Major gifts manager jobs

First Give

First Give is a national charity that partners with secondary schools to inspire and equip young people with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to drive change. Through our structured programmes, students explore social issues, connect with charities, and take tangible steps to improve their community.

Empowering and equipping young people to meaningfully contribute to their community is a first step to addressing many of the challenges we face at this time of social disconnection and division. Our vision is of a more generous society where everyone is willing and able to give their time, money and skills to the causes they care about.

Corporate Parnterships Manager

We are seeking a self-motivated and driven Corporate Partnerships Manager to lead on growing and stewarding First Give’s portfolio of high-value funders. This role will focus on developing corporate partnerships and will also support our Campaign Board and major donor activity.

First Give is a small charity, with a growing fundraising team and big ambitions. You will therefore be someone who thrives in a start-up environment, brings new ideas to the table and is comfortable setting up new systems and processes. You will play a pivotal role in shaping First Give’s income growth, working closely with our Head of Philanthropy and the Director. This role will also support key engagement activities, including hosting donors at student-led Final events and facilitating employee volunteering at schools.

This is an exciting opportunity for a confident fundraiser and communicator looking for the next step in their career. Someone who thrives on strategy, storytelling, and social impact.

Contract: Full-time, 35 hours per week. Permanent.

Salary: £40K (+£2K London weighting if applicable)

Location: The successful candidate will be expected to work from our London office or attend in-person meetings and host donors at school Final events for two days per week on average. The remainder of the week can typically be worked remotely, with flexibility as required.

Reporting to: Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships

The students we work with come from a diverse range of backgrounds, and so do we.  We want to foster a diverse and inclusive culture, to empower our teams to achieve our vision drawing on the broadest possible range of experiences. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates from minoritised groups currently underrepresented on our executive team, particularly black and minority ethnic and disabled candidates.

Please download the candidate pack for more details, and don't hesitate to get in touch if you'd like a chat about the role or any reasonable adjustments we can make before applying: contact details provided in the candidate pack.

Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice helps babies, children and young people who are seriously unwell, and their families, make the most of every day. The charity aspires to become a centre of clinical excellence for children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.

We’ve been on a major upward trajectory in recent years, with more children being supported, more major hospitals being partnered with and more supporters donating. We’ve transformed from being an enthusiastic start-up delivering care in the community, to a serious player delivering major impact both in the community and at our state-of-the-art hospice building, The Ark, opened in 2019.

Philanthropy, which covers Grants, Trusts & Foundations and Major Donor fundraising streams, is pivotal to Noah’s Ark, typically accounting for around 50% of the charity’s voluntary income. This is an area of real expertise for Noah’s Ark, with much scope for further refining. The successful candidate will therefore enjoy opportunities to manage and add to an exciting portfolio and gain further training and support, working as part of a high-performing and super supportive team, ready for its next exciting growth phase.

The Philanthropy Officer will work closely with and report to the Grants, Trusts & Foundations Manager and Head of Philanthropy to develop the Trust and Major Donor pipelines, along with instrumental cross-team work on applications and reporting processes for other income streams. Whilst we work towards developing a more diverse funding model and navigate changes to the external Trust and HNWI environments, sustaining and growing income from both of these income steams will remain vital.

The post-holder will be key in taking the Trust and Major Donor programmes to the next level, securing new grants, building relationships, increasing multi-year gifts and improving both quality and volume of applications. They will also support the Grants, Trusts & Foundations Manager, and the wider team, to the same end with their respective portfolios.

ABOUT YOU

You will be a highly organised, dedicated and reliable individual ready to play a significant role in income generation. An exceptional and eloquent communicator, excellent at managing your time and a natural relationship builder. You will have a collaborative mindset, and be willing to engage with colleagues across the fundraising team and wider charity to create the greatest outcomes for the children and families we support.

At this stage in your career, we would not necessarily expect you to have direct experience of fundraising from Trusts or Major Donors. We encourage you to apply if you consider yourself to have an emphatically strong transferrable skills and experience and believe you could thrive in a nurturing environment.

Please refer to the job description for further information on this role. 

Interviews will be held on-site on Monday, 23rd February 2026 

Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from groups who are currently under-represented in our staff.

Our diversity council is working hard to construct positive changes within our organisation. We are a disabilty confident employer and part of our commitment is to interview all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for a job vacancy and consider them on their abilities.

