Animal welfare officer jobs

Animal welfare charities the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) and the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) are seeking a dynamic and dedicated Fundraising & Membership Officer to strengthen the Fundraising and Communications team. This pivotal role involves working with the Fundraising Manager to develop and deliver fundraising initiatives, enhance membership engagement and donor relationships to support and expand the impact of our animal welfare initiatives during an exciting period of growth and change for both charities. 

The ideal candidate will enjoy working as part of a small multi-disciplinary team but also be confident to take the lead and work unsupervised when necessary. 

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is looking for the next step in their fundraising career. 

This position can be office-based, or home-based. However, the postholder will be expected to attend our offices in Hertfordshire to carry out duties as required, and attend some meetings.  Travel costs and subsidence will be covered for the employee in these situations. The job may also require occasional travel within the UK and possibly overseas for conferences/meetings and other relevant events - some of which may occur at weekends or in the evening. Because we’re based in the UK, the appointee will need to be UK-based and legally entitled to work in the UK. 

We use anonymous recruitment at the screening stage to ensure an equitable recruitment process. 

Please see the Application Pack for a full job description, details on how to apply and further information.

We are current looking for an Individual Giving Officer to join the Fundraising team. This role can be home based but there will be a requirement to attend headquarters in Dunfermline as required.  

If this sounds like a role you would be interested in, please read on for more information. 

• Hours – 35 hours per week
• Salary – £27,499 per annum (FTE)
• Contract Type – Permanent

About the Scottish SPCA

As Scotland’s animal welfare charity, we have been on-hand to protect animals and prevent cruelty since 1839 – that’s over 185 years of creating a better world for all animals. We’ve grown to become a national charity which celebrates the strength of the human-animal bond and enriches the lives of animals and people. We are Scotland’s animal champions.

What does an Individual Giving Officer do? 

To support the planning, project management and delivery of a full programme of Individual Giving acquisition campaigns and appeals to optimise response rates and lifetime value potential of donors and members.  Working closely with the Data & Insights Manager you’ll gather and interpret the necessary insights to support campaign and appeal planning and will work closely with Marketing colleagues to ensure the delivery of campaigns and appeals across multiple channels.
 

Overview of main duties and responsibilities

•Model the Society’s values - Commitment, Compassionate, Professional and Expert - in your leadership approach to drive a high performing culture, high employee and volunteer engagement through effective communication, and by giving and receiving regular feedback 
•Work closely with colleagues and partners to deliver and monitor an effective Individual Giving plans and programmes, including: 
          o        Membership acquisition activities, including supporting the management of third-party acquisition agencies 
          o        Campaigns and appeals, including urgent or emergency appeals 
•Responsible for monitoring and tracking related expenditure 
•Provide support to the Supporter Experience Manager and Stewardship Officer to design and implement appropriate and effective supporter journeys for new members and supporters 
•Work closely with the Data & Insights Manager to ensure campaigns and appeals are insight-led. 
•Support the Marketing and Communications team to develop and optimise campaigns and appeals. 
•Work collaboratively on all Individual Giving products and propositions, ensuring alignment with brand and key messages 
•Manage relevant relationships with partners and suppliers to ensure effective use of budget and alignment with strategic objectives. 
•Adhere to all fundraising regulation and best practice guidance, identifying areas of development and contribute to the Fundraising Team’s ongoing pursuit of excellence 
•Develop relationships with Operations colleagues to support the collection of appropriate campaign, appeal and stewardship stories and content.

 Please see full Job Description link for more detailed information on the role. 

 What makes a good Individual Giving Officer? 

•Able to demonstrate the knowledge and actions required for delivery of sustainable income generating programmes
•An understanding of the role of digital technologies, brand, marketing and audience segmentation to inform and influence income growth and encourage retention
•Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including developing effective and compelling copy and case for support
•Ability to build effective relationships both internally and externally
•Attention to detail
•Ability to prioritise own workload and direct the work of others
•Excellent knowledge of MS Office
 

We are fortunate that some of our roles attract a high level of interest therefore, we may have to close roles earlier than advertised. Early application submissions are highly recommended.  This also means that we cannot provide individual feedback to unsuccessful candidates due to receiving high levels of applications. 

The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We recognise that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to achieving our core mission.

The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an Equine Welfare Member of the National Equine Welfare Council.

