Donor Relations Officer

University of Exeter; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious UK university seeks a Donor Relations Officer to enhance engagement with donors and supporters. This role involves implementing donor relations strategies and collaborating with fundraising teams. Ideal candidates will have excellent communication skills and a strong understanding of donor motivations. Opportunities for hybrid working are available, offering a competitive salary between £28,031 and £31,236.

Benefits

41 days leave per year

Flexible working options

Discounts at leading retailers

Onsite gyms

Generous parental leave policies

Qualifications

• Passion for providing exceptional supporter engagement.
• Understanding of fundraising methodology and donor motivations.
• Excellent communication skills and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Deliver the University’s Donor Relations strategy.
• Create and deliver strategic stewardship plans for donations.
• Ensure low-level philanthropic support is stewarded.

Skills

Exceptional supporter engagement

Fundraising methodology understanding

Excellent communication skills

Team collaboration

Job description

Overview

Global Advancement (within External Engagement and Global Division)

This new full-time post is available from 6 October 2025 on a permanent basis. This role offers the opportunity for hybrid working – some time on campus and some from home.

The starting salary will be from £28,031 up to £31,236, depending on qualifications and experience.

We welcome applications from candidates interested in working compressed or part-time hours or job-sharing arrangements.

Responsibilities

• The Donor Relations Officer is responsible for delivering the University’s Donor Relations strategy which ensures donors and supporters at all levels are thanked appropriately, informed of the impact of their donation and remain engaged with the University to support their ongoing cultivation.
• The Donor Relations Officer will work closely with the Head of Donor Relations, Donor Relations Manager and colleagues responsible for fundraising to create and deliver strategic stewardship plans and touchpoints for Major (£25k+) and Principal (£250k+) donations in support of University priorities including support for students, research and the development of campuses in Devon and Cornwall.
• The Donor Relations Officer will also work with colleagues across the Supporter Engagement team to ensure that low-level financial and non-financial philanthropic support is stewarded in line with short and long term targets.
• We are looking for an individual who is passionate about providing exceptional supporter engagement, who understands fundraising methodology and donor motivations, has excellent communication skills and enjoys working as part of an ambitious team.
• Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

About the University

The University of Exeter

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today. More than 99 percent of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).

We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community.

With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.

We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.

Benefits

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

• 41 days leave per year
• Options for flexible working
• Numerous discounts at leading retailers
• Onsite gyms on all of our campuses and a cycle to work scheme
• Sector leading policies around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay) and a Fertility Treatment Policy
• Stunning campus environments in Exeter and Cornwall, in the beautiful South West of England

Further information

Please contact Rachel Bennett, Donor Relations Manager, [e-mail]

Please be advised that due to the minimum salary thresholds imposed by the UKVI, this post will not qualify for university sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. If you are a migrant worker, you will need to ensure you have a visa which permits the right to work in the UK. Further details can be found on the Home Office website - https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas. If you are an existing Skilled Worker visa holder, we may be able to sponsor and will review the transitional arrangements - https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/certificate-of-sponsorship-before-4-april-2024