Senior events fundraising manager jobs

We're looking for someone to help manage Crimestoppers in the Avon and Somerset area.

Contract: Fixed term until 31 March 2026

Location: Home-based (with regional travel across Avon & Somerset)

Hours: 15 hours per week (0.4 FTE, flexible, including some unsociable hours)

Salary: £15,531 per annum (£38,828 FTE)

Crimestoppers is seeking a Regional Manager to act as our representative across the region. This key role will:

• Lead the creation and delivery of impactful crime prevention campaigns with law enforcement and community partners.

• Coordinate cross-border and national initiatives in support of ROCUs, the NCA, and other agencies.

• Drive funding opportunities to support our work, from campaigns to outreach.

• Empower volunteer committees to thrive and achieve their full potential.

• Act as a spokesperson for Crimestoppers with local and regional media.

We are looking for someone with strong project management and budget management experience, confident in working under pressure, building strategic relationships, and occasionally working unsociable hours. Experience with the voluntary sector, media campaigns, or policing practice would be an advantage.

This is a really exciting opportunity to make a real impact in crime prevention.

You'll find more details in the job pack here.

Challenge Events Lead

Salary: £37,000 to £41,000 per annum
Location: London-based, hybrid (2 days a week in the office, 3 from home)
Contract: Permanent, full-time

Lead our flagship challenge events programme

Guy’s & St Thomas’ Foundation is looking for a Challenge Events Lead to oversee one of the most high-profile areas of our fundraising. You’ll manage our participation in major third-party events such as the London Marathon, London Landmarks Half, Brighton Marathon and Ultra Challenges, ensuring supporters have an excellent experience while helping us raise vital income for our hospitals.

This is a senior role within the events fundraising team, giving you responsibility for relationships with external organisers, place allocations, supporter recruitment and stewardship. You’ll make sure that every runner, walker or cyclist feels supported from sign-up through to the finish line, building loyalty and long-term commitment to our cause.

You’ll also guide the Events Fundraising Co-ordinator, working together to keep everything running smoothly and to deliver first-class supporter care.

What you’ll be doing

• Managing the Foundation’s involvement in flagship third-party events including the London Marathon and London Landmarks Half
• Leading relationships with external organisers and agencies, acting as the main point of contact
• Overseeing place allocations, ballots and registration processes
• Planning supporter communications, ensuring every participant feels valued and engaged
• Developing campaigns to recruit new participants through grassroots marketing and digital channels
• Managing budgets and keeping income and participation on target
• Working alongside and supporting the Events Fundraising Co-ordinator to ensure consistency and high standards across all activity

What we’re looking for

• Experience running challenge fundraising programmes or large-scale participation events
• Confident managing relationships with senior contacts at event organisers and agencies
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to handle logistics, budgets and multiple deadlines
• Knowledge of supporter acquisition and engagement techniques for fundraising events
• A collaborative approach, with the ability to guide and support junior colleagues
• Calm, reliable and adaptable, especially around live event weekends
• A real enthusiasm for delivering excellent supporter experiences

Why join us

• Lead some of the UK’s biggest fundraising challenges on behalf of Guy’s, St Thomas’ and Evelina London hospitals
• Join a collaborative and ambitious team at an exciting stage of growth
• Be part of a supportive workplace with regular socials and team offsites
• Excellent benefits including 27–30 days annual leave, 6% employee / 12% employer pension, £800 annual learning budget, £200 wellbeing budget, enhanced health plan, sabbaticals, hybrid working and more

This is your opportunity to take the lead on a major challenge events portfolio and help supporters achieve something extraordinary for our hospitals.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.

Executive Director of Brand, Marketing & Fundraising

Location: Any Crisis office across Great Britain, hybrid working with weekly meetings in London
Salary: £120,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent

At Crisis, we believe that homelessness should not exist, and together we can end it. Our bold 10-year strategy is already driving change but with homelessness rising and funding challenges increasing, we know we must think differently, act courageously, and inspire more people to join us.

