Director of engagement and communications jobs

About the role

The National Churches Trust awards grants to help keep churches of all denominations well maintained, open and in use. We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Grants Manager to join our Church Engagement team and oversee our grants programmes, ensuring the funding is delivered to best-practice standards and in a way that supports our vision to see open churches thriving at the heart of their communities.

The future of church buildings is our biggest heritage challenge; we are looking for someone who can help us to ensure our grants are effective and delivered in a way that is transparent, inclusive and impactful and makes a positive difference.

About the National Churches Trust

As an integral part of the UK’s heritage, we want to keep the UK’s wonderful collection of church buildings well maintained, valued and in use. Working on the ground in all four nations, we support churches of all denominations with the challenges and opportunities they face. Our vision is to see open churches thriving at the heart of their communities.

Our mission

• We Speak Up: churches are valued and supported
• We Build Up: churches are well maintained, adaptable and in good repair
• We Open Up: churches are sustainable, open and welcoming support

Our values

• Being straightforward in responding to others’ needs
• Providing support that makes a difference
• Joining forces to achieve greater impact
• Driving change that brings our vision closer

To find out more about the role and to apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: Midnight on Thursday, 10 July 2025.
Interview dates: Wednesday, 6 / Thursday, 7 / Friday, 8 August 2025 in Westminster, London.

Fundraising and Engagement Trainee 

Two Year Contract

Up to £22,000 per annum, plus cost of a CoIF or CIM qualification+ benefits (including 25 days annual leave and pension)

Leatherhead (flexible working options available)

About us:

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity enables families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness to make the most of time together, providing expert, practical and emotional support, where they need it for as long as it is needed.

About the role:

This Best Companies Top 100 mid-sized company and Top 20 charity is looking to appoint a highly driven and engaged individual who will be given the support and professional autonomy to start or build their career in fundraising.

You will have the opportunity to join an ambitious organisation and work alongside experienced professionals within a highly supportive team. We are a learning organisation and if successfully appointed, we will fund and support you with gaining the Institute of Fundraising Certificate, which is a fantastic opportunity. The Certificate helps fundraisers become more confident and understand how to make a genuine difference.

Reporting to the Director of Fundraising and Engagement you will support the Fundraising and Engagement team on a range of activities and projects to gain a breadth of experience of all fundraising, communication and marketing disciplines, and gain a rounded view of charitable fundraising and the role fundraising plays in charities.

This role will particularly suit an individual who is just starting out on their fundraising career or has been an intern or volunteer in a fundraising department, and/or someone who enjoys building relationships, thinking on your feet, is proactive, organised, enjoys being challenged and are motivated to try new things and contribute ideas.

What we’re looking for:

• Friendly, enthusiastic and socially-focused – you quickly connect with others and build effective working relationships. You are naturally warm with a sincere appreciation for people and how they are each uniquely motivated, enjoy working with others
• A motivating, empathetic and persuasive communicator – you will enjoy preparing and presenting high-quality presentations
• You thrive working in a busy environment on multiple priorities simultaneously – results-oriented and a fast learner, you respond quickly to pressure and a changing environment.
• Confident use of MSOffice and some experience of using a database – you have strong attention to detail, are comfortable working with data, and produce high quality accurate work.

Applications will be particularly welcome from those who have experience of building relationships, or interned/volunteered in a fundraising department.

What we offer:

We have a range of fantastic benefits that we offer our employees. Please visit our website for details

How to apply:

Please send your CV and a covering letter highlighting why your application should be considered above others to us via the link.

Interviews will take place at our Head Office in Leatherhead with the dates to be confirmed.

We will only contact those applicants who have been successful.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this post.

As a CQC registered organisation, it is an expectation that all Rainbow Trust employees are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 (unless medically exempt).

Rainbow Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.

Rainbow Trust is an equal opportunities employer and a Best Companies Two-Star rated organisation. Registered Charity No: 1070532

First Give is a national charity that empowers young people to make a positive difference to the causes they care about. We do this by partnering with secondary schools across England and Wales, delivering a fully resourced programme that inspires an entire year group to connect with local charities and take meaningful social action — from fundraising and volunteering to campaigning and raising awareness.