Scottish Charity No SC 006467

Are you an innovative and certified Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM professional who wishes to be a valued member of a busy and friendly fundraising team, taking responsibility for the management of the charity’s future Dynamics 365 CRM? 

The charity shall shortly begin the discovery phase of its CRM project, to deliver its future Dynamics 365 CRM.  The new Dynamics 365 CRM will be at the heart of the charity’s success, to deliver excellent supporter data quality for its fundraising and communication campaigns to supporters. 

Reporting to the Director of Fundraising, and collaborating closely with the Head of IT, CRM Project Manager and Data Analyst, the CRM Officer shall be a vital and visible role, fundamental to the charity’s fundraising success, to further its vision of a world where every horse is treated with respect, compassion and understanding.

Through your proven Dynamics 365 CRM skills and experience, you will also lead on the charity’s CRM business processes and data quality, collaborating with fundraising, communications, IT and finance stakeholders, colleagues and third party suppliers.

If you want to make real and positive difference to a leading charity’s fundraising and campaigns success, through your professional Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM management skills and experience, then we’d love you to apply.

Location

This position is based remotely.  But you must be a resident of the United Kingdom with all the necessary legislative ‘right to work’ documentation.  You will be required to attend the charity’s head office located in Norfolk a minimum of 6 times per year and this will be at your own expense for travel and accommodation.

About World Horse Welfare

World Horse Welfare is an international equine charity whose vision is a world where every horse is treated with respect, compassion and understanding. 

The charity’s work covers horses in need, sport and leisure, work and production within both the UK and abroad.  The charity runs four farm centres for rehabilitation and outreach work within the UK. The charity has four key strategic themes under which its programmes of work nationally and internationally are structured, these are: Care, Research, Education and Influence.

In 2023, the charity fundraised c. £15.6 million, including significant Legacy income.

Benefits include a generous pension scheme and cash health plan, paid employee sickness absence scheme, a minimum of 31 days’ holiday (including bank/public holidays and mandatory shutdown between Christmas and New Year) and death in service.

World Horse Welfare is committed to championing equality and diversity in all aspects of employment and in the services that it provides. We encourage applications from under-represented groups, particularly ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQ+ and disabled people.

Brooke’s work across Africa, Asia and Latin America transforms the lives of animals and people in the communities we serve. Our vision is of a world in which working horses, donkeys and mules are free from suffering and have a life worth living.

As Content Planning Manager, you will join Brooke’s Fundraising and Communications Directorate at an exciting time as we deliver our five-year strategy. You’ll play a key role in shaping and coordinating compelling written and visual content that engages supporters across every stage of the funnel.

You will manage the full content process from gathering and creation to sharing and measurement. Line managing a small team, you’ll also support our international communications colleagues, including coordinating a conference to bring together colleagues from across the globe. Working closely with the Brand Manager, you will ensure all content whether copy, imagery, video or design reflects and strengthens the Brooke brand.

The ideal candidate will have experience in designing and implementing content strategies, with a strong grasp of workflow processes for both online and offline channels. You’ll be a strategic thinker with excellent stakeholder management and planning skills, and a confident communicator who can tell impactful stories tailored to different audiences.

If you are passionate about creating powerful, strategic content that engages supporters and strengthens brand impact, apply now and play a vital role in shaping Brooke’s communications for the future.

At Brooke, we celebrate diversity and the creative new ideas it brings. We actively encourage applications from all backgrounds, in particular global majority candidates, candidates from a social mobility background, disabled and neuro-diverse candidates, and candidates under 25 as these groups are currently under-represented at Brooke. 

We are aware that studies have shown that women and global majority candidates are less likely to apply for a role if they feel they do not meet the full criteria of the job description. If you feel you meet the majority of the criteria, we would love to hear from you. 

We offer a variety of flexible working options to best support our staff and to ensure our working practices are as inclusive as possible. 

This role may close early depending on responses

Legacy Officer

Location:  London

Hiring range: 34,000-40,000 GBP per year

Make a lasting impact on animals through careful legacy administration.

We are seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Legacy Officer to join our team. You would be responsible for your share of the legacy administration cases in the UK, ensuring that gifts left to IFAW in Wills are handled efficiently, sensitively, and in accordance with legal and organisational standards. You would report to the Global Legacy Administration Manager on a day-to-day basis. Your work will directly support IFAW’s mission by maximising income from legacies to fund our animal welfare and conservation efforts.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is a global leader in animal welfare and conservation.

