The Donkey Sanctuary is an international animal welfare organisation, offering care and protection to donkeys worldwide. Our vision is a world where every donkey has a good quality of life, and our mission is to improve the lives of donkeys every day. We will achieve this by transforming the lives of donkeys in need worldwide by fostering greater understanding, collaboration and support, and by promoting lasting, mutually life-enhancing relationships. 

These are ambitious times for the Charity as we have recently launched a new strategy that sees us growing our impact across the world exponentially. We have an exciting opportunity for a proactive and professional individual with outstanding relationship building and influencing skills to join our dedicated Fundraising Department. 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 our major gift activity, bringing an integrated approach across the charity to deliver the most donor-centric activity, whilst continuously evaluating performance.

About you:

• Significant experience of managing, cultivating, and delivering major gifts, and of planning future major gifts pipeline.
• A proven track record of meeting and exceeding personal fundraising targets.
• 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.
• Well-developed knowledge of monitoring, evaluation, and interpretation of programme performance.
• Demonstrable experience of project budget management/reporting.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Able to multi-task and work with several conflicting demands and timescales.

About the role:

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.

What we offer in return:

This is a full-time, permanent contract starting as soon as possible, working 35 hours per week, 08.30-16.30, Monday-Friday.

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.

Benefits:  

Competitive pension.

Life assurance – 2 x annual salary.

Healthshield.

31 days holiday (including Bank holidays), rising to 34 will each full year of service.

Wellbeing team.

Recorded Pilates and Yoga classes.

Long service awards.

Healthshield plan –

• Reimbursement of some medical expenses up to the specified limits per membership.
• Offers, discounts and cashback on shopping, travel and entertainment from participating outlets.
• Access to a 24/7 GP and counselling service.

Free parking.

Subsidised restaurant and shop.

Closing date for completed applications: Monday 26 May 2025.

Interviews will be held at The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, during the week commencing 16 June 2025.

The Donkey Sanctuary is 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.

Please note: The Guaranteed interview scheme is only applicable to candidates who consider themselves to have a disability applying for roles based within the United Kingdom.

NOTE TO APPLICANTS: We look forward to receiving your application, but we do ask you to complete this in your own words, and not to employ an Artificial Intelligence (AI) writing tool or assistant. Applications that are considered not to be an applicant’s own work may not be shortlisted for interview.