Major Donor Fundraising Manager

NFP People on behalf of The Donkey Sanctuary; England; Hybrid; GBP 40,000; Full time

Job description

Major Donor Fundraising Manager

These are ambitious times for the Charity after recently launching a new strategy that sees growing impact across the world exponentially.

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

Position: 1934 Major Gifts Manager
Location: This role is nominally based at our site based in Sidmouth, Devon – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – and we offer hybrid working. We are keen to make the role work for you, and will consider fully remote/home working and flexible working patterns, where required.
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week, 08.30-16.30, Monday-Friday
Salary: £40,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: Monday 26 May 2025. However, we reserve the right to close this role early if a suitable candidate is found. Interviews will be held in Sidmouth, during the week commencing 16 June 2025.

About the Role
As Major Gifts Manager, you will provide expertise in Major Gifts, successfully developing the programme in line with agreed annual targets and our Fundraising Strategy. You will work closely with the Head of Major Gifts to evolve and continuously improve the major gift activity, bringing an integrated approach across the charity to deliver the most donor-centric activity, whilst continuously evaluating performance.

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include:

1. Inputting into and delivering the Major Gifts Strategy and improving the Major Gift portfolio and performance.
2. Delivering and reporting on agreed projects, fundraising targets and KPIs.
3. Proactively identifying and delivering new fundraising donors and income growth opportunities within Major Gifts.
4. Leading on selected donor cultivation and stewardship projects to support sustainable income growth in Major Gifts, including events and other opportunities.
5. Personally securing, managing and stewarding a portfolio of active Mid-Value, Major Donors and Charitable Trusts, forging and maintaining strong and enduring relationships.
6. Supporting and growing the Major Gifts cultivation programme and pipeline to grow funders’ understanding of the diversity of the charity’s work.
7. 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
With experience of managing, cultivating, and delivering major gifts, and of planning future major gifts pipeline, you will have a proven track record of meeting and exceeding personal fundraising targets.

You will also have:

1. A demonstrable record of building excellent stewardship and successful relationships with supporters at all levels including high net worth supporters, charitable trusts and other major donors.
2. Well-developed knowledge of monitoring, evaluation, and interpretation of programme performance.
3. Demonstrable experience of project budget management/reporting.
4. Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
5. The ability to multi-task and work with several conflicting demands and timescales.

Benefits include:

1. Competitive pension.
2. Life assurance – 2 x annual salary.
3. Healthshield.
4. 31 days holiday (including Bank holidays), rising to 34 will each full year of service.
5. Wellbeing team.
6. Recorded Pilates and Yoga classes.
7. Long service awards.
8. Healthshield plan.
9. Free parking.
10. Subsidised restaurant and shop.

About the Organisation
The Donkey Sanctuary is 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.

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

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.