Head of philanthropy and partnerships jobs in Milton keynes, england
About the Trust
We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you?
Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.
Join Our Team: Head of Philanthropy & Partnerships
We’re excited to welcome a new strategic leader to shape and deliver transformational income growth and strategic partnerships for the Trust.
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
Working Hours & Location
This role follows a 37 hours, Monday to Friday working pattern. This is a home-based role, requiring regular travel to meetings with donors, events and to our main hubs for collaborative meetings and team activities.
Role Overview
In this pivotal role, you will lead the refinement and delivery of the Trust’s high value giving strategy, building and sustaining relationships with philanthropists, statutory funders, trusts and foundations, and corporates. You’ll inspire, lead, and manage a diverse team to achieve ambitious income targets and strengthen strategic partnerships that support the Trust’s vision. You will actively demonstrate desired behaviours - enthusiastically engaging with external partners, taking initiative to strengthen the team, and fostering a culture within the Trust that supports high level giving.
Key Responsibilities
- Implement and refine the Fundraising Strategy to deliver significant and sustainable income growth and impact.
- Lead, inspire and develop a diverse team, fostering a culture of delivery, collaboration, accountability, and innovation.
- Personally lead on cultivating and stewarding transformational relationships with corporates, trusts, foundations, high-net-worth donors and some statutory sources while empowering your team to build profitable, multi-year relationships, a robust pipeline and secured income.
- Prepare, monitor, and deliver the annual business plan and income budget (currently £5m with significant growth planned).
- Represent the Trust externally at a senior level and maintain awareness of sector trends.
- Maintain best practice in fundraising compliance, risk management, and reporting, maintaining the highest standards of integrity.
- Embed diversity, inclusion, and safety responsibilities in all activities.
About You
As an accomplished fundraising leader with a proven track record of delivering high-value income and building strategic partnerships, you thrive in complex stakeholder environments and bring a blend of vision, resilience, and hands-on expertise. You’ll be confident influencing at Board level, adept at navigating ambiguity, and passionate about making a lasting impact.
Skills & Qualifications
- Proven experience in leading a team – skilled at building, inspiring, and motivating teams to achieve fundraising goals.
- Comprehensive expertise in major donor fundraising, corporate partnerships, and trust and foundation giving, alongside a working knowledge of statutory giving.
- Demonstrated expertise in high-value fundraising and partnership development, with a proven ability to create, cultivate and steward long-term relationships while influencing internal stakeholders to secure and sustain transformational support.
- Proven success in securing transformational gifts and multi-year partnerships.
- Demonstrable problem-solving skills, able to influence inside and outside the organisation.
- A proven ability to develop and write persuasive and successful funding applications and partnership proposals for major donors, trusts and foundations, and corporates.
- Exceptional communication and networking skills, with the ability to engage and inspire diverse audiences.
- Experience managing significant budgets and delivering income growth.
- Knowledge of fundraising compliance and sector trends.
- A collaborative and innovative approach, able to lead and motivate a diverse team while working cross-functionally.
- Personal resilience and adaptability, with the ability to deliver results in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
What We Offer
We offer an annual salary of £78,000, plus £520 cash car allowance per month. Enjoy a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. For a full breakdown of our benefits, check out our brochure here:
Our values
We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes.
All of our jobs can be considered on a part time flexible or job share basis.
We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. You are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. We recognise not everyone who is classified as disabled under the Equality Act personally identifies this way, or with this definition of disability. Please do not let this discourage you from applying under the scheme.
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
Registered Charity
More than 1000
Canal & River Trust is the UK's largest canal charity, caring for a 2,000-mile network of stunning canals and navigable rivers.
Thank you!
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World Veterinary Service – Corporate Partnerships Manager
Location: Remote or hybrid, with monthly meetings at Dorset office and regular travel for meetings with donors.
Salary: £40,000-£45,000 per annum.
Contract: Permanent, full-time hours.
Worldwide Veterinary Service – which helps animals in places where no one else can - is seeking an experienced Corporate Partnerships Manager to support the growth of their corporate fundraising programme.
Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) champions animal welfare around the world, sending vets where they are needed most, providing expert veterinary training in hard-to-reach places, and shipping urgent aid supplies worldwide. Last year they treated over 103,000 animals, trained over 2,800 vets and vaccinated over 1.2 m dogs against rabies.
Reporting to the Head of Philanthropy, the Corporate Partnerships Manager will lead on the development and delivery of the charity’s corporate fundraising strategy, shaping a high-potential income stream to create impactful partnerships with businesses that align with WVS’s mission and values. The role will be responsible for identifying, research and approaching prospective corporate partners to build a strong new business pipeline and managing and nurturing existing corporate relationships to ensure long-term engagement and growth. The post holder will also work with partners to deliver engaging employee and customer campaigns, sponsorships and strategic alliances.
