Assistant head of philanthropy jobs

As the school looks ahead to its next chapter, philanthropy will be central to expanding opportunity, enhancing facilities, and ensuring that RGS remains a place where talent and ambition can flourish. To support this vision, we are seeking an exceptional Director of Development to lead a modern, strategic, and inspiring development programme.  This post is funded by The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe Foundation CIO (Charity number: 1179234).

The Director of Development will lead the design, delivery, and growth of a comprehensive fundraising strategy that supports the school’s long‑term ambitions. This is a senior leadership role requiring strategic insight, operational discipline, and the ability to build meaningful relationships across the RGS community.

A major priority will be to refresh, rebuild, and modernise the school’s fundraising data, creating a reliable, insight‑driven foundation from which to plan and execute fundraising activity. Alongside this, the postholder will lead a transformational capital appeal to deliver a new state‑of‑the‑art STEM facility by 2030 — a project that will shape the educational experience of future generations.

The role also includes developing a legacy giving programme, expanding regular giving among parents, and introducing innovative school‑based fundraising initiatives that engage pupils, staff, alumni, and the wider community

The Fundraising Assistant will be an integral part of a dynamic and unstoppable fundraising department. The role will be a chance for someone to learn about all types of fundraising whilst meeting with a diverse range of supporters and generating funds for the charity across a range of income streams.

For this role you will need to have great attention to detail, be highly organised as well as the ability to be flexible as things can change quickly in fundraising. You will also have the enthusiasm and willingness to learn new skills and the confidence to pick up the phone and bring positivity and joy to our supporters. This is a great opportunity for someone looking to learn about fundraising in a busy, fun and supportive environment.

At Sarcoma UK, we are committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, communities and experiences. We are happy to discuss flexible working arrangements and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Benefits:

• Flexible working options including hybrid working
• Pension with 5% employer contribution
• 25 days holiday entitlement per annum plus bank holidays and the working days between Christmas and New Year
• Additional day off for your birthday
• Volunteering day per year
• Enhanced sick, maternity and adoption pay
• Sarcoma UK Life Insurance Scheme
• Health and wellbeing:
  • Health Cash Plan
  • Therapy sessions
  • Wellbeing Group
  • Team activities throughout the year
• Interest-free season ticket and bicycle loan

Our Promise: 

Everything we do is shaped by the people affected by sarcoma.

Our work is guided by five commitments:

• We are shaped and driven by people affected by sarcom: we listen to and learn from the experiences of patients and families.
• We are committed to equity: everyone affected by sarcoma should be able to access the same quality of care, information and support.
• We collaborate to make a bigger impact: we work with healthcare professionals, researchers, organisations and policymakers to achieve more together.
• We uphold the highest standards: we use evidence and expertise to push for better care, treatment and research.
• We are relentlessly ambitious: sarcoma is decades behind other cancers. We will use every opportunity to close that gap.

Duties and key responsibilities

Fundraising Support

• Provide administration and operational support across the fundraising team.
• Respond promptly and professionally to fundraising enquiries via post, email, and phone, offering support, guidance and thanking donors and fundraisers.
• Develop excellent and enduring relationships with current and potential supporters.
• Send fundraising materials (including t-shirts, information packs, etc.) to supporters.
• Support challenge event fundraising by stewarding fundraisers, providing logistical support and administrative duties.
• Support the delivery of community campaigns, concentrating on the innovative fundraising elements, and providing stewardship to fundraisers.
• Support the planning and delivery of campaigns and special events and provide on the day support.
• Provide research support across the whole fundraising team, which may include researching corporates, trusts and foundations and community fundraising opportunities.
• Keep up to date with the work of the charity and communicate this to supporters in a compelling manner.
• Represent Sarcoma UK at events as required.

 Administrative Support

• Monitor the fundraising section on Sarcoma UK’s website, ensuring all fundraising pages are kept up to date and relevant.
• Produce regular reports on fundraising activities, including data from JustGiving, Enthuse, and GoFundMe, ensuring accurate tracking and evaluation.
• Work with the database and fundraising teams to evaluate and analyse fundraising activities. 
• Contribute to the smooth running of the organisation, assisting with general office and digital administrative tasks and ensuring processes are followed consistently.

