Head of hospice fundraising jobs in Birmingham
Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist care and support for babies, children and young people who are life limited or life threatened. Supporting over 750 children and nearly 1,000 families annually, Acorns is a vital lifeline for families across the West Midlands and Gloucestershire during unimaginably difficult times.
Over the past three years, Acorns’ leadership has enhanced collaboration and innovation across the charity and embedded an organisation-wide fundraising culture.
With a newly integrated Partnerships Team spanning corporate partnerships and community fundraising, and an ambitious £5m appeal ahead, Acorns is now seeking a Senior Community Partnerships Manager to oversee and deliver the charity’s community fundraising strategy, driving c.£1m of income. The strategic focus will be on building more commercially productive relationships with SMEs, community groups, and associations across the West Midlands.
Reporting to the Head of Partnerships, you will personally manage a portfolio of key community partnerships while leading and developing a team of three Community Partnerships Managers. While the team operates on a patch basis (Birmingham/Black Country and Worcester), you will take a lead on integration across Acorns, working closely with Retail and Care colleagues.
This is a superb opportunity for someone who has evolved from traditional community fundraising into more commercially-focused, regional partnerships.
About the role
As Senior Community Partnerships Manager, you will:
- Report to the Head of Partnerships and line manage three Community Partnerships Managers, ensuring plans are focused, targets/KPIs are set and met and ROI is prioritised
- Oversee key accounts worth circa £1m across the team, seeking opportunities to uplift/evolve, whilst delivering exceptional donor experience for SME, community group, and association partners
- Be the key account manager for a range of partnerships that have the potential for growth, are higher profile or have a wider geography than one patch alone
- Work closely with the Corporate Team to ensure smooth handover of partners with higher value potential or commercial complexity or in reverse for those that focus more on staff fundraising alone
- Network map and build relationships across key sectors, utilising Acorns senior leaders to open doors
- Contribute to the development of fundraising products and campaigns that appeal to community audiences
- Collaborate with Retail, Care and other fundraising teams to maximise referrals and cross-team opportunities
About you
Essential skills and experience:
- Proven experience of growing income through regional community engagement, ideally within a charity setting
- Either line management or substantial coaching/mentoring experience
- Experience of working with community leaders
- Experience and evidence of first-class relationship management techniques and donor care
- Experience of organising events, managing volunteers, risk assessments and health and safety requirements
- Track record of cross-team working with examples of impact, ideally this will include collaborating with corporate partnerships teams
Desirable:
- A blend of regional corporate relationship management and community fundraising experience, reflecting the strategic direction of the role
Employee benefits include:
- 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- 5 days holiday buyback scheme starting from April 2026
- 5% employer pension contribution
- Life assurance scheme (2 x annual salary)
- Retail discounts (including the Blue Light card)
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted gym membership
- Access to expert financial health and wellbeing support
To apply, please upload your CV, making sure it reflects the essential skills and experience outlined above. You can use the notes/cover letter section to share any additional relevant information. Suitable applicants will be contacted and given full support with the formal application process.
Round 1 interviews – w/c 30 March (TBC)
Round 2 interviews – Thursday 9 April
Registered Charity 
101 - 500
Thank you!
Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist care and support for babies, children and young people who are life limited or life threatened. Supporting over 750 children and nearly 1,000 families annually, Acorns is a vital lifeline for families across the West Midlands and Gloucestershire during unimaginably difficult times.
Over the past three years, Acorns’ leadership has enhanced collaboration and innovation across the charity and embedded an organisation-wide fundraising culture. With a newly integrated Partnerships Team and an ambitious £5m appeal ahead, Acorns is now seeking a Senior Business Development Manager to drive high-value corporate new business and secure strategic partnerships that deliver long-term income growth.
Reporting to the Head of Partnerships, this is a senior corporate new business role focused on identifying, cultivating and converting strategic prospects into multi-year partners. You will own and drive a c.£1m new business pipeline, lead senior-level engagement including C-suite conversations, and secure six-figure+ partnerships aligned to Acorns’ strategic priorities.
