38 Trusts relationship officer jobs in Liverpool

Are you ready to make a lasting impact on the lives of dogs and the people who care for them?  
We're looking for a Welfare Manager to take charge of the welfare journey for every dog in our centre. In this pivotal role, you will drive timely, compassionate decisions through expert behavioural and veterinary rehabilitation, ensuring each dog progresses toward their forever home.

What does this role do?

As Welfare Manager, you'll: 

• lead, coach and develop a small team to deliver high-quality veterinary care and behaviour modification for dogs in our care,
• act as a balanced advocate for both behavioural and veterinary needs to achieve the best outcomes for each dog,
• oversee staff and volunteer training in behaviour and dog handling, ensuring all colleagues work within SOPs, legal, and health and safety guidelines,
• develop and implement tailored behaviour modification plans for dogs with complex needs and monitor progress towards successful rehoming,
• support professional development of Behaviour Officers, Dog Welfare Assistants, and Supervisors through mentoring, assessments, and workshops,
• collaborate with internal teams and external partners to ensure consistent, informed behavioural support before, during, and after rehoming. 

Could this be you?

As an accredited clinical dog behaviourist (CCAB, CAB) with extensive experience in canine behaviour and welfare; including behaviour modification, clinical assessment, and risk management, you will have proven expertise in safely handling and rehabilitating dogs across a range of breeds and behavioural profiles. With a strong track record of leading, developing, and managing high-performing teams, you will also be a skilled communicator, who is able to influence and engage a variety of audiences. Above all, you'll be passionate about rehoming, and have a commitment to the aims and objectives of Dogs Trust.

What does this team do?

Our rehoming centres house thousands of dogs each year until they can find a loving new home and the success of our centres wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated team of staff and volunteers; there is a real family-community within each of our centres. Come rain or shine, our team are out in all weathers to make sure the dogs have the best possible life. Dealing with thousands of visitors each month, our rehoming centres are the face of Dogs Trust, and we pride ourselves on our staff providing the very best in customer service. 

Interviews will be provisionally held on the 1st and 2nd October 2026 at our Merseyside Rehoming Centre.

About Dogs Trust

We love dogs. That’s why we do whatever we can to make sure every four-legged friend gets the love they deserve. We’ll never put a healthy dog down, so our work is focused on helping dogs in need, supporting owners every step of the walk, and creating a better world for dogs in the future. It’s what we’ve been doing since 1891 and how we’ve grown to become the UK’s leading dog charity, helping 12,000 loyal friends find their forever homes every year.

Fixed Term Contract until 31 August 2027

We are looking for a motivated and detail-oriented Data and CRM Administrator to support the management and quality of data across our programmes and operations, using our suite of Zoho resources.

This role is ideal for someone at the beginning of their data career who is keen to develop their skills in data management, reporting and CRM administration within a purpose-driven organisation. 

This role is 15 hours per week. You will be working from home with the expectation of occasional travel for in-person meetings with your manager or for organisation-wide team days (which are in London - considered commutable travel). 

Responsibilities

• Supporting the Impact and Data Lead with data quality and CRM support
• Administrative tasks such as supporting the wider TTF team with guidance documents, utilising the CRM and its functions across programmes, finance, outreach and marketing
• System improvements
• Reporting and analysis

Please read the full job description before applying for this role. 

Annual leave: 28 days + Bank Holidays (pro-rata)

Interviews will be held w/c 5 October 2026.

Applicants need to be based in the UK and have the right to work in the UK.

Job Title - Programme and Partnerships Officer (RTFN)

Contract - Fixed Term for 1 year, with the possibility of extension

Hours - 14 hours per week with flexibility across the working week

Salary - £12,800 per annum (£32,000 FTE)

Location - Home-based, with occasional travel to Coram Campus in London and other locations for meetings and events

About Coram

Coram is committed to improving the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people.

We support children and young people from birth to independence, creating a change that lasts a lifetime.

Coram is the UK’s oldest children’s charity founded by Thomas Coram in London helping vulnerable children and young people since 1739. Today, the Coram group helps more than one million children, young people, families and professionals every year by providing access to the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.

Coram is a leader in adoption and fostering, children’s health education, therapy, child and family law, and advocacy for those in and leaving care. The organisation has grown rapidly in recent years, both in terms of income and staffing, making an exciting and interesting place to be.

