Trusts and major donor officer jobs

We are seeking a Senior Fundraiser, with a proven track record, to lead and inspire our fundraising and communications team, personally focussing on trusts, grants and major donors. Your success will mean we can provide the "best possible support for anyone affected by MS in our community" and make our vision truly a reality.  

Who we are:

At BMSTC we aim "to support the physical health and mental wellbeing of local people living with Multiple Sclerosis".  not just now but for the rest of people's lives.

We provide practical help - including neuro-physiotherapy, oxygen therapy, footcare, counselling and a range of complementary therapies to help manage symptoms. We also run very popular "live" online exercise and mindfulness sessions.

We are not just about therapies - we also offer a friendly, supportive space where members, families and carers can socialise, share information and take more control over their lives. Understanding that MS impacts not just the person diagnosed.

Our purpose-built Therapy Centre in central Reading serves and strengthens the MS community across Berkshire and nearby counties. As a self-funded charity, we receive neither NHS or government support and must raise £700,000 annually to continue making a difference to local families affected by MS. This year, we delivered over 15,000 treatments to more than 400 families and were honoured to receive a King's Award for Voluntary Service, equivalent to an MBE, in recognition of our service to the community.

The role

You will:

• Develop the Charity's income generation capability as we seek to drive income growth
• Identify funding prospects and prioritise team effort to make the best use of resource
• Regularly monitor progress and inspire the team to reach targets and goals.
• Manage excellent donor stewardship and raise our profile with potential major donors

Personal qualities:  

• Drive, enthusiasm and resilience.
• The ability to lead, motivate and inspire others.
• Tenacious and creative, possessing the ability to think "outside the box".
• Team player, ready to deputise or help in other areas of the Charity as necessary.

Skills

The successful candidate will have:

• A good level of secondary education and societal awareness
• Ability to meet (and ideally exceed) pre-agreed targets, manage multiple priorities and work independently.
• Ability to analyse financial and impact data.
• Strong interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Confident with IT and proficient in MS Office: Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Able to work outside office hours and occasionally attend local events (time off in lieu will be given).

Desirable skills:

• Experience of using a charity-based CRM system e.g. Beacon,
• Experience of working in a health charity/knowledge of Multiple Sclerosis.
• Understanding of the local funding community.
• A driving license and access to a car to attend events if necessary.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and flexible, hybrid working conditions.
• 25 days paid annual leave plus statutory and national holidays (pro-rata), increasing to 30 days after 5 years.
• Company pension scheme.
• Free car parking

Why join us? 

• Be part of an innovative mission-led organisation that makes a real practical difference to people’s lives. 
• Work collaboratively with Finance and Trustees, to build long-term sustainability. 
• Enjoy a flexible, supportive working environment where your ideas and leadership will be valued. 

We will be shortlisting and interviewing as applications are received, so early applications are encouraged. Apply today to be part of something truly special! 

Battersea has entered an exciting phase of innovation and transformation as we embark on the second year of our new five-year strategy. With increased investment in income generation, we are strengthening our team to drive the growth necessary to achieve our organisational goals. This role sits within the Philanthropy, Partnerships & Commercial (PPC) team, made up of Philanthropy & Trusts, Corporate Partnerships & Commercial, Special Events & Stewardship, and Fundraising Operations.

The focus of the Philanthropy & Trusts team is to build a solid base of support through excellent stewardship of existing trusts and major donors alongside cultivation of new prospects, reached through prospect research and the networks of senior volunteers. The key purpose of this Philanthropy Manager is to meet both financial and strategic KPIs in order ensure the long-term health of the Philanthropy pipeline. They will do this by personally managing a portfolio of key individual relationships as well as line-managing the Philanthropy Officer to deliver against their targets. This role, together with Battersea’s other Philanthropy Managers, will also work closely with senior leadership, senior volunteers and other individuals to open up networks and introduce new major donors to Battersea.

What we can offer you:

In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 28 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays) per year
• Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources
• Generous pension contributions - up to 10% employer contribution
• Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year
• Annual interest-free season ticket loans

We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.

