Major donors fundraiser jobs

Operation Smile is an international medical charity specialising in cleft surgery and care for babies, children and adults. Since 1982, the organisation has transformed lives through safe surgery and comprehensive cleft care, while strengthening local health systems through training, education and partnerships

Operating in more than 30 countries, Operation Smile raises around $100m globally each year. Operation Smile UK plays a vital role within this international network as a fundraising office, working closely with Operation Smile Inc. to fund programmes and support medical volunteers delivering care around the world.

The organisation is entering an exciting phase of development through its Operation 100 strategy, which focuses on strengthening surgical systems by supporting district hospitals closer to the communities they serve. This approach creates compelling opportunities for philanthropy, enabling donors to support highly tangible, life-changing interventions while helping build sustainable surgical capacity in low-resource settings.

Operation Smile UK has a strong individual giving programme and well-established relationships with corporate partners, trusts and institutional donors. Major donor fundraising, however, is still developing, presenting significant untapped potential and an exciting opportunity to help build a structured and sustainable philanthropy programme.

Operation Smile UK is now seeking a Philanthropy Manager to help grow major donor fundraising, building new philanthropic relationships and expanding support from HNWIs.

As Philanthropy Manager, you will:

• Develop and implement Operation Smile UK’s major donor strategy alongside the Director of Partnerships
• Identify and cultivate new major donor prospects through research, networking (internally and externally) and peer-to-peer introductions through supporters and board members
• Steward a small but warm portfolio of existing donors while focusing primarily on developing new prospects, delivering full lifecycle stewardship from cultivation through to long-term relationship management
• Develop compelling restricted funding propositions aligned with programmes, including geographically or thematically focused projects
• Lead cultivation activity including donor meetings, proposals, events and programme visits
• Represent Operation Smile UK confidently with major donors, prospects and senior stakeholders
• Contribute to the continued development of philanthropy fundraising within the wider Partnerships team
• Occasionally travel internationally to visit programmes and accompany donors, providing first-hand insight into Operation Smile’s impact

Essential skills and experience:

• Experience in major donor fundraising with a track record of securing five-figure+ gifts from HNWIs
• Experience managing the full lifecycle of major donor fundraising, from prospecting and cultivation through to solicitation and stewardship
• Strong prospect research and pipeline development skills, including identifying and developing new donor relationships from cold
• Experience and confidence in building rapport and trust with prospective major donors
• Experience engaging trustees, senior volunteers and colleagues in fundraising and leveraging networks for peer-to-peer introductions
• Confidence and credibility when representing an organisation to HNWIs and senior stakeholders
• Strong relationship-building and influencing skills, with the ability to champion major donor fundraising in a collaborative and thoughtful way across the organisation
• A proactive, self-starting approach and the ability to identify and develop opportunities within a growing fundraising programme

Desirable:

• Experience in international development or global health fundraising
• Experience helping to develop a major donor programme from a low base or early stage

We are open to receiving applications from early career major donor fundraisers for this role. The role offers an opportunity to work alongside an experienced Director of Partnerships who has previously built major donor programmes and is committed to supporting the successful candidate through coaching and mentoring.

Employee benefits include:

• 25 days annual leave, excluding bank holidays, with 1-day additional holiday each year to a maximum of 30 days annual leave
• 6.1% employer pension contribution
• Enhanced maternity package (min. 24 months service)
• Employee Assistance Programme

Operation Smile UK are dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that supports everyone's needs. We're happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the application and employment process, and we particularly welcome applications from diverse backgrounds.

Operation Smile UK are a Disability Confident Committed employer, so we guarantee an interview to any disabled applicant who meets the minimum requirements for the job.

Help secure the future of a 120-year-old youth charity At The Shewsy, we support over 100 children and young people every day in one of the most deprived communities in the UK. Founded in 1903, we provide meals, mentoring, and a safe space, but more importantly, we build relationships that change lives. Our motto is “People Matter More Than Things".

We are now looking for a brilliant Fundraising & Engagement Manager to help us take the next step in building a stronger, more sustainable funding base so we can reach even more young people.

Salary: £40,000 per annum 

Hours: 37 hours per week (flexible working available and could offer 0.8) 

Contract type: Permanent

Benefits:  

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

• NEST Pension 

• Benefits & Discount Portal 

• 22 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays 

• Professional Training & Development

The Role (and why it matters) This isn’t just about writing bids behind a desk. It’s about being a visible, energetic advocate for The Shewsy. You will champion our work face-to-face, engaging our local Everton community while nurturing our historic, vital ties with Shrewsbury School and the Old Salopian network. You will balance persuasive in-person communication with high-quality grant writing to unlock new opportunities and bring ideas to life.

What you’ll be doing

Building Relationships & Community Engagement

• Actively network and build face-to-face relationships with local businesses, community members, and potential corporate partners.