Each programme culminates in a celebratory School Final, where student teams present their projects to an audience of peers, teachers, and guests. The winning class is awarded a £1,000 First Give grant for their chosen charity — but every participating student contributes to their community and gains skills, confidence, and a deeper understanding of social issues. We currently partner with over 200 schools each year, helping thousands of young people become active, engaged citizens

Our values inform what we do at First Give. We are:

• Altruistic
• Inspiring
• Empowering
• Collaborative
• Professional

This is an exciting time for First Give, as we have recently launched our three-year strategy and our ambition to activate the generosity of a million young people by 2034. In order to meet the requirements of the organisation for this ambitious growth a new 3 year fundraising strategy has been developed which includes expanding and diversifying our fundraising streams into Corporate and HNWI. We have also recently launched recruitment for a Fundraising Campaign Board Chair. The Campaign, A Route to A Million, aims to raise an additional £1.5 million over the next 3 years.

Philanthropy and Partnerships Manager

We are seeking a dynamic, strategic and relationship-driven Philanthropy and Partnerships Manager to lead on growing and stewarding First Give’s portfolio of high-value funders. This role will focus on securing income from High Net Worth Individuals and developing corporate partnerships – from first engagement to account management and delivery.

You will play a pivotal role in shaping First Give’s income growth, working closely with our Deputy Director. This role will also support key engagement activities, including hosting donors at student-led Final events and facilitating employee volunteering at schools.

This is an exciting opportunity for a confident fundraiser and communicator with experience managing and deepening relationships with both individuals and corporates – someone who thrives on strategy, storytelling, and social impact.

Key Responsibilities - please refer to attached job description for full details

Corporate Partnerships

• Work with the Deputy Director and members of the Campaign Board to develop a proactive pipeline of corporate partners, focusing on strategic alignment, mutual benefit and long-term value
• Lead on developing tailored pitches, proposal decks and partner materials
• Support the delivery of corporate partnerships, including recognition, benefits, volunteering engagement and impact reporting

Donor Engagement and Stewardship

• Work with the Deputy Director and Campaign Board to identify and cultivate new HNWI prospects
• Collaborate with members of First Give’s Fundraising Campaign Board to generate and support with requests for funding to HNWI and Corporates
• Develop and implement a HNWI outreach strategy, including managing a cultivation pipeline and tracking engagement milestones
• Coordinate and deliver engaging stewardship activities and materials, including tailored updates, reports, and thank-you communications

Person Specification

Essential Experience and Skills

• Demonstrable success in securing significant income from Corporates and HNWI
• Strong experience managing relationships with institutional donors, from cultivation to reporting
• Excellent written communication skills – able to craft compelling, strategic proposals and reports
• Understanding of corporate fundraising and partnership delivery, including employee engagement and volunteering
• Confident and personable – able to represent First Give at events and in donor meetings
• Experience engaging senior stakeholders or board members
• Strong pipeline management and ability to prioritise and coordinate multiple prospects and reporting requirements

Personal Attributes

• Passionate about First Give’s mission to empower young people through social action, with a strategic and entrepreneurial mindset for income generation
• Strong relationship builder with excellent interpersonal skills; thrives in collaborative, mission-driven environments
• Self-motivated, well-organised, and driven to meet ambitious targets

Desirable Experience

• Experience in a similar role within a charity supporting young people, education, or community development
• Familiarity with corporate social responsibility and ESG trends in corporate fundraising.
• Experience supporting or mentoring fundraising team members
• Experience developing donor engagement materials and reports with a focus on impact storytelling

Why work for First Give?

First Give provides many benefits and prides itself on how it treats its staff. Our benefits include:

• Three additional days between Christmas and New Year given to staff gratis. An additional day off for your birthday in addition to your annual leave allowance. Annual leave allowance increases year on year after 3 years with First Give, to a maximum of 30 days per year
• Contributory pension scheme
• Access to Health Assured (health and wellbeing) Employee Assistance Programme
• As you will use your personal mobile for work, First Give provides a phone allowance to contribute towards your mobile costs
• Training and professional development budget, with regular training offered through the Pears Foundation
• Up to three volunteering days per year
• Multiple team socials throughout the year

Contract: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week (9-5.30pm). Permanent
Location: Hybrid - The successful candidate will be expected to work from our London office or attend in-person meetings and host donors at school Final events up to two days per week. The remainder of the week can typically be worked remotely, with some flexibility as required.