The ideal candidate will be a natural networker, commercially savvy, and motivated by making a positive impact through business partnerships. You’ll have experience building mutually beneficial corporate relationships and will thrive on identifying shared value opportunities. While the primary focus is on corporate partnerships, the post-holder will also provide support across other philanthropic income streams - particularly major donors and trusts and foundations - contributing to ambitious fundraising goals. Finally, candidates for this role must be adaptable and comfortable working with ambiguity and the dynamic, fast-moving environment of this growing charity.
This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced fundraising professional who wants to make lasting improvements to the lives of animals around the world.
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Thank you!
Head of Fundraising
Salary: £51,818 - £60,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 35 hours per week. Flexibility in working pattern, in agreement with line manager
Based: Any BBOWT Office with travel to other sites as required. Hybrid working available
The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust has a vision for “more nature everywhere, for everyone”. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. This includes you being comfortable bringing your whole self to work, and us co-working with the diverse communities we serve to ensure we are meeting everyone’s needs.
We’re looking for a Head of Fundraising who cares deeply about helping nature recover – and who values working in an environment where wellbeing, collaboration and balance matter just as much as results.
In this role, you’ll guide and nurture our fundraising programme across philanthropy, membership, trusts, grants and business partnerships. You’ll be part of a supportive leadership team that’s committed to sustainable growth, shared learning and creating the conditions for people and nature to thrive together.
What you’ll be doing
- Leading with purpose – helping secure the income that enables our vital work, with a focus on long-term sustainability rather than short-term pressure.
- Shaping a fundraising strategy that reflects our values and supports meaningful connections with our supporters.
- Supporting and developing a motivated team, championing wellbeing, professional growth and a healthy, collaborative working environment.
- Exploring values-led campaigns and new opportunities that feel authentic to our mission and respectful of supporters.
- Acting as a trusted advisor to Directors and Trustees, helping embed a positive fundraising culture across the organisation.
For all your hard work you can expect a great rewards package in return. In addition to being part of a friendly, skilled and knowledgeable team, passionate about making a difference, when you work for us, you’ll also receive
- Generous annual leave entitlement with paid birthday leave, balance days, urgent personal business leave and generous occupational sick pay
- Flexible working to achieve work-life balance
- Wellbeing initiatives including 14 qualified Mental Health First Aiders, YuLife benefit package - access to immediate and confidential help for any work, health, or life matters; 3x life assurance, online GP access, discounts and trade YuCoin points for gift cards
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and family-friendly policies
- Salary exchange pension with generous employer contribution
- Learning & Development Programme for all
- Membership to BBOWT’s, and The Wildlife Trusts’, Staff Network Groups for social interaction, peer support, mentoring and personal development
What we’re looking for
- Proven experience raising income in a charity or membership-based setting
- Demonstrable track record of successfully leading more than one fundraising income stream in a membership-focused organisation
- Confidence in growing high-performing teams and great at building relationships
- Brings empathy, positivity, and a collaborative leadership style
The closing time and date for applications is 11.59pm on Wednesday 28th January 2026.
Stage 1 interviews will take place the afternoon Wednesday 4th February 2026, second stage interviews likely to be 9th or 11th February 2026.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
We want our people to be as diverse as nature, so we particularly encourage applications from people who are underserved within the communities in which we operate. This includes people from visible ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities (including those who are neurodivergent), the LGBTQ+ community, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and younger people. We are committed to creating an organisation that recognises and truly values individual differences and identities.
BBOWT values diversity and inclusion and the benefits this brings. We want every candidate to have the best chance of success as part of this process. In order to do this, we know that some candidates will need reasonable adjustments. You will be able to contact BBOWT Recruitment Team if there are any reasonable adjustments we can provide during the recruitment process, including completing your application.
No agencies please.
Thank you!
World Veterinary Service – Major Donor Manager
Location: Remote or hybrid, with monthly meetings at Dorset office and regular travel for meetings with donors.
Salary: £40,000-£45,000 per annum.
Contract: Permanent, full-time hours.
Worldwide Veterinary Service – which helps animals in places where no one else can - is seeking a passionate, proactive and relationships-driven Major Donor Manager to support the growth of their major giving programme.
Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) champions animal welfare around the world, sending vets where they are needed most, providing expert veterinary training in hard-to-reach places, and shipping urgent aid supplies worldwide. Last year they treated over 103,000 animals, trained over 2,800 vets and vaccinated over 1.2 m dogs against rabies.