• Nurture and expand our vital relationship with the Shrewsbury School community and Old Salopians to encourage legacy giving, regular donations, and matched-giving support.

• Champion and support community fundraising events and campaigns, including our highly successful Big Give Christmas Challenge.

Securing Grant Funding

• Build and manage a £200,000+ annual funding pipeline by researching and applying for grants from trusts and foundations.

• Write high-quality, compelling, and tailored funding applications.

• Maintain a live pipeline of funders, tracking applications, success rates, and deadlines.

Telling Our Story Powerfully

• Turn powerful frontline youth work into compelling narratives for both written bids and in-person presentations.

• Work with staff to capture impact, stories, and data to strengthen how we evidence our outcomes.

What success looks like (Year 1)

• Strong, active relationships established with the Shrewsbury School community, Old Salopians, and local Everton stakeholders.

• A £200k+ funding pipeline established and actively managed.

• Consistent monthly/quarterly bid submissions balancing quick wins with strategic applications.

• Increased repeat funding, multi-year grants, and diversified community income.

Who we’re looking for You might already be a community fundraiser, a bid writer looking to step out from behind the screen, or someone ready to step up.

Essential

• Exceptional in-person communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences from local residents to major donors.

• Experience writing successful grant applications in the charity sector.

• A track record of securing funding from trusts, foundations, or major donors.

• Highly organised, able to balance desk-based bid writing with out-and-about relationship building.

• Ability to work independently and make things happen.

Desirable

• Experience in youth, community, or social impact organisations.

• Knowledge of the Liverpool funding landscape.

• Experience with community campaigns or matched-funding appeals (e.g., the Big Give).

The kind of person who thrives here

• You care deeply about young people and social impact.

• You are proactive, outgoing, and don’t wait to be told what to do.

• You spot opportunities others miss and can turn a conversation into a compelling bid or a new partnership.

• You want your work to actually make a difference.

For over 30 years, we’ve pioneered the use of beekeeping as a sustainable development tool, helping communities across Africa escape poverty while protecting biodiversity. Now we’re ready to scale our impact significantly — growing from £900K to £1.4M income within three years and expanding to new locations using our proven model.

The Opportunity:
This is a rare chance to lead a mission-driven organisation with huge potential. You’ll work with influential patrons including The Queen, Monty Don, Martha Kearney, Kate Humble, and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, all ready to actively support our ambitious goals. You’ll manage a talented team of seven and work alongside seven committed trustees.

What we’re looking for:
We need a leader who

• Is genuinely passionate about environmental sustainability and poverty alleviation
• Can develop and execute ambitious fundraising strategies, including corporate partnerships and major donor relationships
• Brings financial acumen and strategic planning experience
• Enjoys managing and developing people—our small team is excellent and is keen to welcome great leadership
• Thrives on networking and relationship-building, actively seeking opportunities
• Is comfortable being the external face of the organisation with donors, corporates, and partners
• Has senior leadership experience (ideally in the third sector, though we welcome strong leaders from any sector)

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead strategic planning and organisational growth in partnership with the Board
• Act as chief fundraiser and spokesperson, personally engaging with high-level donors
• Develop corporate partnerships and ESG opportunities
• Manage and inspire our team of seven, fostering a culture of excellence
• Oversee a ~£1M+ budget and ensure strong financial management
• Deepen relationships with international partners in Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda and beyond
• Build BfD’s profile and brand visibility

What we offer:

• Salary of £65,000-£70,000 (negotiable based on experience)
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Pension (flexible package)
• Hybrid working possible with minimum 3 days in our Monmouth office (important for team collaboration and partner engagement)
• The chance to lead a respected organisation through an exciting growth phase
• Opportunity to make a real difference to communities and biodiversity worldwide

Timeline:
Application deadline: 13th April 2026

Bees for Development is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace.

JUSTICE is looking to recruit a new Director of Development to join our friendly, outcome-focused, values-led team. This is a permanent role and provides an exciting opportunity for someone who is an experienced fundraiser who is able to provide strategic direction as well as get into the nitty gritty, when needed. 

We are looking for an individual who has an interest in the purpose of the charity (to improve the UK justice system so that it is fair and within everyone’s reach). The successful post holder will be a confident leader who has worked as a senior fundraiser in previous roles and someone who enjoys autonomy and is able to lead and empower their team. 

This role will really suit someone who thrives in a role where no two days are the same and who wants to be part of the effort to grow our small but mighty charity. 

The Director of Development will lead the organisation’s income generation strategy to support its work to advance legal reform, human rights and the rule of law. The role is responsible for diversifying, growing and achieving income through existing income streams, including: trusts and foundations, major donors, giving circles (JUSTICE60 and NextGen J60), corporate partnerships, membership as well as seeking out and creating new streams.

By working closely with the Chief Executive and senior leadership team, the Director will build long-term, strong relationships with funders and partners, strengthen the organisation’s case for support and ensure fundraising is aligned with the charity’s strategic priorities.

