Wildlife trust charity fundraiser jobs
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Who we are:
Hope is here. The Global Returns Project (GRP) is a UK charity unlocking new philanthropy to deliver urgent solutions for our planet.
We are a fast-moving nonprofit that makes donations to high-impact nature and climate charities simple – and we don’t take any fees. We’ve already mobilised nearly £2 million for top environmental solutions and are working to unlock at least £30 million annually by the end of the decade
We are growing quickly: We expect annual fundraising to increase by 70% this year compared with last year.
The problem: Charities protecting our planet can turn the tide on climate change and nature loss. They have the skills, strategies and networks to deliver fast and global impact. But less than 2% of philanthropy goes to climate mitigation.
Our solution: In the UK alone, around £2 trillion sits with “HNW+” individuals – those holding between £100k and £30 million. Yet traditional philanthropy largely overlooks them. We’re unlocking this funding by offering trusted, pro bono advice and a simple, portfolio approach to giving. Our expertise in UK wealth advice offers a unique path to scalability and systems-change.
What we are looking for:
We’re looking for a confident, experienced fundraiser to lead major-gift fundraising — securing transformational gifts from high-net-worth individuals while building wealth-adviser relationships that generate referral leads. You’ll own the full pipeline: prospecting, cultivation, making direct asks, closing and stewardship.
The ideal candidate will be excited to cultivate networks of wealth managers, private-client teams and other advisers to HNWIs, and to convert adviser introductions into committed support. You’ll also prospect independently for major gifts outside those referral streams.
To succeed you’ll master three distinct fundraising pitches: a business case for advisers; an impact case to persuade donors to support our portfolio charities; and a systems-change case to win backing for GRP’s operating costs (salaries, office costs, etc) to keep the charity running fee-free.
You’ll be comfortable making direct asks for funding, with evidence of having closed high-value gifts or multi-year commitments. You’ll be willing to roll up your sleeves and get hands-on with everyday cultivation tasks. You’ll thrive in a small team, taking initiative and juggling priorities. Crucially, you’ll care deeply about climate and nature.
Experience required:
Substantial experience in frontline major gifts fundraising (as a guide, likely 5+ years), or an exceptional track record in adjacent fields (private client advisory, philanthropy advisory, etc).
Skills required:
- Major-gifts fundraising, with track record securing high-value and multi-year gifts
- Confidence making direct asks for major gifts
- Prospecting, research and CRM
- Donor stewardship and tailored reporting
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Team player
- Time management
- High attention to detail
- Strong understanding of, and passion to address, climate change / nature loss
Skills preferred but not required:
- Experience in environmental philanthropy
- Experience managing relationships with wealth advisers
- Geographic expertise in Jersey, Guernsey or other high-potential jurisdictions
- Trust/foundation expertise
Main duties and responsibilities:
Major gifts to GRP’s portfolio of charities
- Prospect, cultivate and convert major gifts from individuals to support GRP’s charity portfolio.
- Act as principal point of contact for HNW client referrals from GRP’s wealth-adviser network.
- Source and qualify major gift leads outside the adviser network and add them to the pipeline.
- Prepare tailored cases for support, bespoke asks and gift agreements for portfolio donors.
- Coordinate with team to ensure timely, high-quality, bespoke stewardship.
HNW wealth adviser relationships
- Prospect, cultivate and manage relationships with wealth managers, family offices, private-client teams, philanthropy advisers, etc as a referral stream for GRP.
- Present GRP’s proposition to advisers (meetings, presentations, webinars) and design adviser-facing materials when necessary.
- Develop initiatives to generate adviser referrals (events, webinars, co-branded materials) and track referral performance.
- Target and visit high-potential jurisdictions (e.g. Jersey, Guernsey) and other adviser hubs (est. once per month).
Major gifts to GRP’s operating costs
- Prospect, cultivate and convert major gifts to GRP’s core operating costs.
- Prepare business-case and budget materials that explain the strategic case for core funding.
- Pursue appropriate institutional core funders (trusts, foundations, family foundations) and draft proposals where needed.
Location: Centrally located, light and airy office on Regent Street, London. Minimum one day per week in the office. Approx. one day London/UK travel per week.
Benefits: 12.5 days’ annual leave (pro-rata), plus statutory bank holidays (pro-rata). Occasional 1–2 days’ additional paid leave over Christmas period. Flexible working.
Reports to: CEO
Preferred start date: 2 March 2026. Applications reviewed on rolling basis.
Applicants should apply via CharityJob with both a CV and cover letter addressed to the CEO, Jack Chellman. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Please include the name, email and phone number of a reference we can contact.
Registered Charity
1 - 5
Hope is here. We're unlocking new philanthropy to deliver urgent solutions for our planet.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
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.
Thank you!