Prospectus are pleased to be supporting our client in their search for a Senior Philanthropy Manager (Maternity Cover).

Since they opened their doors in 1871, the venue has been home to the world’s leading figures in music, dance, entertainment and conversation. From the Suffragettes to Stormzy, Elgar to Einstein, the Beatles to Bassey… icons grace their stage.

A charity known and loved across the globe, they are home to dreams and determination, contemplation and celebration – bringing people together to lift their spirits and inspire. Every year nearly 2 million people enjoy unforgettable experiences in their spectacular building, with millions more joining online and through broadcast worldwide.

This is a 12–15-month maternity cover contract, paying a salary of £58,700 per annum. The postholder will be working in a hybrid model from their offices in London.

The Senior Philanthropy Manager will primarily be focused on generating funds from high value individuals, through major gifts, mid value gifts and legacies, to support these goals. The postholder will develop and review the strategy for stewarding individuals into making major gifts and maximising the income generated from them.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of securing and managing high value donations from individuals. You will have extensive experience in individual giving, ideally within an arts and culture or heritage organisation and of fundraising for a capital campaign.

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy/maternity. If you have any disability and require reasonable adjustment/s to any part of the process then please contact Ariha Semontee at Prospectus.
 
If you feel you meet some of the criteria but not all, we really hope you'll enquire and learn more. Prospectus can advise and support on each part of the role and hopefully your application, so we look forward to hearing from you.
 
In order to apply please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will arrange for a meeting to brief you on the role. You'll then have all the information you need to formally apply. We are looking forward to connecting with you soon.

Director of Fundraising

We are seeking an experienced Director of Fundraising to lead income generation and build strong relationships with major donors and corporate partners.

Position: Director of Fundraising
Salary: £58,000 to £65,000 per annum, pro rata
Location: Burnt Oak, North London, with some hybrid working
Hours: Full time or 0.8 FTE
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: Wednesday 4th March at noon
Interviews: First round 11th, 13th or 16th March. Final round in person w/c 23rd March

About the role
The Director of Fundraising role sits on the Senior Leadership Team and has responsibility for delivering a fundraising programme with a target of around £2m per year. You will lead the fundraising function and personally manage a portfolio of major donors and corporate partners.

Key responsibilities include

• Generating substantial income to meet annual fundraising targets
• Managing and stewarding major donors, high net worth individuals and corporate partners
• Supporting trusts and grants fundraising to deliver high quality funding bids
• Leading and developing the fundraising team, setting KPIs and income targets
• Developing and delivering a fundraising strategy aligned to the wider organisational strategy
• Preparing reports and presenting to the Board of Trustees and relevant committees
• Ensuring compliance with fundraising legislation and codes of practice
• Working with partner organisations and networks to share best practice
• Acting as a senior leader within the organisation and role modelling organisational values

About you
As Director of Fundraising You will be an experienced fundraising professional with a strong track record of securing significant income from major donors and partners. Essential experience includes:

• Experience of securing six figure donations from major donors or corporate partners
• A strong track record of meeting challenging fundraising targets
• Experience of managing donor pipelines and aligning supporter interests with organisational need
• Experience of working with Trustees or senior volunteers
• Line management experience and the ability to lead and motivate a team
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills
• A strategic and target driven approach to fundraising
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines
• Experience of using a fundraising database or CRM system

About the organisation
The organisation provides open access youth services for young people aged 8 to 19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs. It operates six days a week and offers a wide range of activities and targeted support. Fundraising is essential to cover the majority of its operating costs, and the charity is well established locally with strong community and philanthropic support.

The organisation is part of a wider national network, working collaboratively with partner organisations to increase funding and share best practice.

Other roles you may have experience of could include; Head of Fundraising, Head of Development, Fundraising Manager, Major Gifts Manager, Head of Corporate Partnerships, Philanthropy Lead, Fundraising Director, Development Director, etc.

If you are looking for a leadership position that requires creativity, that will enable you to flourish, be ambitious, operate both strategically and operationally, and drive success, then this is the position for you. #INDNFP

INTERIM FUNDRAISING MANANGER

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Interim Fundraising Manager to use their knowledge and experience to cultivate new fundraising relationships, build a corporate partnerships pipeline from the ground up, and significantly increase individual giving and major donor income, whilst developing an engaging and effective supporter programme.

