Head of Major Giving

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: Regional £49,202 to £53,252 per annum, or London £52,500 to £56,550 per annum

Hours: Full time (30 hours over 4 days)

Location: Flexible across England, Wales and Northern Ireland (London salary applicable to candidates who live in London or are based in the London office a minimum of two days a week)

The role:

This is a great opportunity to join the UK’s biggest grassroots network dedicated to protecting people and planet at a critical time for our world. We’re looking for an experienced high value fundraiser and team leader to join Friends of the Earth as our Head of Major Giving. The role will focus on growing income and leading our passionate and well-established high net worth team, which covers Philanthropy, Trusts and Foundations and Strategic Partnerships.

You’ll be responsible for developing the Major Giving strategy, retaining our loyal supporters and attracting new, long-term funders by refreshing the stewardship and cultivation programme to encourage delivery on our growth plans in line as we develop a new strategy to answer the challenges in the external environment and ensure that we have the funds to respond to the crises of climate, nature and inequality.

We are developing a new organisational strategy, building on our proud history of working with communities to achieve change. We have longstanding partners and loyal supporters to bring with us as we evolve to meet the challenges and deliver the urgent action needed to deliver our mission.

Key Skills and Attributes we’re looking for:

• Experience of motivating and inspiring team members to achieve high, sustainable performance.
• Collaborative and skilled at working cross-organisationally and building strong internal relationships.
• A good networker and ability to work in true partnership with grassroots organisations and funding partners.
• Demonstrable experience of significant income growth and pipeline development.
• Experience of, or knowledge of campaigning organisations would be an advantage as well as organisations going through strategic change.

The team:

The Major Giving team consists of 12 people with five direct reports, leading the sub-teams of Philanthropy, Trusts and Foundations, Strategic Partnerships and our Events function. Your team sits within the Income Generation Directorate, and you’ll work closely with colleagues across that Directorate and with our Policy & Campaigns, Engagement and Community & Network Directorates.

You will play a key role in promoting a culture of philanthropy and partnerships across the entire organisation as together, we strive to create lasting change in the fight against climate and nature crisis.

For more information, please see the detailed candidate information pack.

Closing date: Monday 23rd February 2026 (23:59).

Please note we only accept applications via the Friends of the Earth Application System.

We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance including a 4-day working week with no loss of pay, additional leave for sustainable travel, excellent learning and development opportunities and a vibrant organisational culture.

Our staff body is currently under-representative of People of Colour, LGBTQIA+ people and people with long term conditions or impairments. We are committed to eroding these historic barriers, so as to create a movement in which people from all walks of life see themselves in, and so we particularly encourage you to apply if you belong to one of these groups or sit at multiple intersections of disadvantage.

We are committed to the Disability Confident standard and will guarantee an interview to any candidates who declare a disability and who meet the essential criteria for the role.

Friends of the Earth staff who publicly represent Friends of the Earth (including all campaigners) are not allowed to also represent a political party. This is to ensure that there can be no confusion in the minds of the public about Friends of the Earth’s party-political independence. Affected staff should also seek permission from the Senior Management Team if they wish to hold a non-public facing official role in a political party. If this is an issue, please do raise this with us as soon as possible.

Friends of the Earth is an international community dedicated to protecting the natural world and the wellbeing of everyone in it. We lead campaigns, provide resources and information, and drive real solutions to the environmental problems facing us all.