Philanthropy Manager

About GLAN 

The Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) works with affected communities to pursue innovative legal actions across borders to challenge states and other powerful actors involved in human rights violations and systemic injustice. Our actions address the most pressing instances of human rights concern and they fall within the following themes: War and occupation; accountability and supply chains; environmental and economic justice; and migration and border violence.  

Since our establishment in 2016, we have developed legal strategies directly addressing human rights impacts in over 23 countries and territories. Our cases include the successful legal challenge against imports of cotton produced with forced labour in Xinjiang (East Turkistan) into the UK on behalf of World Uyghur Congress and the climate case against 32 European States before the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights, brought on behalf of six Portuguese youth-applicants.  

More recently, we have supported the preeminent Palestinian human rights organisation Al Haq, to rapidly challenge UK weapons exports to Israel due to the risk of these arms being used in violations of international law 

About the Role 

GLAN has a small yet powerful fundraising team.  Our Development Lead excels in relationship fundraising, having forged multi-year funding partnerships with aligned Trusts & Foundations and major donors. Additionally, our Fundraising Officer has successfully established GLAN’s individual giving programme, leveraging crowdfunding and nurturing potential regular givers. 

We face a pivotal moment as we seek to expand the team to build on our success and pursue new business.  

Job purpose 

As GLAN’s Philanthropy Manager, you will support the launch of our new three year fundraising strategy.  The Philanthropy Manager role is crucial in leveraging the momentum gained from our existing fundraising successes. This role will focus on attracting new major donors, including high net worth individuals, trusts, foundations, and exploring corporate funding opportunities. The introduction of a dedicated Philanthropy Manager will allow us to: 

• Expand our Donor Base: Establish relationships with high net worth individuals, an area that holds significant potential but is currently underdeveloped at GLAN. 

• Increase Fundraising Capacity: Strengthen our ability to secure large-scale donations and grants, ensuring the sustainability and growth of our programs. 

• Achieve Strategic Goals: Meet the ambitious income targets outlined in our new fundraising strategy, supporting the expansion of our impactful legal initiatives. 

Responsibilities 

Income generation 

• Philanthropic Giving Programme Strategy Development: Create and implement strategies to secure new major gifts from high-net-worth individuals, Trusts & Foundations, and corporations.  

• Relationship Management: Build and nurture strong, long-term relationships with major donors, ensuring a robust pipeline of high-value prospects. 

• Fundraising: Secure significant donations (5 and 6 figure gifts) from individuals and organisations. 

• Event Coordination: Plan and execute donor cultivation events, meetings, and site visits to engage major donors and showcase the impact of their support. 

• Budget Management: Oversee major donor income and expenditure budgets, ensuring targets are met. 

Collaboration 

• Work closely with senior leadership, trustees, and other stakeholders to align fundraising efforts with organisational goals. 

• Work closely with GLAN lawyers and communications team to enable the use of impactful case updates in your stewardship of donors.  

• Support legal and finance teams to ensure project activities and expenditure is in line with grant contracts. 

Other 

• Reporting: Utilise fundraising software and database systems to track donor interactions, manage donor relationships, and generate reports on fundraising progress. 

Any other duties as required commensurate with the details above.  

Person Specification 

QUALIFICATIONS

Desirable 

A degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant discipline. 

EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Proven experience (5 years+) in securing significant financial gifts from major donors and organisations. 

• Experience of personally securing new business wins.  

• Experience in organising and managing events. 

• Experience of completing quality reports for funders by required deadlines. 

• Experience of and interest in human rights and environmental issues. 

   

SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• Proactive and self-motivated, with a target-focused approach. 

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills. 

• Ability to develop and implement strategic plans. 

• Ability to manage budgets.  

• Ability to manage administration of donations, including the use of databases.  

  Desirable

• Knowledge of the Salesforce database 

   

Special requirements 

GLAN is a homebased organisation. It is expected you will have an appropriate space, free from distraction, to carry out your duties.  

You will be required to attend semi-regular meetings & events 

GLAN Values 

GLAN has a set of core values. You would be required to uphold these values through some of the examples below: this need populating 

Community Centred

Ensure fundraising campaigns authentically reflect the lived experiences of the communities we serve, using their voices to shape narratives in funding proposals and donor communications. 

Partnership Focused 

Cultivate trust-based relationships with donors, colleagues, and community representatives, working collaboratively to align funding priorities with shared goals. 

Radical  

Advocate for transformative change by highlighting systemic injustices, amplifying marginalized voices, and challenging harmful power structures in donor engagements. 

Creative 

Design innovative and engaging donor experiences, from storytelling events to interactive campaigns, that inspire support and align with our mission.

Tenacious 

Develop resilient funding pipelines by pursuing diverse income streams, overcoming challenges, and staying focused on long-term goals to sustain and grow our impact.