Major gifts and special events officer jobs

Philanthropy and Partnerships fundraising at Alzheimer's Research UK has grown significantly over recent years. The Directorate has a strong track record of soliciting seven-figure donations and winning significant corporate partnerships with well-known and well-loved brands such as Omaze, Cadbury, Warburtons, Roadchef and Dobbies.

We are now building upon this success and have launched a new, significant fundraising campaign. This campaign will help drive further transformational growth, from income across major donors, trusts and foundations, and corporate partners. Ultimately, it will help us fund cutting-edge research that will bring forward the day when we can diagnose, treat and prevent dementia. 

As part of Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Leadership Team, and working closely with the senior stakeholders across ARUK, the Head of Philanthropy will lead the organisation’s work with our philanthropy audiences (namely major donors, trusts and foundations). Under the banner of the new campaign, the Head of Philanthropy will define and implement the team’s strategy, ensuring it supports the charity’s vision, mission and strategic objectives. 

The Head of Philanthropy will lead a Directorate of approximately 8-10 people and line manage three team members (namely the Philanthropy Executive and two Philanthropy Managers).

The role holder will also personally lead on relationships with a small group of ARUK’s most generous supporters, and prospective supporters, across Philanthropy audiences.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy, finance and reporting

· Work with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships and Partnerships to lead on the strategy for the Philanthropy Team, including leading on the Ops plan, budgeting and strategy for the team.

· Grow Philanthropy income at Alzheimer’s Research UK, in line with agreed targets and expenditure.

· Monitor progress against targets, adjusting as necessary.

· Provide direction, guidance and support across the Philanthropy team.

· Evaluate reporting methods across the team and ensure they facilitate the accurate recording of the Philanthropy team’s fundraising activities.

· Represent the Philanthropy team at Head level internally.

Fundraising

· Manage a small portfolio of key current and prospective donors, building strategic relationships at the very highest level and delivering six and seven-figure gifts.

· Build a network of Senior Volunteers, working with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships to ensure the team are maximising the opportunities available through our President, Chair and other senior stakeholders.

· Develop a thorough understanding of ARUK’s projects, policies and activities to enable you to articulate the mission of our work and inspire people to join us.

· Present and pitch to potential supporters and donors, managing high-level meetings where relevant and engaging other appropriate senior representation when needed.

· Ensure high-quality management of existing supporter relationships, making sure supporters find giving to ARUK rewarding and enjoyable.

· Tailor and develop Cases for Support to attract support for the work of ARUK’s projects.

· Manage and attend events and meetings with external representatives and involving the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships, CEO and other colleagues and volunteers.

· Work with senior and scientific staff, empowering them to build relationships with current and prospective supporters.

· Explore the opportunities for cross-team working, especially, but not limited to the Corporate Fundraising and Celebrity teams.

Line Management and people management

· Inspire, motivate, challenge and support individuals and teams within the Philanthropy team. Promote collaborative working across the team and with other teams across the charity, developing a culture of innovation, openness, accountability and resourcefulness.

· Line manage three members of staff, namely two Philanthropy Managers and the Donor Relations Manager, actively empowering, coaching and supporting them to develop their teams’ operational plans and deliver on key priorities.

· Set clear goals, objectives and KPIs for each team member and provide them with the ongoing guidance and support they need to reach them.

· Role model and actively embed Alzheimer’s Research UK values and behaviours across all activities, and champion the principles of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

· Provide strong leadership and support to the Philanthropy Team, through coaching, mentoring and developing individuals to enable them to effectively carry out their role.  Carry out performance appraisal meetings and effectively promote team building and collaborative working to deliver the strategic and operational plans.

· Ensure all Philanthropy and Partnerships activity is conducted to the highest standards and in line with the strategic priorities, developing consistent and rigorous methods for measuring success and sharing knowledge/outcomes across the team, department, and wider charity.

Communications

· Work closely with the Finance team to ensure all grants are correctly allocated and used, and conditions met

· Liaise and work with the Research team and the Communications team to produce accurate and timely reports and applications

· Stay up to date with ARUK’s research and other news to be able to communicate effectively with supporters, disseminating the charity’s key messages both among the team and to key supporters.