Our hybrid working model:

We operate a 50% onsite hybrid working model, with our office-based staff splitting their time between site based and home working. This enables our office-based staff to balance the benefits of home working with onsite collaboration and maintaining a connection to our cause.

Diversity and inclusion:

We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.

We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best.

More about us:

At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.

Acceptable use of AI:

At Battersea, we value expertise. We recognise each candidate that applies to us will have a range of expertise they can offer us, so we want to hear about this in your own words. We understand the support that generative artificial intelligence (AI) software can offer but it can also lead to numerous applications presenting as generic and impersonal. This makes it difficult to gain understanding of your unique experience.

To best showcase yourself, we encourage you to write your responses without the assistance of AI. If you require the use of AI software to aid in completing your application, we ask you use the generative responses as a prompt for writing your answers and avoid copying and pasting. You must also ensure the information presented in your application accurately reflects your experience.

Closing date: 21st January 2026
Interview Date(s): Interviews will be taking place on a rolling basis. Early applications are encouraged, as the role will be closed once filled.

All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received. For full details on the role, please download the recruitment pack.

World Veterinary Service – Major Donor Manager
Location: Remote or hybrid, with monthly meetings at Dorset office and regular travel for meetings with donors.
Salary: £40,000-£45,000 per annum.
Contract: Permanent, full-time hours. 

Worldwide Veterinary Service – which helps animals in places where no one else can - is seeking a passionate, proactive and relationships-driven Major Donor Manager to support the growth of their major giving programme.

Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) champions animal welfare around the world, sending vets where they are needed most, providing expert veterinary training in hard-to-reach places, and shipping urgent aid supplies worldwide. Last year they treated over 103,000 animals, trained over 2,800 vets and vaccinated over 1.2 m dogs against rabies.

Reporting to the Head of Philanthropy, this role offers an exciting and unique opportunity to shape a vital income stream from the ground up - identifying, cultivating, and stewarding high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) who are motivated by global animal welfare. You will be responsible for developing and delivering a major donor strategy to grow the pipeline of prospective HNWIs and building compelling cultivation and stewardship journeys, including bespoke proposals, events and communications. You will also manage a portfolio of warm and cold prospects with the aim of generating five- and six-figure gifts over time.

The ideal candidate will be a skilled communicator - someone who thrives on building authentic partnerships and translating complex global work into powerful donor propositions.  You’ll be excited by the task of growing something new and ready to work collaboratively as part of a small but ambitious philanthropy team. While the primary focus is on major donors, the post-holder will also provide support across other philanthropic income streams - particularly corporate partnerships and trusts and foundations - contributing to ambitious fundraising goals. Finally, candidates for this role must be adaptable and comfortable working with ambiguity and the dynamic, fast-moving environment of this growing charity.

This is an ideal role for an experienced fundraising professional who is ready for their next challenge and wants to make lasting improvements to the lives of animals around the world.

Please download our Candidate Pack for further information [PDF], which includes details on how to apply.

Closing date: Monday 26 January.

Location: Flexible

Join our small but mighty team and help transform the future for people affected by primary bone cancer.

We’re looking for a motivated and detail-driven Trusts & Foundations Fundraising Officer to support a growing and strategic income stream. You’ll work closely with the Trusts & Foundations Fundraising Manager to research prospects, write compelling applications, manage reporting, and build warm, meaningful relationships with funders who want to make a real impact.

In this role, you’ll contribute to raising around £500,000 a year to fund life-saving research and vital support services for patients and families. You’ll collaborate with colleagues across the charity, turning insight, data, and stories into persuasive cases for support that inspire funders to give.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with strong writing skills, excellent relationship-building abilities, and a proactive approach. Whether you already have experience in trust fundraising or are looking to develop in this area, we’ll support you every step of the way.

What we offer:

• 30 days holiday + bank holidays

• Flexible working and home-working support

• 6% employer pension

• Private Health Insurance (after probation)

• Generous training and development opportunities

• Supportive, collaborative culture where you can genuinely make an impact

If you’d love to use your skills to support a passionate community and help drive positive change, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

Head of Fundraising (Part-Time, 3 days/week) 

Hybrid – Vauxhall, London | £47,342 (pro rata) 

1-year FTC | Start ASAP 

Join the UK’s leading personal safety charity and play a pivotal role in protecting lives. 