We work tirelessly to protect animals and their habitats around the world. We help animals and people thrive together. Our UK office works to tackle various animal welfare issues at home and abroad. Legacy gifts play a vital role in sustaining our critical work worldwide. Join us in making a lasting impact for animals and the planet.

Role and Responsibilities

· Managing a caseload of legacy gifts: This includes pecuniary, residuary and life interest legacies, ensuring IFAW receives its full entitlement in a timely manner. This may include a small selection of contentious cases.

· Working closely with solicitors, executors, and beneficiaries: You’ll provide accurate and sensitive support throughout the probate process, building trust and ensuring a smooth experience for all parties involved.

· Maintaining meticulous records and reports: You’ll ensure accurate financial and contact records are kept, reports are generated on time, and compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements is met.

· Providing recommendations for action: You’ll provide your suggestions to move forward any legacy case where action needs to be sanctioned by management or Trustees, or where there may be a risk to the charity's reputation.

· Assisting with monthly/annual reconciliation and audit: This includes following our financial rules to make appropriate accruals, adjustments, and provide audit-ready case files.

· Liasing with other teams within IFAW: When appropriate, you’ll work collaboratively with other teams, such as Finance, Donor Relations or the Legal team, to ensure a seamless process for legacy gifts, and to promote the legacy team’s recognition and standing in the organisation through internal engagement.

· Staying up to date on relevant legislation and best practices: You’ll be a member of the ILM and regularly keep abreast of changes in the world on legacy case management, to ensure IFAW’s legacy administration remains efficient and compliant.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

· At least 1 year of experience in legacy administration or estate management: You’ll have a strong understanding of probate laws, Wills, trust, and estate administration. Experience of using FirstClass is desirable.

· Achieved or willing to work towards certification: You have or will work towards gaining the ILM’s Certificate in Charity Legacy Administration (CiCLA).

Core Competencies

· Excellent attention to detail: You’re numerate, careful and ensure accuracy in all your work.

· Strong communication skills: You can build rapport with solicitors, executors, and bereaved families, providing sensitive and clear communication.

· Proactive and organized: You can manage multiple tasks effectively and keep up with work and deadlines without compromising quality.

· Know when to ask for help: You’re comfortable working unsupervised and as part of a team and you can identify when you should consult with your manager.

· IT proficiency: You’re comfortable using CRM’s like FirstClass and other relevant software for record-keeping and reporting. You understand Microsoft 365 software like Word and Excel.

· Passion for animal welfare: You understand the impact of IFAW’s work and are motivated to contribute to our mission.

At IFAW, we aim to create and foster a workforce that reflects and contributes to the diverse, global community in which we work to improve the lives of both animals and people. We are dedicated to fostering justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion so we actively encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds.

Application deadline:  30 April 2025

To apply, please submit CV and letter of interest at Careers | IFAW

Team: Individual Giving

Location: Homebased with occasional travel for meetings

Work pattern: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Salary: Up to £42,750.72 per annum

Contract: Fixed term for 6 months

We are the UK’s largest cat welfare charity. All over the country, our passionate employees, volunteers and supporters are using their kindness and expertise to make life better for millions of cats and the people who care for them.

Will you join us and make life better for cats?

Responsibilities of our Senior Individual Giving Officer (Acquisition):

• This role is crucial in delivering the charity’s Individual Giving programme, working across multiple communication channels to grow sustainable income for Cats Protection by recruiting new supporters across a range of products.
• This includes everything from making TV ads, working with Face-to-Face fundraisers, running our digital campaigns and much more– all of which feature cats at the heart, of course. You will need to work with both internal departments and external agencies to ensure projects are delivered on schedule and within budget.