Knowledge, skills and experience needed:

· Demonstrable knowledge and experience of major gift fundraising.

· Thorough understanding of managing a team of fundraisers.

· Experience of developing and implementing fundraising strategies.

· Proven track record in establishing, monitoring and achieving ambitious fundraising targets.

· Experience of managing a Philanthropy team to deliver significant income growth.

· Excellent communicator, with an ability to build relationships and inspire confidence and respect at all levels.

· Demonstrates strong negotiation, influencing and decision-making skills, with an ability to present arguments logically and confidently

· Excellent listening skills, receptive to feedback and demonstrates flexibility, curiosity and an ability to learn.

· Strong team player who can work both independently and collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.

· Confident and engaging presenter with an ability to adapt style to suit the audience and react/manage short lead times.

· Excellent planning and organisational skills, with an ability to work to deadlines and reprioritise work in accordance with the organisational needs.

· Highly motivated and target driven, with an ability to demonstrate a proactive and pragmatic approach and identify ways to deliver creative and innovative solutions.

· Strong attention to detail with an ability to remain calm under pressure

· Strong ethical standards and a high level of personal integrity.

· Excellent IT skills in PowerPoint, Word and Excel.

Additional Information:

Ways of working: As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.

Roles that are classed as part of the Agile ways of working are not able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals.  This includes when attending the office for various meetings/events.

Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD. 

Salary: Circa £70,000 per annum, plus benefits

Please download the Vacancy Pack on our website for more information.

The closing date for applications is the 4th May 2026, with interviews being arrange once shortlisting has been completed. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.  We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, particularly from those in the global majority, those with disabilities, men and those from the LGBTQIA+ community. Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.

As part of our commitment to being an inclusive employer and ensuring fairness and consistency in our selection process, we will handle your CV and application with the utmost confidentiality. Should you require any adjustments at either the application or interview stage, please contact us via the website. 

How to apply: Please create an online account using our Online Recruitment Platform which can be accessed through our Job Vacancies page. You will be able to attach your CV to your application and track the status of your application.

About Alzheimer’s Research UK: Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure.  Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope. 

There has never been a more important and exciting time in dementia research. With promising new drugs in clinical trials that slow the progression of the diseases that cause it, and revolutionary new ways to diagnose them on the horizon, we are now at a tipping point. Working with the smartest minds globally and across the UK, with industry and academia, Alzheimer’s Research UK is uniquely placed to invest in the very best research identifying barriers to a cure and knocking them down so that there are more and better treatments for everyone with dementia. For the first time in history, we can see a future where people with dementia can get a swift and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments that could slow or even stop their disease. We stand for everyone affected by dementia. We stand for a cure. 

In 2024, we were incredibly proud to be awarded a 3-star accreditation by Best Companies which recognises ‘World Class’ levels of workplace engagement. This is the second consecutive time; we have been awarded a Best Companies 3-star accreditation.

We were also listed in the prestigious Best Companies lists:

· 18th in the 100 Best Large Companies to Work For in the UK.

· 10th in the 50 Best Companies to Work For in the East of England.

· 2nd in the 30 Best Companies to Work For in the Charity Sector.

ARUK really does look after its people, where you will be able to add value and make a difference. 

To view further details about working for us and the benefits we offer, please visit Alzheimer’s Research UK

Prospectus is excited to be supporting our client in their search for a Philanthropy Manager.

Our client is a space for creative ideas, connections and the opportunity to make change. From small beginnings in 2008, they have grown into a global network of women and allies from all walks of life who are bonded by the collective aim to live in a world where women and girls’ equal rights and equal opportunities are the norm.

The organisation are reviewing applications and interviewing on a rolling basis. Please do apply now and we will be in touch!

This is a 2-year fixed-term contract role (with view to become a permanent position), paying a salary of £40,000 to £42,000 per annum. This is primarily a homebased role; the postholder is expected to travel to London at least twice a month for meetings and events.