About the role

We are looking for an organised, collaborative and proactive Programme & Partnerships Officer to provide the coordination and delivery capacity that will help RJFN strengthen its national network and deliver its programme of work across advocacy, policy and practice development, research, training and member engagement.

Working closely with the RJFN Chair, members and partners, you will support member engagement, build and maintain partnerships, organise events and communications, and help monitor the network’s reach and impact. This is a varied role with significant autonomy and an opportunity to help shape a growing national network.

We welcome applicants with skills and experience gained through a range of routes, including professional, voluntary, community and lived experience. Knowledge or experience of racial justice, children’s rights, children’s social care, family justice or a related area is desirable, but we are particularly interested in strong organisational, relationship-building and communication skills, and a clear commitment to racial justice and anti-racist practice.

If you enjoy bringing people together, building relationships, communicating creatively and helping turn ideas into action, and you share our commitment to racial justice, we would love to hear from you!

To apply for this role, please click on the 'apply now' button below to complete the application.

Closing Date: Monday 12th October 2026 23.59pm

Interview Date: Thursday 22nd October 2026

Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from global majority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented at Coram.

If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience as well as professional experience in their personal statement as part of their application.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Registered Charity No. 312278.

About us

Greyhound Rescue Wales (GRW) is Wales’ leading charity dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming greyhounds and lurchers. Founded in 1993, we have spent more than three decades championing the welfare of sighthounds and working towards our vision: a Wales without greyhound racing, where every greyhound and lurcher has a home and receives the best possible care.

In April 2026, after 25 years of determined campaigning to improve welfare and regulation within the racing industry, legislation to ban greyhound racing in Wales was finally passed. This landmark achievement marks the beginning of a new chapter for GRW as we expand our reach and capacity across the UK to ensure every greyhound leaving the racing industry has a rescue space, medical support and rehabilitation on the journey towards their forever home.

To help us grow sustainably and strengthen our long‑term impact, we are now seeking to develop our fundraising team with the creation of a Head of Fundraising role. You will lead and work closely with the Trusts & Foundations Officer, Sponsorship & Individual Giving Officer and Community & Events Fundraiser to deliver an annual income target of £400K+.

Role

The Head of Fundraising is a senior leadership role with overall accountability for the strategic development, operational effectiveness and performance of all fundraising activity at Greyhound Rescue Wales (GRW).

The role will drive, lead and grow our fundraising strategy and has responsibility for developing diverse, sustainable income streams and building strong relationships with supporters, partners, and funders.

The role holds end‑to‑end accountability for income delivery across trusts and foundations, community and event fundraising, and sponsorship and individual giving.

The Head of Fundraising provides clear leadership to the fundraising team and has line management responsibility for:

• Trusts and Foundations Officer
• Community and Events Fundraising Officer
• Sponsorship & Individual Giving Officer

Please see attached the full job description and person specification

Trusts & Foundations Fundraiser

Bethlehem Care & Hospice Trust

Salary: £34,000-£40,000 FTE, pro rata depending on experience  |  Hours: 14.8-18.5 hours per week (0.4-0.5 FTE)  |  Location: Home-based anywhere in the UK  |  Contract: 12 months initially, with a view to extension subject to funding and performance

Help sustain Palestine's first and only licensed palliative care service

Bethlehem Care & Hospice Trust (BCHT) is a small UK charity supporting the development of specialist palliative and hospice care in Palestine. In August 2023, the service we support became the first licensed palliative care service in Palestine. Since then, its specialist nurses have cared for more than 350 patients and their families and delivered more than 5,000 home visits.

The service has demonstrated what can be achieved. Our challenge now is to secure its future. We are investing in professional fundraising for the first time and are looking for an experienced Trusts & Foundations Fundraiser to help us build the sustainable income needed to protect and strengthen this pioneering service.

The opportunity

This is an unusually autonomous role in which you will work directly with BCHT's Trustees and colleagues in Palestine. You will take responsibility for developing income from charitable trusts, foundations and grant-making organisations: identifying prospects, developing compelling propositions, preparing high-quality applications and building long-term funder relationships.

We currently raise approximately £60,000-£80,000 each year against a core service requirement of around £150,000. Your initial focus will therefore be sustainability of the existing service, with opportunities subsequently to support its development and growth. Our Year 1 income target for this role is £70,000.

