2 Rural partnerships development manager jobs in Edinburgh, Scotland
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The Development Manager role brings the opportunity to an avid fundraiser and resource mobilization professional to manage the strategic fundraising efforts of IFIP to build, sustain, and grow the organization’s institutional pool of funders by aligning development strategy with the organization’s mission, goals, key programs, and initiatives. This position plays a critical role in enhancing our sustainability efforts through identifying, cultivating, soliciting, grant writing, and securing funding support in accordance with IFIP’s strategic framework.
Position Title: Development Manager
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Location: Remote (Europe)
OrganizationSummary
International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP) is the only global philanthropy network dedicated to shifting power, mobilizing resources, and building partnerships to amplify Indigenous leadership and to support the self-determination and rights of Indigenous Peoples.
As a global community, IFIP educates, guides, and influences funders to practice a new paradigm of giving based on Indigenous values “The Five R’s of Indigenous Philanthropy” —Respect, Reciprocity, Responsibility, Relationships and Redistribution.Building on over 25 years of experience, IFIP is at an exciting moment of evolution and on a path to accelerate organizational capacity to implement our strategic plan, mobilize redistribution of resources, and increase advocacy for direct funding to Indigenous Peoples globally.
Position Overview
The Development Manager role brings the opportunity to an avid fundraiser and resource mobilization professional to manage the strategic fundraising efforts of IFIP to build, sustain, and grow the organization’s institutional pool of funders by aligning development strategy with the organization’s mission, goals, key programs, and initiatives. This position plays a critical role in enhancing our sustainability efforts through identifying, cultivating, soliciting, grant writing, and securing funding support in accordance with IFIP’s strategic framework.
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Development Manager works collaboratively with senior management, staff, and consultants to ensure sustainability goals are achieved. The Development Manager cultivates prospects, sustains relationships, creates proposals and reports for funders to illustrate impact and spends most of their time engaging with prospective funders and supporters through both virtual and in-person interactions.
The ideal candidate is a skilled fundraiser and a relationship builder with a strong understanding of philanthropic giving. They should be proactive and strategic, with a proven track record of securing mid-to-large multi-year funding, nurturing donor relationships, and effectively communicating the organization's mission and impact. Familiarity and commitment to IFIP's mission is essential. Experience working remotely and across multiple time zones is an asset.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Fundraising and Resource mobilization
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Develop a comprehensive multi-year development strategy, including developing related guidelines and policies and ensure IFIP secures annual revenue goals.
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Cultivate and maintain relationships with funders and other donors, including foundations and other funders.
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Responsible for the development, writing, and submission of compelling grant proposals. Manages full lifecycle of grants, from proposals to reports, ensuring fundraising goals are met annually.
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Able to skillfully navigate donor relationships and the philanthropic landscape with nuance, big picture, and keen understanding of the shifting trends and perspectives.
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In coordination with senior leadership, organize, prepare and attend donor meetings and convenings in support of strategic initiatives.
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Develop strategic fundraising initiatives, including events and campaigns and identify new opportunities for resource mobilization.
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Develop, manage, and execute comprehensive fundraising plans that align with the organization’s goals, programs, and initiatives.
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Coordinate with leadership on restricted gifts, proposal budgets with restricted allocations, and financial reporting to donors.
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Establishes and maintains collaborative working relationships with IFIP’s team and consultants to maximize total revenue in service of the organization’s mission
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Collaborate with the Engagement and Communications team to enhance visibility and donor messaging efforts through our newsletters and communications platforms.
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Utilize a CRM for data collection, relationship management, and tracking donor interactions.
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Manages information-tracking processes regarding acknowledgement, recognition, ongoing communication and continued cultivation of donors in portfolio.
Organizational Culture and Team Collaboration
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Partner with the CEO to ensure IFIP’s strategy is reflected across fundraising plans, funder engagement and partnerships.
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Foster a collaborative, results-driven, and accountability culture that empowers the IFIP team to deliver organizational goals effectively.
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Contribute to a culture of teamwork by fostering collaboration and support of each other to accomplish tasks at hand, the annual work plan, and overall mission.
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Bring a learning, attention to detail, initiative taking disposition and participate in organization-wide strategy and learning and contribute to operations efficiency to grow as an organization.
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Able to adapt and excel in a multi-cultural and fast paced environment where team members take part and contribute to planning activities, including staff meetings, retreats, and strategy sessions.
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Provide support when needed on organization-wide activities, such as Global Conference and high-level stakeholder events.
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Adhere to organizational policies and procedures and responsible for own administrative tasks such as submission of receipts, reimbursement requests, scheduling, travel planning, etc.
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Embody and uphold the 5 R’s (Respect, Relationships, Responsibility, Reciprocity, Redistribution) in working with external stakeholders and internal team members.
Required Experience and Qualifications:
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At least 8 years of experience in the development and resource mobilization sector.