We’re looking for an exceptional leader to shape the future of our brand, marketing and fundraising. This is a chance to combine creativity, strategy and purpose, ensuring that our voice is heard, our supporters feel deeply connected, and our income grows to meet the scale of our ambition.

What you’ll do

As Executive Director of Brand, Marketing & Fundraising, you will:

• Provide inspirational leadership to a talented directorate and play a vital role as part of our Senior Leadership Team, reporting directly to the CEO.
• Lead the development of a multi-year fundraising plan that drives sustainable, diverse income and enables Crisis to scale its life-changing work — including our new ambition of direct housing delivery.
• Refresh and strengthen the Crisis brand, building awareness, trust and influence across Great Britain.
• Grow a thriving community of supporters, partners and advocates who stand with us to end homelessness.
• Personally steward high-value relationships and inspire others across the organisation to embrace fundraising and engagement as a shared responsibility.

Who you are

We’re looking for someone who combines vision with action — a leader who brings both strategic insight and personal passion. You will have:

• A strong track record of leading fundraising and supporter engagement at scale, with experience delivering significant income growth.
• Proven success in enhancing a brand to deliver organisational priorities.
• Expertise in strategic marketing, audience engagement, digital innovation and integrated campaigns.
• Experience as part of a senior leadership team, working collaboratively and influencing at Board level.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion and co-production, ensuring that the voices of people with lived experience of homelessness inform our work.
• An inspirational leadership style that motivates, empowers and unlocks potential across teams.

Above all you want to be part of a movement of change-makers determined to end homelessness in our time.

 

Ready to Learn More?

Click below to view our full Candidate Pack for everything you need to know – including how to apply.

Closing date: Wednesday 15th October, 9am

Overall purpose of the role

To lead the development of a regular giving and legacy programme at the AHF, and to support the Director of Programmes/Deputy CEO in development and management of a major gifts programme during the AHF’s 50th Anniversary campaign, with possibility for continued role thereafter. The post holder will be responsible for developing systems to monitor and increase the number of regular and legacy donors to the AHF, including stewardship opportunities, and will assist in prospect research, qualifying, cultivating, and stewarding major donors.

2 Specific Duties and Responsibilities

1. Work closely with the Director of Programmes/Deputy CEO on development and delivery of the anniversary programme of activities, with particular focus on research to identify potential invitees to and engaging attendees at and after campaign launch and closure events, exhibition launches in Belfast, Glasgow, Cardiff, and London, and an industry-facing conference in London.
    
2. Develop and manage a legacy programme for the AHF including stewardship activities; develop and manage a personal portfolio of legacy donors, including making asks of existing regular supporters to consider legacies and development and drafting of legacy proposals and contracts.
    
3. Develop and manage a programme of higher-level regular giving (over £500 per annum), including stewardship activities and making asks of regular supporters to increase their giving.
    
4. Support the Director of Programmes/Deputy CEO, and CEO, with identification and management of a growing portfolio of major gift prospects, including supporting major gifts asks and helping Director of Programmes/Deputy CEO and CEO with ongoing cultivation and stewardship of major donors.
    
5. Lead on managing the AHF’s donor database, Beacon, ensuring the data is up to date with giving from Charities Aid Foundation and other external gifts, that fundraising activity is appropriately recorded on the database, and that our records are fully compliant with data protection legislation.
    
6. Work closely with the Communications Office and consultants supporting the AHF’s 50th Anniversary campaign, with an eye on developing and maximising opportunities to introduce the AHF to new potential supporters and to bolster our key messaging with those already known to us. As part of this work, sit as Secretary of the AHF Communications and Anniversary subcommittee of our Board.
    
7. Develop and maintain a reporting structure to keep AHF SMT and Board up to date with fundraising activity and opportunities.
    
8. Responsible for maintaining the AHF’s log relating to Donor Due Diligence and assisting the Director of Programmes & Deputy CEO with maintaining appropriate policies related to fundraising, including those associated with donor due diligence.
    