This role could be for you if you have proven experience of successful trusts and foundations fundraising; can demonstrate success in preparing grant applications; write persuasively; can research and develop a strong prospect pipeline; are highly organised; can work independently; and would value the opportunity to use your professional expertise to make a direct and measurable difference.

Experience of healthcare, hospice or palliative care, international development, small charities or faith-based organisations would be useful but is not essential.

BCHT is inspired by Christian values of compassion, dignity and service. Applicants should be sympathetic to the values and mission of the charity. The palliative care service we support is provided to people regardless of faith, ethnicity, background or ability to pay.

What we offer: flexible home-based working; 25 days' annual leave plus UK public/bank holidays, pro rata; and a workplace pension scheme with a 5% employer contribution, subject to scheme rules. You will have considerable scope to shape BCHT's approach to trusts and foundations fundraising and direct access to Trustees and decision-makers.

To apply, please submit your CV and a covering letter of no more than two pages explaining why you are interested in the role and how your experience meets its requirements. Please download the Recruitment Pack for further information.

Closing date: Friday 25 September 2026  |  Interviews: Week commencing 5 October 2026  |  Start: As soon as possible by agreement

Who we are

IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) is a national charity working to ensure that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the educational support they are legally entitled to. Since we were formed in 1983, we have helped to improve the education experience of thousands of children and young people across England. We do this by providing free and independent legal advice and casework support for families, undertaking policy work and delivering training on the SEND legal framework.

What you’ll do

Reports to: Fundraising Manager

Location: Remote, with occasional travel for funder and staff meetings 4-5 times a year

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Trusts and Philanthropy Officer to join our small, ambitious fundraising team. IPSEA has a proven track record of successfully securing grants for core costs and projects. You will be responsible for researching new funding opportunities, preparing and submitting tailored applications and reports, and managing relationships with funders through thoughtful and timely stewardship. You will also have the opportunity to shape the early development of our strategies in major gifts and wider philanthropy and contribute to this work into the future.

This is a key role in IPSEA’s fundraising strategy and will help secure long-term financial sustainability for our services. 

If you share our commitment to protecting, promoting and upholding the rights of children and young people with SEND and would like to use your fundraising skills at IPSEA, we would love to hear from you. 

What we can offer you

• 5% employer pension contributions
• Healthcare cash plan
• Flexible working arrangements
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays plus an additional day off for your birthday (pro-rata if part-time).

To apply

Visit our website to download a recruitment pack and application form.

Deadline for applications: 9am on 5 October 2026.

First-round interviews: on 16 October in London, with second-round interviews (online) in the week commencing 19 October 2026.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE.

Trusts and Grants Manager

Little Flowers Club

Salary: £35,000-£42,000 pro rata for 2/3 days per week
Location: Remote
Reporting to: CEO/ Founder

Every child deserves to feel safe, valued and capable of growth, whatever their starting point. That's the belief Little Flowers Club was built on.

We're a not-for-profit providing trauma-informed support for children and young people with SEN and complex, overlapping needs, through our Alternative Provision service in schools and settings across Gloucestershire, and our Stay & Play holiday clubs, giving SEN children a safe, sensory-friendly space during school closures.

Now we're looking for a Trusts and Grants Manager to secure the funding that makes this work possible.

The role

This is a brand-new, standalone fundraising role, and a genuinely flexible one. You'll own the trusts, foundations and statutory funding pipeline from end to end: spotting the right opportunities, writing applications that land, and keeping funders close so they come back again.

You'll work directly with our CEO to shape an income strategy built on trusts, grants and statutory funds, with real scope to make your mark from day one.

It's an ideal fit if you're an experienced freelance or part-time fundraiser looking for a role with genuine autonomy and immediate impact.

What you'll do

• Build and manage a trusts and grants pipeline, keeping applications and reports on track
• Research funders that align with our services and strategic goals
• Assess eligibility and funding guidelines to prioritise the strongest opportunities
• Write compelling applications, proposals and reports that bring our impact to life
• Keep clean records of applications, outcomes and reporting deadlines
• Track funding performance against targets, flagging gaps early
• Steward funder relationships to build long-term, repeat support
• Work with the team to pull together impact data, case studies and programme detail for bids

What you'll bring

• A proven track record of winning five- and six-figure grants from trusts, foundations and/or statutory funders
• Strong bid writing and reporting skills
• The organisation to manage multiple deadlines independently
• Confident written and verbal communication
• Relationship-building skills that put funders at ease
• A good head for budgets and project finances
• Comfort with Microsoft Office and fundraising CRMs
• The self-motivation to work independently in a small team

Nice to have: experience fundraising for SEN, youth or community services; CRM implementation experience; knowledge of Gloucestershire's funding landscape.

