At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage donor relationships and develop strategies to cultivate major gifts.
- Company: Join BirdLife International, a global leader in conservation efforts.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous pension, and flexible hybrid working.
- Other info: Work in the inspiring David Attenborough Building with a diverse team.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in conservation while developing your fundraising skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in fundraising or relationship management is essential.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 35000 £ per year.
Application deadline: Monday 19 October 2026– 09:00 BST
Location: Cambridge, UK (hybrid working, minimum one day per week in Cambridge)
Full-time: 35 hours per week
Contract: Open-ended
Salary: £30,000 - £35,000 per annum depending on skills/experience, plus competitive 12% pension benefit
Annual Leave: 25 days pro rata in year 1, increasing by 1 day p/a to 28 days
We’re BirdLife International, the only global Partnership conserving birds and all life on our planet. We exist to give one voice to nature, and to unite and strengthen conservation across borders.
BirdLife International has created the role of Major Gifts Officer to provide dedicated focus to cultivating, stewarding and growing the pool of donors in the £10k-£50k giving range – helping supporters move through the pipeline while providing outstanding stewardship and donor care. Working closely with the Head of Major Gifts and the wider team, the postholder will have the opportunity to learn from experienced major donor fundraisers while developing their own portfolio and solicitation skills.
How you will do this:
- Personally manage a portfolio of donors and prospects in the £10k–£50k range, developing appropriate cultivation, solicitation and stewardship plans
- Cultivate and steward relationships with donors and prospects in the portfolio
- Conduct prospect research to inform cultivation strategies, working closely with the Prospect Research & Insights Manager.
- Work with conservation, regional, science, policy, communications and finance colleagues to gather information for donor proposals, impact updates, reports and other cultivation or stewardship materials.
- Draft donor reports, proposals and stewardship materials to support the Major Gifts team in cultivating and reporting to donors.
- Support the Events Coordinator in the planning and delivery of cultivation and fundraising events
- Support the Major Gifts team across research, stewardship, administration, compliance and CRM management.
What we are looking for:
- Experience in fundraising, donor relationship management, or a related client- or relationship-facing role
- Ability to build rapport with donors and colleagues and to communicate donor and pipeline information clearly
- Good knowledge of major gifts fundraising practice and prospect research techniques
- Highly organised, evidence-based, results-focused self-starter
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to draft clear donor-facing correspondence, reports, proposals and stewardship materials
- Ability to work collaboratively across teams and with external stakeholders
Some of our benefits:
- We are able to offer a hybrid model of working on-site and from home/remote for most roles, which helps to ensure a flexible work-life balance.
- A chance to work in the award-winning David Attenborough Building, which brings together much of the Cambridge-based conservation community on a ‘conservation campus.’
- A generous pension scheme, up to 12% company contribution.
- Holiday starting at 25 days excluding Bank Holidays and increasing for every year of service up to a maximum of 28 days.
- Full access to LinkedIn Learning with access to more than 13,000 high-quality, on-demand courses.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Employee Assistance Programme, including access to Health Assured online health portal.
BirdLife values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Find out more about our Diversity statement. We are committed to building and maintaining an inclusive and supportive culture, a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We aim to promote a more inclusive environment, which attracts all candidates and signals our commitment to celebrate and promote diversity.
We know that everyone’s needs are different. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, let us know, we’ll do our best to make it happen.
Please note: under the UK Government criteria this role will not be eligible for Visa Sponsorship.
BirdLife International are Partnering with Peridot to fill this vacancy, on clicking apply, you will be redirected to Peridot's website where you can complete your application.
Major Gifts Officer in Cambridge employer: Birdlife International
BirdLife International is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to vital conservation efforts while working remotely. With a strong commitment to employee growth and a collaborative work culture, team members are encouraged to develop their skills through meaningful projects that make a real impact on biodiversity. The flexibility of remote work combined with the chance to engage with local partners in Côte d’Ivoire makes this role particularly rewarding for those passionate about environmental conservation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Major Gifts Officer in Cambridge
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Birdlife International.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Birdlife International.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Birdlife International.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Birdlife International. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Major Gifts Officer in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Birdlife International. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Major Gifts Officer, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Birdlife International
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Birdlife International. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