Reporting to the Head of Philanthropy, this role offers an exciting and unique opportunity to shape a vital income stream from the ground up - identifying, cultivating, and stewarding high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) who are motivated by global animal welfare. You will be responsible for developing and delivering a major donor strategy to grow the pipeline of prospective HNWIs and building compelling cultivation and stewardship journeys, including bespoke proposals, events and communications. You will also manage a portfolio of warm and cold prospects with the aim of generating five- and six-figure gifts over time.
The ideal candidate will be a skilled communicator - someone who thrives on building authentic partnerships and translating complex global work into powerful donor propositions. You’ll be excited by the task of growing something new and ready to work collaboratively as part of a small but ambitious philanthropy team. While the primary focus is on major donors, the post-holder will also provide support across other philanthropic income streams - particularly corporate partnerships and trusts and foundations - contributing to ambitious fundraising goals. Finally, candidates for this role must be adaptable and comfortable working with ambiguity and the dynamic, fast-moving environment of this growing charity.
This is an ideal role for an experienced fundraising professional who is ready for their next challenge and wants to make lasting improvements to the lives of animals around the world.
Please download our Candidate Pack for further information [PDF], which includes details on how to apply.
Closing date: Monday 26 January.
Thank you!
Working closely with the Fundraising Manager and Head of Philanthropy, you will support a range of fundraising activities, most predominantly researching new avenues for funding within trusts, foundations and corporate partners, completing grant applications, carrying out communications and reporting to existing funders and raising the profile of the charity through representing Action Tutoring at funder or networking events. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain experience in the world of fundraising activities, working with a passionate, committed and driven team.
Closing date: Sunday, 15th February 2026
Interviews: Wednesday, 25th and Thursday 26th February 2026
Start date: Tuesday 7th April 2026
Contract and hours: Full time permanent contract. We offer flexible hours with 9.30-4 as core hours. A full working week is 37.5 hours.
Location: This role is remote. The candidate can be based anywhere in the England. Our London office address is: x+why, 8-10, Fivefields, Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0DH. Occasional travel may be required for this role.
Duties and responsibilities
- Research new opportunities for Action Tutoring to explore for fundraising and carry out initial enquiries to determine suitability to apply to trusts and foundations.
- Prepare and submit grant applications to suitable trusts, foundations and corporates, carrying out careful research to ensure the applications are as strong as possible and include relevant data and case studies.
- Work alongside the Corporate Partnerships Team to encourage corporate support through donations or grants.
- Identify and lead on local fundraising opportunities in Action Tutoring’s nine key regions, for example researching and submitting applications for local grants and to local businesses.
- Research and determine suitability of profile raising opportunities or awards for Action Tutoring to apply to, such as corporate Charity of the Year opportunities, the Third Sector Awards and Charity Awards.
A full list of duties and responsibilities can be found in the job description attached to the BreatheHR advert.
Person specification
Qualifications criteria:
- Previous experience in fundraising, or transferable experience that shows strong writing skills.
- 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:
- Outstanding communicator; strong written and verbal communication skills; able to make an exciting and compelling case for support.
- Creative and ambitious.
- Proactive and tenacious personality; willing to seek out and pursue opportunities.
- Highly organised; able to prioritise, multi-task and manage work to deadlines.
- High computer literacy.
- Adaptable and open to learning and feedback.
- Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Committed to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children.
You will likely be more successful in this role if you have:
- Prior experience of fundraising work, particularly if it is within trusts and foundations. This could be in a paid role, or on a voluntary basis or as part of work experience.
- Experience of building relationships with stakeholders.
How to apply:
To apply for this position you will need to complete and attach an application form to your application. To do this, please download the attached application form, complete the sections in full and save the new file, and then click the 'apply' button.
You will be able to upload the completed application form on the next page.
Applications without an attached application form will automatically be discounted. We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help you with making the application process work for you.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
Award-winning national education charity working towards a world in which no child’s life chances are limited by their socio-economic background.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
This is an exciting opportunity to get experience with a large and growing charity with an engaged and fun team. You will be a key part of our mission to find a cure for all types of brain tumours.
Our Systems Manager is being seconded to an internal project for the next 6-9 months and so we are seeking an experienced IT professional to join our team for an interim basis for six months with the possibility of a three month extension.
In this role you will you lead a team of three people in supporting our staff team of 70 by providing reliable, effective and efficient IT systems and equipment. This include the monitoring and maintenance of our IT software and, with external support, our IT hardware.
You will line manage the Database Assistant and Data Processing Assistant.
If you are excited to learn more about this position, please take a read through our recruitment pack provided in the advert.
If you have the skills and ambition that we are looking for we welcome your application. We are really looking forward to welcoming a new member to our team!
We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process.
Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.
We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.
We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
To find a cure for all types of brain tumours To increase the UK investment in brain tumour research
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.