The students we work with come from a diverse range of backgrounds, and so do we. We want to ensure that we are recruiting, retaining and promoting a diverse mix of colleagues. We want to foster a diverse and inclusive culture, to empower our teams to achieve our vision drawing on the broadest possible range of experiences. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates from minoritised groups currently underrepresented, particularly black and minority ethnic and disabled candidates.

Terrence Higgins Trust is recruiting a Head of Public Fundraising to lead and grow our individual giving, legacies, community fundraising (including our shop), database and supporter care programmes.

You will drive supporter engagement, develop effective fundraising campaigns, and maximise income to help us deliver our mission. You will bring strong leadership and strategic thinking, excellent communication skills, and a track record of delivering results. Experience of using data to improve supporter experience and inform fundraising strategy is essential.

This is a key leadership role within our Fundraising and Communications team, working across the organisation to ensure fundraising aligns with our values and priorities. If you are an experienced fundraiser looking for your next challenge, we would love to hear from you.

The Fundraising and Communications team source the vital income needed for the organisation to create impact and maximise that impact for our service users and beneficiaries. This team provides innovative ways to reach and engage our many stakeholders using the latest tools available. Made up of experts passionate about their chosen specialism (income generation, press & media, digital communications, marketing and policy), the Fundraising and Communications team engage our supporters, extend our reach, make our voice heard and create real change for our many beneficiaries.

We are seeking an individual to manage the smooth running of all the charity’s services and operations, including data processing requirements and marketing. This role will play a crucial role in guiding the organisation as we look to consolidate and strengthen the structure to increase the long term sustainability of the charity 

We are looking for a highly organised and self-motivated candidate, bringing relevant experience to the role including experience with people, properties, project and database management, to help make a real difference in the lives of tenants and their families by providing high quality assisted living accommodation for adults with a learning disability. 

The four key areas of responsilbity include:

• Providing comprehensive property management: Liason with care providers in order to understand maintenance and imrpovement needs.

• Offering a high standard of support to our residents: In conjunction with the directors, looking for opportunities to improve tenant experience and wellbeing. 

• The support of robust financial accounting: Providing simple data entry where required.

• The delivery of high quality external communication and wider charity marketing: Supporting the volunteer team in maintaining the website, contronbuting to email communications and updating social media.

Please note that in order to safeguard Rainbow Living’s Christian culture and ethos and in keeping with the Equality Act 2010 (Schedule 9 Para 3) Rainbow Living Trustees have applied an occupational requirement to this role whereby the post holder will be committed to upholding Rainbow Living’s Christian ethos. 

Interviews to be held on Tuesday 15th July 2025, face to face in Exeter.

Reporting to the Director of Finance you will

• Protect and grow Parish Contributions from churches
• Undertake targeted work to help Minster Communities to fund their paid ministry
• Engage with church leaders to promote the theology and culture of giving.

In your role you will act as a consultant to churches from a variety of contexts to help them to develop a strong culture of generosity and build financial resilience.

If you have:

• an understanding of churches and the importance of giving
• the ability to read and understand accounts
• great communication skills and the ability of influence people
• good organizational skills and experience with spreadsheets

…then we are keen to hear from you.

We encourage applications from UKME/GMH candidates, who are currently under-represented in the organization. 

The Diocese of Leicester, part of the Church of England, is committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of everyone within our church community.  We follow the Church of England's Safeguarding Policies and the relevant statutory legislation and guidance.  We believe that safeguarding is everybody’s business.  A Basic DBS is required for this post.

About The Connection at St Martin’s

We believe that no one should have to sleep rough on London’s streets, and that everyone should get the support they need to find a place to call home. We get to know every person we work with, understanding what they need to recover, helping them build on their strengths, and supporting them to find their own way home. Help us make London a city where no one sleeps rough on our streets.

London’s diversity is its biggest asset and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London’s diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from candidates with lived experience of homelessness who we believe are an essential asset in our sector.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and welcome the opportunity to consider flexible working arrangements.

About the Role

We have a strong Fundraising & Communications team with a clear strategy in place to achieve growth of voluntary income from £2.7m-£4.1m a year by 2028. We’re seeking an innovative and driven fundraiser to lead some of our less-developed areas of Fundraising to achieve the potential that we know that they have. This includes Major Gifts, Trust Fundraising and Legacies, and supporting our Service Delivery team to identify opportunities and submit Statutory tenders as appropriate.

