Major donor manager jobs in Manchester

Manchester Metropolitan University is a great university in one of the world's best global student cities. We advance knowledge to benefit society and make higher education accessible to those with the passion to succeed. We bring change through outstanding research and excellent education and support our region and its economy by empowering and enriching our students, colleagues and our wider community.

We are seeking to appoint our first Associate Director of Development to deliver the next step change in the University's philanthropic income. Reporting to the Director of Development and Alumni Relations and responsible for a high-performing fundraising team, the postholder will focus on translating strategy into delivery and results, focussing on the solicitation of major and principal donations.

What you'll lead and deliver

• Significantly increase the number of six-figure level and above donations to the University from high-net-worth individuals, trusts and foundations, and corporations.
• Ensure income delivered aligns with the University's strategic priorities, including advancing areas of research excellence.
• Work effectively with the Director of Development and Alumni Relations and the academic leadership to identify philanthropic priorities and projects that will resonate with potential donors.
• Effectively lead a successful and respected fundraising team, further strengthening the performance culture and practice of cross-university collaboration.
• Effectively relationship manage your own prospect pool of high-level donors and prospective donors.
• Work effectively as a key member of the Development and Alumni Relations leadership team, and with colleagues across the Directorate of External Relations and wider University.

About you

• Target-driven, with a proven track-record of managing a high-performing fundraising team.
• Significant experience of the solicitation of six-figure level, or above, donations.
• You will understand the UK higher education sector and have secured philanthropic support for research and scholarship.
• Strong analytical capability and evidence-based decision-making.
• Possess high emotional intelligence and demonstrate nuance and delicacy when dealing with senior and diverse stakeholders.

This is an unparalleled opportunity for the right individual to play a critical role in the advancement of the University, delivering our vision and ambitious agenda over the next decade.

Further information and how to apply

For a confidential conversation, please contact Dominic Boyd, Director of Development and Alumni Relations

Applications must be made via our recruitment system and should include a full CV and a letter of application setting out your interest in the role and details of how your knowledge, skills and experience match the essential criteria being sought.

 - The closing date for applications is Sunday 28 June 2026
 - Interviews will be held in Manchester on Thursday 30 July 2026

About Manchester Met

We have been proudly driving progress for more than two centuries. As one of the UK's largest and most popular universities, we're a force for good, dedicated to delivered outstanding research and excellent education. Much more than a university, we are a place where ambitious people unite as a diverse and inclusive community to make meaningful connections. Where world-class facilities combine with exceptional minds to improve lives through innovation. We welcome those who are committed, talented, and hardworking. People who believe in our values and are as driven as we are to achieve shared goals.

Our community of over 5,100 colleagues work in close partnership every day to bring about positive change regionally, nationally, and globally.

Build a role with purpose, in an environment designed to unlock your potential. Be part of Manchester Met. Be Manchester Met proud. Let's transform lives together. 

Manchester Metropolitan University fosters an inclusive culture of belonging that promotes equity and celebrates diversity. We value a diverse workforce for the innovation and diversity of thought it brings and welcome applications from all local and international communities, including Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

We support a range of flexible working arrangements, including hybrid and tailored schedules, which can be discussed with your line manager. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know so we can provide appropriate support.

Our commitment to inclusivity includes mentoring programmes, accessibility resources, and professional development opportunities to empower and support underrepresented groups.

Manchester Met is a Disability Confident Leader and, under this scheme, aims to offer an interview to disabled people who apply for the role and meet the essential criteria as listed in the attached Job Description for that vacancy

Senior Philanthropy and Partnerships Executive

Location: Remote

Salary: £30,000 per annum

Vacancy Type: Permanent, Fill Time

Are you a confident relationship-builder with a passion for purpose-driven work? Do you know how to turn conversations into long-term support and meaningful partnerships?

We’re looking for a Senior Philanthropy & Partnerships Executive to join our passionate fundraising team in a remote, full-time role working 35 hours per week. This is an exciting opportunity for a confident relationship-builder to help grow income from high-net-worth individuals, corporate partners and trusts, supporting life-changing services across the UK.

At The Forward Trust, we help people break cycles of addiction, homelessness and offending to build positive futures. With around 40% of our workforce in active recovery and/or with lived experience of the criminal justice system, our team is proof that change is possible.