Suzy Lamplugh Trust is looking for a strategic and relationship-driven Head of Fundraising to lead our income generation across trusts, foundations and statutory funders. This role is perfect for someone who wants autonomy, impact, and the chance to shape sustainable growth for a mission-driven organisation. 

What You’ll Do 

• Develop and deliver our fundraising strategy 

• Build a strong pipeline of trusts, foundations & statutory funders 

• Craft compelling bids

• Lead excellent stewardship and funder relationships 

• Work across teams to align opportunities and organisational needs 

What We’re Looking For 

• Proven fundraising success, including significant grants 

• Strong writing and relationship-building skills 

• Experience managing fundraising pipelines and reporting 

• Highly organised, collaborative and mission-aligned 

Why Join Us? 

Your work directly supports victims of stalking, advances national safety initiatives, and influences policy that protects millions. 

How to Apply 

Please submit your CV and cover letter outlining how you meet the essential criteria. 

Head of Fundraising (Philanthropy and Partnerships)

King George & Queen’s Hospitals Charity

King George & Queen’s Hospitals Charity is entering a pivotal new chapter as it becomes an independent NHS charity, with a clear three-year strategic plan and ambitious plans to grow its impact and income.

Reporting to the Chief Executive, the Head of Fundraising (Philanthropy and Partnerships) is a senior, hands-on role responsible for developing high-value fundraising to complement the Charity’s successful community fundraising and events programme. The role will lead the growth of philanthropy, corporate partnerships, and trust income, working closely with Trustees, NHS colleagues, and the fundraising team.

A major appeal is being explored to support the £35m planned development of a new A&E department at Queen’s Hospital. A transformational project with the potential to attract significant philanthropic support. 

This is a rare opportunity to shape and grow a high-value fundraising portfolio at a formative moment, helping secure transformational investment in hospital care for local communities.

This new role at Young Sounds UK will lead on securing grant income from and coordinating relationships with Trusts and Foundations. This will include identifying and researching funders, submitting compelling applications and completing timely and accurate reports.

You'll need to be comfortable with managing budgets, using CRMs, and demonstrating our impact through writing case studies that bring our work to life. You'll also need to have excellent communication and relationship building skills, and be organised, flexible and with a great attention to detail.

We're looking for someone who has at least three years experience of fundraising in a charity, especially if they’ve focused on fundraising from Trusts and Foundations, and who is looking for an opportunity to take the next step in their career.

For full information on this role, including key responsibilities and person specification, please view the job pack.

The closing date for applications is Monday 19 January 2026 at 12 noon.

About Young Sounds UK 

Young Sounds UK exists because musical talent is everywhere but opportunity isn’t: family finances and other obstacles too often get in the way. We’re here to change this in two key ways:

• We support young musicians from low-income families with funding and other help 
• We support music education through training, advocacy and research.

Established in 1998 we work across genres and across the UK. Our four programme areas are: 

• Discover: training teachers in how to spot young people’s musical potential 
• Connect: targeting and sustaining young people’s emerging talent through strategic support
• Thrive: funding young talent UK wide through annual grants and tailor-made help for individual musicians
• Innovate: leading new thinking and action on talent development

Are you ready to take on a new challenge with a leading charity making a real difference in brain tumour research?

Brain Tumour Research is seeking an experienced and game changing Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships.

Do you have the experience, drive and determination to thrive in this role?​​

Job Purpose:

To lead delivery of our fundraising in five key income lines: Trusts & Foundations, Corporate Partnerships, Legacies, Other Charities, and Lottery; oversee our Special Events programme and assist the Director of Income Generation and Development with our Major Donor programme.

You’ll enjoy being part of and contributing to a busy, experienced, fast-working, and dedicated team while working cross-functionally with other departments such as PR, marketing and Research, Policy and Innovation.  

Brain Tumour Research is an exciting, innovative, and ambitious charity. We are passionate about finding a cure for brain tumours through the establishment of dedicated Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence around the UK. 

