Major gift fundraiser jobs in birmingham

The RSPB Philanthropy Team is looking for a dynamic Senior Philanthropy Manager to lead with the engagement and recruitment of new donors.

Senior Philanthropy Manager
Reference: JUL20256874  
Location: Flexible in England, with travel for meetings
Contract: Permanent  
Hours: Full Time, 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £44,315.00 - £47,312.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Holidays, Pension and Life Assurance

Introduction

This new role will work with our Senior Leaders as well as supporting the team to pursue opportunities generated through excellent relationship building across the organisation. With the ultimate goal of increasing philanthropic income for the RSPB, the role requires an experienced and successful major gifts fundraiser who will lead the development of new relationships to help steer the team towards achieving its ambitious goals.

An energetic and confident self-starter, they will lead on developing opportunities to engage with and raise funding from the contacts of our most senior colleagues and volunteers at the RSPB. They will also manage donor relationships and solicitation strategies to achieve the best outcome for the RSPB.

What's the role about?

You will lead an exciting new area of philanthropic fundraising at the RSPB, seeking significant gifts for our work from new supporters, with a key focus on our developing Land Fund product.

You will look after your own portfolio of donors and be responsible for fundraising information to advance plans and ensure prospect and donor records are accurate, incorporating any changes, new activities, updated plans, and new information in keeping with data protection and team procedures.

You will work closely with your team and wider organisation colleagues to implement solicitation strategies, to secure financial support either by direct solicitation, preparing a written proposal, or working with senior management to make a solicitation.

You will contribute to the planning of and participate actively in events (face to face and online) to build relationships with donors and prospects for future income and to demonstrate the impact of gifts already received.

You will arrange and attend meetings with individual donors at a variety of venues, including our reserves, working closely with area and reserve colleagues to deliver an excellent experience for our supporters.

You will build effective relationships both within the RSPB and external to it that will enhance its reputation and ultimately secure funding. This includes understanding donors’ wishes and aspirations and identifying links with approved priority projects with the aim of securing substantial gifts.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Intermediate levels of fundraising as demonstrated by work successes and recognised fundraising courses.
• Experience in how to research and cultivate a prospect. And understanding of how to write a cultivation strategy.
• Ability to write funding proposals, reports and updates, and prepare briefing documents in advance of meetings and events.
• Competent in the use of a CRM system (Salesforce), the Microsoft suite, other databases, research tools and methods.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and the ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
• Ability to work collaboratively with team members, and people and teams outside of our department.
• Good judgement when working with donors and ability to recognise potentially sensitive areas between prospects and the RSPB to ensure reputational values are maintained.
• Successful management and development of donor relationships leading to substantial support (6- and 7-figure gifts).
• Experience of planning and running high level/special events.
• Experience of line management and mentoring.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• High level presentation skills and experience.
• Previous experience in the conservation sector.
• Passion for nature and wildlife.

Additional Information:

• There is a need for the successful applicant to have frequent meetings in London - therefore you will need to be easily able to access London

Closing date: 23:59, Sunday 12th October 2025
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from w/c 20th October.  
Please note: We reserve the right to close the advert early if we get sufficient response, so please don't delay in applying.

Interested?

If you would like to apply and find out more about this position, please click the apply button to be directed to our website. 

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

No agencies please.

1. Do you want a role where you can directly see the difference you’re making in changing the lives of young people living through and beyond cancer?
    
2. Are you a highly skilled relationship manager who wants to use your influence and experience to impact the strategic development and growth of Major Gift fundraising?
    
3. Do you have a passion for inspiring and supporting colleagues in their professional development?
    
4. Are you a confident writer who is adept at creating impact through language?
    
5. Would you be proud to work for one of the country’s leading young person’s cancer support charities?
    

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is recruiting a Philanthropy Lead to join our passionate, dynamic team, inspiring young people aged 8-24, to believe in a brighter future living through and beyond cancer.

