Major Gifts Fundraising Officer

About VSO

VSO is the world's leading development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty. We are unique in the way we bring people together to share their skills and experience, generate insights and ideas and, most of all, take action against poverty and exclusion. It's a highly effective approach that works, and today is helping millions of people in some of the world's poorest communities lift themselves out of poverty.

Role overview

The purpose of this role is to ensure VSO is an organisation that passionately engages with Major Donors and Trusts and Foundations inspiring them to give significant funds to our work.

The Major Gift Fundraising Officer, will play a key role in implementation of our Major Gifts strategy, which will focus on strengthening, diversifying and growing VSO's relationships with Major Donors and family Trusts and Foundations.

Reporting directly to the Major Donor Manager, the successful candidate will be responsible for identifying new prospects and developing strong cultivation and solicitation plans, as well as bringing those who choose to join us, closer to our work.

We are looking for highly motivated individual, with a passion for engaging donors who is comfortable in working in a dynamic and fast paced environment.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a new team, with significant untapped potential to increase income and make a real and tangible difference to people living in poverty.

Skills, qualifications and experience

You should have experience of working in a target led environment with a proven track record of delivering against targets, observing deadlines and achieving results. A strong understanding of the principles of Major Gift fundraising is essential.

Specifically we are looking for someone with:
- A track record of developing successful proposals and compelling cases of support for high value donors, particularly Trusts and Foundations
- Exceptional relationship building skills, with experience of personally engaging and cultivating prospects to give significant funds.
- Experience of effectively managing grants and reporting to donors.

This role would be best suited to someone who is proactive, with the ability to work independently and take initiative

Think you've got the skills and the passion? Get in touch; we'd love to hear from you.

At VSO, our six 'People First' principles are critical behaviours to how we recruit people in VSO. Examples are:

* Development is 'people-centred'
* Decisions are evidence-based
* Programmes must be appropriate and effective
* Actions are backed by strong reflective practices
* Plans are worked out collaboratively
* Decisions must be accountable

Being the ideal candidate in the above behaviours, you are excellent at being resilient and adaptive to new situations and new information; able to work with teams to facilitate positive change and forge high performing working relationships; you are also able to develop, seek and share knowledge in right time with right people; you are proactive, compassionate and empathetic to how you approach your work.

How to apply

VSO reserves the right to close the job early if we receive sufficient number of applications.

Unfortunately we are unable to provide sponsorship for this position, so please ensure you have the right to work in the UK before you apply.

If you're interested in applying for this role, please download the job description for more information.