About the Individual Giving Team:

• We sit within the Marketing & Income Generation directorate
• Our team is responsible for the recruitment and retention of individual supporters to generate over £22 million each year and provide leads for the other teams in the directorate
• We currently have a team of 13 working across Acquisition and Retention on our Appeals and Raffles, Membership, Sponsorship, Lottery and regular giving programs using Mail, Face to Face, DRTV, email, Digital, Social and other paid media

What we’re looking for in our Senior Individual Giving Officer (Acquisition):

• Extensive experience in an Individual Giving or similar role, ideally working with agencies in the third sector
• Experience in leading the organisation of projects/activities or schedules
• Experience in budget management, ideally with multiple income and expenditure items
• Proven track record of achieving income against agreed financial targets, and measuring against KPIs
• Experience of at least some broad-based fundraising, such as Direct Mail, DRTV, telephone, digital or face-to-face fundraising

What we can offer you:

• range of health benefits
• 26 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service
• Salary Finance, which empowers you to take control of your financial wellbeing
• and much more, which you can learn about 

Interested? Here’s how to apply:

Application closing date: 4th May 2025

Virtual interview date: Week commencing 19th May 2025

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment. Please note, applications received after the closing date may not be responded to.

If you’re enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable.  You may be just the right candidate. 

If successful, your recruitment journey will include:

1. Anonymised application form

2. Virtual interview via Microsoft Teams

Please note, the process may change slightly dependent on application numbers. We will inform you of any relevant changes.

Please email [email protected] if you require any adjustments to be made for you to complete your application or to participate in the recruitment journey

Are you an experienced data science and analytics professional who delivers actionable insight to understand audiences, improve campaign targeting and deliver GDPR compliant data selections to increase income?

Do you wish to use your data science skills and experience to make a real contribution to the success of a leading charity’s fundraising and communications campaigns?

The charity shall shortly begin the discovery phase of its CRM project, to deliver its future Dynamics 365 CRM.  The new Dynamics 365 CRM will be at the heart of the charity’s success, to deliver excellent supporter data quality and actionable insight for its fundraising and communication campaigns to supporters. 

Reporting to the Director of Fundraising, and collaborating closely with the Head of IT, CRM Project Manager and CRM Officer, the Data Analyst shall be key to the charity’s fundraising success, to further its vision of a world where every horse is treated with respect, compassion and understanding.

If you want to make real and positive difference to a leading charity’s fundraising and campaigns success, through your data science skills and experience, then we’d love you to apply. 

Location

This position is based remotely.  But you must be a resident of the United Kingdom with all the necessary legislative ‘right to work’ documentation.  You will be required to attend the charity’s head office located in Norfolk a minimum of 6 times per year and this will be at your own expense for travel and accommodation.

About World Horse Welfare

World Horse Welfare is an international equine charity whose vision is a world where every horse is treated with respect, compassion and understanding. 

The charity’s work covers horses in need, sport and leisure, work and production within both the UK and abroad.  The charity runs four farm centres for rehabilitation and outreach work within the UK. The charity has four key strategic themes under which its programmes of work nationally and internationally are structured, these are: Care, Research, Education and Influence.

In 2023, the charity fundraised c. £15.6 million, including significant Legacy income.

Benefits include a generous pension scheme and cash health plan, paid employee sickness absence scheme, a minimum of 31 days’ holiday (including bank/public holidays and mandatory shutdown between Christmas and New Year) and death in service.

World Horse Welfare is committed to championing equality and diversity in all aspects of employment and in the services that it provides. We encourage applications from under-represented groups, particularly ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQ+ and disabled people.

Do you want to work for a supportive and collaborative team?

We are working with an International Animal Welfare Charity, in this role you will support the team in driving the development and delivery of the high-value donor and corporate fundraising programme.

You will be responsible for project-managing mailings, conducting high quality research, organising events and providing administrative support to the team.

This is a hybrid role with once or twice a month in London.

The Charity
An ambitious charity with a long and rich history of prioritising practical, professional and sustainable solutions for animals world-wide and the communities they are part of.

The Role
Administer the high-value donor thanking programme according to set procedures and timelines, all whilst providing exemplary stewardship.
Gather and analyse information about current and prospective high-value donors and corporates from GDPR-compIiant sources
Project-manage fundraising events, taking an active role at each event and ensuring all aspects of the event run with efficiency.
Assist with activities across the high-value donor and corporate fundraising programme as required.
General team support and administration

The Candidate
Knowledge of fundraising principles and practices.
Knowledge of efficient and effective teamwork and administration.
Knowledge of the requirements and expectations of working in the charity sector.
Experience of working in a busy professional environment on a variety of projects.
Experience of providing exemplary administrative support and maintaining effective administrative systems and procedures.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Our aim is to respond to all successful applications within 5 days. If you havent been contacted within 5 days your application has been unsuccessful and your details will not be held further but we positively encourage you to apply for any other positions that you may see in the future.