​

Key Requirements:

• Proven experience and success in securing, managing, and growing high value fundraising income, including corporate partnerships, trusts & foundations, legacies and major donors.
• Demonstratable strong strategic planning skills and the ability to develop and implement long-term strategies to achieve fundraising targets and enhance the charity's mission
• Proven leadership and people management skills, with experience in overseeing multi-disciplinary teams. Essential experience includes team leadership, staff motivation, setting clear objectives, and fostering a collaborative work environment.
• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management abilities.
• Track record of developing and implementing successful fundraising strategies.
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels and an excellent standard of written English.
• Analysis of data and trends to inform fundraising strategies and success measurement is an important aspect of the role. This includes using CRM systems and other fundraising tools ​​

If you are looking for a fulfilling and impactful role and have the level of experience and skill we are looking for, we welcome your application.

​We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.

The closing date for applications is: 18th January 2026​

We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process.  Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.

​

We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.

Job Title: Head of Major Giving - Trusts & Foundations and Individual Donors

Reporting to: Director of Fundraising and Development

Location of work: Home based. The post holder will be expected to travel to meet donors, travel to away days and team meetings in London. The role may involve some irregular travel throughout England and Scotland. Expenses will be paid in line with our Travel and Expenses policy. 

Contract type: Ideally full-time, 35 hours per week, 28 hours or 35 hours compressed would be considered.

Contract Length: This is a fixed term contract starting ASAP for 12 months.

Salary: £48,500 

Visa sponsorship: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Magic Breakfast is not able to offer visa sponsorship.

JOB PURPOSE    

This is a unique opportunity to step into a pivotal leadership role during an exciting period of transformation at Magic Breakfast. As Head of Major Giving (Maternity Cover), you will shape and deliver our strategy for high-value income generation across philanthropy  and trusts and foundations, while embedding a newly merged team and fostering a culture of one unified, high-performing team within Major Giving and more widely as part of Fundraising and Development.  

You will lead a team of five people, line managing and working closely with two Major Giving Leads, empowering them and co-creating a Major Giving strategy that fully seizes the opportunities presented by our refreshed organisational strategy. You will also oversee a well-established Trusts and Foundations portfolio and a group of highly engaged individual donors, maintaining and growing these important relationships whilst helping to provide strategic and targeted support across pipeline development. 

This role offers a chance to make a tangible difference by bringing together two recently merged teams, embedding new ways of working, and setting up structures for long-term success. You will have a dotted-line relationship with the Business Development Manager (Scotland), enabling you to ensure joined-up major giving approaches across the UK and unlock exciting opportunities in Scotland. 

We are looking for a natural relationship-builder with a proven track record of securing six- and seven-figure gifts, outstanding communication skills, and the ability to inspire donors, colleagues, and external stakeholders alike. As part of the Fundraising Leadership team, you will deputise for the Director of Fundraising and Development when needed and collaborate across the organisation to implement, monitor, and adapt our fundraising strategy, maximising the impact of major giving. 

This is a rare chance to leave your mark on a highly visible and strategically important function, shaping a newly merged team, influencing our major giving strategy, and contributing to the long-term success of Magic Breakfast.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver an integrated Major Giving strategy covering philanthropy and trusts & foundations with clear objectives and KPIs for income and performance and an embedded review, learn and continuously improve culture.
• Provide strong leadership across the Major Giving team, ensuring delegation and empowerment whilst also setting clear direction that helps to mitigate challenges and unlock and seize on opportunities.
• As part of the wider leadership team, play a key role in ensuring effective delivery of the fundraising strategy, organisational goals and our long-term strategic vision.

• Oversee a collaborative approach to prospect research and pipeline development to ensure a sustainable flow of opportunities, working with colleagues from across the wider department to leverage opportunities for referrals and pipeline development.

• Work across the organisation to package innovative and compelling projects for funding. Maintain a strong knowledge of the organisation strategy, business plan and opportunities for innovation, to identify and build compelling giving propositions, wish lists and a persuasive case for support including non-financial asks. 

• Prepare phased budgets and reforecasts, identifying and recognising opportunities and risks to income in line with activity plans and progress. 

