Major Donor Fundraising Manager

The Donkey Sanctuary; Devon and Torbay; Hybrid; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life assurance – 2x annual salary

31 days holiday (incl. Bank holidays)

Wellbeing team

Pilates and Yoga classes

Long service awards

Healthshield plan

Free parking

Subsidised restaurant and shop

Job summary

The Donkey Sanctuary is seeking a Major Gifts Manager to lead the development and delivery of our Major Gifts programme in line with annual targets and the wider fundraising strategy. You will work with the Head of Major Gifts to deepen high-value relationships and secure sustainable income.

You will manage a portfolio of major donors and charitable trusts, identify new donors, and lead cultivation projects, including events, while embracing a donor-centred, pipeline-driven approach across the

Qualifications

• Experience in managing, developing and delivering major gifts programmes, including trust/foundation income.
• Proven ability to cultivate and secure new major gifts and build a robust future pipeline.
• Strong relationships with high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and trusts.
• Understanding of monitoring, evaluation and performance analysis to inform decisions.
• Excellent communication/negotiation skills with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver the Major Gifts Strategy and portfolio.
• Report on projects, targets and KPIs.
• Identify and deliver new donors and income growth opportunities in Major Gifts.
• Lead donor cultivation and stewardship projects, including events.
• Secure, manage and steward a portfolio of major donors and trusts.

Skills

Major gifts fundraising

High net worth relationships

Trusts & foundations fundraising

Monitoring & evaluation

Negotiation

Stakeholder engagement

Target achievement

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a proactive and professional individual with outstanding relationship building and influencing skills to join the dedicated Fundraising Department.

This role offers hybrid working, with the requirement for site attendance currently estimated to be one day per week. We are keen to make the role work for you, and will consider flexible working patterns, where required.

Position: Major Gifts Manager

Location: East Devon/hybrid (site attendance currently estimated to be one day per week)

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week, 08.30-16.30, Monday-Friday

Salary: £41,200 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: Sunday 18 October 2026. Please note this role may close earlier than advertised.

About the Role

As Major Gifts Manager, you will drive the development and delivery of the Major Gifts programme in line with agreed annual targets and the wider Fundraising Strategy. Working closely with the Head of Major Gifts, you will continuously evolve and strengthen the approach, ensuring a highly joined-up, donor-centred model across the organisation, focusing on deepening high-value relationships, increasing sustainable income, and building a strong, forward-looking pipeline of support.

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include:

• Inputting into and delivering the Major Gifts Strategy and improving the Major Gift portfolio and performance.
• Delivering and reporting on agreed projects, fundraising targets and KPIs.
• Proactively identifying and delivering new fundraising donors and income growth opportunities within Major Gifts.
• Leading on selected donor cultivation and stewardship projects to support sustainable income growth in Major Gifts, including events and other opportunities;
• Personally securing, managing and stewarding a portfolio of active Mid-Value, Major Donors and Charitable Trusts, forging and maintaining strong and enduring relationships.
• Supporting and growing the Major Gifts cultivation programme and pipeline to grow funders’ understanding of the diversity of the charity’s work.
• Being agile to changing market conditions and trends and working with the Head of Major Gifts to relay this into cultivation and stewardship.

About You

You will have experience of managing, developing, and delivering major gifts programmes, including trust and foundation income, with:

• The proven ability to cultivate and secure new major gifts, alongside building and managing a robust future pipeline.
• Extensive experience of building and stewarding effective relationships with high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, charitable trusts, and major donors.
• A well-developed understanding of monitoring, evaluation, and performance analysis to inform decision-making.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage clearly, confidently, and diplomatically with a range of stakeholders
• Strong track record of consistently meeting or exceeding personal fundraising targets.
• Advanced influencing skills, with the ability to deliver objectives through collaboration with internal and external stakeholders at all levels

Benefits include:

• Life assurance – 2 x annual salary
• 31 days holiday (including Bank holidays), rising to 34 will each full year of service pro rata
• Wellbeing team.
• Recorded Pilates and Yoga classes.
• Long service awards.
• Healthshield plan
• Free parking.
• Life assurance.
• Subsidised restaurant and shop.

About the Organisation

Join one of the UK’s largest international animal welfare charities, currently supporting projects in over 35 countries worldwide, working for a world where donkeys and mules live free from suffering and their contribution to humanity is fully valued.

The Charity is a Disability Confident Employer, committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable people (children and adults) and expects all staff and volunteers to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to safer recruitment processes, including an application for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check where required for the post.

You may also have experience in areas such as Major Donor, Major Gifts, Fundraising, Major Donor Fundraising Manager, Major Gifts Fundraising Manager, Fundraising Manager, Philanthropy.