Benefits of working for Doorstep Library:

• Location: Hybrid (2 days in the Victoria office, 3 days remote), flexible working
• Hours: Full time – 35 hours (excluding lunch break), 6 month contract with potential to extend
• 25 days per annum, plus bank holidays and 3 days mandatory Christmas leave pro rata
• 6% pension Contributions
• Employee assistance programme
• Employee discount programme (BenefitHub)
• Salary sacrifice scheme

Doorstep Library is a community-focused literacy charity dedicated to bringing the gift of books and the joy of reading into the homes of families across London. With one in four 11-year-olds leaving primary school unable to read or write properly, the charity introduces young children (aged 0-11 years) to the pleasure and benefits of reading.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:

• Proven Fundraising Experience: Essential knowledge/experience of raising income via various fundraising methods with a particular focus on corporate fundraising and individual giving.
• Relationship Building Skills: Ability to establish and nurture new partnerships whilst developing effective stewardship and supporter engagement programme.
• Strategic Input: Enthusiasm to work closely with the CEO to develop income streams and implement fundraising strategies.
• Team Management Experience: Effective leadership with the ability to develop and mentor a small team.
• Team Player Mentality: A strong understanding of working within a small charity, demonstrating adaptability and a willingness to assist with tasks beyond the immediate job description.

Experience in children's charities, literacy, or education organisations would be highly beneficial.

Capitalising on the current "National Year of Reading" this is an excellent opportunity to join a highly supportive and collaborative organisation that makes a tangible difference in children's lives. You will be instrumental in shaping the future fundraising landscape of The Doorstep Library, contributing to a vital cause in a rewarding environment.

For more information, please contact Louise Portnall, Recruitment Consultant, Charisma Charity Recruitment. Your application should be submitted through the Charisma website and include your CV and supporting statement.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or other category protected by law.
 
This role is subject to an enhanced DBS check, which will be carried out by the employer

Closing date: 10 March 2026

Applications are being reviewed by Charisma on a rolling basis, so please apply without delay to avoid disappointment.

• Salary: £38,341

• Location: London

• Contract Type: Indefinite

• Hours: Full Time

• Closing Date: 3 March 2026

• First Interview Dates: Week beginning 16 March 2026

About the role

We are hiring in our Grants team which is part of the wider Development Department at ClientEarth. This department is responsible for raising and managing funds to enable the organisation to deliver its mission using the power of the law to bring about systemic change that protects the earth for, and with its inhabitants. As Grants Officer you will work in our Grants Team to manage a portfolio of grants that fund our organisation’s work, with a focus on managing a portfolio of grants from trusts, foundations, and other statutory and institutional funders.

Meet your Manager

In this role, you will be managed by Emma Franklin. Emma is a Grants Manager at ClientEarth, where she oversees a dynamic portfolio of grants related to supporting the Resources, Energy and Mobility system of legal work across Europe and Asia. Emma has worked in grant management and philanthropy roles since 2017 at several major environmental not-for-profits. She’s extremely passionate about climate and environmental issues, and believes deeply in ClientEarth’s mission – using the lasting power of the law to protect our fragile planet. Emma moved to London in May 2024, hailing originally from her hometown of Sydney, Australia.

Main Duties

• Manage a portfolio of grants, ensuring compliance with grant requirements and timelines
• Coordinate key grant management processes including: Go/No-Go, due diligence, funding agreement review, grant kick off and grant management meetings, narrative and financial reporting and renewals. 
• Deliver compelling, impactful and timely proposals and reports, and broker the relationship between programmes and the funder
• Maintain excellent relationships with funders through timely communications in relation to the work they support
• Effectively manage reporting and the grant renewal process from start to completion - including working with multiple teams across ClientEarth’s International offices to ensure input from all relevant stakeholders, to complete proposals and reports in a timely and high-quality manner

See the job description (below) for a full list of duties for this role.

Role requirements

• Experience in a grant or project management role within the non-profit or public sectors (essential)
• Proven track record in drafting successful proposals, delivering timely and accurate reports and managing funder relationships (essential);
• Experience of managing six figure gifts (essential);
• Knowledge of and/or interest in environmental issues (such as climate change, energy, plastics, chemicals, air pollution, and biodiversity issues), policy and law, litigation, courts and/or environmental justice (desirable)

See the job description (below) for a full list of requirements for this role.