 Stock and Online Shop

• Monitor Sarcoma UK’s online shop, and ecommerce platform. Ensuring it is regularly updated with accurate product listings and that orders are processed efficiently, meeting supporter expectations.
• Assist with maintaining external storage unit and keeping records of the contents.
• Liaise with suppliers, process orders, and ensure smooth fulfilment of orders.
• Research and create new merchandise and fundraising materials, keeping up to date with new trends and ensure offering is fresh and innovative.

Other

• Maintain accurate and up to date supporter records on Sarcoma UK’s database (Raiser’s Edge).
• To undertake all duties in line with the Sarcoma UKs policies, procedures and regulations ensuring that the work.
• The post holder will be working in a developing environment, and they will therefore be required to undertake other appropriate duties as necessary for the efficient operation of Sarcoma UK.

We are sector leading with our heritage, connections, and relationships. Our friends are superbly connected and ready to use their networks to help us. With a talented, hard-working team, we deliver amazing, creative and innovative fundraising events that have a huge capacity to inspire people.

We are looking for a strategic and relationship-driven Senior Philanthropy Manager (Events) to join our growing Philanthropy team. This role is pivotal in cultivating and deepening relationships with War Child’s philanthropic supporters, through the power of our high-value events.

Working in a fast-paced environment, you’ll bring deep expertise in the strategic role high-value events have for a philanthropic audience. With exceptional interpersonal skills, and a strong understanding of major donor fundraising you'll provide strategic input into the planning and donor experience of our high-value philanthropic events, ensuring these moments strengthen relationships and inspire giving.

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and experienced events fundraiser who has previous experience of working in a high-value team, with a passion for international development. You’ll join a high-performing, values-driven team at a time of exciting growth. You will shape the future of our high-value events programme and work closely with inspiring supporters, this role offers both influence and impact.

If you share our values and believe that children’s lives should not be torn apart by war, we want to hear from you.

Your role

As Senior Philanthropy Manager (Events), you will lead War Child’s high-value events programme, engaging high-net-worth supporters and Global Ambassadors to maximise income from major donors. You will focus on shaping and delivering the donor engagement strategy for high-value events, working collaboratively with colleagues to maximise fundraising impact. You will partner closely with the Ambassador & Advocate Manager, who is responsible for operational planning and delivery of events across War Child.

This role requires a strategic thinker who is comfortable building trusted relationships with high-net-worth individuals, C-Suite level executives, philanthropists and senior event volunteers and advisors, managing multiple priorities, and operating confidently in a high-profile environment.

Your responsibilities

• Lead the development of the philanthropy team’s high-value events portfolio, ensuring events are strategically designed to support cultivation and stewardship goals, including those hosted by Global Ambassadors.
• Advise the Head of Philanthropy on the development of War Child’s high-value events strategy, identifying opportunities to enhance impact and income.
• Work closely with the Head of Philanthropy and Philanthropy Lead to deliver income targets, contributing to wider team strategy and planning.
• Act as the team’s subject matter expert on high-value events, setting clear objectives and KPIs to measure success over time.
• Build and manage relationships with high-net-worth individuals involved in events, including event committees and advisory boards. Identify and progress prospects to develop long term, high-value relationships, progressing event attendees through the major donor pipeline.
• Represent the team at events, building relationships, identifying new opportunities, and ensuring a high-quality donor experience.
• Use Salesforce to provide donor insights and guidance on high value events, including guest list management, briefings evaluations, and development of data dashboards to inform future event strategy track attendee journeys, and assess long-term value.
• Working closely with the Research & Insights Manager, to produce high-quality, post event evaluations using an insights led approach to continuously improve philanthropic events.
• Ensure philanthropy messaging and donor experience at events reflect War Child’s values and impact.
• Collaborate across War Child UK and the War Child Alliance building strong internal working relationships that benefit the high-value events strategy.
• Engage senior leadership, trustees and key external stakeholders in high-value events where appropriate, providing briefings and strategic advice to maximise their effectiveness.
• Represent the Philanthropy function in cross-organisational projects, helping to shape strategic initiatives that strengthen philanthropic engagement and provide inspirational departmental leadership.
• Provide first-rate line management to the Philanthropy Assistant, modelling excellence in management that will result in line reports thriving in their role, with high standards of performance and behaviour.
• Monitor progress against income targets and contribute to accurate forecasting, reporting and budget planning.
• Contribute to organisational learning by capturing insights from event attendee interactions, staying up to date on sector trends and proactively identifying new opportunities.
• Champion best practice in fundraising, data protection, and donor care, ensuring compliance and ethical standards at all times.
• Always maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current activities of War Child and be an advocate of the War Child brand.
• Responsible for creating a culture committed to the safeguarding of children, and adults and compliant to War Child’s Safeguarding and PSEAH (Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse & Harassment) policies.
• ·We are committed to building an inclusive and equitable workplace. All staff are expected to actively contribute to this by embedding principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into their day-to-day work, decision-making, and interactions with colleagues, partners, and supporters.