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in and something you would enjoy doing, please do apply!

Shape the Future of a Unique Regimental Museum

HorsePower, the Museum of The King’s Royal Hussars, is embarking on an ambitious transformation. We are developing a bold new “Museum of the Future” that will reinterpret over 300 years of regimental history through engaging, modern and interactive displays.

We are now seeking an experienced, motivated Fundraising Manager to play a pivotal role in raising £100,000 by mid-2027 to fund the redesign phase and to help establish strong, sustainable fundraising practice for the museum’s next chapter. This is an exciting opportunity for a fundraiser who wants real ownership, influence and the chance to make visible impact in a small but ambitious heritage organisation.

About HorsePower

Located at Peninsula Barracks, Winchester, HorsePower tells the story of The King’s Royal Hussars from 1715 to the present day, spanning India, Waterloo, the World Wars and modern conflict. The museum holds a fascinating collection and unique archives and is now launching a five-year strategic plan to become one of the most vibrant and accessible small military museums in the South of England.

The Role

This is a new role with scope to shape both strategy and delivery. You will lead on trusts, foundations, corporates and major donors, working closely with the Fundraising Trustee and Curator to:

• Build and manage a strong pipeline of funding opportunities.
• Write compelling grant applications and major funding proposals.
• Cultivate relationships with individual and corporate supporters.
• Put in place effective fundraising systems, processes and reporting.
• Develop long-term relationships for future capital funding appeals.

You will be confident working independently, comfortable in a small organisation and motivated by building something with lasting value.

Key Responsibilities

• Audit current fundraising activity, supporters and data
• Research, develop and submit high-quality trust and foundation applications
• Identify and cultivate prospective major donors and corporate partners
• Support stewardship, recognition and donor communications
• Maintain accurate CRM records and GDPR-compliant processes
• Produce concise monthly progress reports for trustees

About you – Essential.  You will bring:

• At least three years’ successful fundraising experience (trusts, foundations, major donors and/or corporate partnerships)
• A strong track record of securing significant gifts and grants, ideally within culture, heritage or the wider nonprofit sector
• Excellent written and numeracy skills and experience of crafting persuasive funding proposals
• Confidence building relationships with funders, trustees and senior stakeholders
• Highly organised working practices and strong attention to detail

Desirable - Experience in museums or heritage, an interest in military history, and a creative, entrepreneurial approach to income generation.

Why join us?

• A rare opportunity to shape a museum redevelopment from the ground up
• Flexible working in a supportive, purpose-driven organisation
• A high-impact role where your work will directly influence the museum’s future

Applications: Interested applicants are requested to submit a short covering letter or email stating why they are suitable for the role, a CV and two references.

Closing date: 25 March 2026
 

Interviews: Late March/early April (online first round, final stage in Winchester)

We may close early if sufficient strong applications are received.

HorsePower is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.  We also welcome applications from candidates who may not meet every criteria but can demonstrate relevant transferable skills and experience gained through work, study, volunteering or other life experience.

Mission Without Borders UK are seeking an exceptional Major Donors, Trusts & Partnerships Manager to help drive our mission forward and make a lasting difference for children and families across Eastern Europe.

Mission Without Borders (MWB) is a Christian organisation working in some of the most challenging contexts in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine. We come alongside children, families, and communities living in poverty, offering practical, emotional and spiritual support, sharing the hope found in Jesus Christ to enable people to move towards self-sufficiency.

MWB UK is entering an exciting period of growth. With an ambitious five‑year plan underway, we are seeking to strengthen our work with major donors, charitable trusts, foundations, and Gift‑in‑Kind (GIK) partners to expand our impact and reach more people in need.

About the role

This is a pivotal and high‑impact role, perfect for a talented relationship‑based fundraiser who is motivated by purpose, strategy, and the power of partnership.

You will:

· Build and manage a strong portfolio of major donors, developing tailored engagement plans that inspire deep and long‑term support.

· Grow income from charitable trusts, foundations, and statutory funders through high‑quality applications and outstanding stewardship.

· Lead MWB UK’s Gift‑in‑Kind strategy, securing in‑kind products and managing the logistics journey from offer to delivery into field countries.

· Craft compelling proposals and impact reports that clearly articulate MWB’s vision and programme outcomes.

· Collaborate with passionate colleagues across MWB’s international network to identify funding priorities, shape supporter experiences, and maximise impact.

· Contribute strategically to MWB UK’s fundraising plans, spotting opportunities, and driving income growth.

This role blends hands‑on relationship management with strategic ownership.  This is ideal for someone who thrives on initiative, creativity, and wants to see their work translate into real, tangible change for vulnerable people.

About you

We’d love to hear from you if you have:

· Proven experience securing income from major donors and/or charitable trusts.

· Excellent relational skills with the ability to connect, inspire, and build trust.

· Strong written and verbal communication skills, including crafting persuasive proposals.