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At least 3 years of experience working in an international remote work environment with a multi-cultural team
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Experience building partnerships and securing funding from bilateral and multilateral donor agencies is an asset
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Track record of garnering new donors and substantial levels of funding per year
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Demonstrated experience in developing fundraising strategies and plans and excellent donor relations skills.
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Familiarity with donor database tools to track grants and donor relationships
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Exceptional organizational ability, high attention to detail, results and solutions-oriented attitude are essential.
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Problem-solver, with high integrity and ability to communicate clear expectations and foster team collaboration.
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Excellent interpersonal communication skills in written and oral forms and ability to articulate complex ideas effectively to diverse audiences.
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Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
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Solid information technology proficiency with CRMs, remote meeting software, Microsoft Office Suite, and cloud systems for project management.
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Experience travelling internationally to urban and rural areas where English may not be the primary language.
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Fluency in English.Fluency in a second language is an asset.
Application Information:
Job details: This is a full-time, remote position based in the greater London area. Employee may spend up to three weeks a year in Sacramento, CA for strategic planning and team building. IFIP's team, board, members, and stakeholders are based worldwide and distributed across multiple time zones. This role is based in London and follows UK working hours; however, occasional flexibility will be required for early morning or late evening meetings with colleagues around the world. Candidates must be based in the greater London area and be authorized to work in the United Kingdom.
Salary: GBP £40,000 - £55,000, based on experience. IFIP typically makes offers within the beginning to middle of this range, depending on the candidate's qualifications and relevant experience. IFIP offers a competitive compensation and benefits package.
International Funders for Indigenous Peoples is an equal opportunity employer committed to embracing a diverse, multicultural work environment and seeks diversity with respect to race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, religious creed, physical abilities and other characteristic protected by federal and state laws.
Deadline: Applications will be accepted until September 18th, 2026.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
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Job description
Motivated to make a difference and connect communities through sport, you'll be a proactive natural connector who thrives on helping others succeed. With effective communication and organisational skills, you'll confidently support grassroots groups and build lasting impact across the North of England. Join Sported as our Lancaster Network Co-ordinator and you could be playing a vital role in the heart of our Field Team. As this role is place- based you will be required to live in Lancaster or surrounding areas, with frequent travel across the region.
About the role
As the key contact for Sported groups across Lancaster & surrounding areas you'll play a vital role in helping community led organisations grow, become more sustainable and maximise their impact. You'll build effective relationships with these groups, understand their challenges and opportunities, and connect them to the support, resources and funding they need to thrive. This involves welcoming new groups to our network and supporting existing ones to develop.
Working closely with colleagues, volunteer consultants and partners, you'll help deliver projects and programmes that strengthens and develops them and creates positive outcomes for people and communities. You'll also contribute to volunteer engagement, partnership development, grant administration and project evaluation, while ensuring accurate records and data are maintained across your area.
About You
Are you passionate about the power of sport to strengthen communities and change lives? We're looking for someone who is enthusiastic about supporting grassroots organisations, ideally within sport (but please still apply if not in the sport sector), and who shares our commitment to inclusion, equality and positive social change.You'll be a confident relationship-builder with a proactive, solutions-focused approach and the ability to build trust with a wide range of people. Organised and able to manage competing priorities, you'll be comfortable working independently while contributing to a collaborative remote team. You will also possess a working knowledge of Microsoft 365 and have experience of database management.
Apply to be part of our team
Benefits
Joining Sported means becoming part of a passionate, supportive team dedicated to ensuring there are opportunities for everyone, improving health and wellbeing, ensuring communities are empowered. We believe in creating a positive environment not only for the people we support, but also for our colleagues. That's why we offer flexible, homebased working, generous annual leave, a pension scheme, wellbeing support, and opportunities to give back through paid volunteering days. With paid study leave, wellbeing days, and ongoing learning and development opportunities, you'll have the support you need to grow professionally while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
At Sported, you'll be part of an organisation where your contribution truly makes a difference.
Act with Integrity. Champion Inclusion. Transform Together. Drive Change.
We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly candidates from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQ+ communities, disabled people, and those with lived experience of tackling inequality. We believe diverse voices are essential to creating meaningful and lasting change.
Please see the job pack, where you’ll find details of roles and responsibilities, and required skills and experience.
The closing date for this role is 12pm on Monday 5th October 2026.
We want you to feel comfortable and supported throughout the recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to help make the process more accessible for you, please let us know.
We want every candidate to have the best opportunity to showcase their skills. That's why we use an anonymous recruitment process and provide interview questions in advance, supporting a fair, transparent and inclusive selection process.
Application Instructions
If you wish to apply, please provide an up to date CV, together with a cover letter detailing how you meet the criteria shown in the person specification. You can use experiences gained from work, volunteering and life experiences. We will not consider applications without these two documents. We also ask you to complete an equal opportunities monitoring form, this is not compulsory but we use the anonymous data to help us improve our recruitment practices and ensure our approach reaches a diverse audience.
Sported is the UK's leading grassroots sports charity. We transform lives and strengthen communities by helping them unleash the power of sport.


The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.