Major Donor Manager
Salary: £42,000 - £45,000 per annum (DOE)
Location: Stevenage, Hertfordshire (Hybrid minimum 2 days per week in the office)
Contract: Permanent, Full-time (37.5 hours per week)
Closing Date: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis
Occupational Requirement: Practising Christian (Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9 applies)
Build transformational relationships. Change lives.
At Mercy Ships UK, we're on an exciting journey of growth. With ambitious plans for the next five years, a growing supporter base and a renewed focus on philanthropy, we're looking for an experienced and passionate Major Donor Manager to help secure transformational support for one of the world's most impactful healthcare charities.
This is a unique opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with high-net-worth individuals and major donors, connecting them to a mission that brings hope, healing and lasting change to communities across Africa.
About Mercy Ships
Mercy Ships is a global Christian charity that uses hospital ships to deliver free, life-changing surgeries and healthcare services to people who would otherwise have little or no access to safe medical care. For more than 40 years, Mercy Ships has worked alongside governments and local healthcare professionals to strengthen health systems and create sustainable change.
Since 1978, Mercy Ships has:
* Impacted more than 2.88 million people
* Performed over 122,000 surgical procedures
* Delivered more than 556,000 dental procedures
* Trained over 55,000 healthcare professionals
* Worked in more than 55 countries around the world
Our mission is simple yet profound:
Following the 2,000-year-old model of Jesus, we bring hope and healing to the world's forgotten poor.
The Opportunity
As Major Donor Manager, you will play a key role in developing and growing Mercy Ships UK's major donor programme. Working closely with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships, you will build relationships with individuals capable of making five-figure gifts and develop tailored stewardship journeys that inspire long-term philanthropic support.
This is a highly relational fundraising role, ideal for someone who enjoys connecting with people, understanding their motivations and creating opportunities for transformational giving.
Key Responsibilities
You will:
* Develop and manage a pipeline of approximately 100 major donor prospects.
* Identify, research and cultivate new major donor opportunities.
* Build strong relationships with current and prospective supporters.
* Secure and steward five-figure gifts in support of Mercy Ships' programmes.
* Create personalised donor engagement and cultivation plans.
* Prepare compelling proposals, reports and impact updates.
* Represent Mercy Ships at donor meetings, events and networking opportunities.
* Collaborate with colleagues across philanthropy, marketing and communications.
* Use CRM data and insight to manage donor relationships and track progress.
* Support the delivery of ambitious fundraising and income targets.
About You
We're looking for a skilled relationship fundraiser who can demonstrate:
Essential Experience
* Proven experience securing and managing major gifts or high-value relationships.
* Experience securing four or five-figure gifts from individual donors.
* A track record of achieving income targets through relationship-based fundraising.
* Experience identifying and cultivating high-net-worth individuals.
* Experience building relationships with senior stakeholders or philanthropists.
* Strong experience using CRM systems to manage supporter engagement.
Essential Skills
* Outstanding relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
* Excellent written communication skills, including proposal writing.
* Strong presentation and influencing abilities.
* Excellent networking skills.
* Ability to manage multiple priorities and relationships effectively.
* High attention to detail and strong organisational skills.
Personal Qualities
You will be:
* A committed Christian who supports the mission, vision and values of Mercy Ships.
* Passionate about seeing lives transformed.
* Self-motivated, proactive and results-focused.
* Professional, credible and confident when engaging external stakeholders.
* Collaborative, positive and adaptable.
Why Join Mercy Ships?
This is a rare opportunity to join a growing philanthropy team at a pivotal moment in our development. You'll have the chance to build meaningful relationships, secure transformational gifts and directly contribute to life-changing healthcare programmes across Africa.
Benefits Include:
* 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
* Additional annual leave for length of service (up to 30 days)
* Up to 7% employer pension contribution
* £1,000 annual learning and development budget
* Employee Assistance Programme
* Free onsite parking
* Travel and training loan schemes
* Hybrid and flexible working arrangements
Additional Information
This role will involve regular travel for donor meetings and occasional evening and weekend events. There may also be opportunities for international travel.
Due to the nature of the role and the need to represent Mercy Ships authentically within Christian supporter communities and networks, there is an occupational requirement for the successful candidate to be a practising Christian.
Apply Now
If you are an experienced relationship fundraiser who is passionate about building meaningful donor partnerships and helping transform lives through healthcare, we'd love to hear from you.
Please submit your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role and your motivation for joining Mercy Ships UK.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a suitable candidate is identified.
Hope. Healing. Transforming Lives.