Note to candidates: We know that long lists of criteria can be daunting and that some candidates will not apply for a role unless they feel they are 100% qualified. If you feel you meet at least some of the essential criteria, we still encourage you to apply.

Further Information

Have a question about this job? Please visit our Careers site for advice on applying, FAQs, and more.

Flexible working:  We are proud to be a Flexa accredited Employer. Visit our Flexa Employer page for more information on our approach to flexible working. Our flexible working policy allows our people the choice to decide to work from home/another location in the country where their contract of employment is issued for 80% of their month, with the other 20% of their month being office-based  See our Benefits page for more as well as our flexible working FAQ.

ClientEarth values diversity and inclusion and the benefits this brings. We aim to appoint the most suitable candidate at all times and welcome applications from people from all different backgrounds. See our equity, diversity and inclusion journey page for more.

Please note that ClientEarth is only able to employ those who have the pre-existing legal right to work in the UK.

ClientEarth is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or legal services to third parties.

This is an exciting and engaging role, managing a small, well-established Philanthropy Team, where you will have the opportunity to work directly with our top supporters, develop interesting cultivation events and help us reach new supporters across Dorset and Wiltshire.

The Philanthropy Team incorporates major donor, mid-value, trust and legacy fundraising. It works closely with public fundraising and events teams. The CEO, Deputy CEO and specific trustees are also actively engaged in managing key relationships.

The role

The role is full time (35 hours per week) with hybrid working between home and the office in Wimborne in Dorset. There will be a requirement to travel across both Dorset and Wiltshire for internal meetings, donor meetings and events, with occasional out of hours working.

About you

We are looking for a talented, strategic, individual who can hit the ground running, be innovative, ambitious and bring exciting new ideas, ready to make a real difference to the growing number of local families we support. Energetic and with a passion for this type of role, you will be a confident communicator, who can build relationships with new and existing supporters and a considerate and thoughtful people manager. You must have a proven track record of working with high-net worth individuals in order to apply. We welcome applicants from within and outside the charity sector.

About us

Julia’s House cares for babies, children and teenagers with life-shortening or life-threatening conditions across Dorset and Wiltshire. We provide support for the whole family - mums, dads, siblings and even grandparents. Our care is regular, frequent, flexible and free, with more than half of our care taking place in family’s homes.  When the worst happens, Julia’s House is there. We offer comfort and support at home, in hospital or our hospices, wherever families need us.

Join us and make a real difference in this key role

The role

We are seeking an Assistant Shop Manager for our busy Highgate charity shop. This hands-on retail role is ideal for someone who enjoys charity retail, thrives on initiative, is motivated to take on responsibility for shop performance, and is passionate about working with volunteers and supporting a meaningful cause.

About the role

· Support the Shop Manager with the day-to-day running of the shop, taking an active role in maximising income and Gift Aid.

· Provide consistently high standards of customer and donor service, creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere.

· Drive sales, maintain strong retail and merchandising standards, and contribute to meeting targets.

· Oversee stock processing: sort, quality-check, price, rotate, and creatively merchandise items.

· Assist in recruiting, training, motivating, and supporting a diverse team of volunteers and trainees.

· Take on supervisory and leadership responsibilities in the Shop Manager’s absence.

· Carry out cash handling, till reconciliation, banking, and basic admin, including Gift Aid systems.

· Ensure compliance with health and safety, safeguarding, trading standards, and charity retail policies.

· Promote the charity’s mission in the local community and support local fundraising and promotional activities.

About you

· Retail experience with responsibility for sales and operations, ideally in a charity or not-for-profit environment.

· Experience supervising, supporting, or closely working with volunteers or staff.

· Experience of targets and understanding how shop income supports charitable services.

· Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise in a busy environment.

· Confident communicator who can motivate and encourage others.

· Comfortable using basic IT (till systems, email, spreadsheets, Gift Aid platforms).

· Positive, proactive, and flexible, with a hands-on approach to shop work.

· Able to work on a Rota including weekends and occasional bank holidays.

