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 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 our 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.
About you:
Significant experience of managing, developing, and delivering major gifts programmes, including trust and foundation income.
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
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 based at our site based in Sidmouth, East Devon - an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - and we offer 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.
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: Wednesday 26 August 2026.
Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised date and therefore encourage early applications.
The Donkey Sanctuary is a Disability Confident Employer.
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.
The Donkey Sanctuary also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and, for relevant posts, may request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.
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.
Before submitting your application, please ensure you read our candidate journey page, in particular our FAQs section – https://jobs.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/jobs/candidate-journey/