We apologise that we cannot contact everybody in person but thank you in advance for your interest.

Third Solutions encourages applications from individuals of all ages & backgrounds. Appointment will be made on merit alone but candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to work in the UK. Third Solutions acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment & an employment business for temporary recruitment as defined by the Conduct of Employment Agencies & Employment Business Regulations 2003.

Team: Philanthropy & Partnerships

Location: Remotely, UK

Work pattern: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Salary: Up to £37,565.95 per annum

Contract: Permanent

We are the UK’s largest cat welfare charity. All over the country, our passionate employees, volunteers and supporters are using their kindness and expertise to make life better for millions of cats and the people who care for them.Will you join us and make a better life for cats?

Responsibilities of our Senior Philanthropy Officer:

• The Senior Philanthropy Officer is responsible for helping to implement the Philanthropy team fundraising plan, aligned with the wider fundraising strategy, to increase annual net income and inspire new donors to give to Cats Protection while retaining existing supporters
• The successful candidate will manage a mixed portfolio of major donors and grant making trusts, using high value fundraising techniques such as creating bespoke cultivation plans for each donor to maximise their lifetime value

About the Philanthropy & Partnership’s team:

• Philanthropy and Partnerships are a dedicated and motivated team who all believe strongly in our mission and values. We have ambitious growth plans with a large focus on growing and diversifying our pipeline
• We have a team of 21

What we’re looking for in our Senior Philanthropy Officer:

• Strong experience gained in a charity fundraising role, with a good level of experience in high value fundraising
• Strong understanding of high value fundraising principles, practices and processes
• Extensive experience of developing strong relationships with supporters/ clients
• Experience of using a CRM database
• Familiar with the IOF codes of practice relating to major donor fundraising

What we can offer you:

• range of health benefits
• 26 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service
• Salary Finance, which empowers you to take control of your financial wellbeing
• and much more, which you can learn about

Interested? Here’s how to apply:

Application closing date: 27th April 2025

Virtual interview date: 6th May 2025

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment. Please note, applications received after the closing date may not be responded to.

If you’re enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable.  You may be just the right candidate. 

If successful, your recruitment journey will include:

1. Anonymised application form
2. Firts stage virtual interview via Microsoft Teams
3. Final stage virtual interview with Lead Philanthropy Manager

Please note, the process may change slightly dependent on application numbers. We will inform you of any relevant changes.

This dynamic role is perfect for someone who’s confident building relationships with businesses and passionate about connecting people with our mission.

You’ll focus 60% of your time on securing and managing corporate partnerships – from Charity of the Year collaborations to sponsorships and brand activations – and the remaining 40% supporting campaigns, appeals, and fundraising events.

What you’ll bring:

• A track record in business development, sales, or corporate fundraising
• Strong communication, proposal writing, and relationship-building skills
• An eye for opportunity and a collaborative, can-do attitude
• The ability to juggle multiple priorities while keeping supporters engaged
• Knowledge of fundraising practices, data protection, and CRM systems

A driving licence and access to your own vehicle is essential. If you're creative, driven, and ready to help protect wildlife, we want to hear from you.

In return we will offer you support, training and continued professional development, not to mention a fantastic working environment! You can also expect free entry to the park.

If you would like to join our unique and vibrant organisation to become a part of the Marwell Family, please view the full candidate brief on our website and complete a Marwell application form. 

The Education Officer will enthuse young people and local communities about their local seas and amazing marine life through unique boat-based education experiences and innovative co-design education approaches. 

Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) is a marine conservation charity based on the Isle of Mull. This role is responsible for the development and delivery of HWDT’s new education project, Hebridean Marine Explorers - Connecting Scotland’s seas and communities.

The Education Officer will develop and deliver:

• a 12-week co-design project with schools resulting in a community exhibition

• a programme of digital school workshops

• boat-based floating classroom education workshops

• marine mammal research expeditions for young people

• community open boat events.

Educating young people on land and at sea is key to the role so we are seeking a confident, enthusiastic, organised self-motivator, familiar working with schools and young people, with outstanding communication skills. Experience of marine mammal surveys and the ability to identify cetacean species in the Scottish waters is also essential to the role.

We are looking for somebody experienced in teaching and delivering environmental education activities and training for young people, ideally with knowledge of co-design project delivery and its implementation within a primary school environment.

