Permanent, Full Time (35 hours per week) Office facilities are available at our Newark office at The Kiln, Waterside, Mather Road, Newark, NG24 1WT for those within easy travelling distance. There is a requirement to attend our Newark Office on a monthly basis. Closing date for applications: 6 December 2026 First interview: 6 & 7 January 2027 (Online) Second interview: 12 January 2027 (Online) About Us The Wildlife Trusts are a grassroots movement of people from a wide range of backgrounds and all walks of life, who believe that we need nature and nature needs us. We have more than 945,000 members, over 33,000 volunteers, 4,100 staff and 600 trustees. There are 46 individual Wildlife Trusts, each of which is a place-based independent charity with its own legal identity, formed by groups of people getting together and working with others to make a positive difference to wildlife and future generations, starting where they live and work. Every Wildlife Trust is part of The Wildlife Trusts federation and a corporate member of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, a registered charity in its own right founded in 1912 and one of the founding members of IUCN – the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Taken together this federation of 47 charities is known as The Wildlife Trusts. The next few years will be critical in determining what kind of world we all live in. We need to urgently reverse the loss of wildlife and put nature into recovery at scale if we are to prevent climate and ecological disaster. We recognise that this will require big, bold changes in the way The Wildlife Trusts work, not least in how we mobilise others and support them to organise within their own communities. About You An exciting opportunity to manage and develop our Major Gifts team, helping to grow transformational philanthropic support for nature. Are you an experienced major donor fundraiser with a passion for building meaningful philanthropic relationships with individuals that deliver lasting impact for nature? The Wildlife Trusts are seeking an inspiring and experienced Major Gifts Fundraising Manager to lead and support our Major Gifts team, helping to secure transformational support from high-net-worth individuals and philanthropists. You will play a key role in delivering our major gifts fundraising strategy, managing significant donor relationships and supporting a talented team to achieve ambitious income targets. You will take responsibility for developing and growing a network of major donors, identifying new opportunities for philanthropic investment and building long-term partnerships that deliver significant impact for nature recovery across the UK. Working closely with the Head of Major Gifts, senior leaders, trustees and colleagues across The Wildlife Trusts Federation, you will help create compelling opportunities for donors to support our work and deepen their engagement with our mission. You will also champion knowledge sharing and best practice across the Federation’s major donor fundraising community, helping to strengthen capability, collaboration and fundraising success across the network. This role offers an exciting opportunity to combine relationship fundraising, leadership and strategic thinking in support of one of the UK’s most respected environmental movements. We are looking for an experienced and ambitious Major Gifts Fundraising Manager with a proven track record of securing high-value philanthropic support and building meaningful, long-term donor relationships. You will be an effective and supportive people manager, able to set clear priorities, develop and motivate others and create a collaborative environment in which your team can thrive. Working closely with the Head of Major Gifts, you will help translate strategic priorities into effective fundraising activity, overseeing donor pipelines and supporting the team to achieve ambitious income targets. You will bring sound judgement and strong decision-making skills, balancing opportunities, risks and competing priorities to maximise fundraising impact. You will be proactive, innovative and self-motivated, taking ownership of opportunities and identifying new approaches to donor engagement, stewardship and solicitation. Alongside leading and developing others, you will share knowledge and best practice to strengthen major donor fundraising capability across The Wildlife Trusts Federation. You will also be a confident and compelling communicator, able to build trusted relationships with high-net-worth supporters, senior leaders and colleagues, and translate the impact of our work into inspiring cases for support. Alongside leading and developing the team, you will bring your own major gifts experience to key donor relationships, supporting high-quality cultivation, solicitation and stewardship. You will be comfortable using data, CRM systems and performance measures to understand progress and inform decisions, with a commitment to good fundraising practice and continuous improvement. Most importantly, you will share our passion for nature’s recovery and be motivated by the opportunity to help grow philanthropic support for The Wildlife Trusts’ work tackling the nature and climate emergencies
Major Gifts Fundraising Manager in Newark on Trent employer: THE WILDLIFE TRUSTS
Join us as a Volunteer Assistant Reserves Officer and immerse yourself in the rewarding world of UK wildlife conservation. Our supportive work culture prioritises your growth, offering a comprehensive £5,000 training and stipend package that ensures you gain invaluable skills and hands-on experience from seasoned professionals. This unique opportunity not only enhances your career prospects but also allows you to contribute meaningfully to the preservation of our natural environment.