• Work with finance and performance and relevant business leads to manage programme budgets and restrictions. 

• Foster strong communication and collaboration with the Business Development Manager (Scotland), ensuring effective two-way sharing of insight, alignment on donor and funder relationships, and joined-up approaches to national and devolved opportunities. 

WHAT WE OFFER

At Magic Breakfast we value our employees and work hard to develop offer a supportive, respectful culture which enables everyone to bring their whole self to work.

Please see our website for more infromation and our job pack 

APPLICATION PROCCESS

Should you wish to discuss the role before applying please email our People and Culture Team, recruitment @ magicbreakfast. com

Shortlisting - 12th - 14th January

Interview 1 - 19th OR 20th January

Interview 2 - 23rd January

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately, once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.

This is a rare opportunity to join the Scottish Wildlife Trust at a transformative time and play a leading role in one of our most ambitious fundraising initiatives.

For over 60 years, the Trust has championed healthy, resilient ecosystems across Scotland’s land and seas.

We are now creating the role of Major Gifts Manager. Joining our Development Team, and managing our Development Officer, you will lead philanthropic giving, with a particular focus on securing the Inverbroom Endowment – a multi-million pound campaign to safeguard the long-term future of our newest and largest wildlife reserve.

Working closely with an external fundraising agency, senior staff and volunteer leaders, you will manage and grow a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals, secure major gifts (including six-figures and above), and develop compelling cases for support that bring complex conservation challenges to life.

We are looking for a confident fundraiser with at least five years’ experience in philanthropy, ideally within the environmental NGO sector. You will have a strong track record of meeting financial targets, managing prospect pipelines, and stewarding long-term donor relationships.

If you are a confident relationship builder who acts with integrity, thrives on collaboration and wants your work to deliver real, lasting impact for nature, we would love to hear from you.

Fundraising Manager – Corporates and Trusts

£42,000 pro rata

Hybrid (office based in London Bridge)

Full or Part Time – Minimum 3 days a week up to 5 (flexible)

Bringing hope and help to the homeless.

Robes is a small but mighty charity tackling homelessness across Southwark and Lambeth. Working with over 600 volunteers, churches and community partners, we deliver life-changing services to vulnerable people on the streets.

In winter, we run emergency night shelters. Year-round, our Wednesday Club offers hot meals, showers and support. We provide up to six months of floating support to help guests secure sustainable accommodation and find employment or training.

We've generated around £1.9 million from private sector funding over seven years – evidence of genuine impact and donor confidence. Now we're entering an exciting growth phase. In 2027, we celebrate our 20th anniversary, presenting an incredible opportunity to expand our reach and attract new supporters.

Why Join

You'll work with a warm, values-driven team committed to tackling homelessness. Your fundraising directly enables us to provide shelter and hope to vulnerable people. This isn't a bureaucracy – you'll have real influence on strategy and growth. You'll build meaningful relationships with trusts, foundations, corporate partners and major donors, and you'll see the impact – meet someone who came off the streets, found employment, rebuilt their life. That's what you'll enable.

Our 20th anniversary in 2027 creates perfect momentum for campaign fundraising and corporate engagement. The Board is invested in growth. There's a genuine appetite for fundraising excellence and strategic expansion. You're joining at exactly the right moment.

About You

You're an experienced Fundraiser with a track record securing grants and managing relationships with trusts, foundations and major donors. You're strategic and thorough – you understand relationship-building, can write compelling applications, and articulate impact clearly.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A proven success in corporate and charitable trust fundraising, with a strong understanding of funder and donor expectations and a track record of effectively meeting them.
• Experience managing fundraising pipelines and meeting income targets.
• Strong relationship-building and stewardship skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the confidence to engage and build relationships with stakeholders and partners at the highest level.
• A keen eye for detail and ability to analyse complex data and research findings to extrapolate key messages to craft compelling cases for support or to communicate the impact of interventions.
• The ability to present complex information in the most appropriate format tailored to the specific audience.

The Role

You'll lead fundraising strategy across multiple income streams, focusing on trusts, foundations, corporate partnerships and major donors. You'll manage the full fundraising cycle from research and relationship-building through stewardship.