9. Contribute to the development and delivery of new ways of working at the AHF that will see our organisation build and maintain greater philanthropic fundraising success, including bringing examples of best practice from other charities. Assist with other tasks and activities as required, particularly those activities and processes that support the wider engagement of potential supporters with the AHF’s work.

3 Person specification

Essential

• At least five years of experience in fundraising at a charity or educational institution, including at least three years of front-line engagement with supporters;
• Knowledgeable about the processes and legislation surrounding UK fundraising, including data protection and
• A pro-active leader, with demonstrably excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills;
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to multi-task, and both verbal and written communication skills;
• Enthusiastic, self-motivated and target-orientated; able to work effectively on own initiative, set appropriate priorities, delegate where appropriate and meet deadlines;
• A confident and engaging presenter and speaker;
• Demonstrable ability in problem solving in response to challenges posed;
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and a track record of collaborative work with external partners;
• Demonstrable interest in and commitment to the AHF’s mission – to help deliver a sustainable future for historic buildings throughout the UK through community enterprise;
• Strong numeric and financial skills; and
• A commitment to achieving beneficial social outcomes through heritage.

Desirable

• Experience working in a heritage-related charity.
• Experience building or managing legacy programmes.

Prospectus is excited to be supporting a UK children's charity with their search for a Senior Legacy Marketing Manager on a 12-month contract.

This organisation runs over 1,000 UK projects that transform the lives of almost 300,000 children and young people every year. They believe they can bring out the best in every child regardless of the issues they face. Their work supports children living in poverty, children that have been sexually exploited, children living with a disability, children living with domestic violence, and young carers who look after an ill parent or relative.

As the Senior Legacy Marketing Manager, you will be responsible for helping shape and deliver the legacy and in-memory giving fundraising programme that will maximise the lifetime value of supporters. This role will be responsible for managing a small team and overseeing budget of £600k and an income target of £240k. With a varied legacy marketing programme, this role will focus on both the acquisition and retention of legacy supporters and work across a range of channels including direct mail, telemarketing, DRTV, digital, events, and Free Will products.

The successful candidate will have proven experience within legacy marketing and have a strong understanding of direct marketing across a range of audiences. They will be confident in planning, delivering, and evaluating legacy marketing campaigns, and be able to make strategic decisions based on audience insights. Ideally, this person will have previous line management experience and have managed project budgets and expenditures.

At Prospectus we invest 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 Rhiannon Mehta at Prospectus.

Location is flexible, but the team often meet in the London offices monthly. The salary for this role is £43,657 to £56,130.

If you are interested in applying to this Senior Legacy Marketing Manager position, please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will send you the full job description and will arrange for a call and/or 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. 

Contract Type: 12 Months Maternity Cover

Interviews: 7th and 8th of October

Young people need us more than ever, and at The King’s Trust, you can help make sure we’re there for them. As Head of Individual Giving and Legacies, you’ll play a crucial role in developing two of our key income streams over the next 12 months, inspiring thousands of supporters to back our work and securing long-term pledges that transform futures.

Next year is a particularly exciting one as it’s our 50th anniversary, so you’ll design and deliver powerful campaigns that encourage supporters to give again, attract new donors, and grow legacy commitments year on year. From shaping innovative fundraising products to creating meaningful supporter journeys, your leadership will ensure our donors feel connected, valued, and motivated to continue their support. With a talented team to guide and inspire, you’ll drive creativity, collaboration, and impact, turning generosity into life-changing opportunities for young people across the UK.

Perks for working at The King’s Trust International:

• Great holiday package. 30 days annual leave entitlement, plus public holidays. Office closure the days between Christmas and New Year
• Fantastic Family leave. Receive 13 weeks full pay and 13 weeks half pay for maternity and adoption leave and pro rata entitlement for shared parental leave. Receive 8 weeks full pay for paternity leave.
• Flexible and agile working. Where operationally possible, you can work your hours that support a work-life balance including compressed hours and hybrid-working (part office - part home based) or working from home options.
• Benefits platform. Everything from health and financial wellbeing support to discounts on your favourite restaurants, shops and cinemas
• A free employee assistance programme (EAP) to support your mental wellbeing.
• KTI will contribute 5% of your salary to the workplace Pension Scheme
• Generous life assurance cover (4 x annual salary)
• In-house and external training opportunities available throughout the year

The successful candidate will possess excellent written and verbal communication skills and be able to demonstrate a proven ability of writing persuasive and compelling copy to achieve support, as well as proven ability of developing strong relationships with supporters, customers or clients from a charity, consumer or business career.