If you thrive on making things happen, enjoy research and relationship-building, and want to make a big difference quickly, this is the role for you. We’re looking for a proactive, confident fundraiser with a strong conversion rate and the energy to lead Acorns’ new business push.
As Senior Business Development Manager, you will:
- Identify and engage companies for multi-year strategic partnerships, Charity of the Year agreements, sponsorship and cause-related marketing
- Own and manage a robust new business pipeline of circa £1m, ensuring accurate forecasting, progression and conversion
- Secure high-value corporate partnerships, including stock generation and innovative fundraising initiatives
- Build and influence relationships at senior level, including C-suite stakeholders
- Work closely with the Partnerships and Community teams to ensure smooth transition of new partners into account management
- Line manage the Business Development Manager and drive performance against agreed targets
Essential skills and experience:
- Proven corporate fundraising or business development experience within a charity or commercial setting
- Track record of securing six-figure+ corporate partnerships
- Strong negotiation and influencing skills, with experience engaging senior stakeholders and C-suite leaders
- Experience operating in a targeted, commercially focused environment
- Commercial awareness, including experience of budgets, forecasting and ROI analysis
- Experience managing contractual agreements and working within GDPR and fundraising compliance frameworks
- Experience using CRM systems to manage pipeline and reporting
- Line management experience
Desirable:
- Knowledge of the CSR and ESG landscape and corporate partnership trends
- Experience of cause-related marketing and sponsorship activation
- Familiarity with regional corporate networks and fundraising landscape
- Experience supporting major appeals or high-profile campaign activity
Employee benefits include:
- 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- 5 days holiday buyback scheme starting from April 2026
- 5% employer pension contribution
- Life assurance scheme (2 x annual salary)
- Retail discounts (including the Blue Light card)
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted gym membership
- Access to expert financial health and wellbeing support
To apply, please upload your CV, making sure it reflects the essential skills and experience outlined above. You can use the notes/cover letter section to share any additional relevant information. Suitable applicants will be contacted and given full support with formal application process.
Round 1 interviews – w/c 30 March (TBC)
Round 2 interviews – Thursday 9 April
Thank you!
Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist care and support for babies, children and young people who are life limited or life threatened. Supporting over 750 children and nearly 1,000 families annually, Acorns is a vital lifeline for families across the West Midlands and Gloucestershire during unimaginably difficult times.
Over the past three years, Acorns’ leadership has enhanced collaboration and innovation across the charity and embedded an organisation-wide fundraising culture. They are now seeking a senior corporate partnerships specialist to lead Acorns’ newly formed Partnerships Team, which combines corporate new business, account management and community income streams.
A member of the Fundraising Leadership Team, the role will be responsible for securing and managing high-value strategic partnerships with businesses while simultaneously driving engagement with local community groups, education partners, and faith groups, ensuring clear tiering, structured pipeline progression and robust income performance.
The role will also act as Partnerships lead for the upcoming £5m fundraising appeal, co-canvassing alongside the Head of Philanthropy and executive leadership, and mobilising corporate and community networks around key campaign moments.
As Head of Partnerships, you will:
- Report to the Associate Director of Fundraising and line manage a team of four (Senior Business Development Manager (Corporate), Senior Corporate Partnerships Manager Senior Community Partnerships Manager, Partnership Engagement Officer)
- Form part of the Fundraising Leadership Team, with shared accountability for strategic decision making, compliance and cross-directorate working
- Lead and integrate Corporate and Community fundraising into a cohesive partnerships strategy aligned to the wider Fundraising Strategy
- Design and implement a three-year corporate and community income plan, with full budget and forecasting responsibility
- Conduct an audit of current partnerships activity, pipeline and resource allocation to ensure effort aligns to regional and national potential
- Lead corporate new business acquisition, securing multi-year strategic partnerships, Charity of the Year agreements, cause-related marketing, sponsorship and stock generation partnership
Essential skills and experience:
- Strong corporate fundraising background within a charity setting
- Proven track record of securing six-figure corporate gifts
- Experience managing and motivating teams to deliver robust income targets
- Experience designing strategies, annual plans and budgets and adapting them as required
- Strong knowledge of the corporate landscape, regionally and ideally nationally
- Confidence leading high-value pitches, negotiations and senior stakeholder engagement
- Experience of forecasting, reporting and managing income performance
- Strong working knowledge of CRM systems and fundraising compliance
Desirable:
- Experience across both local AND national corporate partnerships
- Exposure to community fundraising or engagement programmes
- Experience working on appeal boards or high-value campaign activity
Employee benefits include:
- 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- 5 days holiday buyback scheme starting from April 2026
- 7.5% employer pension contribution
- Life assurance scheme (2 x annual salary)
- Retail discounts (including the Blue Light card)
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted gym membership
- Access to expert financial health and wellbeing support
Hybrid working with 2dpw at preferred location (Birmingham, Worcester or Walsall).