Reporting to the Chief Executive, you’ll execute our new fundraising strategy, support our growth plans, research funding opportunities, write strong grant applications, manage a pipeline of major donor prospects, plan our 20th anniversary campaign, and provide quarterly progress reports.

With three days a week focused on foundation and corporate partnerships work, a full-time role would typically include one day on legacy work and one day on community events.

You bring at least three years' fundraising experience, ideally in a charity setting. You're skilled at grant writing, relationship management and strategic planning. You have excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills. You're proactive, flexible and genuinely motivated by mission.

What We Offer

Competitive salary plus 25 days holiday, pension contributions and flexible working. You'll be part of a warm team with direct access to leadership and real influence over strategy. You'll work for an organisation with proven impact as well as:

• Employee Assistance Programme
• Bi-monthly team reflective practice
• 2 volunteer days annually (pro-rata)
• 25 days annual leave (pro-rata), increasing annually up to 30 days
• An additional day of paid leave for your birthday
• Maximum of an additional day a year paid leave if moving house
• Full salary if on jury service

If you're passionate about tackling homelessness and using your skills to create real change, we'd love to hear from you.

Please the full job description on the application page to learn more about the role and key selection criteria.

Apply now with CV and a Covering Letter addressing the key selection criteria.

Deadlines

Applications close midnight on Monday, 12th of January.

First round interviews will be held on Friday, 16th of January.

Borders Forest Trust (BFT) is a charity established to restore native woodland habitats to Southern Scotland, an area with the lowest percentage of native woodlands in mainland Scotland. Since 1996, they have been working towards planting trees, restoring peatlands and other natural habitats, enriching the biological diversity of around 31 sq km in the Southern Uplands. They demonstrate large scale ecological restoration in action, and inspire landowners, statutory bodies, local communities and policy makers to embrace this alternative model for land use and conservation.

Fundraising to date at BFT has seen success, but it has been responsive and ad-hoc as opposed to planned according to strategic need. To achieve their mission, and provide sustainable long-term income, in May 2025 they invested in their first dedicated Development Manager. The post holder has recently secured the Chief Executive post at BFT and as such, we are looking to back fill the role of Development Manager.

The Development Manager will join BFT at an exciting stage, they are about to embark on a new period of strategic development, and from the work undertaken by the previous post holder since May 2025, the organisation understands the importance of fundraising to their future.

They are looking for a fundraiser who will thrive on the challenge of designing and implementing their own fundraising strategy aligned with the organisations new strategic plan, and who can provide the expertise needed to build income across all areas. Trusts, membership, corporate partnerships and philanthropy are untapped areas of potential, so experience across at least one of the key areas will be essential for the successful candidate to evidence.

- Location: Hybrid (Jedburgh), with travel around the Scottish Borders. 

- Salary: £40,000 per annum

- Closing date: Midnight Tuesday 27th January 2026 

- Interviews (in person): Thursday 5th February 2026

If this role might be of interest to you, please download the Candidate Pack and schedule a chat with our Recruitment Team, contact info is in the pack. Please note, we cannot longlist any candidates we haven't had a chat with so please do express interest with enough time for a call before the closing date. 

Can you help us keep changing lives and breaking the cycle of reoffending for good? With demand for our work continuing to grow, we are excited to be welcoming a Fundraising Manager to join our team.

In this role you’ll work closely with our CEO and operations team to deliver our annual fundraising targets, focusing on trusts and foundations, major donor and corporate giving and the occasional fundraising event/external opportunity.

We are a small staff team with a large cohort of volunteers and we are all passionate and committed to our mission to stop reoffending and ensuring the best outcomes for the men we support.  We don’t have an office and staff are either home based or work in one of the prisons, depending on their role.  We stay connected through regular team meetings (online and in person), 1-1 line management support and ongoing training. This post would be home based but you will need to be able to travel to attend occasional meetings in London, West Midlands and Oxfordshire.

