficiency in Joiin is ideal; otherwise, experience of a similar system and a readiness to learn this software quickly is an advantage.

How to apply

Please send your CV with a short covering note explaining your interest and how your experience fits the key requirements above. We will review applications on a rolling basis and may close early if we find the right candidate.

The Woodland Trust is looking for a Fundraising Development Officer to join the Fundraising Development team and play a key role in raising vital income to support nature recovery across South West England. You'll build and manage relationships with major donors, secure funding through grants and legacy giving, and help deliver ambitious fundraising plans for projects, including the South West Rainforest Recovery Treescape.

This role is advertised as full-time, 37.5 hours per week.

The Role:

• Manage and grow a portfolio of major donors and prospects to secure significant philanthropic income, improve donor loyalty, and promote blended and legacy giving.
• Lead fundraising strategy and delivery for the Rainforest Recovery Treescape initiative, securing funding and acting as its fundraising champion.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, partners and internal stakeholders to maximise restricted and unrestricted fundraising opportunities.
• Develop compelling funding proposals, cases for support and other fundraising materials to secure income for regional projects.
• Work collaboratively across the South West and wider Woodland Trust to develop and deliver fundraising plans supporting nature recovery, woodland creation, outreach and land acquisition.
• Support and maximise fundraising events across the South West and UK to engage donors and generate income.
• Secure funding from regional grant-makers and community funding programmes, including local authorities, lottery and environmental funding sources.
• Collaborate with operational, grants and regional teams to identify funding opportunities and submit high-quality bids aligned with regional priorities.
• This is a homebased role, requiring regular travel to locations within the South West landscape, sometimes to remote locations. You would be expected to live within reasonable travelling distance of your area of responsibility. Occasional travel to regional offices and overnight stays will be required.
• This role does not come with a company vehicle, however after a 9-month period in-post, we will review vehicle business use to see if the post-holder is reaching the eligibility criteria as stated in our Company Vehicle Policy.  If the post-holder complies with those criteria, with sign off from our Facilities Team, a vehicle will be sourced and provided. Please note that our Company Vehicle Policy is also under review as part of our Job Families and Contract Review project, so the eligibility criteria therein are subject to change in due course.

The Candidate:

• Experience in fundraising, the charity sector or a target-driven communications environment.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage, influence and inspire a wide range of audiences.
• Strong planning and organisational skills, with experience managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, target-driven environment.
• Proven ability to develop donor or prospect pipelines and build successful partnerships through networking and collaboration.
• Experience securing major gifts or high-value funding from individuals, trusts or foundations, including gifts of £50,000+ (desirable).
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of fundraising markets and opportunities (desirable).
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and CRM/database systems (e.g. Microsoft Dynamics 365).
• Full UK driving licence.

Benefits and Wellbeing:
Joining our team means you’ll be part of our fight for a greener, healthier planet for people and wildlife. We take good care of our staff, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer:

• Enhanced Employer Pension 
• Life Assurance
• Flexible and hybrid working options (7am - 7pm)
• Generous annual leave - 25 Days plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part-time)
• Buy and sell holiday scheme
• Enhanced parental pay
• Employee assistance programme

To support inclusivity and remove barriers for candidates, we publish all salaries upfront and proudly follow the We Show the Salary pledge. The salary listed is the set salary for this role, and we don’t ask applicants to state their current pay or expectations. If you choose to apply, we’ll take that as confirmation that the advertised salary meets your expectations.

About Us:
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity.  We want to see a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature. The Trust engages and inspires people to make a difference by protecting, restoring and creating woodland and getting more trees in the ground.

Our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:
To achieve our mission, we need to better reflect society and the communities we work in. People of colour and disabled people are currently under-represented across the environment and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we particularly encourage you to apply. Please contact us to discuss any additional support or adjustments you may need to complete your application.