· A proactive, organised, detail‑driven approach with the ability to prioritise effectively.

· A genuine alignment with MWB’s Christian ethos and values.

If MWB’s vision is a cause that inspires you and the position fits with your skills, values and experience, then we would love to hear from you.

The position offers flexibility with a mix of home working and office based to be discussed. This is a full-time position, but we are open to hearing from candidates who can work a minimum of 4 days a week.

What we offer

· 30 days holiday per year

· Flexible working

· Employee Assistance Programme

· Pension scheme

· Opportunities to travel to projects in our field countries, as required

How to apply

Please send a covering letter of no more than 2 pages highlighting your reasons for applying and explaining your how your skills, experience and values align with the role.

Please see the Job Description below for more details.  If an informal conversation about the role would help, please call or email us.

We are actively interviewing as applications come in, so please apply now.

Are you passionate about children’s safety and have the skills and experience to excel in this role and help reclaim the internet for young people? We would love to hear from you!

Breck Foundation

Breck Foundation is at the forefront of efforts to safeguard children and young people online. Our organisation was founded in 2014 in response to the tragic loss of Breck Bednar, a 14-year-old boy who was groomed and murdered by someone he met online. Our work aims to prevent this from ever happening again. Our work saves lives.  We reach thousands of children and young people in schools and other community settings with Breck's story every year. Our talks and educational materials fill a gap in the current UK curriculum that otherwise leaves children vulnerable to online grooming and exploitation.

With 98% of young people now active internet users, current and future generations grow up having to navigate new and evolving digital dangers. We are committed to making the internet a place where children can live, play and thrive in safety. We are helping young people reclaim the internet.

The Role

We are looking for an experienced Trusts and Grants Fundraiser to support the work of the Breck Foundation on a freelance basis.

This role is offered for approximately two days per week, providing flexibility alongside the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the development of our fundraising function.

If you are highly organised, detail-oriented, and confident managing competing deadlines - and motivated by making a real difference in keeping young people safe online - this could be an excellent opportunity.

Working closely with the CEO, you will play a key role in shaping and delivering our trusts and grants activity. The focus of the role will be on researching opportunities, developing a strong funding pipeline, and writing high-quality, compelling applications that clearly communicate our impact and vision.

This is a collaborative role, with the CEO leading on overall fundraising strategy and funder relationships. You will support the delivery of that strategy through bid writing, pipeline development, and contributing insight into funding opportunities and direction.

There is genuine potential for this role to grow over time, as part of our longer-term ambition to expand and strengthen a wider income generation function.

About you:

We are looking for someone who:

• Is motivated by purpose-driven work and wants to make a meaningful difference to the lives of young people and families
• Is proactive, self-motivated, and confident working independently in a freelance capacity
• Enjoys problem-solving and managing a varied workload
• Has strong attention to detail and excellent persuasive writing skills
• Has experience securing income from trusts and foundations
• Shares our commitment to safeguarding and online safety education

If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you!

This is a rewarding opportunity to contribute to a charity with growing national reach and impact. Your work will directly support the delivery of life-saving education, innovative projects, and partnerships with schools, industry, and safeguarding professionals.

If you have a strong track record of securing income from trusts and foundations, along with the initiative, enthusiasm, and passion to support our mission, we encourage you to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with the CEO to plan and prioritise trusts and grants activity, ensuring a focused and strategic pipeline of funding opportunities
• Research and identify suitable trust and grant funders aligned with the Foundation’s work and funding needs
• Write high-quality, compelling funding applications and proposals that clearly communicate impact, need, and outcomes
• Develop tailored content for applications, including adapting core messaging, case for support material, and project information
• Support the development and refinement of a clear and compelling Case for Support, working with colleagues to gather relevant data and stories
• Maintain and manage a pipeline of prospects, tracking application deadlines and progress
• Provide regular, concise updates to the CEO on pipeline activity, submitted bids, and upcoming opportunities
• Collaborate with the wider team to gather information required for strong applications (e.g. budgets, project plans, impact data)
• Ensure accurate record-keeping of applications and funder interactions on the CRM system, in line with GDPR requirements

Experiences:

• Proven experience in trusts and grants fundraising, or a similar income generation role
• Experience of working towards income targets and managing relationships with a range of stakeholders
• Demonstrable success in researching, writing, and securing funding through high-quality applications and proposals
• Experience of developing project budgets and presenting financial information to funders
• Experience of using a CRM system to manage pipelines, analyse data, and report on activity
• Experience of presenting to or engaging different audiences (desirable)
• A track record of securing high-value grants from trusts and foundations (desirable)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong understanding of effective supporter care, stewardship, and relationship management
• A genuine interest in online safety and safeguarding, with a commitment to the mission of the Breck Foundation
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce compelling, persuasive funding applications tailored to different audiences
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships with funders, partners, and colleagues with professionalism and sensitivity
• High attention to detail, with the ability to maintain accurate records and deliver work to a high standard
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a freelance capacity
• Confident in interpreting budgets, tracking income, and presenting financial information clearly
• Good IT skills, including experience with Microsoft Office and CRM systems
• Ability to work independently, using initiative to identify opportunities and solve problems
• A collaborative approach, with the ability to work effectively alongside a small, dedicated team
• Self-motivated, proactive, and driven to achieve results

Every day people with chest, heart and stroke conditions are leaving hospital scared and alone. You can be part of our mission to make sure that there is no life half lived in Scotland.

