Major Gifts and Partnerships Manager

Company Description

Future, Barking and Dagenham Youth Zone is a vibrant youth center located in Parsloes Park, Barking and Dagenham, and has been serving the community since May 2019. Open seven days a week, it offers young people access to around 20 different activities each evening, including sport, art, dance, and cooking, for an affordable fee of 50p. The Youth Zone provides a safe, inclusive, and inspiring environment where young people can develop skills, build confidence, and connect with supportive adults.

Future Youth Zone is committed to creating opportunities that help local young people thrive and reach their potential.

The Major Gifts and Partnerships Manager is a full-time, hybrid role based in Dagenham, responsible for securing significant philanthropic support and strategic partnerships for Future Youth Zone. Day-to-day tasks include managing and growing a portfolio of major donors, developing tailored cultivation and stewardship plans, and preparing compelling proposals, presentations, and impact reports. The role involves identifying and researching prospective donors and partners, planning and delivering donor engagement events, and coordinating recognition activities that build long-term relationships.

The Manager will collaborate closely with the leadership team and colleagues to align fundraising targets with organisational priorities, maintain accurate records in the fundraising database, and ensure all activities comply with relevant fundraising regulations and best practices.

• Experience working with major donors and securing major gifts, with a track record of building and sustaining high-value relationships.
• Skills in planned giving and annual giving programs, including designing and implementing multi-year donor engagement strategies.
• Proficiency in prospect research, including identifying, analysing, and prioritising potential donors and partners.
• Strong communication, storytelling, and writing skills for developing persuasive proposals, cases for support, and donor materials.
• Ability to plan and deliver donor cultivation events and partnership activities, with excellent project management and organisational skills.
• Comfort engaging with senior stakeholders, board members, and community leaders, with professional interpersonal and negotiation abilities.
• Experience in fundraising, charity, or nonprofit environments is highly beneficial; familiarity with youth or community-focused services is a plus.
• Competence using CRM or fundraising databases, as well as standard office software, and managing data with accuracy and confidentiality.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and safeguarding young people, with the ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented setting.