In addition to leading on the strategic planning for growth in the areas outlined above, you’ll be confident in establishing relationships across the organisation, collating the data and information needed to ensure that Fundraisers are able to build an excellent case for support to take to their donors. You’ll also be excited about helping us to incorporate our clients’ lived experience of homelessness into our fundraising activity wherever possible.

You’ll report directly to the Director of Fundraising and Communications, acting as a leader within the Fundraising & Communications team.

Full job description can be found on our website

Salary: £51,939
Closing Date: Tuesday 1st July
Interview Date: Monday 7th July

Our Benefits

· 30 days holiday plus bank holidays

· Generous training budget, plus an annual personal training budget

· Enhanced Sick Pay Policy

· Enhanced family friendly policies

· Day off for moving house

· Hybrid working (depending on role requirements)

· Pension – 5% Employer, 3% Employee

· Cycle to Work Scheme

· Season Ticket Loan

· Employee Assistance Programme

· Reward Gateway (access to discount vouchers and cashback at the UK’s favourite retailers)

We are a London Living Wage employer

Development Manager - Trusts and Foundations

Full-time: 35 hours per week

Location: Hybrid – with 1-2 days in Head Office – London EC2A 2AH

Salary £40,000 - £45,000 per annum 

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Reports to: Director of Fundraising

Line Management: x1 Senior Trusts & Foundations Officer

                                x1 Trusts & Foundations Officer

 About The Sick Children’s Trust

At the Sick Children’s Trust, we believe that no child should face serious illness without their family close by. Our ten ‘Homes from Home’ support families with a seriously ill child in hospital, giving them a free, warm and welcoming place to stay – just minutes from their child’s bedside.

We help thousands of families every year, but we want to do more. That’s why fundraising from high-value trusts and foundations is more important than ever.

The Role

We are looking for a proactive and strategic Development Manager – Trusts and Foundations to lead and grow our income from major trusts and foundations, with a clear focus on new business development.

You will play a pivotal role in securing large-scale, multi-year funding by identifying and cultivating new funders who align with our mission. This role is ideal for someone who is ambitious, driven by impact, and confident in developing strong cases for support to secure high-value donations.

You’ll also manage two experienced Officers and take a strategic lead in strengthening our pipeline, partnerships and long-term funding potential.

Key Responsibilities

· Lead the development and implementation of a new business strategy for securing high-value and multi-year support from major trusts and foundations.

· Research, identify and approach new prospects, building a robust pipeline of opportunities.

· Develop strong, tailored applications, proposals and pitches that reflect our unique impact.

· Build and maintain strategic relationships with funders, trustees and key decision makers.

· Line manage one Senior Trusts & Foundations Officer and one Trusts & Foundations Officer , ensuring their continued development and success.

· Monitor and report of income performance, pipeline progression and prospect engagement.

· Work closely with colleagues in fundraising, finance, and operations to shape compelling, fundable projects.

· Represent The Sick Children’s Trust externally with professionalism, passion and confidence.

About You

We’re looking for someone with the passion and initiative to drive growth, and the skills to bring in transformational funding. You’ll have:

· A proven track record in securing five-and-six figure grants from trusts and foundations.

· Experience of successfully developing new funding relationships from scratch.

· Excellent bid-writing and storytelling skills, with strong attention to detail.

· The ability to think strategically and work autonomously.

· Experience of managing or supporting colleagues in a collaborative environment.

· A good understanding of project-based funding and reporting to funders.

· Confidence in engaging with senior stakeholders, trustees and foundation staff.

· A commitment to the values and mission of The Sick Children’s Trust.

What We Offer

· A flexible, hybrid working model

· 25 days annual leave + bank holidays

· A supportive, values-driven culture

· Opportunities to shape and grow a high-impact area of income

· The chance to make a real difference to families at a time of crisis.

How to Apply

Please e-mail your CV with a supporting statement (max 2 pages) explaining how your experience fits the role 

We will be considering applications as they are submitted so early application is advised as the position may close before closing date. More information is in the Recruitment pack attached.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Closing date 27 June 

Purpose of the job

This role is an exciting opportunity for a proactive and driven individual to join the UK Youth Network Delivery Department. The Summer Jobs Programme is the largest programme in UK Youth’s portfolio. Funded until the end of 2026, the programme is currently operating in its second year. The purpose of this role is to identify and secure employment placements, including those that generate some income, for The Summer Jobs Programme as well as overseeing the employer journey from start to end. Working closely with the Summer Jobs Programme Manager, the Employer Engagement Manager has key input into the work experience aspect of the programme. 