How to apply

Charity People is managing this recruitment for Little Flowers Club. Send your CV and a cover letter setting out why you're right for the role to Philippa Randle.

Closing date: midday, Thursday 1 October

Interviews: online, week commencing 5 October

We can't wait to hear from you.

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

About the role:

The Fundraising Manager will play a key role in securing sustainable income to enable Amber to achieve its mission. Working closely with the CEO, you will develop and deliver fundraising across a diverse range of income streams, building strong relationships with funders, supporters and partners.

As Amber's sole fundraising professional, you will lead all aspects of income generation, building on established income streams such as trusts and foundations, community fundraising, individual giving and events, while developing income streams that are at an earlier stage, including legacy giving and corporate sponsorship. You will work closely with the CEO and colleagues across the organisation.

This is a varied and rewarding role that combines strategic planning with hands-on fundraising, offering the opportunity to make a direct impact on the lives of blind and partially sighted children through music.

Main duties and responsibilities:

- Planning and Monitoring

- Trusts and Foundations

- Community Fundraising

- Corporate Sponsorship

- Individual Giving

- Events and Campaigns

To successfully lead the Grants team and raise voluntary income from a range of Grantmakers including Trusts, Foundations and local Government grant funders contributing to an overall team target of £1-million +. Working effectively with a grants team of three, and across the organisation, you will meet team annual targets of circa £675,000 through finding new opportunities, building excellent relationships with funders and managing the team effectively. This will lead to more young people reached by Eikon’s services.

Responsibilities

Income generation

· Lead responsibility for raising current annual team target of £675,000 for restricted and unrestricted income

· Work to agreed metrices including an annual target of £220,000 - £250,000/year with a pipeline including statutory, national & regional grant funders (some being invite only).

· Develop and lead networking plan (internal/external) to secure long-term grant and statutory funding opportunities to help increase financial income year on year.

Account Management

· Lead a stewardship framework, ensuring excellent account management of funders across the team (including own portfolio)

· Lead plans for the year, thinking creatively to develop new engagement opportunities such as panels, breakfast meetings and other events

· Collaborate with other leads and managers in the team to maximise opportunities through relationships, for example Major Donors, Corporate partnerships and Individual Givers.

Management

· Line management two staff members (Senior Grants Fundraiser and Trust Fundraiser), creating a positive and supportive working culture supporting them to meet their targets

· Lead on managing pipeline information on Donorfy, being able to pull reports for information and analysis including:

o Provision of data and narrative for monthly team meetings

o Contribution to Board reporting with narrative and pipeline information

o Analysis for annual planning sessions

Quality and standards

· Ensure all staff and volunteers understand and deliver within Eikon’s safeguarding policies and practices when taking part in fundraising activities.

· Ensure all activities follow the relevant Fundraising Codes of Practice and Eikon’s Ethical Fundraising Policy.

· Prepare relevant Grant Agreements and contractual information.

· Carry out risk assessments for all activities for which you are responsible.

· Carry out required basic due diligence on new funders.

Finance and resources

· Budget responsibility with authorisation up to agreed limits

· Operate within organisational approved budgets, policies and procedures.

Communications and relationships

· Work collaboratively with the Communications Lead to devise annual communications and marketing plans, ensuring Eikon is strategically positioned externally.

· Work collaboratively with service leads ensure new services developed meet funder needs and requirements

Strategy/transformation work

· Lead on developing and delivering annual grants plan

· Participating in a Leads network, contribute regularly to organisation matters including strategies, annual plans and budgeting.

Organisational requirements

· Work within Eikon’s equal opportunities, health & safety, and safeguarding policies at all times

· Understand and act when safeguarding issues need to be escalated

· · This is a flexible working role. You must be available to attend regular external meetings across Surrey and occasional meetings at Eikon’s New Haw office. Some meetings may take place outside normal working hours or at weekends.