We’re looking for a Marketing and Events Manager to take the lead in delivering high-profile, high-impact moments and creative materials that bring our mission to life on a global stage.

In this role, you’ll manage an ambitious portfolio of international events – from the King’s Trust Awards in London, celebrating the achievements of extraordinary young people, to the glittering King’s Trust Global Gala in New York, and inspiring regional programme events across the world. You’ll oversee detail in – design, scheduling, branding, sponsor engagement, and content creation – working with ambassadors, VIP guests, and partners to ensure each event amplifies our story and leaves a lasting impression.

Alongside events, you’ll take ownership of the King’s Trust International brand, ensuring it’s represented consistently and powerfully across all digital channels, printed materials, and partner collaborations. You’ll lead brand audits, manage creative assets, and help shape campaigns that extend our reach and strengthen our reputation.

This is a role for someone who thrives in a fast-moving, high-profile environment – confident managing complex projects, building strong relationships, and delivering to the highest standard. As part of a small but driven marketing and communications team, your work will be central to raising our profile, engaging supporters, and celebrating the young people we serve.

What you’ll do:

• Oversee all aspects of event management, from logistics to content creation.
• Manage the King’s Trust International brand, ensuring consistency and impact.
• Develop engaging marketing materials and digital content.
• Collaborate with colleagues and partners across the King’s Trust Group worldwide.
• Measure and report on the success of marketing and event activity.

If you’re a creative, organised, and strategic professional who can turn vision into exceptional delivery, we’d love to hear from you.

Transform Drug Policy Foundation is a leading charity working to end the war on drugs and promote policies that prioritise health, human rights, and social justice. With a small but passionate team, we campaign, educate, and influence decision-makers to reform drug policy in the UK and globally.

We are entering an exciting new phase of organisational growth and are looking for an organised, proactive Administrator to play a key supporting role.

About the Role

This new role will provide vital administrative support across fundraising, programme delivery, and operations. You’ll help keep the organisation running smoothly, freeing up time for senior staff to focus on income generation and impact. From CRM management and donation tracking to event logistics and donor communications, you'll be central to ensuring Transform’s work is efficient and effective.

Overall aim

• Work with the CEO on implementing supporter journeys and other fundraising systems and processes as required

• Assist with the delivery of our fundraising strategy

Key responsibilities:

Fundraising support (approx. 50%)

• Lead on the roll-out, development, and ongoing maintenance of our fundraising CRM system and supporting platforms

• Support the CEO and fundraising team with scheduling, meeting preparation, and follow-up.

• Assist with proposal submissions by formatting documents, collating supporting materials, and tracking deadlines.

• Maintain an organised digital library of fundraising collateral (e.g. case for support, templates, reports).

• Act as the first point of contact for supporters and members of the public, dealing with fundraising enquiries, requests for information, and feedback via the telephone, email, and post.

• Thank donors and create personalised correspondence and other communications to support the donor journey.

• Support the delivery of face-to-face and online events including donor stewardship events.

• Lead on the roll-out, development, and ongoing maintenance of our fundraising CRM system, and maintain accurate records.

• Maintain our online giving platforms.

• Conduct prospect research on new fundraising opportunities and sources of income as directed by the CEO.

Team and Operations Support (approx. 50%)

• Provide day-to-day admin support for the CEO and wider team, including diary management, meeting coordination, and inbox support.

• Organise team meetings, take notes and track action points.

• Help onboard new freelancers, volunteers, and staff members (e.g. access to systems, scheduling inductions).

• Support basic finance admin (e.g. tracking invoices, reconciling expenses, liaising with bookkeeper).