Our ideal candidate will have experience coordinating a funded project and the skills to provide effective communication, evaluation, and reporting against project targets.

The ability to work with external partners, the wider team of HWDT staff and boat crew to deliver project outcomes and a genuine interest in cetaceans and marine conservation is essential. An understanding of the workings of a charity/NGO would be an advantage.

A valid medical fitness certificate (i.e. ML5 or ENG1) and PVG check is required for the role.

This post has been generously funded by the Scottish Power Foundation.

About Open Cages

Open Cages is a UK-registered charity fighting animal suffering. We are part of an international organisation, Anima International. To achieve our goal we use scientific evidence, careful reasoning, and draw upon decades of collective experience. Just in the last few years, we have successfully helped improve the lives of hundreds of millions of farmed animals in the UK.

We are impact-oriented and use a wide array of tools to make the world a better place. Our current toolkit includes:

• Investigations which reveal the reality hidden behind the walls of factory farms
• Negotiations with companies to encourage them to eliminate cruel practices from their policies
• Advocacy to secure legal milestones for animals

At Open Cages we won’t stop until we end animal suffering. We would like to invite you to join us and help us achieve this goal.

What do you gain by working at Open Cages?

• Meaningful work – you will help build a world free from animal suffering
• Time – you will be able to focus full-time on helping animals
• High degree of flexibility – the work is almost totally remote and you will organise your working hours and workflow yourself
• Trust – we expect you to make mistakes as a given and learn from them
• Autonomy – you will experience freedom and independence in your decision-making
• Transparency – you will have access to the work and decisions of others
• Honest work culture – you will know what your colleagues are doing and what they really think
• Knowledge – you will learn and receive support from people who have been fighting for animals for many years
• Opportunity to grow – you will learn every day and be encouraged to experiment beyond your skill set
• Ability to influence the organisation – we encourage our people to openly speak their mind and thus you will be able to impact what kind of organisation we are
• A laugh – animal advocacy can be dark at times, we think that having a fun atmosphere is key to balance this
• Transparently set compensation – Our salaries are not negotiable and are based on a transparent algorithm that is the same for each role

Following a 3-month probation period, you will transition to a fixed-term contract. Upon successful completion of this term, you will be offered a permanent employment contract. A minimum salary of £39,695.24 gross (our salary base for people resident in the UK) will apply from the beginning of the probationary period. The salary base may change due to your previous experience related to the position, or your experience in animal advocacy (+3% for each year). In addition, the salary increases with your seniority in Open Cages according to the following model:

+ 7% – for every year worked at Open Cages during the first 5 years of work

+ 5% – for every year worked at Open Cages during the next 5 years of work

+ 3% – for every year worked at Open Cages during the next 5 years of work

+ 2% – for every year worked at Open Cages during the next years of work

About your role

We are a small and ambitious early-stage organisation with two full-time team members. Our current objective: to help the 1 billion chickens raised annually in the UK. By joining us as a campaigner who focuses on communications, you will work on the frontlines by shining a light on the hidden suffering of animals trapped on factory farms, and mobilising the public to take action. Your first task will be to help us convince the UK’s largest food businesses to improve their chicken welfare policies, primarily through crafting media stories and marketing campaigns that capture the hearts and minds of the public.

While this may sound challenging, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a historic change for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Someone has to pick up the fight, and we hope it will be You.

We can accommodate to you

Due to the broad scope of our work, there is no simple description of the perfect campaigner. There may also be certain areas where you are stronger than others, and we are open to fitting the role around you. We are looking for a generalist rather than a specialist. However, you do need to have some particular strengths such as resilience, persistence, creativity, and critical thinking. Ideally, some day, you will be able to lead a big team and transfer your knowledge to them.

No previous experience is required for this role. While experience will be valued (and reflected in the salary), we welcome applications from both seasoned professionals and passionate newcomers who align with our organisational culture.

What do we require from you?