Salary: £43,000 - £50,000
Contract: 2-year Fixed Term Contract
Location: London office 3 days per week (Hybrid working available)
Closing date: 26^th January
Benefits: 33 days annual leave, pension scheme up to 14%, hybrid working options

We have a great opportunity for a Philanthropy Manager working for a university based in central London. This university is particularly proud of their accessibility work, they have 5,000 students from households earning under £25,000 and provide scholarships, bursaries and cash support so this role will make a real impact for students. You will be managing a personal portfolio of up to 125 relationships with individuals, included in the portfolio are two million pound donors (a rare opportunity). This is a warm portfolio so will have a heavy relationship management focus.

To be successful as the Philanthropy Manager you will need:

• Substantial experience of relationship management, ideally in a major gifts context, or from the commercial sector as a relationship manager for high-value customers
• Proven track record of successfully soliciting funds in the range of five-figures and above
• Experience working with high-net-worth individuals or high-value organisations
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage senior stakeholders

If you would like to discuss this role with us please contact us and quote the reference 2819AJ.

Ashby Jenkins Recruitment are a specialist charity recruitment agency; we use our extensive sector knowledge and experience to match candidates to the most suitable charity jobs. We are passionate about improving equality across the sector, you can read more about our commitment to diversity here.

We take a relationship-led approach to recruitment in the charity sector and partner with you as the leading charity recruitment agency.
If enough applications are received the charity reserves the right to end the application period sooner.

If you would like to discuss this role with us please quote the reference.

Director of Principal Giving & International 

Advancement Department

University College London

London, UK

Grade 10 role with a salary of £100,000-£120,000 pa (inclusive of London Allowance). Plus excellent benefits, including a sector-leading relocation package.

An exceptional leadership opportunity to play a significant role in the success of one of the biggest fundraising and engagement campaigns in the higher education sector in Europe.

UCL is a radically different university. Founded in 1826 in the heart of London, we were the first university in England to welcome students of any religion and the first to welcome women on equal terms with men. Today, UCL has over 51,000 students, 14,000 staff and over 470,000 alumni, and is one of the world’s top 10 universities.

We will launch our largest ever fundraising and engagement campaign that will leverage the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that our bicentennial anniversary in 2026 presents.  Since our last campaign, we have increased our ambitions and are building further capacity and expertise across our Advancement division.  As part of this step-change, we have re-imagined our Principal Gifts & International team and are now seeking an experienced practitioner to drive this area forward.  There has never been a more exciting time to join the Advancement office.

As the Director of Principal Giving & International, you will lead a newly combined team that cultivates meaningful relationships with donors and prospective supporters who have the potential to transform the future and impact of UCL.  You and your team of experts will secure philanthropic gifts at the 7 and 8-figure level and drive our international fundraising activity forward.  You will work with key colleagues and stakeholders across Advancement and the wider University, as well as with a mission-critical senior volunteer network around the world.  It’ll therefore be critical that you are a highly experienced and ambitious fundraiser and leader, with vision, creativity and the ability to make things happen while taking others on the journey with you. 

To be successful, you must bring well-rounded knowledge and experience of best-in-class principal gifts fundraising, and a demonstrable track record of securing 7-figure philanthropic gifts, alongside an awareness of global fundraising trends. Your approachable and collaborative manner, along with your ability to work at pace and with gravitas, inspires confidence from those around you.  Being enterprising and solutions-focussed, people enjoy working with you and actively seek you out as a thought partner.  You must be equally comfortable in playing a front-facing role, as well as operating behind the scenes and supporting others in making the ask, as it’s the transformational outcomes and impact that truly drives you.

In return, you will join a team of passionate individuals who work together to achieve remarkable things with a global impact.  Our people really are our greatest asset, and we invest in them so that they can fulfil their potential.  Equity, diversity and inclusion is important to us and we are committed to creating an environment where everyone is encouraged to give their best in a place where their unique experiences, perspectives and skills are seen as valuable assets. We also prioritise work-life balance and offer hybrid and agile working as well as flexibility around working hours.  We are happy to receive part-time applications for all of our job opportunities, and can consider a 0.8FTE working pattern for this role. And we particularly welcome applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.

If you’re interested in hearing more, please contact our recruitment partners at Richmond Associates or you can download further details from their website by following the Apply button. 