​These duties provide a framework for the role and should not be regarded as a definitive list. Other reasonable duties may be required consistent with the grade of the role.

You are

•  Confident, engaging high value events specialist and fundraiser with exceptional networking and interpersonal skills (for both internal and external audiences) who can inspire high net worth and high-profile individuals to support War Child’s mission
• ·Significant experience in a similar special events/high value events role, with a specialist knowledge of high net worth major donor fundraising ideally within an international development or humanitarian NGO so you can present War Child’s work with authority.
• Experience advising on and optimising high-value supporter engagement at events, with a strategic understanding of how to deepen relationships through tailored experiences and be confident working alongside high profile individuals and Ambassadors who support our events
• Able to work independently in a target led environment with a proven track record of delivering successful high value fundraising events that achieve results, delivering against targets (including securing six-figure targets) and income growth.
• An excellent communicator, confident in managing relationships at all levels, influencing and negotiating as well as writing compelling formal and informal communications.
• Strong experience of project leadership and organisation including critically evaluating activities to achieve strategic priorities and maximise their effectiveness.
• Able to understand and clearly articulate international development issues and trends including War Child’s vision, mission and values and present War Child’s work with authority.
• Organised and able to plan and prioritise to meet multiple deadlines in a fast paced environment.
• Flexible and committed to supporting high-profile donor engagement, including attendance at events in the evenings or on occasional weekends, as part of delivering a sector-leading fundraising programme.
• Experience in line management is desirable but not essential.
• Up to date knowledge of fundraising regulation, compliance and GDPR, and its implications for fundraising policy and practise. Experience of using a CRM database, such as Salesforce.

Senior Fundraising Manager (Major Giving)

Salary£49,321.55 per annum

LocationLondon/Hybrid

Weekly Hours35

The Vacancy

Job Title: Senior Fundraising Manager (Major Giving)

Location: London/Hybrid

Salary: £49,321.55 per annum

Weekly Hours: 35

Reference: YMC1095733

Join YMCA England & Wales as our next Senior Fundraising Manager (Major Giving) and play a crucial role in transforming the lives of young people. This is your chance to lead a vibrant fundraising initiative that makes a real difference!

About Us:

At YMCA England & Wales, we uplift vulnerable young people by providing them with safe homes, vital life skills, and the support they need to thrive. We’re all about fairness, opportunity, and collective action—join us in making a difference!

Your Role:

As our Senior Fundraising Manager, you’ll develop and execute an ambitious Major Giving strategy, building strong relationships with high-net-worth donors and engaging new prospects. Get ready to innovate with Giving Circles, Development Boards, and more!

What You'll Do:

- Cultivate and grow a portfolio of major donors.

- Host exclusive events and personal meetings to engage and inspire support.

- Create compelling proposals and impact reports that resonate with supporters.

- Collaborate with senior leaders and Trustees to strengthen relationships with philanthropists.

- Bring your strategic mindset to implement YMCA’s Major Giving Strategy.

About You:

You're a motivated and personable fundraising professional with a track record of securing five- and six-figure gifts. Your relationship management skills are top-notch, and you’re passionate about crafting unforgettable donor experiences. 

Why Join Us?

- Be part of a vibrant, growing fundraising team impacting young people's lives.

- Work for a charity that values collaboration and celebrates your contributions.

- Enjoy a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and opportunities for professional growth.

If you’re ready to make a real impact and promote a fun, friendly environment, we’d love to hear from you! Join us and help shape the future of young people across England & Wales!

To apply: please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role

Our recruitment process is anonymised and candidates' names are hidden. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. Safer recruitment is important to us and the successful applicant will be asked to provide two references. They will also be required to complete a safeguarding self-declaration, safeguarding training and undertake a DBS check.

About Action Tutoring
At Action Tutoring, we believe every child should be given the opportunity to succeed in school. But in the UK today, young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to 

achieve the grades they need to progress in life. This isn't because they are any less able; they have less access to the tools to help them reach their potential. 
 