The Philanthropy Manager will work closely with the Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships, and the CEO to develop fundraising opportunities and drive income via major donors, corporates, global foundations and special events. You will support with cultivating and stewarding key relationships and funders, deepening relationships and maximizing their potential by creating new funding opportunities and calls to action.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced high-value fundraiser and a confident relationship manager. You will have demonstrable experience in securing 5-figure gifts from major donors and trusts and foundations and a track record of working with high profile supporters.

If you are interested in applying to this position, please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will send you all the information you need to formally apply. We are looking forward to connecting with you soon.

Prospectus and the organisation are invested in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds. Please let us know if we can help you with the application process in any way. We are more than happy to make any reasonable adjustments to enable all interested candidates to apply. If you have any disability and would like assistance with completing an application then please contact Ariha Semontee at Prospectus.

The Senior Fundraising Executive (Grants) leads on bid-writing and relationship building with grantmakers (Trusts/Foundations/Public). The candidate will be a key player in the Grants team alongside the Director of Development (Grants/Major Gifts) and Development Officer. Create has seen its fundraising increase significantly in recent years, as it fulfils its ambitious plans to double its reach by its 25th anniversary in 2028. The Grants team is responsible for securing over 50% of the charity’s income, managing an extensive portfolio of T/F/Public funders, approaching a well-researched pipeline of potential funders, and researching prospects. The successful candidate will share Create’s commitment to the transformative power of the creative arts within community settings, with exceptional written and verbal communication, research, organisational and IT skills, and meticulous attention to detail.

Development Manager for Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust Consultants Ltd

Full time 35 hours per week (part-time considered) | £39,010 - £44,303 | Initial 18 month fixed contract with the aim that this will become a permanent role if successful | Mix of office and home working

Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) is seeking a driven and entrepreneurial professional to lead and grow our charity’s trading arm, YDMTCL. This is a newly created and exciting opportunity for someone with strong business development and leadership skills to build on the success of our Landscape Design team, while also originating and leading your own projects to strengthen commercial performance and impact.

About the role 

YDMTCL currently delivers landscape design services through a team of two Landscape Architects, working across urban, rural and community regeneration projects. The team combines strong technical expertise with creative design skills to deliver high quality green infrastructure and green space solutions.

The company currently has an annual turnover of under £100,000 and a clear ambition to double this over the next two to three years. The postholder will play a key role in driving this growth and will be expected to make significant progress towards this target during the 18 month contract period. All profits generated by YDMTCL are gifted back to the charity, directly supporting its charitable objectives.

This role will be primarily focused on the trading company, with approximately 90% of time dedicated to YDMTCL and up to 10% supporting the wider charity. You will originate and lead your own projects, creating vital new income streams for the organisation. Your work will focus on integrating ecology and landscape design to deliver innovative, high quality projects that contribute meaningfully to nature recovery. 

We believe the role will be a highly rewarding one, and a real opportunity for someone to shape, lead and take ownership of YDMTCL, while working for a fantastic organisation and benefiting this wonderful area and its communities.

About you 

We are seeking an experienced professional with a strong track record of working in multidisciplinary environments to lead and grow YDMTCL. You will bring proven business development and leadership skills to support and expand our Landscape Design team, building on its existing success and increasing commercial performance.

Commercially astute, you will demonstrate a strong history of income generation and business growth, ideally within conservation, land management, landscape design and/or ecology. You will lead the development of vital new income streams, building and delivering an active pipeline of revenue generating projects aligned with the charity’s aims.

About Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust 

YDMT is a charity doing big things to help to protect and enhance People, Landscape and Wildlife in the Yorkshire Dales.  

For 29 years we have delivered diverse and inspirational projects, helping to plant 1.6 million trees and securing the future of more than 850 hectares of wildflower hay meadows, creating habitats for our wildlife and combatting climate change. We are passionate about inspiring disadvantaged groups and future generations to care for this special area. Our new three-year strategy is centred around building partnerships that increase the scale and pace of nature recovery.