Application information and advice:
For fairness we keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from the hiring managers, and we do not ask for your CV at application. 
Make sure that your personal statement clearly shows how your skills and knowledge link to the specifications in the job description and you share with us your passion for the role. Even if you don't meet every requirement of the role, we encourage you to apply.
Completed applications will be reviewed by a hiring manager and/or a member of the recruitment team, and you will receive an update on the outcome of your application via email.

Acceptable Use - Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We understand that candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their job applications. However, we ask that any information submitted reflects your own experience, skills and understanding. During interviews, candidates are expected to respond independently without the use of AI tools.

Apply now:
If you're ready to make a difference and grow with us, apply today. We might close advertising early if we get a lot of applications, so it's a good idea to apply soon. If we do close the advert early, and you have an application in progress, we will email you prior to closing to give you time to complete. 
Interviews will take place via teams. Interview questions will be provided before the interview to help you prepare.

About Us

Head and neck cancer is one of the fastest-rising cancers in the UK, now affecting around 14,000 people every year — the 5th most common cancer among men, 7th overall, and the fastest growing among young people. Too often, symptoms are missed or misunderstood, and more than half of cases are diagnosed at a late stage. That means compromised survival rates, more invasive treatment, and a recovery that can mean a new way of eating, speaking and living.

Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK exists to change that story. We work to prevent cancers where possible, drive earlier detection, and make sure people have clear information, support and guidance through and after treatment — so nobody has to cope in silence or confusion. We also fund groundbreaking research and collaborate across the sector to maximise our impact for patients.

As the only national charity dedicated to head and neck cancers, we're moving in an exciting new direction — and we have a unique opportunity to build an organisation that delivers maximum impact for patients and their families, while staying true to our roots.

The Role

We're looking for a Trusts, Foundations and Corporate Fundraiser to join our small, ambitious team. You'll bring specialist experience securing income from trusts, foundations and corporate partners, and you'll be confident building a robust funding pipeline and reporting on project delivery to funders.

We are looking for someone adaptable and hands-on, willing to engage fully with the breadth of activity a small charity requires. We are committed to pushing boundaries on behalf of our patient community, and we value candidates who demonstrate innovative thinking and the confidence to act on opportunities as they arise.

We offer a competitive salary and remote working, as well as a generous annual leave allowance and professional development and mentorship opportunities.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your CV and a supporting statement of no more than 2 sides each. The statement must clearly demonstrate your relevant experience and how you meet the person specification set out in the full job description attached.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace.

About you

Do you want to use your skills to make it possible for people with myeloma to live longer and better lives?  We are looking for a Company Partnership Fundraiser to support the delivery of our ambitious fundraising strategy by growing income from companies and organisations across the UK, developing strong partnerships and delivering engaging fundraising opportunities that inspire support for Myeloma UK.

You will have experience of working in a charity or customer focused environment and be able to demonstrate success in building effective relationships with excellent relationship management skills.  Being able to manage a wide range of tasks, work well under pressure together with a commitment and desire to make a difference is essential for this role.

The post holder will have excellent communication, organisational and IT skills with the ability to be flexible with your workload and prioritise effectively.  Experience in fundraising, partnerships, or business development (ideally with corporate audiences) and using Raiser’s Edge or similar CRM system would be an advantage but not essential.

About the role

The Company Partnership Fundraiser willgrow income from companies and organisations across the UK The role will focus primarily on employee-led fundraising and local business support, developing relationships that arise from personal connections to myeloma and growing these into long-term sources of income and engagement. They will build on local company opportunities often identified by the Community Fundraisers and promote Myeloma UK’s exciting range of events to encourage participation and support, as well as proactively identify new opportunities for company support.

You will work with Fundraising colleagues, collaboratively identifying wider fundraising opportunities such as community events, major donor, and legacy leads which can then be developed further by the relevant fundraising specialist in the team. The role will require travel throughout the UK to maximise engagement opportunities with supporters and income generation. As well as quarterly team meetings and other opportunities to network with Myeloma UK colleagues.