Why Join Us?

You’ll be joining an ambitious and supportive fundraising team responsible for generating £2.3 million annually to power our vital Recovery and Belonging services. Strong foundations are already in place, now we need someone exceptional to help take us further.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Identify and engage new high-net-worth donors and corporate partners
• Support delivery of major giving, company support and legacy strategies
• Build tailored stewardship journeys that inspire long-term support
• Manage a portfolio of existing supporters and promising prospects
• Create compelling proposals, impact reports and donor communications
• Support applications to corporate foundations and funding opportunities
• Help shape donor-facing materials that showcase our mission and impact
• Coordinate events, visits and cultivation opportunities
• Represent The Forward Trust externally with confidence and passion
• Maintain accurate CRM records and donor data
• Collaborate across the wider fundraising team to maximise results

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience in fundraising, partnerships or relationship management
• Strong communication and influencing skills
• A proactive, target-driven mindset with excellent attention to detail
• Confidence managing multiple priorities and stakeholders
• Passion for social impact and changing lives

If you’re motivated by meaningful work and excited by the chance to grow transformational partnerships, we’d love to hear from you.

About Us

We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.

We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us an employee, we will offer you the following benefits - 

• Flexible working
• Training and development opportunities
• Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme 
• Cycle to work scheme
• Crisis Loan Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
• Access to Blue Light Card
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays 
• Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter 
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary) 
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. 

Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work

Dependent on role you may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, details of which will be shared with you at interview

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Forward Trust, please click apply to be redirected to their website to complete your application.

Location:  Home-based Scotland. The role will involve travel across Scotland and the North of England. 

Salary: £34,600 per annum 

Hours: 35 hours per week 

Closing date:  Monday 22 June 2026 at midnight 

Interviews:  Week commencing 6 July 2026 in person in Edinburgh or Glasgow to be confirmed.

This is a permanent role. 

Who we are looking for 

Breakthrough T1D is the UK’s leading type 1 diabetes charity, dedicated to funding research, advocating for change, and supporting the T1D community. A year into our exciting rebrand from JDRF to Breakthrough T1D, we’re looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Senior Fundraiser for Scotland and the North of England to help us build on this momentum.

As Senior Fundraiser, you’ll play a pivotal role in driving forward our major donor and corporate partnerships programme. You’ll work alongside our Head of Scotland to deliver sustainable income growth, develop meaningful relationships with high value supporters, and bring unforgettable experiences to life — from intimate research briefings to our flagship annual Gala Ball.

This is a role with huge scope to make your mark. You’ll have the autonomy to cultivate your own portfolio, the support of brilliant cross UK colleagues, and the reward of knowing your work directly fuels scientific breakthroughs that change lives. 

Experience required 

You’ll have previous experience of: 

• Experience working with major donors, corporate partners or demonstrable success generating income from senior stakeholders in a relationship driven role

• Strong project management skills and the ability to juggle multiple priorities with confidence and calm

• Excellent communication skills — written, verbal and in presentations

• Emotional intelligence and the ability to build rapport authentically.

• A supporter focused, warm, and collaborative approach.

About Breakthrough T1D 

Breakthrough T1D is the world’s leading charitable research funder into type 1 diabetes, improving lives until we find the cure. We are dedicated to our 400,000 strong type 1 community in the UK and work closely with our international affiliates across the world, including the US, Canada and Australia. 

You will find a vibrant atmosphere and spirited team at Breakthrough T1D, always striving to make a difference to people living with type 1. 

Employee benefits 

As an employer we offer: 

• Hybrid working arrangements 

• Flexible working and will consider compressed hours 

• Generous annual leave entitlement – 25 days per year plus bank holidays for full-time staff with leave increasing after three and five years’ service 

• Health cash plan that allows you to claim for some treatments such as dental, optical and physiotherapy treatment 

• Season ticket and cycle loan 

• Pension scheme 

• Family-friendly policies – maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave at enhanced rates 

• Personalised training to suit your career aspirations and professional development 

Breakthrough T1D is an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation or age. 