· Work co-operatively and under the management of The Eikon Charity staff to ensure the highest quality of delivery and support

· Work within Eikon’s internal policies, safeguarding and data protection regulations

· Be responsible for equipment/resources

· To promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security in the working environment

Volunteer It Yourself (VIY), a UK-wide not-for-profit organisation linked to youth skills and employment, volunteering and construction, is looking for a passionate fundraising manager to drive our income streams and play a crucial role in helping to grow our income.

As the Fundraising Manager you will be responsible for identifying and securing new funding opportunities, developing existing opportunities and funding streams, writing and submitting funding applications and proposals and managing the ‘income’ pipeline.

We’re seeking someone ambitious who has proven experience in securing grant funding and bid writing preferably across multiple sectors/income streams, ideally including the public sector and local authorities and corporate CSR and sponsorship programmes. You will identify, cultivate, apply to and steward funders , securing both restricted and unrestricted income to support VIY’s vital work.

You will play a pivotal role in delivering sustainable income growth and supporting VIY’s ambitious plans for the future.

ALDER HEY CHILDRENS CHARITY 

Job title: Philanthropy Propositions Lead 

Salary: £31,125 - £39,826 

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Location: Mix of home working and office based (office is at Alder Hey, Liverpool). Hybrid working available. 

About us 

Alder Hey Children’s Charity raises vital funds to help make Alder Hey Children’s Hospital a truly world-class, patient-friendly hospital for the 450,000 patients and families we care for every year. 

The charity helps to fund a range of activities and projects that are designed to enhance and improve the lives of our amazing young patients. This includes the funding of specialist medical equipment to ensure our brilliant surgeons and clinical staff have the most up to date and cutting edge technology available and funding hi-tech distraction equipment designed and proven to reduce pain and anxiety in our patients. We also fund a range of programmes and special projects such as our ward musicians, our on-site magician and the play specialists we have on every ward. 

About this role 

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of children's healthcare by developing compelling cases for support and leading fundraising proposition development for one of the UK's most ambitious children's hospital charities. 

The Philanthropy Propositions Lead will be responsible for creating inspiring, evidence-based fundraising propositions that secure transformational philanthropic support from major donors, trusts and foundations. 

Working across Alder Hey Children's Charity and Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation, the postholder will develop and project manage a pipeline of strategic funding opportunities. This will include helping to coordinate the Charity's capital appeal programme, ensuring complex projects progress efficiently from early concept through to successful fundraising and delivery. 

This role combines exceptional writing, strategic thinking, stakeholder management and project leadership, ensuring every fundraising proposition tells a compelling story of how philanthropy can transform children's healthcare. 

Key Responsibilities will include: 

Case for support and fundraising proposition development 

• Write transformational cases for support which demonstrate clear patient benefit, articulate the case for charitable funding and include meaningful outcomes and impact measures. 

• Produce bespoke proposals for major donors and funders. 

• Create compelling donor and funder updates and reports.

Funding opportunity pipeline development 

• Maintain a pipeline of future funding opportunities, ensuring sufficient project information is available before entering fundraising. 

• Ensure proposed projects have clear objectives, realistic budgets, measurable outcomes and defined timescales. 

Capital Appeal Coordination 

• Develop project plans for complex fundraising opportunities and monitor progress across multiple workstreams. 

• Coordinate regular project meetings with clinical, operational and fundraising colleagues. 

Internal Collaboration 

• Build strong relationships with colleagues and clinicians in the Trust. 

• Work collaboratively with the Charity Grants and Impact Team, Alder Hey  clinicians and Trust staff and colleagues across the Charity to develop compelling funding opportunities for agreed projects and areas of work. 

Other Duties 

• Be an outstanding advocate for Alder Hey Children’s Charity in line with the core values of the organisation. 

• Be an active and supportive member of the Alder Hey Children’s Charity team, contributing to the team’s development and working collaboratively with colleagues and volunteers. 

• Attend and support events run by fundraising teams whererequired, including occasional out-of-hours working. 

• Keep up to date with trends in philanthropy, healthcare fundraising and capital appeals, applying learning to strengthen fundraising propositions. 

• Gain andmaintainan in-depth knowledge and understanding of the charity’s work,prioritiesandfuture plans. 

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information. 

Our Values 

At Alder Hey Children’s Charity, our values guide how we work. Being courageous, working together, showing passion and embracing creativity enables us to support the hospital in delivering the very best care for young patients and their families. 

