United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Major Gifts Fundraiser (Maternity Cover)

About VSO

VSO is the world’s leading independent international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries. Our high-impact approach brings people together to share skills, build capabilities, promote international understanding and action to change lives and make the world a fairer place.

Role overview

• To increase VSO’s income from a portfolio of private philanthropic donors – high net worth individuals and their trust and foundations, using senior support where needed.


• To provide first class stewardship and reporting to donors, including tracking delivery to milestones and corrective actions and excellent narrative/financial data.


• To develop and implement strong cultivation and solicitation plans for prospects and donors to prepare and pitch fundraising products and tailored proposals; to identify value added donor engagement, such as information, case studies, events, and visits In accordance with tailored stewardship plans. to identify new prospects to drive the pipeline for VSO’s major gift income stream


• to provide support and briefings to senior fundraising volunteers in securing relationships for VSO and coaching them in major gift solicitation techniques

Skills, qualifications and experience required

• An excellent relationship based fundraiser with a strong track record of delivering against targets. Ideally from a “High Net Worth Individuals” and account management background, with a good knowledge of the principles of major donor and trust and foundation fundraising. An ability to prepare and present compelling funding proposals, tailored to funder needs, demonstrating need, impact and social return. Confident in making direct fundraising asks and provide strategic support to senior staff to do so. An interest in international development issues and an understanding of, and commitment to, VSO’s aims

Please note that this role is a maternity cover and is therefore subject to different contract terms to the other Major Gifts Fundraiser role currently advertised.

How to apply

If you’re interested in applying for this role, please download the job description to read more details about the position and the skills and experience we’re looking for. To submit your application, click on ‘Apply now’ and complete all relevant fields on the online application form.

Provisional interview/assessment date(s)

10 and 12 November

Start date

by 22 December 2015