The Summer Jobs Programme is a paid employment initiative running from July to September 2025 and 2026, supporting vulnerable young people in England and Wales. It aims to reduce youth violence and improve future engagement in education, training, and work by removing barriers to employment and offering structured, empowering opportunities. Young people begin with a one-week pre-employment training course, followed by a five-week job placement. Throughout, they’re supported by both a local youth worker and an employer-based supervisor to ensure they receive consistent guidance.

Funded by the Youth Endowment Fund and Youth Futures Foundation, the programme launched in 2024 with over 400 participants and has expanded in 2025. A built-in Randomised Control Trial (RCT) will assess its impact on youth violence and long-term outcomes. In 2026, the programme will grow further, completing a three-year period of delivery and investment aimed at driving long-term, evidence-based change.

Why work at UK Youth?

UK Youth is a leading charity that exists to ensure all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. We have influence as a sector-supporting infrastructure body, a direct delivery partner and a campaigner for social change. As outlined in our 2025 #unlockingyouthwork strategy, we believe youth work is a catalyst for change that young people need now more than ever. We play a unique role in addressing; the lack of investment into the youth sector, the lack of cross-sector understanding of how youth work makes a difference and the limited opportunities to embed effective solutions.

We are building a movement of change; galvanising likeminded individuals, organisations, government, and businesses from all sectors, to work together and deliver system change for all young people. Together we will create a society that understands, champions, and delivers effective youth work for all.

Key responsibilities

Employer recruitment and income generation

• Work closely with the Communications Team and Corporate Partnerships Team to develop and implement an employer recruitment strategy for the final year of the Summer Jobs Programme, integrating both local and national approaches.

Employer training and management

• Work with the Summer Jobs Programme Manager and the CRM Manager to refine and complete the development of the programme’s CRM system. 

Be responsible for the entire employer journey from start to end.

What we can offer you

We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance, excellent learning and development opportunities and vibrant organisational culture:

• Flexible/Agile Working

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees)

• Funded training provided in; Safeguarding, GDPR, Information and Cyber Security & Equality & Diversity

• Other training available in support of your personal and professional development

• Pension scheme (currently UK Youth match employee contributions up to 5%)

• Membership of our life insurance scheme which would pay-out up to 4 times your salary

• Employee Assistance Programme to support employees both professionally and personally

• 20% discount off bookings at Avon Tyrrell, our New Forest Outdoor Centre, including camping, lodges and outdoor activities.

• IT equipment provided for the duration of contract

• CycleScheme and TechScheme

How to apply

If you would like to be considered for this fantastic opportunity, please complete an application via our completely anonymised recruitment system provided by Applied which looks to create a fair and unbiased application process for all. Scroll to the top of the page and start your application.

Closing date: 25th June 2025 at 09:00

Interview Dates: 1st & 2nd July 2025

As this role involves working in a regulated environment with young people, any offer will be conditional to satisfactory background checks, which include criminal record check and employment reference.

We are seeking a dynamic and skilled PR & Media Officer to join our team. This role requires a creative thinker with excellent communication skills who can manage media relations and promote our initiatives through various channels.

Responsibilities

Press

• Field enquiries from stakeholders including journalists and police forces
• Write press releases and media statements and share these when appropriate via digital & social
• Support the team with the rewards process and promotion
• Draft assets for press
• Be part of the on-call rota system currently 1 week in 7 (training and support provided)
• Effectively manage Vuelio to manage the daily tagging, produce media reports demonstrating PR coverage for all campaigns in a timely way.

Digital

• Develop and update content for website news pages and social media platforms
• Spot trends and advise the team regarding innovative new ideas for PR & Media to share with the team

PR and Publications

• Produce, edit and distribute updates and materials for external and internal audiences, dealing sensitively with those whose personal experiences might be featured
• Provide communications support for regional managers along with other internal staff and teams in addition to police and business development campaigns
• Manage external freelancers and agencies as needed to agreed deadlines and budgets
• To lead on editing, co-ordinating and organising the editorial, design and production of corporate publications
• Ensure all publications are in line with brand and changing needs of the charity and to be delivered in a timely via post and digitally.