When applying via CharityJob, please ensure that your CV reflects the essential skills and experience outlined above. You can use the notes section to share any additional information. Suitable applicants will be contacted and given full support with the formal application process.
Apply by Thursday 12th March.
Round 1 interviews – Tuesday 24 March & Wednesday 25 March
Round 2 interviews – Tuesday 31 March and Wednesday 1 April
Thank you!
Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist care and support for babies, children and young people who are life limited or life threatened. Supporting over 750 children and nearly 1,000 families annually, Acorns is a vital lifeline for families across the West Midlands and Gloucestershire during unimaginably difficult times.
Over the past three years, Acorns’ leadership has enhanced collaboration and innovation across the charity and embedded an organisation-wide fundraising culture. With an integrated fundraising structure and an upcoming £5m appeal, Acorns is looking for a senior leader to review, refine and scale its end-to-end donor experience across all income streams.
Forming part of the Fundraising Leadership Team and reporting to the Associate Director of Fundraising, the Head of Donor Experience will lead a central support function covering donor journeys, supporter care, data and insight, digital fundraising and compliance. They will be responsible for shaping and delivering a comprehensive donor-centred strategy that drives engagement, loyalty and long-term value, while championing a digital-first, data-driven approach to stewardship.
As Head of Donor Experience, you will:
- Lead a high-performing Donor Experience team of nine, with four direct reports across Donor Experience, Data & Insight, and Digital Fundraising
- Develop and embed a cohesive donor experience strategy aligned to the wider Fundraising Strategy
- Design and implement a structured supporter journey framework, ensuring appropriate automation and personalisation across channels and income streams
- Drive innovation in stewardship, including digital engagement, journey design, automation, and personalisation
- Review and refine thanking, banking, fulfilment and supporter care processes to improve efficiency and supporter satisfaction
- Oversee CRM development and optimisation, ensuring robust data governance and a clear single supporter view
- Lead insight generation and segmentation strategy to inform fundraising performance and income growth
- Establish and maintain a centralised compliance framework across fundraising activity
- Strengthen collaboration between Fundraising and Marketing to enable more coordinated, funnel-led campaigns
Essential skills and experience:
- Strong background in fundraising operations, supporter care, compliance or customer experience within a charity setting
- Proven track record of developing and delivering stewardship strategies that improve retention and long-term supporter value
- Experience managing and motivating teams to deliver operational excellence and performance improvement
- Experience designing and implementing strategy, annual plans and process improvements
- Strong working knowledge of CRM systems, data governance and supporter database management
- Confidence influencing senior internal stakeholders and driving cross-team collaboration
- Experience of reporting, performance analysis and using insight to inform decision-making
- Strong understanding of fundraising compliance, including GDPR and sector regulation
Employee benefits include:
- 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- 5 days holiday buyback scheme starting from April 2026
- 7.5% employer pension contribution
- Life assurance scheme (2 x annual salary)
- Retail discounts (including the Blue Light card)
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted gym membership
- Access to expert financial health and wellbeing support
When applying via CharityJob, please ensure that your CV reflects the essential skills and experience outlined above. You can use the notes section to share any additional information. Suitable applicants will be contacted and given full support with the formal application process.
Apply by Thursday 12th March.
Round 1 interviews – Tuesday 24 March & Wednesday 25 March
Round 2 interviews – Tuesday 31 March and Wednesday 1 April