By joining Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland (CHSS) as an Individual Giving Fundraiser you can be the difference between people just surviving and really living.

You will be part of Scotland’s leading health charity providing support to people with chest, heart and stroke conditions and Long Covid to live life to the full again. Our Community Healthcare Support Service provides access to a range of supported self-management and community recovery services to support people across Scotland to manage their health as well as possible and adjust to life after a diagnosis of a chest or heart condition or after a stroke. 

With support from the Donor Development Manager, the Individual Giving Fundraiser will play a key role in growing and sustaining CHSS’s individual donor income by playing a lead role in donor acquisition campaigns, stewardship, and reactivation activity. You will have a strong focus on face-to-face recruitment and compelling multi-channel appeals. As an essential part of the Donor Development team you will be working collaboratively across Income Generation, Communications, Supporter Care, and Data as well as a range of external agencies and suppliers. In all areas, you will ensure compliance with fundraising regulations, GDPR, and marketing standards.

It is an exciting and varied role. We’ll want you to be creative - with support of Communications colleagues you’ll be involved in the crafting of fundraising appeals and campaigns. We’ll expect you to be technically proficient using a fundraising CRM (ideally RE:NXT), highly organised and collaborative. We’ll want you to be able to work with Data colleagues and use insight and analysis to inform decisions.

This role will help CHSS develop targeted campaigns, strengthen supporter loyalty, and ensure high-quality supporter journeys that enhance long-term income stability.

If you are working in a similar role looking for a change or are someone with relevant practical experience in Individual Giving looking for the opportunity to take on some more responsibility, we’d love to hear from you!

CHSS also supports flexible recruitment through Working Families and we are “Happy to Talk Flexible Working”.

In line with our commitment to safeguarding, this role is subject to a Basic Disclosure check. CHSS is committed to equality of opportunity and to providing a service which is free from unfair and unlawful discrimination. We therefore aim to ensure that no applicant, volunteer or member of staff is unfairly treated on the grounds of offending background.

PLEASE NOTE: Applications by CV and covering letter only

Major Donor Lead

Ashden is seeking a dynamic and entrepreneurial Major Donor Lead to build and drive a high-impact major giving programme at a pivotal moment in Ashden’s journey. This is a rare opportunity to unlock transformational funding and connect visionary philanthropists with pioneering climate solutions.

You will lead a major donor strategy that significantly grows both unrestricted and programmatic income - powering the scale-up of climate innovations that change lives and protect our planet.

This is not simply a relationship management role. It is a leadership opportunity to build a thriving major giving ecosystem.

If you want to work for a climate solutions charity working for a greener, fairer future… then apply today!

Position: Major Donor Lead

Location: London/Hybrid (based in London Victoria with the expectation to work in the office 2 to 3 days per week.)

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week

Salary: £58,177 per annum plus amazing benefits

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 9:00am, 26th Mar 2026. We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications.

First stage interview (online): Wednesday 8 April 2026

Second stage interview (in person at our office in Victoria): Tuesday 14 April 2026. We will reimburse candidates for their travel. 

The Role

You will lead a major donor strategy that significantly grows both unrestricted and programmatic income - powering the scale-up of climate innovations that change lives and protect our planet. This is not simply a relationship management role. It is a leadership opportunity to build a thriving major giving ecosystem read more here.

Core areas of responsibility:

· Strategic leadership of major giving

· High value relationship cultivation and stewardship

· Income growth through network activation

· Cross-organisational collaboration and storytelling

Benefits

· Generous pension scheme (12% employer contribution with opportunity for personal contribution also) and access to pensions advice and retirement planning

· Insurance

· Holiday – 30 days annual leave (inclusive of 3 days office closure in December)

· Health, wellbeing and personal support

· Private health and dental care

· Employer Assistance Programme (EAP)

· GP service 24/7

· Flexible and hybrid working

· Social events – throughout the year, from book clubs and sports clubs to birthday cakes and team outings.

About You

You will have a proven track record securing five-, six-, and seven-figure gifts from high-net-worth individuals and running sophisticated donor stewardship programmes. With strong financial monitoring and reporting capability, you will have had experience collaborating across programme and communications teams to develop compelling cases for support and ensuring donor compliance and impact reporting.