Courage 

We try new things, take risks and innovate. We speak up, take accountability and act with responsibility. 

Together 

We work as one team, sharing knowledge and learning. We partner with patients, families, supporters and colleagues. 

Passion 

We are passionate about what we do and inspire others. 

Magic 

We are creative, fun and child-led, creating special moments and going the extra mile. 

Additional Information 

In April 2025, the charity adopted a four-day working week policy. Staff previously working 37.5 hours now work 30 hours across four days, maintaining full pay while supporting a better work-life balance. 

This job description outlines the general nature of the role and is not exhaustive. It may be subject to change in line with organisational needs. 

Alder Hey Children’s Charity will make reasonable adjustments where required and is committed to equal opportunities and safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. 

The post holder will be required to complete an enhanced DBS disclosure check. 

How to apply 

You can apply by clicking the link below. Applications must include your CV and a covering letter (no more than one side of A4) which answers the following questions: 

• How do you meet the person specification? If you don’t exactly meet all of the role requirements but have transferable skills please do consider applying and provide details as part of your answer.

• Why do you want to work for Alder Hey? 

Additional information is included within the Job Description and Person Specification. 

Closing date: Monday 5th October 2026 

Initial screening interviews will be held via Teams onTuesday 13th October 2026 

Second stageinterviews will be held inpersonatAlder HeyonMonday 19th October2026 

Join Brightside and help transform the futures of young people facing barriers by securing the funding and partnerships that make life-changing mentoring possible. This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious fundraiser to play a key role in growing our impact across the UK.

Brightside is the UK's leading online mentoring provider, connecting young people with relatable role models so they can make confident and informed decisions about the future. Since 2003, we've supported more than 178,000 young people and facilitated over three million messages between mentoring pairs on our safe and secure online mentoring platform.

We're looking for a talented Fundraising and Partnerships Manager to help deliver our growth ambitions. Working closely with the CEO and Senior Partnerships Manager, you'll play a key role in securing the funding and partnerships that enable Brightside to expand its reach and impact.

What you'll be doing

• Identifying funding opportunities from trusts and foundations
• Writing compelling grant applications, proposals and reports
• Building and managing a strong pipeline of prospective funders
• Supporting stewardship and relationship management with funders and partners
• Contributing to wider partnership and philanthropy activity, including prospect research and proposal development

What we're looking for

• A proven track record of securing grants from trusts and foundations
• Excellent bid-writing and written communication skills
• Experience managing fundraising pipelines and multiple deadlines
• Strong relationship-building and organisational skills
• A passion for creating opportunities for young people and strong alignment with Brightside's mission and values

Why join us?

• Remote working, with opportunities to connect in person
• Flexible working arrangements
• A friendly, ambitious and supportive team culture
• The opportunity to help more young people access the support, networks and confidence they need to succeed

For full details of the role, responsibilities, person specification, benefits and application process, please see the attached job description.

This is a unique opportunity to lead fundraising for a charity at the cusp of substantial growth, with an exceptional track record of recent fundraising success, an engaged base of supporters and significant untapped potential across multiple channels.

Overview
As Director of Fundraising and Development for Plum Village UK, you will provide strategic leadership of the charity’s fundraising at this critical juncture. Building on the successful campaigns that brought our new Being Peace Practice Centre into being, you will lead the development of a sustainable, diversified fundraising operation across donor stewardship, trusts and foundations, regular giving, legacies, and partnerships, to deepen relationships of trust and gratitude with our supporters.

This role is ideal for a fundraising leader, whether from a career fundraising background or another field, who brings strategic capability alongside deep alignment with the Plum Village tradition, where fundraising itself becomes a form of engaged practice in service of mindfulness and community transformation.

Fundraising in the Plum Village tradition is fundamentally relational. It is not a matter of extracting income from a base of supporters, but of deepening the relationships of trust, gratitude and shared purpose with those who make our work possible, in ways that embody the values of the tradition. Done well, fundraising is itself a form of engaged practice. The Director will be expected to lead the function in this spirit.