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS midnight GMT on SUNDAY, 1 MARCH 2026

Since opening its doors in 1871, Royal Albert Hall has stood at the heart of the nation’s cultural life. From the Suffragettes to Stormzy, Elgar to Einstein, the Beatles to Shirley Bassey, the world’s most influential voices have shaped moments of history on its iconic stage.

A £50 million capital appeal was launched in late 2025, which will fund improvements of facilities for artists, audiences and young people taking part in engagement activities at the Grade I listed concert hall. This 15-year estate plan represents a significant evolution in the Hall’s fundraising approach, creating an exceptional opportunity to expand its philanthropic reach, deepen relationships with supporters and secure transformational investment in the future of this much-loved institution.

The Senior Philanthropy Manager (Maternity Cover) will play a pivotal role in the delivery of its major donor programme. Reporting to the Head of Philanthropy, this role sits at the heart of the philanthropy team, combining hands-on major gifts fundraising with oversight of systems, processes and pipeline management. The postholder will shape and steward a growing portfolio of high-value supporters during a critical phase of the Hall’s capital appeal, while ensuring that donor engagement activity is coordinated, consistent and effective.

Please note that interviews will occur on a rolling basis. To discuss the role in more detail and make an application, please apply ASAP with a copy of your most recent CV plus any additional information that aligns with the person specification below.

As Senior Philanthropy Manager, you will:

• Report to the Head of Philanthropy and line manage two direct reports – Senior Prospect Researcher and Philanthropy Coordinator – fostering clarity, structure and confidence within your team.
• Manage a personal portfolio of major donors, stewarding relationships typically in the £20,000–£500,000 range.
• Work to a team income target, generating funds from HNWIs through major gifts, mid-value gifts and legacies.
• Own and drive the major donor pipeline, ensuring clear next steps, momentum and follow-through across cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
• Be donor-facing, through regular face-to-face meetings, cultivation activity and events, including evening engagement as part of stewardship.
• Ensure robust processes are in place for tracking, thanking and income processing, with delivery support from the Philanthropy Coordinator.
• Act as a central coordinating figure for major donor activity, working closely with the Head of Philanthropy, Development Director and selected Philanthropy Board members.
• Lead on the rollout of donor communications, including tailored donor stewardship and wider impact reporting.
• Work closely with other development colleagues who focus on the Hall’s Friends and Patrons programmes, Trust and Foundation approaches and Events.

Essential skills and experience:

• Demonstrable experience of managing and stewarding high-value individual donors, ideally within a major gifts or upper mid-value context.
• Experience of personally securing c.£50K+ donations from HNWIs – please ensure that examples of personally secured gifts from HNWIs, including £value, are included on your CV. It would also be helpful to include context e.g., uplift, new donor
• Confidence working with fundraising databases and systems (ideally Tessitura), and a strong understanding of GDPR and DPA 2018.
• Strong organisational and process skills, with the ability to keep complex, multi-strand activity moving and well-tracked.
• Experience of working collaboratively in a matrixed environment with senior stakeholders and volunteers.
• Some line management or mentoring experience, with the ability to provide clear direction and practical support. However, this is not a heavily people-management-focused role
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with confidence engaging donors in a range of settings.
• A proactive, detail-oriented approach, combined with sound judgement and professionalism.

Desirable:

• Arts, culture or heritage fundraising experience.
• Experience of working on or alongside a capital appeal.

Employee benefits include: 

• 25 days per year annual leave (pro rata for part-time employees), with the opportunity to buy or sell up to five days holiday per calendar year
• Life assurance of 6 x basic salary
• RAH’s canteen offers free hot and cold meals, including vegetarian options, to staff whilst at work
• Employee Assistance Programme

This is a demanding role where you will support the Fundraising Director in effective management of the fundraising teams across our UK centres and the central expertise in Trusts, Major Gifts and Partnerships.

You will assist the Fundraising Director to plan and organise a broad range of fundraising activities; formulating and adjusting plans as required.  Additionally, the Fundraising Director will depend on you to lead or assist on specific projects.   
 

You will act as gatekeeper regarding access for fundraising teams to the Fundraising Director which will involve utilising strong understanding and sound judgement skills across a number of activities.