This is new role for Trailblazers, and we are looking for someone whose values align with the charities and believes in the impact of our work. You will be proactive, a good communicator, with a talent for building relationships and full of ideas.  You will be experienced in all aspects of trusts and foundations fundraising which is the main source of income for the charity.  Experience of diversifying income streams, major donor/corporate giving and creative ways of engaging new and existing donors would also be required.  You’ll have the freedom to shape and implement your own systems and processes and lead on developing a fundraising strategy, with full support from the CEO and wider team.

We are seeking a committed and motivated Head of Fundraising to deliver the OCT’s ambitious fundraising requirements. This is a vital role for the Ocean Conservation Trust (OCT) leading on the development and delivery of the full spectrum of fundraising activities to support our mission. The post holder will be a key contributory member of the Senior Management Team. 

The OCT has ambitious fundraising requirements. In addition to the funds raised through the National Marine Aquarium (NMA), the OCT needs a more diverse income stream to drive its core programmes, through the development of appropriate corporate, philanthropic and donation initiatives.

The post holder will need to understand the core programmes and develop appropriate schemes and campaigns to build a wide support network to secure a lasting pipeline of donations. They will need to be entrepreneurial, self-motivated, team focussed, comfortable liaising across the organisation to ensure integration with activities such as communication, research, membership, publications, partnerships and data and information services among others. They must own income targets and lead income growth, thinking in terms of pipelines, ROI, KPIs and lifetime value. In addition, they will be key to maximising use of the customer relationship management (CRM) system.

Overall, this role will be fundamental in developing the OCT as the leading Ocean conservation charity in the UK, generating significant new and diverse revenue streams to drive the Charity’s ambition.  They must be capable of moving OCT beyond NMA visitor income, building a resilient, mixed portfolio.

You will lead a team of 3 staff members and be accountable for achieving specific funding goals to deliver our strategic plans. The post is based at the National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth, UK. Flexible working arrangements include 3 days office/2 days home.

Applicants for the post will have a minimum of five years of fundraising leadership in the charity or non-profit sector with a proven track record of target-driven fundraising.

Salary and benefits

• Salary £45k.
• Company pension scheme with a matched employer’s contribution of up to 5%
• 28 days paid holiday per annum (including bank holidays)
• Up to 5 days additional holiday dependent on length of employment
• A day off on your Birthday
• Working for an Ocean Conservation Charity of repute
• Potential for some flexible working / home working
• Life Assurance scheme
• Length of service awards
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounted on-site parking
• Staff discounts up to 50%
• Complimentary family ticket each month on successful completion of probationary period

Essential skills/qualifications

• Significant experience of fundraising leadership in charity or non-profit sector

• Demonstrated track record of successful fundraising

• Thorough understanding of fundraising principles.

• Experience with individual giving, legacies and regular giving programmes from a range of socioeconomic groups

• Experience with campaign-driven projects with specific targets

• Proven success with donor prospecting, nurturing, stewardship and recognition

• Experience in managing a donor pipeline

• Proven success with grant applications

• Experience in utilising CRM systems to grow and manage fundraising prospects

• Ability to lead / manage team(s) to provide operational and strategic direction

• Ability to manage an area of responsibility including working with budgets and creating and contributing to the construction of a business plan

• Excellent communication skills with ability to confidently interact with individuals at all levels, internally and externally with stakeholders and customers

• Contract negotiation/experience skills

• Passion and an inquisitive and inventive mind

Desirable skills/qualifications

• Ability to produce a coherent and accessible written narrative for campaign development

• Understanding of relevant GDPR protection and Gift Aid legislation

Key Responsibilities are incuded in the attached Job Description.

To apply: please select the apply now button and send your CV with a covering letter and details of 2 referees. (Reference: Head of Fundraising application).

The covering letter should:

· outline your previous and most relevant experience

· explain why you are right for the role

· confirm you are available during interview week

Closing date: 14th January 2026.

Interviews will take place during the week commencing 2nd February 2026.

In line with current legislation all applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. As part of the recruitment process you will be asked to provide documented evidence of eligibility.

The OCT operates an Equality and Diversity Policy and is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community – a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. All applications will be judged solely on merit.

Only candidates invited for interview will be contacted.