Overview
Senior Trusts and Fundraising Manager – Fixed Term – Full Time
ID: 289773
Job Specialism: Charity
Location: London
Salary: £52,079 per annum, inclusive of London Allowance
Closing Date: Friday, 10th October 2025
Sense International are currently recruiting for a Senior Trusts and Fundraising Manager to join their Fundraising team. This 10 month fixed term opportunity will work on hybrid basis from our office in King’s Cross, London, working 37.5 hours per week.
The successful candidate will lead in the strategic development and implementation of an ambitious Trusts and Foundations and Corporate fundraising strategy for Sense International that supports income growth and ensures that we deepen our relationships with existing and proactively engage new Trusts and Foundations as well as Corporate partnerships.
Sense International’s Trusts and Foundations income has grown by over 200% in the last 2 years and this role continues to be integral to our success. Due to the proximity you have to our projects and county teams you will witness first-hand how your work directly impacts the lives of children and young people with deafblindness.
You will also manage a Fundraising Officer that will support in building the Trusts and Foundations portfolio and in particular the newly developing corporate foundations strategy.
Key Responsibilities
- To develop and implement an effective Trusts and Foundations and Corporate fundraising strategy for Sense International as well as yearly operational plans to ensure future income growth.
- To lead on new business leading on focusing on medium to large donors (£100k+) and build strategic relationships that go beyond a simple financial transaction but create long term partnerships.
- Bring together concepts that are innovative and compelling for a trust and corporate audience, working alongside our country teams to support in the development.
- To manage and implement a programme of high quality proposals to Trusts and Foundations and Corporates that are aligned with Sense International’s funding priorities with the aim to secure large multi-year gifts of £100+.
- Provide line management to the Fundraising Officer providing clear and targeted support and development, responsible for managing the wider portfolio of corporate and challenge events, small fundraising appeals and mailings to mid value donors, trusts and corporates.
- To communicate Sense International’s vision and our work on the ground (both verbally and in writing) in a persuasive and knowledgeable manner preparing well targeted proposals, pitches and reports.
- To involve the Sense International Trustees and Executive Team in the process of building relationships with Trusts and Foundations and Corporates and exploring networks to help with new approaches.
- Support in building a Change Makers Circle to include our high value trusts and foundations and corporate partners.
Key skills and experience
- In-depth experience of trusts and foundations fundraising and knowledge of best practise fundraising techniques.
- Experience in identifying and researching trusts and foundations that have the potential to support a specific cause.
- Experience of building excellent senior relationships with trusts and foundations producing cultivation and stewardship plans for new and existing supporters respectively.
- Experience of working with senior Trustees and Executive Team to explore networks to help with new approaches.
- Experience in setting and managing budgets including reforecasting and reporting against targets.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate passionately and persuasively while communicating complex information in an accessible and convincing format.
- Willing and able to travel internationally to visit programmes and conduct donor visits.
For a full job description and person specification, please see the link on the left hand side of the page.
About Sense International
Sense International is the only international non-governmental organisation dedicated to supporting people with deafblindness and their families around the world. Sense International supports programmes in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Romania, Peru, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
The Sense International team provides strategic leadership to the Sense International global family and supports global programmes and fundraising in addition to day-to-day support on operations including finance and human resources. Additionally, the Director of Sense International is line manager to the Regional Director of East Africa, who overseas programmes and operations in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and she also line manages the Director of Sense International Romania and the Director of Sense International Peru. The Director of Sense International also sits on the boards of Sense International Kenya, Sense International Uganda, Sense International Tanzania, Sense International Romania and Sense International Peru.
To apply
Please use the link below to complete your application. Managers will use your application to shortlist candidates for interview; in relation to the Personal Specification. Therefore, it is very important you complete this section thoroughly. We would recommend that you read the job description and person specification before applying.
Please note to avoid disappointment, we advise you to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close posts at any time.
No agency submissions please: any submissions without prior authorisation from the Sense Recruitment Team will be treated as our own and as such no fee will be payable.
If you require any further assistance, please contact the Recruitment Team on 0121 393 4529 or recruitment@sense.org.uk
Sense is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children and adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. Therefore, all offers of employment, where appropriate, are subject to a DBS check; level dependent on the nature of the role.
For this role we particularly welcome applications from candidates from underrepresented ethnic minority backgrounds and candidates with disabilities. Sense is committed to equality of opportunity, and to promoting and celebrating the diversity of staff, volunteers and the people we work with. Everyone’s contribution is valued and we ensure they’re given the opportunity to realise their potential. We welcome applications from talented people from all sections of the community who share our values and belief that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. For more information please visit: https://www.sense.org.uk/jobs/equality-diversity-and-inclusion-in-recruitment/
Precise Location: 101 Pentonville Road, , London, Greater London, N1 9LG, United Kingdom
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