• Coordinate CRM and IT systems with external providers to ensure functionality and updates.

• Maintain internal folders and files using best practices in cloud storage (e.g. Google Drive).

• Assist in developing and maintaining an effective website so donors have a seamless user experience

• Maintain excellent working relationships with the team

• Ability occasionally to work outside normal office hours/flexibility for events and networking opportunities.

Person Specification

Essential 

• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.

• Proven administrative experience, supporting a small and busy team.

• Experience of working with CRMs/Databases including at the roll-out and development stage.

• High attention to detail, especially when handling data and scheduling.

• Experience of customer service/donor relations or similar.

• Strong research skills, including the ability to search for reliable information online, with excellent attention to detail.

• Experience of maintaining accurate records (e.g. customer records, contact details, project data).

• Working in an organised manner, managing deadlines effectively and responding flexibly to work priorities.

• An ability to develop and manage effective working relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders.

• A proactive, can-do attitude and ability to juggle multiple priorities.

• Commitment to Transform’s mission and values.

Skills 

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.

• Exceptional levels of organisation.

• Ability to work as a part of a team and on own initiative.

• Strong planning and ability to deliver to deadlines.

• Strong IT literacy, experience of using Microsoft 365/ google

• Strong people skills for building relationships and networking with external stakeholder, team members and key contacts.

• Demonstrable experience of using fundraising databases for financial and relationship management.

Desirable

• Effective written communications with a persuasive writing style.

• Experience of working in a fundraising environment.

• Experience of working on or delivering fundraising events.

• Experience working in a small, values-driven charity or campaigning organisation.

• Understanding of confidentiality and data protection requirements (e.g. GDPR).

• Knowledge of the voluntary sector.

• Understanding of drug policy reform

• A genuine and enthusiastic commitment to the values, vision and goals of Transform.

 

What We Offer

• Flexible, hybrid working arrangements.

• Opportunity to play a central role in a fast-growing and mission-driven organisation.

• Training and development tailored to your role (e.g. fundraising, CRM, project management).

• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays (pro rata).

• A supportive and inclusive working environment.

 

Equality and diversity

Transform is committed to diversity, inclusion and equality in all its work. We welcome and encourage people with Black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds to apply for this post.

How to apply

Please send a CV and cover letter 

Head of Fundraising and Development

Connect: North Korea is a fast-growing charity supporting North Korean escapees to build new lives after experiences of systemic discrimination, poverty, and trauma. 

Our organisational income has grown consistently year on year since we registered  in 2018. We now have a series of multi-year grants in place ensuring that 42% of our income for 2026 is already secured. But we are ambitious. We want to do more for our community, so we are looking for a new, dynamic Head of Fundraising and Development to lead and deliver income generation as we scale our work in the UK and globally.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a fundraising strategy and plan across all major income streams—trusts and foundations, individual giving, corporate partnerships, and major donors. This role is an exciting mixture of leadership complemented by  day-to-day delivery. You’ll work closely with the CEO and across programme teams to map out our annual fundraising plan, craft compelling cases for support, develop funder relationships, and increase our funding base by 20% in 2026. 

Position: Head of Fundraising and Development

Responsible to: Chief Executive Officer

Based at: Our offices in New Malden KT3 with some remote/home working.  We will be as flexible as possible to accommodate the right candidate.

Contract: Permanent. Full-time (35 hours per week). Flexible hours/days possible whilst respecting core hours of 10am-4pm

Salary: £45,000 - £50,000 + 5% eligible pension and gym membership

Benefits: 28 days holidays exclusive of public holidays. We also offer 2 additional days on top of this – 1 recharge day where the whole charity closes and 1 day in the week of a staff member’s birthday.