The post holder will provide the highest quality of stewardship and supporter journey to maximise engagement, retention and build a sustainable pipeline of support as well as representing Myeloma UK at meetings, events, and networking opportunities to build awareness and generate support,

About us

Myeloma UK is the only UK charity focused on the incurable blood cancer, myeloma and its related conditions.  We provide support and influence access to treatments, while researching a cure.  Thanks to life-extending treatments and support, today many people affected by myeloma are able to live longer and to live well. 

We are committed to bringing together the best and brightest people to help us ensure that every person affected by myeloma has an empowered present and a hopeful future.

Our ultimate goal is to find a cure. Until then, our mission is to help every person living with myeloma, live well, for as long as possible. We are committed to diagnosing myeloma earlier, discovering and sharing knowledge, transforming the patient experience and influencing positive change.

Our culture

Wellbeing and staff engagement are at the heart of our culture.  We offer employees a range of benefits including a pension salary exchange scheme, flexitime, flexible working which includes both home and hub-based office working, health plan, employee assistance plan and holiday purchase scheme. We are committed to providing learning and development opportunities for all our employees.

How to apply

If you think you would be a great fit for this role, get in touch and tell us more about yourself by sending the following:

1. A cover letter telling us more about you and what you think makes you a good fit for this role

2. A CV that sets out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements

Applications close on 9am on 24 August 2026 and online interviews will be held w/c 31 August 2026.

Myeloma UK is an equal opportunities employer and always welcomes applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of:

· sex

· race

· disability

· age

· sexual orientation

· gender reassignment

· religion or belief

· marital status

· or pregnancy and maternity

Please note, you will be asked to provide evidence of your eligibility to work in the UK prior to interview selection.

This year marks 10 years since Makan was established as an independent organisation providing transformative education to strengthen the movement for Palestinian liberation. It is a pivotal moment for a new Director to lead the organisation, as Palestinians continue to face the ongoing genocide, dispossession, and unprecedented repression. The need for transformative education on Palestine has never been greater.

At Makan, we have seen this reflected in the extraordinary growth of our programmes. Over the last three years, demand for our educational workshops has risen by 300% and in 2025 alone we worked with over 3,500 people across the globe – with artists, trade unions, students, educators, journalists, community organisers, and human rights networks, people whose voices shape public understanding of Palestine. Through our trainings, educational resources, and long term partnerships, we help people deepen their understanding of how settler colonialism, apartheid and displacement shapes the lives of Palestinians, and how these forces connect to broader global struggles for freedom and justice.

We are looking for an experienced Director/Co-directors to drive the organisation forward at this critical moment for our work. You’ll provide leadership and direction in delivering Makan’s strategic vision and objectives, furthering the charity’s programmes and communications; and overseeing its organisational growth and development, in line with its values and ethos.

You will be responsible for the overall impact, performance and collaborative culture of Makan; confident in representing the charity to a variety of stakeholders, including partners, media, major donors and other supporters; and able to provide effective support to the Board to ensure the organisation has the infrastructure, governance and resources in place to secure long term sustainable funding, develop the resilience of the charity, and deliver high-quality, impactful educational programmes.

For a full job description, please review the Makan Director appointment brief.

For nearly 20 years, Lively Minds has been proving that parents are the sleeping giants of early childhood development. With strong evidence and a national scale proof point in Ghana, we have shown that parent powered approaches delivered through government systems can transform children's lives at scale.

We are now at a pivotal moment. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum, and we need the funding, profile and influence to match our ambition. This is a rare opportunity to lead income generation and external voice for an award winning NGO entering an exciting new phase of growth. You will lead our fundraising strategy and direct engagement with Funders ensuring that we maximise all funding opportunities as we continue our strategic evolution. You will also shape a compelling external narrative that will help position Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments strengthening their early childhood development systems.

If you are an exceptional fundraiser and communicator who is equally comfortable in a strategic conversation and writing a winning proposal, we would love to hear from you.

Read the full advert and apply below. Closing date: 3rd September 2026.