You will be an exceptional relationship builder and natural networker with Strong strategic thinking and pipeline management skills and excellent communication skills. Highly organised and comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment you will be entrepreneurial and self-directed and comfortable representing the organisation at high-level events.

Due to the volume of applications, the team can only provide individual feedback to candidates who are invited to interview.

You may also have experience in areas such as Major Donor, Major Donor Fundraising, Major Donor Fundraising, Fundraising, Fundraiser, Major Donor Lead, Major Donor Fundraising Lead, Fundraising Lead, Major Donor Manager, Major Donor Fundraising Manager, Fundraising Manager.

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

Who we are:

Hope is here. The Global Returns Project (GRP) is a UK charity unlocking new philanthropy to deliver urgent solutions for our planet.

We are a fast-moving nonprofit that makes donations to high-impact nature and climate charities simple – and we don’t take any fees. We’ve already mobilised nearly £2 million for top environmental solutions and are working to unlock at least £30 million annually by the end of the decade.

We are growing quickly: Last year's annual fundraising was 50% higher than the previous year.

The problem: Charities protecting our planet can turn the tide on climate change and nature loss. They have the skills, strategies and networks to deliver fast and global impact. But less than 2% of philanthropy goes to climate mitigation.

Our solution: In the UK alone, around £2 trillion sits with “HNW+” individuals – those holding between £100k and £30 million. Yet traditional philanthropy largely overlooks them. We’re unlocking this funding by offering trusted, pro bono advice and a simple, portfolio approach to giving. Our expertise in UK wealth advice offers a unique path to scalability and systems-change.

What we are looking for:

Job Title: Philanthropy Lead

We’re looking for a confident, experienced fundraiser to lead major-gift fundraising — securing transformational gifts from high-net-worth individuals. This individual will also assist with building wealth-adviser relationships that generate referral leads. You’ll own the full pipeline: prospecting, cultivation, making direct asks, closing and stewardship.

The ideal candidate will be excited to cultivate networks of wealth managers, private-client teams and other advisers to HNWIs, and to convert adviser introductions into committed support. Importantly, you’ll also prospect independently for major gifts outside those referral streams.

To succeed you’ll master three distinct fundraising pitches: a business case for advisers; an impact case to persuade donors to support our portfolio charities; and a systems-change case to win backing for GRP’s operating costs (salaries, office costs, etc) to keep the charity running fee-free.

You’ll be comfortable making direct asks for funding, with evidence of having closed high-value gifts or multi-year commitments. You’ll be willing to roll up your sleeves and get hands-on with everyday cultivation tasks. You’ll thrive in a small team, taking initiative and juggling priorities. Crucially, you’ll care deeply about climate and nature.

Experience required:

Substantial experience in frontline major gifts fundraising (as a guide, likely 5+ years), or an exceptional track record in adjacent fields (private client advisory, philanthropy advisory, etc).

Please see the full job description attached for information on skills required and main duties and responsibilities.

Location: Centrally located, light and airy office on Regent Street, London. Minimum one day per week in the office. Approx. one day London/UK travel per week.

Benefits: 12.5 days’ annual leave (pro-rata), plus statutory bank holidays (pro-rata). Occasional 1–2 days’ additional paid leave over Christmas period. Flexible working.

Reports to: CEO

Preferred start date: 30 March 2026. Applications reviewed on rolling basis.

There when it matters

About the role:

This role will develop and maintain relationships with trusts, foundations and statutory funders through updates and other bespoke communications in order to maximise income.

You will create funding applications which result in significant five- and six-figure gifts in support of Sue Ryder’s vision and mission. Monitor and report progress towards income targets and other agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

About you:

• Experience of maintaining relationships with funders and designing and implementing tailored donor care and stewardship plans.
• Experience of researching new prospects and of developing pipelines of activity.
• Experience of working with Senior Managers/Directors and committee members.
• Experience of Raiser’s Edge or a similar customer relationship management system and maintaining accurate records.
• A collaborative team player with strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Essential Criteria:

• Significant experience of securing income from trusts and foundations over £50,000.
• Experience of producing high quality applications and updates for donors giving at the five and six- figure funding level.
• Experience of producing budgets suitable for five- and six- figure funding requests.
• Experience of cultivating prospects, initiating conversations and planning and hosting service visits with donors.

Sue Ryder is here to make sure everyone approaching the end of their life or living with grief can access the support they need. There is no one size fits all when it comes to how we cope and the help we need, but with our support, no one has to face dying or grief alone.

Benefits
• Company pension scheme
• 27 days holiday - rising to 33 with length of service plus bank holidays
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Enhanced sick pay
• Employee Networks - LGBTQ+, Ethnic Diversity and Equality, People with Disabilities, and Women and Non Binary Individuals
• Staff discount of 10% on new goods online
• Structured induction programme and learning and development opportunities.