This is an exciting chance to take on a newly created strategic role that will be pivotal to driving Major Gift income and supporting successful Trust and Foundations growth whilst ensuring these high-value income streams have a real focus and synergy with their messaging, stewardship and donor experience.

You will have significant experience in and understanding of philanthropic giving and high-level relationship management and be motivated by propelling the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust towards becoming a £2m/year income organisation.

The role includes line managing and supporting two Trusts and Foundations fundraisers, building on the successes of a growing income stream.

Help us be there for every young person after the devastation of cancer, through this important, exciting role.

Please download the Recruitment Pack for full details of the role.

You will be joining us at a time that holds the greatest potential for fundraising in our history, following the launch of the UK Government’s Delivery Plan for ME and initial findings of the DecodeME genetics study (co-led by Action for ME) in Summer 2025. 

Building on our charity’s already established level of support from major donors, you will provide exceptional relationship management to existing donors alongside growing our network of high value supporters.

Working closely with the CEO, alongside managing a portfolio of donors and prospects ensuring excellent stewardship, you will support our Breakthrough-ME Group (a group of high net worth and highly networked individuals). There is an established level of support from major donors at Action for ME so this is a role that will require exceptional relationship management to retain our current valued supporters while growing this crucial area of fundraising. 

This would be an ideal role for an experienced philanthropy professional seeking to work for a small but ambitious charity, helping us to achieve our mission to improve the lives of all people affected by ME – better meeting their needs today while taking action to secure change for tomorrow.

Key duties

Major Donor Fundraising

• Successfully develop and implement the philanthropy strategy to secure and maximise funds from high value individuals for Action for ME achieving annual income of £250k+

• Set plans and budgets which will deliver income through major gift fundraising and philanthropic giving through family trusts and foundations, including quarterly forecasting.

• Manage a portfolio of prospects and donors at the £5k to £100k level, to develop and maintain strong and long-standing partnerships

• Work closely with the Director of Fundraising and Development and other colleagues to ensure that plans and activities for fundraising from high value individuals are integrated into the overall fundraising strategy and plan for significant growth.

• Be responsible for our Breakthrough-ME Group with high quality proposition development.  Contribution to Group fundraising activities with a specific focus on ensuring their networks support pipeline growth for future fundraising.

• Lead the delivery of our biennial fundraising gala dinner, maximising income and new opportunities from attendees.

• Develop engaging and inspiring opportunities to steward and cultivate support creating a calendar of activities including events, presentations, approaches, networking and meetings.

• Utilise the CRM database (Raisers Edge) to provide the data required to strategise your approach to philanthropy, monitor progress and provide a high-quality donor experience.

• Ensure utilisation of insight & data, producing management information data to inform planning and strategy development.

• With the Director of Fundraising & Development, create inspiring cases for support and resulting propositions with clear budgets and outcomes.

• Create adequate systems and processes to support the major donor programme.

• Undertake and manage research into prospects and major donors, preparing for approaches and presentations and briefing senior leadership and trustees for donor meetings and events.

• Develop and maintain relationships with donors, a wide range of staff and volunteers from trustee level down.

• Provide regular feedback and internal reporting to line management.

• Work with other fundraisers to ensure that all fundraising opportunities and leads are followed up – particularly in corporate, community and trust fundraising.

• Work with Trustees, the Chief Executive and members of the Leadership Team to develop relationships with major donors.

• Self-administrate including managing your own diary and meetings, keeping accurate and up to date records of activity

• Occasional travel to London, Bristol & events

Other duties

• To positively promote the work and activities of Action for M.E. at all times.

• To contribute to the team’s overall, ongoing and annual planning and budgeting.

• To undertake any other reasonable activity in line with the responsibilities of the post as requested by the Director of Fundraising and Development, Chief Executive or any other senior Action for ME management.

• Act as an advocate for the Charity and its work.

• To work in accordance with Action for ME’s values of collaboration, equity and empathy.