The role comes with a high level of strategic ownership. An initial fundraising strategy has been developed and shared with trustees, providing a framework of priority channels, governance arrangements and resourcing for the next phase. The new Director will inherit this as a starting frame, and will then be empowered and expected to develop, refine and bring forward a fundraising strategy on their own authority, working closely with the Lead Trustee for Fundraising and presenting proposals to the board as appropriate. The role also carries operational ownership of the fundraising mechanics, including the choice and management of supporting systems, databases and tools.
 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic leadership of fundraising

• Lead PVUK's fundraising strategy, developing and refining the strategic direction, and presenting proposals to the Board for approval and resourcing.

• Set, monitor, and report on fundraising targets across all income channels, in agreement with the Lead Trustee for Fundraising and the Board.

• Provide regular substantive updates on fundraising at quarterly board meetings, working with the Lead Trustee on the preparation of board-level reporting.

• Bring forward analysis and proposals to support the Board in setting wider strategic priorities, including realistic income potential by channel and the investment required to secure it.

• Identify and manage risk in the fundraising portfolio, including channel concentration, donor over-reliance, and the sustainability of resourcing.

Donor stewardship and relationship development

• Lead the stewardship of PVUK’s existing donors, lenders, and supporters with the depth of care that this base deserves, recognising it as the most precious resource of the fundraising function.

• Cultivate and deepen relationships with major donors, including through personal contact, site visits, and tailored communication of impact.

• Work with the Chair of Trustees, the Centre Director, and other senior figures on key relationships that require their involvement.

• Steward the friendly lender base throughout the lifetime of their loans, maintaining trust and keeping them informed of the charity’s progress.

• Build and maintain a culture of gratitude and recognition that appropriately honours the contributions of all supporters.

Income channel development

• Lead delivery and growth across PVUK’s priority fundraising channels: donor stewardship, trust and foundation fundraising, regular giving, legacies and Gifts in Wills, and partnerships with values-aligned organisations and networks.

• Develop trust and foundation fundraising as a substantial new income stream, including scoping aligned funders, building peer-to-peer introductions, constructing tailored funding propositions, and overseeing high-quality application writing and reporting.

• Design and grow a regular giving programme that converts members, retreatants and supporters into ongoing monthly donors.

• Develop a structured legacy and Gifts in Wills programme that normalises legacy giving across PVUK’s communications and supports those who wish to leave a Gift in their Will.

• Develop partnerships with values-aligned organisations and networks where these support both income generation and the wider reach of PVUK’s work, in close consultation with monastics and trustees.

Operations, systems and budget ownership

• Own the operational mechanics of fundraising for PVUK, including the choice, configuration and ongoing management of databases, donor management systems, online giving platforms, and integration with communications tools.

• Manage the fundraising budget, including a discretionary supplementary budget for consultancy, training, materials creation, contracted support and light administrative resource, deployed at the Director’s judgement to develop the function effectively.

• Maintain accurate, GDPR-compliant supporter records and ensure sound data practices throughout the fundraising operation.

• Provide accurate financial reporting on fundraising performance, working with PVUK’s finance function and external accountants as required.

• Make the case for additional resourcing where evidence of need supports it, including the possible recruitment of a Fundraising Officer in due course.

Communications and storytelling

• Lead the development of compelling fundraising narratives that authentically convey the work of PVUK and the Being Peace Centre to multiple audiences, including major donors, institutional funders, individual supporters and the wider public.

• Work closely with the PVUK Communications team on the integration of fundraising communications with the wider communications strategy.

• Commission and oversee the production of fundraising materials, including written content, graphic design, video and digital assets, drawing on contracted specialists where appropriate.

• Ensure that all fundraising messaging about the Being Peace Practice Centre is agreed with the Centre Director before publication.

Working partnerships across PVUK

• Work in close partnership with the Centre Director on all matters relating to Being Peace, with agreed ways of working on messaging, external representation, and any programming commitments made to funders.

• Work with the Lead Trustee for Fundraising as primary day-to-day point of contact at board level, supporting the Lead Trustee to hold strategic oversight of fundraising on behalf of the Board.

• Work with colleagues across PVUK’s communications, dharma programming, sangha-building and partnership functions, with these working relationships developing naturally in the first months of the role.

• Draw on external advisors and specialists as needed for support and assurance, both in technical fundraising disciplines and in sector-specific knowledge.

• Engage volunteer capacity from within the community where this can valuably supplement the fundraising operation.