Job Title: Head of Policy & Campaigns
Grade and Salary: Team lead - £56,000 to £60,000 (depending on experience)
Reporting To: Director
Number of direct reports: Three (currently)
Location: Brighton/Hybrid (At least two days per week in Brighton Office)
Contract: Full time, permanent (35 hours a week)
Travel Requirements: The post involves some UK travel and may include occasional travel to Europe.
Background
Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK) is the only charity in the UK focused solely on tackling the problems caused by pesticides and promoting safe and sustainable alternatives in agriculture, urban areas, homes and gardens. It is an independent, non-profit organisation, which works nationally and internationally to eliminate the use of the most hazardous pesticides, reduce dependence on pesticides overall, and to increase the adoption of sustainable alternatives to chemical pest control.
Our Head of Policy & Campaigns leads our work in the UK which aims to better protect both the environment and human health from pesticide harms. Through policy work, lobbying, research, media and strategic communications, we aim to influence a range of decision makers, from the UK government and devolved administrations to local councils and the country’s biggest supermarkets. The role also includes working alongside PAN UK’s Director to secure funding to cover the UK team’s salaries, overheads and activities. It is an incredibly varied role, involving everything from leading on strategy development for the UK team while also being intricately involved in writing and editing publications and executing other activities such as events and mobilising the public.
The Head of Policy & Campaigns is part of PAN UK’s Senior Management Team (along with our Director, Head of Finance and Governance and Head of International Programmes) which sets the direction of the organisation and ensures it is well-managed and delivering on our mission.
Specific responsibilities
1. Advocacy, policy and campaigning
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Lead the UK team in developing advocacy strategies, and fully utilising opportunities to make progress towards achieving PAN UK’s mission.
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Conduct high quality research and analysis aimed at influencing decision makers. Ensure it is presented in a way which is both technically accurate and compelling.
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Develop and/or maintain expertise in pesticide policy with the aim of being able to represent PAN UK credibly in a range of external fora.
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Build relationships with a wide range of decision makers including government ministers and civil servants, parliamentarians, devolved administrations, local councils and supermarkets.
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Ensure that the organisation’s policy positions on UK pesticide issues are clear, well thought out and will lead to positive change.
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Find creative ways to involve the UK public in PAN UK’s work, including enabling members of the public to contact decision makers directly.
2. Communications
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Secure media coverage for PAN UK outputs, including writing press releases and liaising with journalists. Provide written quotes for media outlets and give interviews for radio and TV.
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Write materials including policy reports, political briefings and public-facing communications such as blogs and supporter emails. Edit and sign off all outputs from the UK team, ensuring they are both well-written and accurate.
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Conduct public speaking at a range of events, from high-profile events in parliament to community gatherings (and everything in between!).
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Work closely with PAN UK’s Communications Manager to provide content for the organisation’s website and social media channels. Support the Communications Manager in their broader work which includes raising PAN UK’s public profile and leading on individual giving.
3. Fundraising and financial management
(Please note that PAN UK does not employ fundraisers).
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Raise sufficient funds to cover the UK team’s salaries, activity costs and contribution to organisational overheads.
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Contribute to efforts to raise core funds, which are led by PAN UK’s Director.
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Identify and build relationships with new funders, particularly trusts and foundations, with the aim of securing funding.
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Maintain excellent relationships with existing funders, making sure to meet reporting deadlines.
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Follow PAN UK protocols to ensure that the UK team’s finances are well-managed.
4. Leadership and strategy
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Manage a high-performing team, leading on strategy development and implementation and ensuring that the team runs effectively.
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Line manage the staff of the UK team, running regular 121s, annual appraisals and generally making sure they are happy and productive.
5. Contributing to the organisation
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Contribute to the effective and smooth running of the organisation through membership of the Senior Management Team.
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Report to the PAN UK Board of Trustees as and when required.
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Other duties as may reasonably be requested by the Director and commensurate with the post.
Person specification
Essential
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At least eight years’ advocacy experience, including experience of designing, developing and implementing both policy work and public campaigns.
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Experience of developing, implementing and reviewing strategies designed to create change.
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Excellent writing and editing skills and experience of producing both technical and public-facing materials. Exceptional attention to detail and a personal commitment to accuracy.
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An understanding of the political context, actors, and processes relating to key policy areas that intersect with pesticides such as food, farming, environment and/or health.
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Experience lobbying decision makers and knowledge of how the UK political system works.
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Demonstrable experience of preparing successful funding applications and building relationships with funders.
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Experience of managing, leading and motivating staff.
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Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice.
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Proven ability to work on own initiative, meeting objectives and tight deadlines under pressure.
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The right to work in the UK.
Desirable
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Knowledge of problems and solutions associated with pesticides and/or other chemicals.
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Experience working in sectors related to pesticides including environment, health and/or social justice.
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Relevant degree in a related discipline (science or social science).
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Experience of dealing with the media and acting as a spokesperson.
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Experience in managing project budgets.
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Knowledge of UK libel laws.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
For 40 years, PAN UK has worked to tackle the problems caused by pesticides and to promote safe and sustainable alternatives
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.