We don't think this is fair. We know tutoring is an effective way of improving academic attainment and so we harness the power of volunteer tutors to bridge the gap and ensure this help can be accessed by every pupil who needs it, not just those who can afford it. 
 

We specifically help pupils facing socio-economic disadvantage and who are at risk of leaving primary or secondary school without reaching national standards in their exams. We work in partnership with schools in different cities and regions across the UK, delivering weekly tutoring in English or maths to those pupils who need it most. 
 

About the opportunity
The Director of Finance and Operations works closely with the CEO to build the organisation, operations and systems to enable us to scale and respond to emerging opportunities. A critical strategic role, they are a hands-on financial leader that brings strategic insight and challenge. Passionate about our mission, they lead a small team and use their experience and expertise to make our strategy a practical reality.

Closing date: Sunday, 17th May 2026
Interviews:Thursday, 28th and Friday, 29th May 2026, in our London office. There will be a second round of interviews.
Start date: Ideal start date is asap. However, we’re happy to wait for the ideal candidate.
Contract and hours: Permanent. Full time. We offer flexible hours with 9.30-4 as core hours. A full working week is 37.5 hours. 
Place of work:  Hybrid/flexible. This role requires 6 days a month in our London Office, Fivefields, Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0DH.

Duties and responsibilities
 
Finance

Lead financial strategy and long-term planning to support the development of the organisation, as well as holding overall responsibility for finance processes and controls. 
 

Operations

Drive continuous improvement of operations to increase productivity, quality of delivery and value for money. With the operations team, provide oversight of all operational matters to ensure compliance and the smooth running of the organisation.
 

HR and team development

Action Tutoring has a Head of People & Culture who oversees day-to-day HR operations. However, with a permanent staff team of around 60, this role holds strategic responsibility for talent development and HR processes. This includes training and development strategy, effective diversity and inclusion policies and regular reviews of performance and reward systems.
 

Senior Leadership 

As one of the four members of the Senior Leadership Team of Action Tutoring, you will contribute to leadership decision-making, representing your own areas of expertise but also advocating for the best strategic options for the charity as a whole. 
 

Legal compliance, risk management and governance

This role ensures legal compliance of the organisation.
 

Line management

Overseeing a small team, this role has direct line management responsibility for the Head of People & Culture, the Operations Manager, and the Senior Finance Officer. You will also, with support from your team, manage relationships with external support agencies, including the outsourced management accountant, IT support company, and HR and employment law consultancy.
 

This role also plays a key part in a number of internal working groups, including leading the Digital Systems working group and serving as a member of both the Sustainability and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion working groups.
 

A full list of duties and responsibilities can be found in the job description attached to the BreatheHR advert.

Person specification
 
Qualifications criteria: 

• The right to work in the UK.

We are looking for some of the following attributes, though you might be more experienced in some areas than others:

• Deep finance and operations experience as well as a track record of strategy development. You will have significant experience overseeing finances and managing budgets and be able to demonstrate a high level of understanding of financial management and forecasting within a fundraising setting. Familiarity with charity accounting and SORP will be essential. 
• Someone with the ability to see the big picture and lead long-term strategy while being able to zoom into the detail and set high-expectations for the team and wider organisation. 
• An excellent eye for detail and an experienced project manager who relishes delivering long-term projects through to completion, you will be a self-starter with a strong ability to take initiative to drive change.
• An ability to identify areas for organisational development and growth. You are someone who leads change and development. Alert to reputational risk, proactively preventing errors.
• An established track record in delivering results in a growing environment at the management level.
• Experience with a range of business functions and systems, including budgeting, finance, legal, IT and human resources or a willingness to build expertise in these areas.
• Understanding of developing policies and procedures; experience in good governance practices, including:
  • Familiarity with routine HR legislation and processes.
  • A good understanding of GDPR compliance and processes.
  • Familiarity with reporting at Trustee level (or equivalent). 
• Excellent team leadership skills. 
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. 
• A commitment to the mission and values of Action Tutoring.
• A commitment to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children.
• Always aiming to help more pupils and have a bigger impact, we continually seek ways to improve tasks, processes and culture.

You will likely be more successful in this role if you have: 

• Additional formal qualifications relevant to the role (e.g. qualified accountant, MBA, CIPD Level 7).
• Experience or knowledge of safeguarding procedures.
• Digital transformation project management.
• Experience in the charity sector or the education sector, particularly in charity legislation and accounting.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation processes and/or school data.
• Experience in improving systems and processes.