We actively encourage applications from people from all backgrounds to help us to provide the best possible experience for the people who use our services and continue to make Sue Ryder a great place to work, and attract and recruit the best, most diverse workforce possible.
We are particularly interested in increasing applications from the global majority, LGBTQIA+ and people with disabilities as they are currently underrepresented in our organisation.

For more information on our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion work, please visit our website.

If you want more than just a job, we want you.
Join the team and be there when it matters.

Closing date: 27 March 2026
Interviews: CV’s reviewed as received

We reserve the right to close this advert prior to the closing date should we feel we have a sufficient number of suitable applications.

The Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation is a drug and alcohol education charity, founded by Fiona and Tim Spargo-Mabbs in 2014 in response to the death of their 16-year-old son Dan having taken ecstasy. The charity aims to support young people to make safer choices and reduce harm, through increasing their understanding of the effects and risks of drugs and alcohol, and improving their life skills & resilience. We work with young people, parents, teachers and professionals, in schools, colleges and communities across the UK. 

We are looking for an enthusiastic communicator to join our team to coordinate our community and corporate fundraising activities.  The Corporate and Community Fundraiser is a fixed term maternity leave cover – it is therefore a great opportunity if you have previous experience and would like to use this to make a big impact.

The Corporate and Community Fundraiser will be responsible for raising money from the community and local/national organisations at our small but always rapidly growing and highly motivated charity. A key aspect of your role will be building relationships and using your story-telling skills with new and existing contacts, inspiring them to donate or help raise funds for the Foundation.

The role will have three key areas of responsibility:

Community fundraising – you will build on our well-established and growing group of regular donors and supporters to maximise donor income and engagement; instigating and managing a portfolio of fundraising activities that resonate with both existing and new supporters.

Corporate fundraising – you will manage and develop our existing relationships with companies and organisations to maximise potential partnerships and income; formulating and implementing a plan to raise the profile of the Foundation to build new relationships, both locally and nationally.

Communication – you will capture and develop stories about our work for use with fundraising, relationship building and reporting, contributing to regular newsletters, website updates and social media posts.

We are a small but committed team – we work hard and often juggle a wide range of concurrent projects as our work continues to develop.  We are kind, we laugh often, and we like eating cake. 

If you enjoy building relationships with a variety of stakeholders, and share our passion for supporting young people to make safer choices about drugs, alongside being very organised, with strong attention to detail and confident IT skills, we’d love to hear from you.

If you’re excited about this role but your experience is mainly in community fundraising, we’d still love to hear from you. For the right candidate, we’re open to shaping the role around your strengths and could consider reducing the 0.6 FTE to reflect an adapted remit. If you’d like an informal conversation about how this could work in practice, please email Caz Heath using the contact details in the 'How to apply' section. 

Benefits:

• Flexible working (predominantly office-based but with some working from home)
• Pension scheme
• Opportunity to contribute to our amazing work

To apply please see the job description and application form below.

Application deadline – 12th April 2026

Interviews – w.b. 20th April 2026

# fundraising # fundraiser # community # corporate # flexible # partnerships

About Sophie Hayes Foundation

Sophie Hayes Foundation is a small but mighty charity supporting women survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking as they rebuild their independent lives, free from re exploitation for the long-term.

We provide an employability programme which enables survivors to rediscover their skills, build their confidence and sense of purpose, develop workplace skills, and open up opportunities for work placements or volunteering. We also offer a conversational English course, a digital skills programme, and run a survivor network CREW (Creative Resilient Empowered Women).

We do all we can to meet survivors where they are in a complex system, flexing and adapting to need as it arises. We also do not accept a system which fails survivors, leaving them at risk of re-exploitation, and engage in policy and advocacy campaigns based on our lived and learnt experience.

In the words of our participants, “The Programme changed my life’s trajectory. We explored our purpose and discussed the idea of work and career as a central part. Sophie Hayes Foundation should not underestimate how much it plays a big role in people's lives.”

About the Role

We can’t do any of this work without brilliant and concerted fundraising efforts. SHF is independent and relies on funds from grant-making bodies, individuals, and businesses in our supporter community.

This role will be at the forefront of the realisation of SHF’s bold strategic ambitions. You will work alongside our small and dynamic executive team to unlock growth, develop new approaches and communicate our impact.

You will build a lead small, effective and positive fundraising and communications team.

You will develop deep and meaningful relationships with the individuals and organisations while support SHF’s work – and new supporters we have not met yet.

You will be hands on, getting stuck into grant applications, prospecting, communicating, and developing new engagement programmes.

We know small charity fundraising is no mean feat – you will get all the support and engagement you need from the SHF team and Board to do you very best work, in a hugely meaningful context.

You will have the opportunity to get involved in any and all parts of the organisation’s work, including policy advocacy, lived and learnt experience co-design, research and service delivery.