Director of Philanthropy

We are seeking a Director of Philanthropy to join Nekton in a pivotal leadership role at a critical moment of organisational growth. You will lead and deliver a global philanthropic fundraising strategy for a pioneering marine science and conservation institute focused on rapidly accelerating the scientific exploration and protection of the ocean.

Position: Director of Philanthropy

Location: Hybrid (Onsite attendance in Oxford or London 2 days a week, with international travel)

Salary: £80,000+

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time

Closing Date: 23 February 2026

About the Role

The Director of Philanthropy is a pivotal, high-impact role responsible for co-defining, executing, and managing Nekton's global fundraising strategy, with a notable focus on securing major philanthropic gifts from high-net-worth individuals and foundations.

You will be the engine that drives the financial success of our ambitious scientific and conservation programmes, translating Nekton's vision to explore and protect the ocean into compelling cases for support.

Key areas of responsibility include:

· Strategy & Leadership

· Donor Relations & Management

· Collaboration & Communication

Why This Role Matters

This is a rare opportunity to shape and deliver one of the most ambitious philanthropic agendas in marine science today. As Director of Philanthropy, you will help unlock the resources required to explore the last great frontier on Earth, influence global ocean policy, and leave a lasting legacy for the planet.

If you are motivated by big ideas, long term impact, and the power of philanthropy to drive systemic change, this role offers both scale and purpose.

About You

This role demands an entrepreneurial, strategic, and highly hands on fundraiser with a proven track record of securing very significant gifts. You will be equally comfortable shaping strategy at Board level and personally leading high value donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

We are looking for someone with experience of:

· Securing significant six and seven-figure philanthropic gifts in a high-profile international organisation.

· Extensive network and demonstrable success in cultivating relationships with global philanthropic foundations, family offices and high-net-worth individuals.

· Articulating complex scientific and conservation initiatives into inspiring donor narratives and stand-out grant applications.

You will be able to undertake international travel to meet with prospects and attend events.

If you have a passion for ocean science, exploration, and conservation, and a deep commitment to Nekton’s mission, then apply today!

About Nekton

Nekton is a pioneering marine science and conservation institute, a charitable foundation committed to rapidly accelerating the scientific exploration and protection of the ocean. Our global programmes combine cutting-edge scientific discovery, inspiring public engagement, and catalysing policy impact.

This role is central to driving the financial ambition of our initiatives, including:

· Ocean Census (Primary Focus): A UN-endorsed, global collaboration to discover ocean life

· First Descent: Expedition-based deep ocean exploration and conservation

· Ocean Rising: Connecting culture and the ocean

· YACHTS for Science: Scientists to sea - matching private vessels with marine research.

· New 5-Year Global Voyage: A major, sustained expedition to explore and protect the ocean globally.

Other roles you may have experience of could include Fundraising, Philanthropy, Fundraiser, Director of Fundraising, Director of Philanthropy, Head of Fundraising, Head of Philanthropy, Major Gifts, Major Donor.

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

We’re delighted to be recruiting a Prospect Research Manager for a brilliant health charity with ambitious plans to grow philanthropic income through major fundraising campaigns. 
This is a fantastic opportunity to play a central role in unlocking new funding opportunities, providing high-quality research and insight that will shape donor engagement and help secure transformational support.

You’ll be part of a high-performing development team working at the forefront of medical research, supporting scientists and clinicians making life-changing discoveries. Alongside a generous benefits package, you’ll gain exposure to high-value fundraising at principal gift level, and the opportunity to mentor and develop a junior team member.

Key Responsibilities:

• Devise and implement targeted prospecting strategies to identify and qualify high-net-worth individuals and corporates.
• Deliver insightful prospect briefings and research to inform cultivation and engagement strategies.
• Conduct due diligence and reputational risk assessments, ensuring compliance with data protection.
• Support fundraisers through prospect management, portfolio development and network mapping.
• Line manage and develop a Prospect Research Executive.

About You:

• Established experience in prospect research within charity or higher education sector, with a proven track record in identifying, assessing and qualifying major donor and/or corporate prospects. 
• Strong knowledge of research tools, data protection, and wealth/capacity ratings.
• Skilled communicator, able to present complex insights clearly and persuasively.
• Experience with CRM systems (ideally Raiser’s Edge NXT).

How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button (please do not apply via email). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.

Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, sexual orientation, disability, age, or gender. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.