About Lively Minds

Lively Minds is an award-winning NGO with nearly 20 years of experience designing, testing and scaling early childhood development (ECD) solutions across the Global South. Our core idea is simple but radical: parents are the sleeping giants of ECD. Governments and donors have long overlooked parents, assuming that poverty and low literacy make them unable or unwilling to support their childrenʼs development. We have spent two decades proving otherwise. With RCT-backed evidence and a national-scale proof point in Ghana, we have demonstrated that parent-powered approaches, delivered through government systems, can achieve meaningful child development outcomes at scale.

Our 2026–2028 strategy marks a pivotal shift. Having demonstrated what is possible, we are now helping pioneer an innovative model of country-led sustainable scale. Rather than delivering programmes ourselves, we provide lean, time-limited technical advisory support to governments to help them integrate parent-powered ECD into their own systems, budgets and institutions. We are currently working with the governments of Ghana, Uganda, Oromia state (Ethiopia) and The Gambia in 2026, growing to six or more country engagements by 2028. Our ambition is to catalyse a sector-wide shift, positioning Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments seeking to strengthen their ECD systems.

Our scale strategy rests on three interdependent pillars: fixed-term Technical Advisory partnerships with governments; the development of a modular radio model simple and affordable enough for governments to adopt and fund independently; and an advocacy and sector influence agenda designed to make parent-powered ECD the norm globally.

Purpose of the Role

Lively Minds is at a critical inflection point. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum. We now need the funding, profile and sector influence to match our ambition. The Director of Fundraising and Communications is a priority hire, created to provide the dedicated, experienced leadership that this moment demands.

The Director will own and drive Lively Mindsʼ income generation, building new funder relationships, managing and deepening existing ones, and ensuring the organisation has the pipeline, discipline and quality of engagement to meet and exceed its fundraising targets. Working in close partnership with the Founding CEO, who retains ownership of a small number of long-standing strategic relationships, the Director will take primary responsibility for securing the funding that makes the 2026–2028 strategy deliverable, and that opens the door to greater scale beyond it. We need to raise approximately £3.4m over the next 3 years to deliver our strategy. But our ambition is to exceed that target so we can support additional governments.

Alongside fundraising, the Director will provide strategic leadership to Lively Mindsʼ communications and advocacy work, ensuring that the organisationʼs external voice is compelling and that we are building credibility in the spaces where funding decisions are made. The Director will lead and provide strategic coherence to a small but outward-facing team, including Head of Partnerships and Advocacy Lead who are active on the international stage. Lively Minds is committed to thought-leadership and active external engagement, but equally committed to ensuring that communications resource is deployed with discipline and rigour. The Director will set a clear strategic filter for where the organisation shows up, what it publishes and who it engages: prioritising focus and quality over volume, and always asking whether external activity is building the relationships and reputation that ultimately drive income and/or systems change.

Lively Minds is a dispersed, remote organisation. The Directorʼs team the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer - are internationally distributed. The ability to lead, develop and maintain high standards across a dispersed team is essential. The role requires regular travel to international conferences and events.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Income Generation

• Own and deliver the multi-year fundraising strategy with clear priorities, targets, income streams and a disciplined pipeline to support the 2026–2028 strategy and future scale
• Steward existing funder relationships, turning strong partnerships into long-term supporters, advocates and connectors to new funding opportunities.
• Lead the shift towards Big Bet and catalytic funding, personally cultivating and negotiating high-value, multi-year partnerships and positioning Lively Minds for system-level scale
• Maintain a high standard of fundraising quality, pipeline management and forecasting, while coaching the team to produce compelling, sophisticated fundraising materials
•  Build and continuously strengthen a diverse funding pipeline, identifying emerging opportunities, new funding markets and strategic partnerships that reduce concentration risk and support long-term financial sustainability

Communications, Brand & Advocacy

• Own and deliver Lively Mindsʼ communications and marketing strategy, balancing visibility and sector influence with the need to strengthen fundraising and systems-change objectives
• Partner closely with the CEO to shape and steward a coherent external narrative, brand and messaging framework across all audiences and channels
• Oversee high-quality core communications and fundraising materials, including cases for support, pitch decks, website content, proposals and donor reports
• Provide strategic communications expertise to Advocacy, Partnerships and MEL, ensuring evidence and learning are translated into compelling narratives and consistent external messaging
• Lead efforts to strengthen Lively Mindsʼ profile and thought leadership in the ECD sector, identifying opportunities for strategic media, events, publications and external platforms that reinforce its positioning and influence

