Philanthropy Manager BirdLife International

Who we are

Nature is in crisis. People are destroying and consuming the natural world at a devastating rate, threatening the ecosystems on which all life depends. Birds are our early warning system, revealing the health of our planet and helping us understand the urgent action needed to protect it.

BirdLife International is the world’s largest partnership for nature conservation, bringing together 125 national organisations across six continents to protect birds, biodiversity and the natural systems that sustain life. Through our unique local-to-global approach, we work at the intersection of science, policy and community action to tackle the global nature and climate crises.

Using world-leading bird science, we collect and analyse data from across continents, landscapes and seascapes to identify the most effective and innovative conservation solutions. Our work conserves species, safeguards critical habitats and empowers communities to create lasting change for nature and people.

At the heart of BirdLife is a powerful global movement. More than two million birders, scientists and local volunteers help track, study and protect birdlife around the world, generating the knowledge and action needed to drive conservation impact at scale. Together, we are giving nature a voice and building a future in which birds, wildlife and people can thrive.

BirdLife International’s Development Team is in an exciting new phase of recruitment and growth and will be hiring for a number of roles to support growth and sustainability across the organisation – including this newly created role.

About the role

As Philanthropy Manager for the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region of BirdLife International, you will play a key role in growing philanthropic income to support the RENATE initiative and wider ecological restoration programmes across the region. Working with conservation partners throughout Europe and Central Asia, you’ll help secure support for landscape-scale restoration projects in the Balkans, Türkiye and the Caucasus, while building relationships with donors and foundations across key philanthropic markets, including Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany and the UK.

Joining at an exciting stage of growth, you’ll help shape BirdLife ECA’s approach to philanthropy, develop new funding opportunities and build lasting partnerships that support some of the region’s most important restoration programmes.

This is a newly created, highly external-facing role within a growing fundraising team, focused on engaging European foundations, major donors, family offices and donor-advised funds. You’ll play a leading role in establishing a sustainable pipeline of philanthropic support while helping to grow BirdLife ECA’s profile and fundraising reach across the region.

• Develop and implement a philanthropy fundraising strategy, including prospect cultivation and donor stewardship plans.
• Build a strong pipeline of prospective donors through research, networking and relationship development.
• Cultivate, solicit and steward new philanthropic relationships, securing first-time gifts, repeat support and multi-year partnerships.
• Create compelling funding propositions and tailored donor materials in collaboration with programme and development colleagues.
• Represent BirdLife International at donor meetings, conferences, networking events and cultivation activities across Europe.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for an entrepreneurial, relationship-driven fundraiser excited by the opportunity to create something new within an international conservation network spanning Europe and Central Asia. This could be the ideal next step for someone with experience in philanthropy, major donor fundraising or another relationship-led discipline who is ready to broaden their experience and take on a more strategic, internationally focused role. What matters most is your ability to build trust, spot opportunities, develop meaningful relationships and engage supporters around a compelling vision.

You will bring sound knowledge of the European philanthropic landscape, excellent communication and influencing skills and the confidence to engage senior stakeholders with diplomacy, professionalism and discretion.

• Experience building and managing donor or stakeholder relationships, ideally within philanthropy, major giving, or another relationship-led fundraising environment.
• A proactive, self-starting approach with the confidence to help shape a newly created fundraising programme.
• Excellent communication skills, both written via strong proposals and verbal, with the ability to inspire, influence and negotiate with a range of audiences.
• A talent for networking, identifying opportunities and turning connections into long-term partnerships.
• The ability to work collaboratively and effectively with colleagues, partners and supporters across different countries, cultures and time zones.
• A willingness to travel across Europe and Central Asia to build relationships and represent BirdLife’s work.
• An interest in international conservation, nature restoration, climate action or sustainable development.
• Excellent written and verbal English; additional European languages would be advantageous.