At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead fundraising efforts to support ecological restoration projects across Europe and Central Asia.
- Company: Join BirdLife International, a global leader in conservation and sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous pension, flexible working, and 25+ days of annual leave.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in conservation while building impactful relationships with donors.
- Qualifications: Experience in donor relations and excellent communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 47000 - 47000 £ per year.
Application deadline: Thursday 8 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: £45,000 - £47,000 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.
As Philanthropy Manager for the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region of BirdLife International, you will play a key role in growing philanthropic income to support the RENATE initiative and wider ecological restoration programmes across the region. Working with conservation partners throughout Europe and Central Asia, you’ll help secure support for landscape-scale restoration projects in the Balkans, Türkiye and the Caucasus, while building relationships with donors and foundations across key philanthropic markets, including Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany and the UK.
How you will do this:
- Develop and implement a philanthropy fundraising strategy, including prospect cultivation and donor stewardship plans.
- Build a strong pipeline of prospective donors through research, networking and relationship development.
- Cultivate, solicit and steward new philanthropic relationships, securing first-time gifts, repeat support and multi-year partnerships.
- Create compelling funding propositions and tailored donor materials in collaboration with programme and development colleagues.
- Represent BirdLife International at donor meetings, conferences, networking events and cultivation activities across Europe.
What we are looking for:
- Experience building and managing donor or stakeholder relationships, ideally within philanthropy, major giving, or another relationship-led fundraising environment.
- A proactive, self-starting approach with the confidence to help shape a newly created fundraising programme.
- Excellent communication skills, both written via strong proposals and verbal, with the ability to inspire, influence and negotiate with a range of audiences.
- A talent for networking, identifying opportunities and turning connections into long-term partnerships.
- The ability to work collaboratively and effectively with colleagues, partners and supporters across different countries, cultures and time zones.
- A willingness to travel across Europe and Central Asia to build relationships and represent BirdLife’s work.
- An interest in international conservation, nature restoration, climate action or sustainable development.
- Excellent written and verbal English; additional European languages would be advantageous.
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. 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.
BirdLife International are Partnering with Peridot to fill this vacancy, on clicking apply, you will be redirected to Peridot's microsite where you can complete your application.
Philanthropy Manager 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 Philanthropy Manager 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 Philanthropy Manager 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 Philanthropy Manager, 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!