Organizational Leadership&TeamDevelopment

• Contribute actively to SMT and organisational strategy, bringing funder intelligence, external perspective and communications expertise to strategic decision-making.
• Work closely with Finance and MEL to align fundraising targets, forecasting, budgets and evidence, ensuring proposals are credible, accurately costed and evidence-led
• Act as the organisationʼs communications subject matter expert, providing guidance and challenge to ensure high-quality, consistent external communications
• Lead and develop the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer, fostering a team culture of quality, accountability, strategic clarity and continuous improvement
• Build strong cross-organisational collaboration, ensuring teams understand how fundraising, communications, advocacy and evidence work together to advance Lively Mindsʼ strategic priorities

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

• 10+ years of significant senior-level fundraising experience within international development, education, philanthropy or a comparable sector
• Proven track record of securing major grants from foundations, institutional donors and high-net-worth individuals, alongside demonstrated experience securing or meaningfully progressing large-scale, catalytic funding from Big Bet philanthropy programmes such as the Audacious Project, Skoll Foundation or comparable funders. A strong understanding of what these funders look for and how to position an organisation compellingly within their processes is essential
• Exceptional fundraising writing skills, with the ability to personally develop compelling cases for support, funding proposals, award applications and pitch decks tailored to sophisticated impact funders. This is a hands-on role requiring both strong writing capability and the ability to coach others to consistently produce high-quality fundraising content
• Experienced in developing and owning a marketing and communications strategy, with a strong understanding of how to balance organisational visibility, thought leadership and sector influence with coherence, strategic focus and income generation
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with a Founding CEO to shape and steward the organisationʼs external narrative and brand. Comfortable working in a founder-led environment, providing expertise and constructive challenge while ensuring the organisation maintains a clear, consistent and coherent external voice

Desirable Experience

• Experienced fundraising for a technical advisory, systems change or government-facing organisation
• Knowledge of the ECD, education or early childhood sector and its funding landscape
• Familiarity with the Big Bang Philanthropy network or equivalent impact-focused funder communities
• Experience working alongside advocacy and partnerships teams, providing communications expertise and strategic coherence to their external activity
• Familiarity with the funding landscape for organisations operating in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Experience working remotely across multiple countries and effectively collaborating with cross-cultural teams

Behaviours & Ways of Working

• A doer, equally comfortable in strategic conversations and writing a funding proposal
• Sets a high bar for quality and clarity in all external communications and holds it consistently
• Builds a strong, trust-based partnership with the Founding CEO, provides honest challenge and operates effectively within a founder-led dynamic without losing their own voice or judgement
• Collaborative and cross-organisational. Invests in strong relationships with programme, MEL and finance colleagues, understanding that the best fundraising is grounded in organisational reality
• Calm and focused under pressure - able to manage competing priorities and maintain quality when the stakes are high

What We Offer

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• 25 days annual leave
• Health insurance
• Pension contribution
• Generous learning and development budget
• Flexible, remote working

Application Instruction

Interested candidates are encouraged to read the Job Description carefully before applying to ensure they understand the role and meet the required criteria.

To apply, please complete the pre-screening questions and submit your updated CV

PLEASE NOTE - Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Timeline

Closing Date: 3rd September 2026

Our Stance

Lively Minds operates a strict Safeguarding Policy and is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable people. As part of our recruitment process, the suitability of successful candidates will be verified through appropriate background checks including professional references and police checks.

Lively Minds is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and to providing equal opportunities throughout our recruitment process. We want this commitment to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, experiences and perspectives.

We are committed to ensuring that recruitment decisions are based on merit, skills, experience and suitability for the role, and that all candidates are treated fairly and with respect throughout the recruitment process.