Brand

• Ensure Crimestoppers consistent branding is used along with the style and tone of voice
• Manage on a weekly basis the brand inbox queries
• Extend the network of journalists both regionally and nationally
• Plan/create multi-media communications material

Experience

• Minimum 2 years experience working in media relations and PR or related fields (Essential)
• Client, journalist and/or supplier management (Essential)
• Experience of PR & Communications software (e.g. Vuelio) (Essential)
• Digital & Social Media experience (Essential)
• Excellent written communication skills online and offline (Essential)
• Strong organisational, time management and prioritisation skills (Essential)

If you are a motivated individual looking to make an impact through effective public relations, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity as a PR & Media Officer. For full details, please see our website.

To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter.

Job overview

Becoming the Head of Principal Donors at the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women is a fantastic opportunity to be part of lasting progress for women across the globe, ultimately contributing to a fairer, more equal and prosperous world.

You will lead and manage the Foundation’s philanthropy programme, working closely with our senior leadership team, the CEO and our founder to personally cultivate and steward the Foundation’s principal donors. This includes overseeing our recently formed Accelerate Circle – a select group of visionary philanthropists who help drive the Foundation’s fundraising through their networks.

We are seeking an exceptional relationship manager who thrives on external engagement and networking with key stakeholders. You will have a proven track record of establishing and managing global communities of HNWIs and fundraising volunteers, raising high six figure or seven figure donations annually.

In this role, you will be responsible for over £1 million of unrestricted income critical to delivering the Foundation’s goal of reaching one million women entrepreneurs. You will deliver excellent stewardship of our existing donors and cultivate new prospects.

Chief Executive Officer

Coventry, flexible and hybrid working

4 to 5 days per week (0.8 to 1.0 FTE)

£48,000 – £55,000 pro rata, depending on experience

Lead an innovative, values-driven team making a real difference for people with muscular dystrophy (MD)

Muscular Dystrophy Support Centre is a user-led charity dedicated to supporting people affected by muscular dystrophy - rare and sometimes life-limiting conditions that impact 110,000 people in the UK. We are one of only two dedicated MD therapy centres in the country and the only one in the Midlands.

We provide long-term, transformative physical therapies and community support to improve mobility, independence and quality of life. In 2025, we aim to support over 600 people through services at our Coventry HQ, satellites across the region, and online.

After a period of significant growth, we’re now focused on consolidating operations, improving systems, and preparing for the next stage in our development -guided by a new five-year strategy.

We’re looking for a compassionate, strategic and operationally-minded Chief Executive to lead us into this next phase. You’ll work closely with our Board, staff, volunteers, and service users to deliver sustainable growth, ensure operational excellence, and champion our community. We are a dynamic, supportive and committed team with a flexible working environment.

About the role

This is a hands-on leadership role, ideal for someone who thrives in a small but ambitious charity setting. As Chief Executive, you will:

• Lead the development and delivery of our strategic vision and operational plan.
• Responsible for day-to-day operations and embed robust systems for monitoring and continuous improvement.
• Ensure accurate data collection and reporting to guide effective decision-making.
• Support and develop a collaborative and values-led team culture.
• Oversee finances and income generation, including statutory funding and voluntary income.
• Act as our lead spokesperson and build strong external partnerships across the health, charity, and policy sectors.

What we’re looking for

We’re open to candidates from diverse professional backgrounds, but we’re especially keen to hear from people who can demonstrate:

• Senior leadership experience in the charity, health or care sectors.
• Strong operational and team management skills – including experience improving systems and processes.
• Experience with strategic planning, income generation, and governance.
• A people-first leadership approach with a strong commitment to inclusion and user voice.
• A warm, grounded communicator with experience building trusted relationships with staff, volunteers, funders, and service users.

What we offer

• Employer-contributed pension scheme (contribution 3% qualifying earnings)
• 22 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata), with additional days of leave accrued with service
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free tea and coffee provided in the office
• Free onsite car parking
• Friendly and informal office environment

Why join us

• Opportunity to further shape and build a Charity and your role in a key phase of development.
• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of people with long-term, degenerative conditions
• Work with a supportive, passionate and collaborative team and Board.
• Experience first-hand the impact of our services and support on service-users and their families.

We are seeking a dynamic fundraiser to join our ambitious and supportive team as our Head of Philanthropy. Northern Ballet is at an exciting point in our organisational journey and you will inherit a successful philanthropy programme, with a broad, engaged and growing portfolio of donors, which receives effective and valuable support from our Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees.

