Major gifts and special events officer jobs
We are seeking an inspiring and strategic leader to drive the growth of our philanthropy programme as we deliver our most ambitious strategy yet including a new £200m Global Cancer Appeal for a major development in Chelsea. You’ll lead and motivate a high-performing team, while also managing a personal portfolio and securing large value gifts. This is a unique opportunity to make a real difference for people affected by cancer, working alongside passionate colleagues and dedicated supporters.
What you’ll be doing
- Lead the Philanthropy strategy and drive growth across all high‑value income streams
- Identify, cultivate and solicit major supporters to secure high value donations aligned to agreed targets, including the £200m Global Cancer Appeal.
- Recruit and work with Appeal Board members, senior volunteers and trustees to progress prospects and secure transformational gifts.
- Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including senior clinical leaders, to shape compelling fundraising priorities and packages.
- Work with the Head of Philanthropy & Special Events and the Head of Trusts, Stewardship and Philanthropy Communications to lead, motivate and inspire our high-performing teams
- Contribute to charity‑wide leadership, governance and risk management; deputise for the Associate Director as appropriate.
About you
You bring a well‑established, highly successful career in high‑value philanthropy, with:
- A proven record of securing seven‑figure and above gifts, and developed expertise in high‑value acquisition and relationship management.
- Experience in identifying, recruiting and managing senior volunteers, and working credibly with donors, board members, VIPs and ambassadors.
- Strategic leadership of senior fundraisers and teams, driving performance, culture and process change.
- Significant budget accountability (c.£1m+), high numeracy and the ability to interpret financial reports and KPIs.
- Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills; confident handling complex, sensitive and confidential information.
- Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, embedding inclusive practice across fundraising.
What we offer:
- Hybrid working between home and Chelsea with occasional travel to Sutton.
- Flexible working around our core hours of 10am to 4pm
- 27 days annual leave rising with length of service
- Up to 6% employer contributions subject to matched contribution from you (increasing with length of service)
- Training, support and development opportunities
- Access to the blue light discount scheme and other discounts opportunities
- Access to subsidised staff restaurants, on-site yoga and wellbeing classes, staff choir and much more
- Range of wellbeing initiatives including access to an employee assistance programme designed to save money and improve your physical, financial and mental health and wellbeing, access to free online GP appointments and free eye tests and contribution towards any glasses required for work purposes
Inclusion Matters
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and walks of life.
If this sounds like the opportunity for you, we’d love to hear from you.
The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity raises money to improve the lives of people affected by cancer.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Battersea is in an exciting phase of innovation and transformation as we embark on the second year of our five-year strategy. With increased investment in income generation, which started in 2025, we continue to expand our team to drive the growth necessary to achieve our organisational goals. Our fundraising team bridges the journey of the animals in our care with the wider public, demonstrating how their contributions enable us to support every dog and cat. We now have several new roles within this team to further our mission.
Legacy and In-Memory income is vital for Battersea and gifts left to us in Wills account for over 40% of our total income. We’ve seen significant growth in this area thanks to the sector-leading work of our ambitious team and the success of our wider fundraising programme. It’s therefore an exciting time to join the Legacy and In-Memory fundraising team.
The Legacy and In-Memory Stewardship Officer will help to support and deliver our Legacy and In Memory stewardship programme, working closely with the Senior Stewardship Officer to ensure the smooth and effective management of day-to-day activity, reporting, and stewardship campaigns.
What we can offer you:
In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:
- 28 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays) per year.
- Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes.
- Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources.
- Generous pension contributions - up to 10% employer contribution.
- Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year.
- Annual interest-free season ticket loans.
We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.
Our hybrid working model:
We operate a 50% onsite hybrid working model, with our office-based staff splitting their time between site based and home working. This enables our office-based staff to balance the benefits of home working with onsite collaboration and maintaining a connection to our cause.
Diversity and inclusion:
We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.
We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.
As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best.
More about us:
At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.
Acceptable use of AI:
At Battersea, we value expertise. We recognise each candidate that applies to us will have a range of expertise they can offer us, so we want to hear about this in your own words. We understand the support that generative artificial intelligence (AI) software can offer but it can also lead to numerous applications presenting as generic and impersonal. This makes it difficult to gain understanding of your unique experience.
To best showcase yourself, we encourage you to write your responses without the assistance of AI. If you require the use of AI software to aid in completing your application, we ask you use the generative responses as a prompt for writing your answers and avoid copying and pasting. You must also ensure the information presented in your application accurately reflects your experience.
Closing date: 18th January 2026
Interview date(s): First round (online): 26th & 27th January 2026. Second round (in person): 3rd February 2026
For full details on the role, please download the recruitment pack.
All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.
Battersea is here for every dog and cat, and has been since 1860. We believe that every dog and cat deserves the best.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Join Isabel Hospice as our new Senior Philanthropy Manager and play a leading role in shaping the future of our high-value fundraising.
About the role
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced fundraiser to lead and inspire our Philanthropy Team, driving income from corporate partners, charitable trusts and foundations, and major donors.