Role objective

Lead our efforts to grow and diversify CNK’s income across individual giving, trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, and community fundraising. Diversity our income base by increasing our unrestricted income, ensure organisational sustainability by securing multi-year grants and growing individual and corporate donations and grow our annual income by identifying and building relationships with new donor

About you:

Are you passionate about helping others, interested in working with the North Korean community and excited about using your expertise in fundraising to increase our impact? We are looking for a very special candidate to join our small team: a person who knows what success looks like and the steps that need to be taken to get there. A person who rolls up their sleeves and gets stuck in, but most of all, a person who can build relationships - with our team members, our community, our donors and drive through positive change for the benefit of all. 

General duties and responsibilities will be:

Work closely with Chief Executive to:

• Develop our five year organisational fundraising strategy and fundraising action plan for 2026. 

• Draft fundraising targets and KPIs based on current income levels and our delivery plans for 2026

• Lead and coordinate all CNK fundraising activity from Trusts and Foundations, corporate donations and individual giving including identifying new funding sources, drafting applications, delivering individual giving campaigns and communicating with supporters.

• Recruit and support a team of volunteers who help with communications, social media content and community fundraising. 

• Build relationships with major donors, corporates, charitable Trusts and Foundations and other institutional funders

• Attend networking events and meetings with potential donors

• Ensure all fundraising meets the Code of Fundraising Practice, safeguarding standards, GDPR compliant and CNK’s values;

• Report quarterly on fundraising progress to Chief Executive and Board of Trustees

To apply:

Please send CVs and cover letters addressed to Michael Glendinning. Applications are rolling until we find the right candidate.

We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability (physical or learning), LGBTQI+ or relationship status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, gender or social class.

Bexley Deaf Centre (BDC) is a small and dynamic, well-established charity which has been serving the borough since 1994. Our work is focussed exclusively on supporting people who are Deaf or hard of hearing. We work to raise awareness, break down barriers and promote understanding within the community.

This is an exciting time to join our organisation; we are about to launch an ambitious new 5-year strategy and are actively expanding and developing the support and services that we provide. 

We are looking for a dynamic and driven Business Development Manager who can spearhead our fundraising initiatives, lead the development of new projects and support organisational change to facilitate the growth of our services.

You will be part of the Senior Leadership Team, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of our organisation to maximise the positive impact that we have on our client’s lives.  Starting with a strong foundation to build upon, you will lead on fundraising activities and service development to support our exciting new strategy.

The role will include:

· Develop and implement fundraising strategies to enable us to diversify our funding and become more sustainable

· Identify and evaluate opportunities for new projects, leading on the development of proposals, timelines and budgets

· Work closely with the senior leadership team to identify areas for growth and increasing capacity

· Support the growth of the organisation and change required to deliver our fundraising strategy 

Experience of working with Deaf people or knowledge of the Deaf community would be an advantage but not essential.

Are you a dynamic corporate fundraiser with a track record of winning and growing six-figure partnerships? Harris Hill is delighted to be working with a fantastic charity to recruit their next Head of Partnerships and Events.

This is a key leadership role within the fundraising team, managing a portfolio worth over £1.6m and leading a team of two: a Corporate Fundraising Manager and a Special Events Manager.

About the role

• Lead and grow a corporate partnerships portfolio worth c.£850k, with around 30 partners including well-known brands from hospitality, sport and property.
• Drive new business and steward relationships to an exceptional standard, with a clear ambition to grow corporate income to £1m+.
• Oversee a high-value events portfolio (c.£750k income) including a Winter Ball, Golf Day and other supporter-led events – supported by an experienced events manager.
• Contribute to senior fundraising strategy and play a vital role in shaping the future growth of partnerships income.

About you

We’re looking for someone who can bring:

• Significant experience in corporate partnerships, including evidence of securing and managing six-figure wins.
• A strong new business track record, with demonstrable examples to share at interview.
• Proven line management skills and the ability to motivate and develop a team.
• Excellent account management and stewardship expertise.
• Confidence and ambition to step up into a head of role, if this is your next career move.

Key details

• Salary: Mid-£50,000s
• Contract: Full-time, permanent
• Location: North London office, with hybrid working (up to 2 days remote)
• Reports to: Director of Fundraising & Communications
• Line reports: Corporate Fundraising Manager, Special Events Manager

This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious fundraiser to make a real impact, working with high-profile partners and leading a talented team in a supportive, forward-looking environment.