Empowering the next generation

We’re looking for an incredible, self-starting fundraiser to help transform the lives of young people and raise vital funds to support RAF Air Cadets. If you’re passionate about CSR, skilled at connecting supporters to a genuine cause and passionate about providing air cadets with unforgettable opportunities, we’d love to hear from you.

The Air Cadet Charity is an independent organisation dedicated to supporting the RAF Air Cadets. We provide essential grants for activities, cutting-edge equipment, and life-changing experiences that go beyond standard provision. From funding flight simulators and drone technology to enabling international expeditions, STEM projects, and leadership training, we give young people the tools to excel. Operating primarily on voluntary contributions made via cadet subscriptions from across the RAF Air Cadet organisation, we are now strategically expanding our fundraising focus toward corporate support.

This is an exciting role where you will take the lead on building upon our existing corporate foundations and establishing our dedicated corporate supporter network from the ground up. We are a close-knit, collaborative team offering a supportive workplace where your vision and contributions will directly shape our growth.

Please note this role is primarily home-based with travel across the UK for supporter engagement, meetings, and events.

Key responsibilities

• Corporate giving: Identify, cultivate, and secure valuable philanthropic donations and financial support from businesses aligned with our mission, driving the primary focus of the role to grow our corporate donor base.
• Income generation & strategy: Drive income growth by developing and delivering against agreed corporate fundraising targets, building a sustainable pipeline of new supporters, and actively monitoring and reporting on financial progress.
• Diversified fundraising & income generation: Oversee and manage our broader fundraising streams—including individual donors and digital/website giving channels—alongside  handling occasional applications, stewardship, and reporting for existing trusts, foundations, and major donors as required.
• Stewardship & relationship management: Deliver exceptional, high-touch stewardship to build long-lasting, meaningful relationships with our corporate donors, individual supporters, and stakeholders.
• Collaboration: Work alongside our team to co-create inspiring case studies, impact reports, and marketing materials highlighting how philanthropic donations directly benefit cadets.
• Representation: Act as an enthusiastic ambassador for our charity at networking functions, corporate meetings, and cadet showcases.

This role reports to the Charity Director and works closely with the Marketing and Engagement Officer, collaborating across income generation and marketing to support our mission.

Person specification

• Essential experience: Proven track record in corporate fundraising within the charity sector, with a strong emphasis on securing corporate donations and an ability to manage multiple income streams as a sole fundraiser.
• Relationship building: Exceptional networking, negotiation, and communication skills with a natural talent for inspiring supporters to invest in our grant-making cause.
• Commercial acumen: Strong understanding of corporate social responsibility (CSR) objectives and philanthropic giving.
• Working style: Highly self-motivated, entrepreneurial, and capable of working independently in a remote/hybrid environment while contributing to a friendly team culture.
• Travel requirements: A willingness and ability to travel regularly across the UK—including to London and various regional locations—for corporate meetings, relationship building, and charity events.
• General Support: A willingness to undertake other reasonable duties to support our team and wider charity goals.

Desirable skills:

• Familiarity with CRM systems or donor databases.
• Proven ability to plan and deliver corporate engagement events.
• Knowledge of digital marketing and social media to support fundraising campaigns.
• Understanding of the youth sector or uniformed organisations.
• Familiarity with the Armed Forces, defence sector, or military-charity networks, bringing a helpful understanding of defence contacts and sector terminology.
• Background in managing trusts, foundations, individual donors, or major donors and building face-to-face relationships.
• Experience writing compelling applications and stewardship reports for trusts, foundations, and major donors.

Why join us?

• Be part of a friendly, supportive, and dedicated team where your ideas matter.
• Enjoy the flexibility of home-based working while staying closely connected with colleagues and supporters.
• 26 days annual leave (pro-rata for part-time hours) plus bank holidays and a Christmas shutdown period.
• 5% employer pension contribution.
• Life assurance cover at 4x your salary.
• The chance to see the direct, inspiring impact of your work on young people's lives.

How to apply

Submit your CV and a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) detailing your relevant fundraising experience and why you are inspired to support our charity's mission.

Application Timeline & Process:

• Closing Date: 9am Friday 2nd October
• Shortlisting & Interviews: Shortlisted candidates will be contacted shortly after the closing date, with interviews to be held on 22 October in person.
• Interview Format: A single-round interview process featuring a brief, pre-interview practical task to give us a chance to see your skills in action.

The Air Cadet Charity is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. Successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.