As Head of Philanthropy, you will be an experienced manager and fundraiser, confident in securing and stewarding donors. You will devise and implement a comprehensive strategy to build income from individuals across our full suite of giving schemes.  You will personally scope, secure and steward new major gifts from individuals, support your line report and manage your own portfolio of current and prospective donors.

This role is integral to our plans to grow both income and the impact of fundraising. If you're passionate about joining a friendly, creative and dynamic working environment where everyone contributes to our success, then we'd love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a philanthropy strategy across all levels of individual giving, to support future growth targets and deliver budgeted annual income targets.
• Be responsible for the growth, development and management of the Benefactor programme.
• Research, build and steward a pipeline of high-value prospects and to drive new activity to secure four to six figure gifts.
• Personally manage a portfolio of key relationships, developing robust supporter engagement plans to maximise opportunities for support. Meet with and cultivate new prospects and establish long-term, respectful, tailored relationships. 
• Manage and support the Philanthropy Executive in stewarding donor relationships, supporting the post holder’s ongoing development and working together to grow lower level giving as part of the overall individual giving strategy.
• Support and work in partnership with the Philanthropy Executive to plan and deliver the annual appeal.
• Work closely with the Events & Partnership Executive to create and deliver bespoke events to grow engagement with the Company and generate additional income.
• Work with the Events & Partnership Executive and Director of Development, to support the sponsorship programme, overseeing relationships with corporate sponsors to ensure that activities meet the needs of the client and maximise the potential for future giving.
• Work with the Director of Development to grow and promote legacy giving to the organisation.
• Work with teams across the organisation to develop opportunities for support, to foster open information sharing and ensure donor opportunities, acknowledgments and experiences are delivered.
• Monitor fundraising performance and budgets and provide timely reports and analysis to the Director of Development.
• Ensure income is tracked and progressed through phased budgets, prospect pipelines and moves management processes, supported by the CRM database.
• Contribute to the overall fundraising success of the Development Team, supporting opportunities for collaboration and championing a supportive, high-performing culture.
• Ensure that all activities comply with current GDPR legislation, codes of practice and ethical guidelines.

Additional criteria

• The role requires the post holder to work some evenings both in Leeds and in touring venues across the UK.

Key deliverables

By the end of the first year the successful candidate will have:

• Received an induction, training and development programme including opportunities to engage with the backstage, technical and artistic areas of the organisation
• Have become a highly valued and trusted member of the Development team, with a confident understanding of the Company, it’s work and donor base
• Drafted and made significant inroads in delivering an individual giving strategy for the Company
• Effectively stewarded and grown a portfolio of major donors, with whom you will have developed strong relationships
• Researched and cultivated new leads and have developed supporter engagement plans for existing supporters
• Have developed an effective and supportive working relationship with your direct line report
• Worked in collaboration with colleagues to grow the pipeline of new prospects and developed compelling projects and opportunities attractive to donors
• Worked to agreed KPI’s, targets and reporting schedules

What we’re looking for:

• Experience building and stewarding strong relationships with supporters, with demonstrable success in working to targets and securing significant gifts
• A warm, engaging and tactful communication style, comfortable interacting with supporters, Trustees and colleagues
• A self-motivated and tenacious fundraiser
• A strategic thinker, skilled in written and verbal communication
• Experience in using fundraising CRM software, ideally Spektrix
• Highly organised and able to effectively manage competing priorities, with excellent attention to detail
• A collaborative style of working, with experience of supporting and motivating staff and working to a shared goal
• A willingness to work out of regular hours and to travel
• Enthusiasm for and commitment to Northern Ballet’s work and values

Other Details

• Salary: £40,000 per annum plus excellent benefits
• Hours: 35 hours per week
• Closing date for applications: 4 July 2025, 17.00pm
• Interviews will take place WC 14 July 2025

Role Purpose

Winston’s Wish is a digital first organisation leading the way in Digital Transformation across the Bereavement sector. This role is new and exciting and will play a vital part in helping Winston’s Wish turn up the dial across our high value fundraising.

