Job Description
Job title:
Major Gifts Manager
Department:
Philanthropy
Location:
Sparks, Westminster Tower, 3 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7SP
Reports to:
Director of Development
Direct Reports:
Trusts and Foundations Executive
Research Partner Executive
About Sparks:
Sparks funds medical research into conditions and disabilities affecting babies, children and
mums-to-be. We believe that all children should be given the best possible start in life and a
medical condition or disability should not be a barrier to opportunity and fulfilment.
Role Purpose
This is a very exciting time of growth for Sparks and specifically the Philanthropy team. As a
key member of the team you will develop Major Gifts fundraising for Sparks. You will be
responsible for generating and managing donations of £5,000+ from Major Donors; in
particular developing regular gifts of £5-10,000 per annum for between three and five years
You will manage a portfolio of 100+ prospects and donors, managing the spectrum of Major
Gift fundraising from research through to stewardship.
Main Responsibilities
Prospecting and securing new business
 Carry out prospect research
 Initiate and manage relationships with future potential and existing donors and ensure
the most effective approaches are made to secure funds
 Encourage creative solutions to donor prospecting
 Prepare briefs and follow-ups in relation to future prospects attendance at events and
plan key stewardship at and following such events with aim to secure long-term
support
 Develop fundraising cases for support
 Collaborate with all other teams to support and deliver the charity-wide initiatives and
overall budget
 To undertake any other relevant duties or projects which are in line with the
responsibilities of this role
Relationship Management
 Generate income with a focus on securing £5,000+ donations from major donors by
initiating and developing long term relationships with existing and prospective
supporters
 Manage a portfolio of 100+ prospects and donors against set KPI’s
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Manage, in collaboration with the Events team, small portfolio of major donor focused
events
Assist the Director od Development with administration and management of a high
profile committee tasked with securing major gifts for the ‘Sparks Innovation Fund.’
Ensure the Raisers Edge database is extensively updated and correctly used
Manage engagement and donor recognition opportunities
Management
 Manage and assist in career development of two direct reports, including setting
objectives, undertaking appraisals, recruitment and all other HR aspects of such
management
 Set and manage the budget for Major donors
Experience, Knowledge & Skills
 Ability to network, negotiate and influence at the highest levels
 Experience of fundraising with a minimum of 2 years in a major gift role
 A track record of having asked for, negotiated and secured gifts of £50k+
 Event management
 Setting and monitoring budgets
 Experience of developing excellent working relationships with senior staff and
external supporters
 Up to date knowledge of donor giving trends and fundraising strategies to ensure
fundraising activities comply with legal requirements
 Educated to degree level or equivalent
 Understand the process of researching, soliciting, cultivating and stewarding potential
and actual major donors
 Understanding of tax efficient giving
 Ability to produce high quality, compelling written materials including cases for
support, letters and pitches
 Ability to produce annual plans and budgets and monitor and report on performance
against agreed KPI’s
 An understanding of the diverse needs of major gift supporters in order to build and
strengthen relationships between them and Sparks
 Confidence in face to face meetings and events; ability to deal with people at all
levels with professionalism
 Initiating cold approaches/cold calls
Personal Attributes:
 Excellent organisational skills
 Strong Interpersonal skills and relationship building abilities
 Results driven
 Positive energy and enthusiasm with a dedication to Sparks vision and goals
 Integrity and diplomacy
To apply please email CV with cover letter to amba@sparks.org.uk