Title: Philanthropy, Major Donor & Legacy Manager

Reports to: Head of Fundraising

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Full-time 35hrs per week - Mon - Fri 9am to 5pm

Location: The Society operates a hybrid working model with a combination of remote and in-person (Dublin 4 office) working. Some evenings & Weekend work may be required.

Office Days: Office attendance days are Wednesday & Thursday

Who we are:

Every three minutes, someone in Ireland hears the words ‘You’ve got cancer’. At the Irish Cancer Society, we understand the physical, emotional and financial impact a cancer diagnosis brings. And we are determined to do everything we can to help.

As Ireland’s leading cancer charity, we work across every area of cancer – from prevention and early detection, through to end-of-life care. We make a positive impact for people affected by cancer every day: investing in life-saving and life-changing research; providing practical, financial and emotional supports; and driving improvements in public cancer services.

The Team

Our fundraising team inspires, motivates and engages our community to raise vital funds. This role is one of seven Fundraising Manager positions which report to the Head of Fundraising within the department of Fundraising, Brand & Marketing, and Retail.

The Role

If you can build relationships that last, are an excellent communicator and strategic thinker, and are motivated to raise money to make lasting improvements for people affected by cancer, this role may be for you.

What you’ll do

Philanthropy & Major Donors

Work with the Head of Fundraising to develop our philanthropic strategy, assessing and adjusting as necessary.
Lead on stewarding major donor relationships including individuals, grant-giving and philanthropic organisations, nationally and internationally.
Research and assess potential major and mid-level donors, and develop a pipeline and programme to cultivate them; working with other fundraising teams to identify potential opportunities.
Co-ordinate grant applications, which may include proposal writing, pitching, presenting and negotiating as required.

Legacy & In Memory fundraising

Working with the Head of Fundraising on planned legacy projects and implementing the legacy strategy. This may include supporter research, legacy marketing, and creative development as well as stewarding legacy supporters to maximise retention and long-term legacy income.
Work with Supporter Services to ensure prompt acknowledgement of incoming communications about legacy gifts and bequests.
Ensure the In Memory supporter experience is excellent, through improvement of processes and supporter journeys.

Management

There are currently no positions reporting to this role; however this role does work with support from other teams, and more roles may be added in the future.

Key Relationships

Work with the Head of Fundraising, Director of Fundraising, Marketing & Retail, and other senior members of staff to develop relationships with major donors, trusts, and foundations.
Work with other Fundraising managers identify opportunities, share plans and add value to each other’s areas.
Work with other relevant departments such as Services, Research, and Communications to develop opportunities and build relationships as appropriate.

General

Prepare and monitor budgets, establish targets and goals, and manage to ensure they are in line with estimates and plans.

Prepare funding applications in consultation with the Head of Fundraising.
Ensure the maintenance of accurate and up-to-date records on our CRM system.
Keep up to date with the current issues and developments in the philanthropy & legacy sectors. Establish memberships and liaise with professional bodies, agencies and other associations as appropriate. Undertake training as required.
To comply with the Society’s policies and procedures, relevant professional codes of conduct and standards, regulation and legislation governing charities’ activities, including Data Protection and GDPR.
Understand risk assessment and work with the relevant teams to manage risks according to our processes.
Provide occasional support in the event that another team in the department has an urgent need, and assist with special projects as required.

This job description is not exhaustive; it merely acts as a guide and may be amended to meet the changing requirements of the Society at any time after discussion with the post holder.

Who you are

You can build strong and lasting relationships with supporters and senior stakeholders. You have proven ability to work independently, to think strategically, and identify opportunities.
An excellent communicator with strong, professional presentation skills and written communication standards, including writing, pitching, presentation, and negotiation skills. You can adjust your communication style based on your audience. You interpret complex topics and translate them for a non-expert audience in an inspiring way.

You are willing to work collaboratively and flexibly to achieve common goals.
You have strong empathy with the Irish Cancer Society’s clients, volunteers and supporters, and a passion for putting them first.

Your qualifications and experience

You will have 3-5 years’ experience in a relevant role within, or working with, the non-profit sector. Experience in at least one of the areas of philanthropy, trusts & foundations, or legacy fundraising is highly desirable.

The Society measures experience based on quality of experience obtained, rather than in time passed and welcomes applicants at all stages of their career.

Proven track record in successful relationship building with senior stakeholders, and income generation on long-term, large-scale basis.
Proven track record of identifying opportunities, developing and implementing a strategy. Experience in designing and managing cultivation events is also desirable.
Knowledge of the Republic of Ireland non-profit sector.
Solid MS Office suite experience. Experience with fundraising CRMs would be an advantage.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 3rd June 2026

Please note all CVs are logged through a third-party system for processing

The Irish Cancer Society is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all employees. We know that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

WE DO NOT REQUIRE THE ASSISTANCE OF AGENCIES

Some of our benefits:

23 days Annual Leave a year or Pro Rata equivalent, plus public holidays, Good Friday and Christmas Eve (if it falls on a working day)
Service Days - Additional days awarded to reflect long service with the Society.
Sick Pay Scheme (following Probationary period)
Flexitime
Defined Contribution Pension Scheme - new starters will join the pension from the date of commencement of employment with the Society. The current contribution rate ranges from a contribution of 3%, 5% or a maximum of 8% of basic salary.
Group membership for VHI and HSF (health plans)
Bus/Rail Ticket Scheme and Cycle to Work Scheme
Death In Service Benefit (from commencement of employment)
Paid Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity, Adoptive, Force Majeure and compassionate Leave)
Learning and Development Programmes
Educational Assistance (Study and Examination Leave)
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
Optional Flu vaccine provided

Philanthropy, Major Donor & Legacy Manager

Benefits

Job Description