• Strong belief in the mission of our organisation. Working for us should not be thought of as a ‘career step’. We want people who are motivated by our mission above all.
• Flexible availability. We think of ourselves as a small startup. The fate of the organisation rests on a handful of highly motivated advocates who want to do something ambitious with their lives. We want to maintain the intensity of our current operating culture, so you should expect to work the occasional weekends and late evenings.
• Not being an asshole. We expect you to treat others with respect, decency and compassion – even the occasional adversaries.
• A preference for hard work. Activism is our passion and one of the main motivations in life. To fit our culture, you have to be a person that is proactive and enjoys work.
• Growth mindset. Nobody knows how to fix the world, so we need you to keep learning. We constantly strive to be better at our activism, but also as people.
• Strong interest in a high-feedback culture. We have a culture of honest and direct communication. We talk openly about our strengths and weaknesses on a daily basis because we want to be the best. You will know what your colleagues really think of you and be encouraged to speak your mind.
• Ability to reason and communicate your thinking, especially in written form. In order to thrive in our organisation you must be able to think carefully, try to back up your ideas with reasonable evidence, and above all be open to being proven wrong and changing your mind.
• Fluency in English. You will be working in a UK-based organisation which will require constant communication with English speakers.
• Ability to work in the UK. This offer is open to candidates who are either currently UK-based, or are willing to move to the UK for the job. We are happy to do whatever we can to help you in relocating, depending on your needs and our ability. If you have any questions about what we can help with, don’t hesitate to write to us!

You do not need to be vegan or vegetarian. While all of our events provide only plant-based meals, we are open to anyone who wants to fight for a world that is free from animal suffering. We won’t turn down any help.

What will you do?

• Build culture – you will help build and reinforce our culture, so we never lose what makes up the strength of Open Cages.
• Embrace reality – you will make it your mission to understand the world as it is rather than as you would like it to be.
• Manage activists – you will manage and work with teams of both employed and voluntary activists.
• Experience frustration – you will feel frustrated about things you could do better or things that are not working in the organisation or your team, and use this frustration as an opportunity to refine and elevate our organisation.
• Question ideas – you will question common knowledge, especially your own ideas, so that our results are always as good as they can be.
• Optimise your performance – you will continuously deepen your knowledge – both about particular areas of animal advocacy and about how the world works – and enjoy this process.
• Prioritise action – you will act even when there is not sufficient data.
• Abandon projects – you will change your objectives when it makes sense, no matter the time already invested.
• Respect and trust others – you will be there for others and trust their intentions. You will support them when they succeed and when they fail.
• Seek information independently – you will be responsible for acting very independently which will require you to obtain and verify data.
• Make mistakes – you will embrace your mistakes without being ashamed with the desire to learn from them.
• Strategise – it is not easy to change the world. As a campaigner you will ask yourself endless questions. You will be responsible for campaign strategy which requires careful planning and the ability to think ahead.
• Try again and again and again – the decision makers we want to convince often don’t want to improve animal welfare, others may simply not have time for you. You will need extreme persistence in order to gain traction with companies.
• Take risks – negotiating in a high stakes meeting, attending a farming conference, organising a protest, taking hundreds of videos of a retailer’s chicken products for a BBC story (yes, we did this!) – in this role you will need to be comfortable with stepping out of your comfort zone.
• Conduct research – you will spend many hours online gathering information, working with investigators and lawyers, or delivering chicken products to a lab in Germany (we did this too).
• Create marketing content – you will produce graphics and videos for social media, and utilise marketing tools to reach millions of people.
• Work with the media – you will engage with journalists, write press releases, pitch stories and be animals’ voice on the radio and TV.
• Mobilise advocates – you will write emails to our supporters and motivate them to take action with us. You will also organise and run street actions like protests and stunts.
• Connect with diverse audiences – you will need to talk about the suffering of animals to very different groups of people that compose our society. To do that effectively, you will need to understand their perspective and be a good, empathetic communicator.
• Ask for support – you will help us fundraise to increase our impact.

Do you think this role is too challenging and you're not fit for it?

You may be thinking that this role would be interesting for you, but you won’t make the cut. 

We encourage you not to worry and fill out the application nonetheless, especially if you meet our requirements (even on a basic level) and you think this position could bring you a lot of joy. Leave the judgment about your competence to us. You may even learn something useful along the way.

We prepared support materials to help you through the application process. We'll also be hosting informational webinars about this role and our recruitment process – click ‘Redirect to recruiter’ to see the website for more details.

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:

• 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

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:

• 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.

• The ability to multi-task and work with several conflicting demands and timescales.

Benefits include

• 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 

• Free parking.

• 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 for the post.