We are almost two years into our ambitious organisational strategy, and this is an exciting moment to join Cycling UK as our Senior Philanthropy Officer. Cycling UK’s public fundraising programme is entering a new phase of growth, with increased ambition for philanthropy as a sustainable income stream.
 
The Senior Philanthropy Officer plays a pivotal role in delivering this ambition, taking ownership of a portfolio of mid to high-value donors and prospects and driving their progression through the Major Gifts and Legacy pipeline. Working closely with the Philanthropy Manager, the postholder will lead the development and delivery of tailored cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies for their portfolio, securing significant gifts and building long-term supporter relationships.
 
You don’t need to be a cyclist to work at Cycling UK, but you do need to have a strong commitment to our work. This is a senior delivery role requiring strong judgement, excellent relationship management skills and the confidence to operate with a high degree of autonomy, while contributing insight and expertise to shape the wider Major Gift, Legacy and In-memory programmes.
 
We are an inclusive organisation and would particularly welcome applications from candidates from a broad range of backgrounds. We strongly believe that diversity strengthens our work. If you are already passionate about cycling, that’s great, many of us are too! But if you are simply really excellent at what you do, no matter what your background, that is what matters most to us.
 
Explore the attached job description for full details on this exciting opportunity. Complete the application form expressing why you are the right candidate for this opening. Focus on gearing your supporting statement to exemplify how your skills and experience match the requirements of the role, directly referring to the person specification. This enables the selection panel to assess your relative strengths against the specified criteria.
 
The role is home based in the UK, with regular meetings in London and travel across the UK as required. 
 
 Applications close at 9:00am on the closing date shown.
 
REF-228 979

Job Title: Development Officer

Reports to: Senior Development Manager

Location: Contracted to Breaking Barrier’ office in London, Birmingham or Manchester, with some expectation of travel 

Terms: 5 days per week (37.5 hours) but open to part-time (minimum 30 hours) and flexible working arrangements

Contract: Permanent

Salary:   £28,000 - £33,500 (Depending on the location and experience)

Purpose of the Role

The fundraising team at Breaking Barriers generates income from a range of sources: trusts and foundations, statutory and lottery, corporate and major donors. We sit within the wider Income and Engagement Directorate, alongside communications and public fundraising, and work closely together to drive income and engagement from funders, partners and supporters who share our vision that every refugee can access meaningful employment and build a new life. 

The Development Officer manages our portfolio of small trusts and foundations (grants up to £10,000), securing income and developing relationships from existing donors and new prospects. The role involves writing compelling funding proposals, delivering effective stewardship, and meeting all reporting requirements to a high standard.

Alongside portfolio management, the post-holder co-ordinates our fundraising events programme, ensuring both online and in-person events deepen engagement with our cause. The role also provides active support across fundraising appeals and the statutory, lottery and major donor income streams, including prospect research. The post-holder will also contribute to the operational efficiency of the fundraising team through effective administration.

This is a varied, fast-paced role that will suit someone with strong writing skills, attention to detail and a genuine commitment to our mission. It offers real scope to develop knowledge and skills across a wide range of fundraising disciplines within a supportive and ambitious team.

Key Responsibilities

1. Income generation (60%)

· Manage and develop a portfolio of trusts and foundations awarding grants of up to £10,000, delivering tailored stewardship and relationship management across both warm relationships and cold prospects.

· Plan, write and submit compelling funding applications based on a clear understanding of Breaking Barriers' programmes, funding needs and funder requirements.

· Manage all reporting requirements within your portfolio, ensuring reports are completed accurately and to deadline.

· Undertake research to identify new prospects, gathering relevant background information including funding interests, grant levels and connection points with Breaking Barriers.

· Ensure all income and pipeline activity is accurately recorded and kept up to date in Salesforce.

· Act as the philanthropy lead for the Big Give Challenge Appeal.

2. Fundraising Events and Stewardship (20%)

· Co-ordinate Breaking Barriers' fundraising events programme, working across the fundraising team and wider Income and Engagement Directorate to shape a calendar that inspires and engages funders, supporters and senior volunteers.

· Manage event logistics including venue sourcing, guest list coordination, on-the-day support and follow-up.

· Lead on the development of stewardship materials for philanthropy audiences, including impact updates, newsletters and event collateral.