You’ll combine strategic vision with hands-on relationship management, developing long-term, meaningful relationships that help ensure every person in eastern Hertfordshire receives the compassionate end-of-life care they deserve.
Working closely with senior leaders, trustees, and colleagues across the hospice, you’ll lead by example: crafting compelling proposals, inspiring engagement, and ensuring every donor feels valued and connected to the impact of their support.
About you
You’ll be a confident, emotionally intelligent leader with a proven track record of securing significant income and building trusted partnerships. You’ll bring creativity, warmth, and the ability to motivate others, both your team and your supporters.
You’ll also have:
- Experience leading high-performing fundraising teams and delivering ambitious income targets
- Excellent relationship management and influencing skills at a senior level
- Strong strategic and organisational ability, with a collaborative mindset
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- A deep commitment to the mission and values of Isabel Hospice
- A driving licence and own car
What we offer
- A supportive, values-led environment where your work truly matters
- The opportunity to shape and grow high-value fundraising at a respected local charity
- The chance to make a tangible difference to local families when they need it most
Benefits
- 27 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Pension and life assurance schemes
- Employee Assistance Programme for health and wellbeing support
- Cycle to work scheme
- Health Service Discounts
- Refer a friend bonus
We reserve the right to close this job earlier if sufficient applications are received, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.
Successful applicants will be required to undertake a DBS check.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Switchback is built on the transformational power of trusted relationships – and that applies to our supporters and partners too. As we get ready to launch our next strategic plan, we’re looking for a new Head of Development to help us grow an even stronger supporter base across the full fundraising landscape, ranging from philanthropy to corporate partnerships, to trusts and foundations.
We are an ambitious team who want to make a huge difference, both to the lives of the young men we support and to society through transforming the justice system.
As Head of Development and a member of the Leadership Team, you will play a key role in shaping and leading a new and ambitious Development Strategy to secure the resources we need to grow our frontline and influencing impact. You’ll lead on supporting and galvanizing our small but mighty Development Team to grow their skills and Switchback’s income. You’ll oversee our development systems and processes, maintaining our trajectory of growth to ensure we remain sustainable in future years. And you’ll understand how to interpret and use our robust data and compelling Trainee journeys to make a compelling case for support to the full range of existing and potential supporters.
We’ve grown our income from £1m in 2022 to £1.5m in 2025 and know that further growth requires a clear development strategy which engages supporters in our vision for transforming more lives through better resettlement policy and practice.
This is an exciting role for a first-time leader - you will be fully supported by an experienced CEO and a collaborative Leadership Team, with a focus on your professional development. You’ll be joining at an exciting time of growth and building on a strong fundraising track record.
Our ambitious new strategic plan aims to support more Londoners than ever by 2030 and build the evidence for transforming national resettlement policy, with a staff team of 30 dedicated individuals aiming to push forward that vision. We are a hands-on, collaborative team, so you’ll need to enjoy getting stuck in with everything from bid writing to pitching to building our pipeline of prospective supporters.
We are seeking someone with a strong track record in building long-term funding relationships, who can apply that skill across the whole fundraising landscape, including with both institutions (corporates, trusts and foundations, and statutory grants) and individuals (high net worth philanthropists and individual regular donors).
You’ll be a confident bid writer who can guide your team in producing high quality applications and funder reports. You’ll be happy to absorb and build on Switchback’s style and continuously promote our gold standard of stewardship, which bolsters Switchback’s funder base.
Joining Switchback means you will also work closely with all members of our dedicated team, giving you a unique perspective that will support your work in demonstrating to funders how and why their support matters, and how supporting Switchback will help them meet their own charitable aims.
If you are an experienced, successful and creative fundraiser with a track record in building long-term relationships and who shares our values and vision, we would love to hear from you.
We support young men to find a way out of the justice system and build a stable, rewarding life they can be proud of.


The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
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Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Head of Fundraising (Part-Time, 3 days/week)
Hybrid – Vauxhall, London | £47,342 (pro rata)
1-year FTC | Start ASAP
Join the UK’s leading personal safety charity and play a pivotal role in protecting lives.
Suzy Lamplugh Trust is looking for a strategic and relationship-driven Head of Fundraising to lead our income generation across trusts, foundations and statutory funders. This role is perfect for someone who wants autonomy, impact, and the chance to shape sustainable growth for a mission-driven organisation.
What You’ll Do
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Develop and deliver our fundraising strategy
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Build a strong pipeline of trusts, foundations & statutory funders
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Craft compelling bids
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Lead excellent stewardship and funder relationships
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Work across teams to align opportunities and organisational needs
What We’re Looking For
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Proven fundraising success, including significant grants
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Strong writing and relationship-building skills
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Experience managing fundraising pipelines and reporting
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Highly organised, collaborative and mission-aligned
Why Join Us?
Your work directly supports victims of stalking, advances national safety initiatives, and influences policy that protects millions.
How to Apply
Please submit your CV and cover letter outlining how you meet the essential criteria.
To reduce the risk and prevalence of abuse, aggression and violence - with a specific focus on stalking and harassment
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.