As Philanthropy Manager you will be responsible for growing income from major donors and Trusts and Foundations through excellent donor stewardship. Leading a team of committed Trust fundraisers, you will focus on identifying prospective individual donors and foundations and develop lasting relationships with them. You will also support the management of relationships with existing donors, ensuring all donors have an excellent experience of supporting Winston’s Wish and understand the impact of their support on the lives of grieving children.

Main Responsibilities

Leadership

• To lead and inspire the Philanthropy team fostering a collaborative and high culture that delivers against income and objectives.
• Provide clear and supportive leadership that motivates staff to achieve, develop and grow in their roles.
• Undertake quarterly reviews for all direct reports.

Philanthropy Fundraising

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with high-value donors, ensuring effective solicitation, stewardship, and follow-up to secure significant contributions (six-figure gifts).
• Build and maintain a portfolio of Trust & Grants supporters. Responsible for researching, approaching and developing compelling applications with a focus on ensuring Trusts & Grants provide a long-term, diverse and sustainable income stream.
• Lead the development and stewardship of the Philanthropy board to identify and secure transformational (6-7 figure) gifts and the development of the Business development Board to open opportunities with Corporate Partners.
• Write and design a compelling case for support that is tailored to our High Value audiences.
• Lead on planning and delivering successful high value cultivation events.
• Represent Winston’s Wish at fundraising events and meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
• You will identify new major donors and Trusts and Foundations who have the potential to make a significant difference to the lives of grieving children. You will develop and implement cultivation strategies to turn prospects into supporters.
• You will work with the Individual Giving Manager to identify mid-level donors who could be stewarded into the major donor pipeline.

Strategy, Planning and reporting

•  You will work alongside the Director of Income Generation to support the development and implementation of a new Philanthropy strategy covering development of a prospect pipeline, building a culture of peer referrals, annual targets and personalised engagement plans.
• Lead on developing and delivering effective stewardship journeys and cultivation plans.
• Produce regular reports on fundraising activity, analysing performance against targets, and identifying areas for improvement and growth.
• Work with the Director of Income Generation to develop the annual budget, including leading on monthly performance reports and contributing to quarterly reforecasts and reporting against KPI’s and milestones.
• Undertake research and make use of tools to identify potential High Value partners.

Collaboration

• Work closely with the Director of Income Generation, SLT and other teams to maximise high value fundraising opportunities.
• Where appropriate, you will involve Winston’s Wish senior staff and the Board of Trustees to make the most of opportunities to engage and build relationships with existing and potential supporters.

All Staff

• Contribute to the vision and mission of Winston's Wish; whilst embedding the values into your daily work activities.
• Promote equality of opportunity and diversity in accordance with Winston’s Wish policy.
• Contribute to the overall success of the charity’s fundraising needs by providing case studies, attending events and adding value to the experience of our supporters as required.
• Contribute to the brand and reach of the charity by working alongside our Marketing & Communications Team when relevant press opportunities arise or when required for social media and online content (including the use of photography).
• Work to objectives, targets and work plans agreed with your line manager.
• Undertake specific projects and other ad hoc duties agreed with your line manager, fulfilling any deadlines, reviews and reporting procedures required.
• Take an active part in the quarterly review process and participate in training agreed with your line manager.
• Recognise and champion the lived experience of children and young people with bereavement within your work.
• Ensure the health and safety of all colleagues, volunteers and visitors in accordance with Winston’s Wish policy.

Person Specification

Essential

• A proven track record in high-value fundraising, including securing 6-7 figure donations from high-net-worth individuals, trusts, foundations, and businesses.
• Track record of converting cold prospects to planned gifts of 6-7 figures.
• Experience in effectively developing, managing and reporting complex income and expenditure budgets.
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels and excellent written skills.
• Experience of successfully engaging trustees and/or senior volunteer committees to drive philanthropic income.
• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive and results-driven mindset.
• Experience of researching and prospecting.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to relate with senior stakeholders both internally and externally.
• Highly professional, flexible and committed to achieve and exceed KPIs.
• Ability to manage projects and associated budgets.
• A self-starter with strong team working skills.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills with the ability to prioritise work, handle conflicting demands and meet tight deadlines.
•  A creative thinker and quick to respond to opportunities.

Desirable

• Understanding of child bereavement.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Experience of using Salesforce CRM System.

Recruitment Timetable

Application deadline: Tuesday 1st July 2025

Interview date: Wednesday 9th July 2025

Interview location: MS Teams

Winston’s Wish reserves the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications for the role before the closing date.