If you are an energetic, positive, collaborative and experienced fundraiser, we can’t wait to hear from you! You can find out more about the mission and values of Sophie Hayes Foundation our website: 

Objectives

FUNDRAISING

• Leadership of successful portfolio of grant funding, including stewardship of existing funders, and growth to new ones through high quality applications and proactive identification of opportunities.
• Development and implementation of income generation and diversification strategies, most particularly through major donors programme and corporate partnerships.
• Working alongside Executive team to develop programmes enabling new sources of funding to be opened up.
• Building close relationship with existing supporters and using network to significantly expand network and prospects, through supporter engagement journeys.
• Ensuring all fundraising activity is in line with the required legislative frameworks and complies with best practice.
• Funding to be opened up
• Building close relationship with existing supporters and using network to significantly expand network and prospects, through supporter engagement journeys.
• Ensuring all fundraising activity is in line with the required legislative frameworks and complies with best practice.

COMMUNICATIONS

• Developing the charity’s existing communications efforts into a coordinated, coherent, and impactful strategy, across all communications channels and traditional and social media.
• Developing and implement opportunities to raise the charity’s profile and engagement.
• Working alongside team members to develop and publicise the charity’s policy and advocacy activities, creating and leading innovative communications campaigns.
• Overseeing the production of all branded materials.
• Overseeing the charity’s duty of care to participants who share their stories, ensuring we approach this with due care and sensitivity, working with the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

MANAGEMENT 

• Managing and monitoring all parts of income generation and communications, especially high-quality impact reporting.
• Managing fundraising budget – setting budgets, reporting against them, managing funds, reporting to Board risk & finance committee on fundraising.
• Building a highly effective small team of 2-3 people – outcome-focused and empathetic line management of team members.
• Contributing as key member of Senior Executive Team to organisational strategy and decision-making.
• Acting as a senior leader and figurehead within the charity for all parts of development and fundraising.
• Working closely alongside the Board to unlock potential for income generation and communications.
• Undertaking any other duties as directed by the CEO which may be required. Experience & Skills
• Significant success and experience of impactful charitable fundraising from a diverse range of income streams, especially grants, major donors, and corporates. Or comparable experience of business development in another sector.
• Experience of communications campaigns, PR and marketing.
• Convincing and engaging written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build excellent collaborative working relationships across a wide range of people; colleagues, external partners and funders.
• Highly organised. Ability to prioritise workloads, project manage and deliver to deadlines, often with competing priorities.
• A knowledge of the Modern Slavery sector & trauma-informed practices is desired but not essential, but a commitment to the vision, purpose, and values of Sophie Hayes Foundation is important.
• Effective line management skills and ability to deliver alongside and through small team.
• Positive, creative, entrepreneurial, and solutions-focused.
• Proactive, dynamic, able to work effectively independently. 

There when it matters

About the role:

The Regional Fundraiser is responsible for delivering sustainable net income through a variety of income streams across a hospice catchment area in line with fundraising strategy.

The post holder delivers locally tailored activity, building and maintaining strong relationships with supporters, community groups, businesses and volunteers to grow income and engagement.
Working closely with the Regional Fundraising Team Manager and colleagues, the role contributes to planning, delivery and mitigation across key income streams.

As an ambassador, representing the charity within the local community, promoting collaboration across hospice, retail and fundraising teams.
The role ensures excellent supporter stewardship, accurate data management and compliant fundraising practice.

Through excellent supporter care, compliant practice and flexible cross-team collaboration, the Regional Fundraiser drives net income and supports the long-term sustainability and reputation of Sue Ryder.

About you:
• Experience of using a fundraising CRM to manage activity.
• Ability to contribute to a collaborative team culture
• An excellent networker, capable of developing relationships with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Essential Criteria
• Experience of successfully delivering activity in line with fundraising strategy.
• Experience of delivering net income, ideally across a variety of income streams including corporate, in memory, events (third-party and staff led) high value (£5k+), community groups and volunteer-led activity.
• Experience of forming, nurturing and maintaining relationships within local communities including individuals, groups and associations to deliver growth in income

Sue Ryder is here to make sure everyone approaching the end of their life or living with grief can access the support they need. There is no one size fits all when it comes to how we cope and the help we need, but with our support, no one has to face dying or grief alone.

Benefits
• Company pension scheme
• 27 days holiday - rising to 33 with length of service plus bank holidays
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Enhanced sick pay
• Employee Networks - LGBTQ+, Ethnic Diversity and Equality, People with Disabilities, and Women and Non Binary Individuals
• Staff discount of 10% on new goods online
• Structured induction programme and learning and development opportunities.

We actively encourage applications from people from all backgrounds to help us to provide the best possible experience for the people who use our services and continue to make Sue Ryder a great place to work, and attract and recruit the best, most diverse workforce possible.
We are particularly interested in increasing applications from the global majority, LGBTQIA+ and people with disabilities as they are currently underrepresented in our organisation.

For more information on our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion work, please visit our website.

If you want more than just a job, we want you.
Join the team and be there when it matters.