3. Prospect Research and Fundraising Administration (15%)

· Carry out prospect research to support the major gifts, statutory and lottery fundraising pipelines, producing clear, well-structured briefings for senior colleagues.

· Build and maintain funder profiles, recording prospect activity, research findings and pipeline information accurately in Salesforce.

· Support colleagues in the finance team with gift administration and thanking processes.

· Contribute to the directorate's approach to data quality and CRM best practice.

4. Other Responsibilities (5%)

· Participate in cross-team projects to build a thorough understanding of Breaking Barriers' work and wider activities.

· Undertake any other duties that may reasonably be required within the scope of this role.

· Demonstrate Breaking Barriers' values of being welcoming, collaborative, mission-led and entrepreneurial.

Person Specification
Essential

· Demonstrable knowledge of and/or interest in the refugee or employment sectors.

· Experience of writing compelling funding proposals or other relevant persuasive content for different audiences.

· Understanding of the principles of trusts and foundations fundraising, whether through direct experience or study.

· Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesise information and present it clearly.

· Excellent organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

· Strong attention to detail.

· Proactive and self-motivated, with the ability to take initiative and problem-solve.

· Able to build effective working relationships with colleagues at all levels.

· Confident using Microsoft Office and comfortable learning new systems.

 Desirable

· Experience of trusts and foundations fundraising in the charity sector.

· Familiarity with major donor, statutory or lottery fundraising.

· Experience using Salesforce or another fundraising CRM.

· Knowledge of GDPR and data protection principles as they apply to fundraising.

Other considerations:

· Breaking Barriers is committed to protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect and for their views, wishes and beliefs to be fully taken into account when deciding action. 

· We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief. 

· Breaking Barriers particularly welcomes applicants with experience of seeking asylum and/or a refugee background. 

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, we are committed to offering an accessible recruitment process and guarantee an interview to all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the role. 

This new role will be equally divided between Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland and Vineyard Global.

Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland (VCUKI) is a growing movement of churches, built on God’s transforming word, who worship God with passion, intimacy and expectation. We exist to participate in the advancement of the Kingdom of God through the work of local Vineyard churches that communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and practise. 

The Vineyard movement is growing worldwide, with churches now established in countries on six continents. Increasingly, the Vineyard churches within a country are coming together to form national Associations of Vineyard Churches (AVCs), each led by its own national leadership.

Vineyard Global exists to bring together and strengthen those AVCs, and is itself an association. Through its Council, its Leaders, Leadership Team and Trustees, it also provides guidance and support to the Vineyard movement as it emerges, thrives and grows across the world.

The Role

Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland (VCUKI) and Vineyard Global are looking for a dedicated Head of Fundraising to join our team and help us expand our impact through effective fundraising initiatives.

This is a remote position for someone based in the UK, with the expectation to work at a VCUKI office two days a month. The role is full-time and reports to the VCUKI National Coordinator.

This is a new position that offers an exciting opportunity to grow, develop, and shape the fundraising strategy for our national movement. The Head of Fundraising will be responsible for creating and implementing a comprehensive fundraising strategy aimed at securing donations from major donors, trusts, foundations, and corporations.

The successful candidate will collaborate closely with Vineyard Churches UK and Ireland as well as Vineyard Global. They will work with movement leaders and Vineyard staff to maximise fundraising opportunities and establish long-term relationships with donors. The candidate should be a starter finisher as this is a new area of development for both VCUKI and Vineyard Global, and over time, it is anticipated that the post-holder will build a team to assist with key aspects of the role. We are looking for a graduate with a proven track record in fundraising within the nonprofit sector, especially someone who has successfully secured large donations and grants. If you're a self-motivated individual who thrives on networking and possesses the ability to influence and persuade a variety of stakeholders, we want to hear from you!

The interview date will provisionally be w/c 6th July 2026.

Please see the job description and person specification for more information.

To apply, please click the link. 

Vineyard Churches UK and Ireland is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

Occupational Requirement

As this role will require the successful applicant to promote the Christian values of the Vineyard church movement and provide individuals with Christian pastoral support, it is an Occupational Requirement that the successful candidate is a practicing Christian, who regularly attends Sunday church services and can agree with the VCUKI Statement of Faith and Ethos Statement.