To apply, please submit your CV and a short covering statement outlining your interest in the role and your relevant experience.

For a full job description and details on how to apply, please contact Hannah at Harris Hill on [email protected]

Harris Hill is a certified B Corp™ and a leading charity recruitment agency, committed to equitable and inclusive recruitment practices. Applications from all sections of the community are actively welcomed, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality, or other protected characteristics.

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.

War Child’s mission is to reach, protect, educate, and stand up for the rights of every child living in conflict zones. They want a world that is safer for children to live in. At the moment, 1 in 5 children are living in or fleeing from conflict – that number is too high, and War Child wants to change it.

War Child is known for bold fundraising, innovative campaigns, and a culture of creativity. Their ambassadors, high-profile supporters, and superbly connected networks among investors and philanthropists give them a unique platform to engage influential donors. With a reputation for high-profile events and strong stewardship, they are now investing in a dedicated Head of Principal Giving to take this work to the next level.

Reporting into the Director of Philanthropy and Partner Engagement, you will build and lead a bold, high-impact strategy focused on cultivating deep, long-term partnerships with influential philanthropists. Working closely with senior leadership, you will be central to unlocking significant funding opportunities that align donor values with the lasting change we deliver for children living through conflict.

If you are motivated by the chance to unlock transformational support for children affected by war, this is a rare opportunity to establish and lead a new programme with the full backing of War Child’s leadership, networks, and global influence.

As Head of Principal Gifts, you will:

• Lead the development of a high-impact Principal Giving programme
• Build deep partnerships with philanthropists capable of making transformational gifts of £500k+
• Operate at the highest levels across War Child UK (WCUK) and our global alliance, engaging CEOs, trustees, ambassadors, and programme leaders to connect donor values with War Child’s most urgent priorities
• Shape major funding propositions rooted in WCUK’s ten-year strategy, inspiring exceptional support for their mission
• Benefit from strong internal backing, and new dedicated prospect research that will strengthen your pipeline and give you the insight to target opportunities with confidence
• Leverage existing pipelines of prospects and introductions, deepening relationships and converting warm networks into lasting partnerships
• Partner with the Heads of Philanthropy and Trusts & Foundations, programme directors, ambassadors, and trustees to deliver donor engagement at the highest level

Ideal skills and experience: 

• A strong track record of securing gifts of at least £500k from UHNWIs
• Sophisticated relationship management skills, with the confidence and credibility to operate alongside CEOs, trustees, programme directors, ambassadors, and family offices
• Experience shaping ambitious, values-driven cases for support and stewarding long-term philanthropic partnerships
• Strategic insight, entrepreneurial drive, and the ability to build a new programme from the ground up
• A collaborative approach, able to work closely with colleagues in philanthropy, trusts and foundations, and partnerships
• Strong advisory skills, able to support and guide fundraisers across the organisation on managing principal-level partnerships
• Well versed in developing and assessing different financial models to structure transformational giving opportunities
• Ideally, a broad understanding of international philanthropy and donor motivations, with the ability to connect global priorities to transformational giving opportunities.

Employee benefits

Benefits include: 

• Flexible working – War Child recognise the considerable benefits that flexible working can bring and are happy to discuss any possible flexible working options with employees from hiring. For most roles, the following types of flexibility are usually possible: flexible hours, an element of working from home, compressed hours
• Annual leave – 28 days per year (full-time), plus UK bank holidays
• Pension – all eligible employees automatically enrolled into a Group Personal Pension Plan with a 5% employer contribution, with minimum employee contribution on a salary sacrifice basis
• Health & wellbeing – employees may take advantage of a healthcare cash plan and a range of wellbeing initiatives and training. In addition, all employees have access to free, confidential one-to-one wellbeing consultations with trained counsellors.
• Learning & development – dedicated to the investment in learning and continuing professional development for all our employees
• Range of flexible benefits such a Cycle to Work scheme and season ticket loans