At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead major donor fundraising strategy and manage high-value donor relationships.
- Company: Join Sightsavers, a leading charity making a difference globally.
- Benefits: Generous leave, pension, wellness discounts, and a modern office near Brighton.
- Other info: Commitment to diversity and inclusion, with support for candidates with disabilities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by securing significant gifts for a worthy cause.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in high-value fundraising and excellent relationship-building skills.
The predicted salary is between 61065 - 71841 £ per year.
Sightsavers is looking for an experienced and strategic Head of Major Donor Fundraising to lead the next phase of growth for our high value individuals fundraising programme. This is a senior role within our Fundraising and Marketing directorate, responsible for developing and delivering a long-term major donor strategy, leading a specialist team and personally managing a focused portfolio of high value donors and prospects.
Location: UK based, with regular travel to the Haywards Heath office in West Sussex.
Contract: Permanent / full time (or minimum of four days per week with pro-rated salary)
Salary: £61,065 to £71,841 per annum (FTE, pro-rated for part-time)
The role will focus on supporters giving £10,000 or more per year, alongside the development of nurture and loyalty programmes that help build a strong future pipeline. You will set a clear growth strategy, oversee income and expenditure planning, strengthen portfolio management and ensure exceptional cultivation and stewardship across the programme.
You will build strong relationships across different areas and levels of the organisation to ensure the team has the information, input and internal support needed to succeed. Working closely with colleagues across fundraising, technical leadership, programme delivery, finance, planning and senior leadership, you will identify compelling funding opportunities, build strong cases for support and ensure a smooth donor experience across different teams. You will also represent Sightsavers externally with donors, prospects, philanthropy advisers, wealth advisers and sector networks.
Responsibilities
- Developing and implementing a long-term major donor growth strategy, operational plan, objectives and key results.
- Leading income and expenditure planning, forecasting and performance monitoring for the major donor programme.
- Managing, motivating and developing the major donor team to deliver sector-leading cultivation and stewardship.
- Overseeing portfolio management, allocation processes, pipeline reviews and prospect triage.
- Personally managing a focused portfolio of high value donors and prospects.
- Building strong internal relationships to identify funding opportunities, develop compelling cases for support and ensure joined up donor experiences.
- Representing Sightsavers externally with donors, prospects, advisers and relevant networks.
- Ensuring the programme operates in line with fundraising regulation, governance and best practice.
This is an involved role and full responsibilities and further details can be found in the job description.
Skills and Experience
We are looking for a confident and collaborative senior fundraiser with significant experience of leading or managing a high value fundraising programme. You will bring a strong track record of securing, cultivating and stewarding significant gifts, including six-figure prospects, the ability to develop practical strategies that convert ambition into sustainable income growth, and strong sector insight.
You will be an excellent relationship-builder, able to work with senior stakeholders, trustees, high net worth individuals and internal teams with diplomacy, credibility and purpose. You will be comfortable critically evaluating established processes to identify improvements, and using data and insight to manage pipelines, forecast income and support decision-making, while also bringing a strong commitment to equality of opportunity for people with disabilities.
Please read the full job description for further requirements.
Accessibility and inclusion
Sightsavers is a Disability Confident employer. We are committed to offering an interview to all candidates who share that they have a disability and meet the essential requirements for the role. We welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences and are committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.
Benefits
Sightsavers offers some fantastic benefits. Our comprehensive benefits package includes generous annual leave allowance, pension, season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, discounted gym memberships and wellness discounts. If you choose to work in or are visiting our collaborative, modern office space, you will find it an easy 20-minute train journey from Brighton or 45 minutes from London.
Sightsavers is an employer that does not tolerate any form of harassment and has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. All potential candidates will be subjected to rigorous background checks and controls.
In line with its commitment to safe programming and recruitment, Sightsavers participates in the inter-agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS) administered by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. Through collaboration with other MDS members, Sightsavers aims to ensure that there are no sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment issues relating to potential new hires and that we can respond systematically to checks from fellow MDS members. This ensures our work is accountable, delivered to a high standard and supports safeguarding across the development and humanitarian fields.
Head of Major Donor Fundraising employer: Sightsavers, Inc
Sightsavers is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee growth and collaboration. With a comprehensive benefits package and the flexibility of remote working, employees can thrive while contributing to meaningful global initiatives aimed at protecting sight and promoting rights for people with disabilities. The opportunity to work in a modern office just a short train ride from Brighton or London further enhances the appeal of joining our dedicated team.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Major Donor Fundraising
✨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 Sightsavers, Inc.
✨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 Sightsavers, Inc.
✨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 Sightsavers, Inc.
✨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 Sightsavers, Inc. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Major Donor Fundraising
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 Sightsavers, Inc. 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 Head of Major Donor Fundraising, 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 Sightsavers, Inc
✨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 Sightsavers, Inc. 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!