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

Contract:  12-month fixed term contract, full-time, 35 hours over 5 days (part time and flexible working can be considered)  

Salary: £35,000 - £40,000 per annum 

Location:  UK, Remote  

Closing date:  Tuesday 29 April 2025 

Interview date:  w/c 5 May 2025  

Are you a passionate and driven fundraiser with a talent for building meaningful relationships? We’re looking for an experienced Philanthropy Manager who thrives on engaging donors and inspiring support on a 12-month fixed term contract. 

More about the role 

Our Philanthropy team is responsible for engaging mid-value and major donors, as well as trusts and foundations. 

As Philanthropy Manager, you will be a vital part of the relationship management team, stewarding a mixed portfolio of donors, including individuals and trusts/foundations. You will cultivate and manage relationships with supporters typically giving five-figure gifts, with opportunities to secure six-figure donations. Through engaging conversations, impactful written proposals, and in-person meetings, you will inspire donors to invest in our mission and make a lasting difference for pets in need. 

This role is available on a full-time, 12-month fixed term basis. We are also happy to consider candidates who may be looking for part time/4 days instead of 5 and flexible working.

If you have a passion for philanthropy, excellent relationship-building skills, and a track record of securing major gifts, we’d love to hear from you! 

Key responsibilities: 

• Manage a mixed portfolio of donors and prospects

• Design and deliver innovative and engaging stewardship plans for prospects 

• Manage donor-led cultivation opportunities/events (e.g. private tours and dinners) 

• Work with existing advocates to identify opportunities within their networks to introduce new prospects to the work of Blue Cross 

• Build and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders who can add value to the cultivation process 

• Create engaging and impressive donor communications including funding proposals and impact reports 

• Adhere to a suite of clear work processes demonstrating compliance with our privacy policy, GDPR, data protection legislation and fundraising best practice 

• Deliver a comprehensive set of KPIs including meeting an individual income target 

• Maintain accurate and up to date donor records and updates using our CRM 

Want to know more? We've attached a detailed job description that outlines the role, responsibilities, and how you can make a difference. 

About you 

You will have exceptional interpersonal skills and quickly understand donor motivations, delivering tailored and impactful stewardship. A natural communicator, you can adapt your approach to connect with any audience, whether through compelling written proposals or face-to-face meetings. 

Creative and strategic, you know how to craft inspiring fundraising materials for different audiences and settings. You’re proactive in moving prospects through the pipeline, building strong relationships, and confidently making the ask. 

With a results-driven mindset, you foster productive stakeholder relationships that drive philanthropy forward. You work with professionalism, confidentiality, and discretion, and you take pride in being part of a dedicated and supportive team. 

Knowledge, skills, and experience   

• Proven experience of mid to high-value fundraising with a track record of initiating new relationships, making the ask and developing long-term donor relationships 

• Experience of crafting compelling funding proposals and applications

• Experience of designing stewardship journeys for mid to high value supporters resulting in increased affinity to the organisation and donation uplift

• Experience of sharing philanthropic opportunities with high-net-individuals in a professional and engaging manner, with a flair for adapting to their individual aspirations

• Experience of successful developing senior stakeholder relationships (both internally and externally) 

• Experience of successfully delivering an income target 

• An ability to think laterally and proactively to problem solve 

• Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure, excellent attention to detail, prioritise work and meet deadlines 

• Experience of successfully conveying a fundraising need to donors in an engaging way both in person and in high quality written stewardship 

• Excellent interpersonal skills with a high level of professionalism and discretion 

• Full driving licence in order to travel to donor meetings 

A bonus if you have:  

• Experience of working within an animal welfare charity

• A fundraising qualification or evidence of CPD 

How to apply  

Click the apply button and complete the online application process before 23:59 on the closing date on Tuesday 29 April 2025. 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response.   

Blue Cross benefits    

Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it weren’t for their amazing efforts and commitment, we wouldn’t be able to make the difference that we do today.  In return, we want to provide you with the best working environment we can.

With a wide range of perks aimed at enhancing your life both inside and outside of work, you'll 
thrive in a supportive and rewarding environment. 

Our generous benefits package includes:   

• Enhanced annual leave entitlement: 30 days plus bank holidays  

• Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution  

• Life assurance  

• Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme 

• Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support 

• Free access to GP via MetLife 

• Recognition scheme 

• Annual volunteer days  

• Claim for professional fees 

• Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers.  

To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the 'why work for us' page on our website.