Principal Gift Specialist

Charity People is thrilled to be working with the leading global wildlife and conservation organisation, in their search for a new Principal Gift Lead. This charity has been at the forefront of bringing the world back to life; with nature in freefall, they are urgently tackling the underlying causes that are driving the decline, and finding solutions so future generations have a world with thriving habitats and wildlife.

This is a permanent role, with a salary of £56,000, and offers a flexible working pattern, requiring a minimum of one day in their office. It also comes with a generous pension contribution and weekly wellbeing hour for every staff member.

The Role

The Philanthropy team collaborates with influential individuals, trusts, and foundations to generate funding, expand networks, and enhance impact. Their efforts support vital conservation initiatives, drive positive environmental change, and inspire broader engagement with their mission.

This role forms part of an exceptional, high-performing team, currently generating over £12 million annually, and there is now a shift in focus towards principal giving. The role will focus on securing gifts of £250k+ and cultivating a growing pipeline of multi-million-pound global partners. This role will play a crucial part in their strategy to unlock transformational giving opportunities and accelerating solutions to restore and rejuvenate our planet.

Some key objectives include:

• To play a key role in growing their philanthropic income from c. £12m pa to £30m by 2030 as part of their long-term income strategy;
• To develop and refine the strategy to secure principal gifts;
• To produce 3-4 visionary £5m+ funding propositions to influence and win support from a high value funding audience
• To establish a personal portfolio of recurring funding relationships with global environmental philanthropists, HNWI's and family foundations securing gifts of £250k+ and multi-million partnerships across a varied pipeline of supporters;
• To use your experience and expertise to strengthen the philanthropic culture across the charity
• To use your position within the senior leadership team, and as a fundraising expert, to promote best practice and provide coaching and mentoring to the Philanthropy & Events team

About You

You would be joining an outstanding and creative team, who support each other and demonstrate innovation, collaboration and have an incredible track record.

You should be able to demonstrate extensive experience in fundraising with success in securing major gifts from foundations and philanthropists, as well as displaying strong leadership skills, to develop a high-performing team. You will champion collaboration and have the ability to engage and influence key internal and external stakeholders. You will be a natural networker and adept at building long-term relationships using persuasive and compelling communication skills.

Interested in finding out more?

If you are passionate about making our planet a better place and can bring drive and energy to our philanthropy programme, we would love to hear from you.

If this role inspires you, please contact who can tell you more and how to apply. We'd love to help you get your next role.

Applications will be in the form of a CV and cover letter.

For over thirty years, Charity People have recruited extraordinarily talented people into rewarding and vital positions on behalf of some of the biggest and smallest non-profit organisations in the UK and internationally. We also work in partnership with organisations that support diversity in the workplace, recognising the need for continual diverse partnerships in our work. We're proud to be the chosen recruitment partner for many Charities, Universities, Membership bodies and Institutes