59 Head of philanthropy and relationships jobs

As the UK’s independent policing think tank the Police Foundation is the only independent body in the UK dedicated to researching, promoting, and improving policing for the benefit of the public. Through rigorous evidence, innovative ideas, and trusted partnerships, we bridge the gap between police, government, academia, and communities to deliver better policing and a safer society.

As we grow our impact, we are creating a new senior leadership role to elevate our external presence, scale our events and partnerships, and boost our engagement.

Location: London (Hybrid – 3 days per week in our central London office)

Salary: Competitive: Up to £65,000 per annum depending on experience, plus excellent benefits including 32 days paid leave, flexible working and annual 4-week work from anywhere entitlement.

Contract: Permanent, full-time (or option for fractional part-time; 3 or 4 days a week).

The opportunity

This is a brand-new, high-visibility role at the heart of our organisation. You will lead and shape our external affairs function, overseeing events, marketing, and partner/sponsor relations. Reporting to the Director, you will play a pivotal role in raising the profile of the Police Foundation, building strategic relationships, and ensuring our evidence and ideas reach the widest possible audience of policymakers, police leaders, funders, and the public.

This is an exciting time to join a respected, independent think tank with ambitious plans for growth. You will have significant autonomy to design and deliver high-impact strategies, where your work directly contributes to safer communities and better policing.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive external affairs strategy covering engagement, marketing, strategic communications, public and private events, and partnership development.
• Lead the planning and delivery of a portfolio of high-profile events, from intimate discussion dinners and policy roundtables to major national conferences and residential summits.
• Drive marketing initiatives to amplify our research, reports, and thought leadership across digital, print, and media channels.
• Build and nurture a strong network of sponsors, partners, and funders, securing sustainable support for our work.
• Work alongside our Head of Research to manage other staff and foster a collaborative and creative culture.
• Work closely with the senior leadership team to align external activities with organisational strategy and impact goals.

Work arrangements

• Hybrid working: This is a hybrid role. We believe performance is optimised with a blend of in-office time and remote working. The role requires a minimum 3 days per week in our London office (Victoria), with flexibility for the remaining time (subject to organisational needs).
• Flexible working benefits: We support flexible hours and patterns to help you balance work with personal commitments. Many of us, including the Director, have school age children and/or elderly relatives and we work hard to be a genuinely family friendly employer. We offer up to 4 weeks each year of ‘work from anywhere’ entitlement and three ‘remote reading weeks’ per year for hybrid employees.
• Irregular hours commitment: Our standard hours are 9.30am-5.30pm but regular attendance at breakfast or evening functions and occasional weekend events once or twice a year are required, with time off in lieu provided.
• Other entitlements – Our office is closed between Christmas and New Year every year. We offer a 5% employer pension contribution, and a supportive, innovative culture where training and development opportunities are encouraged.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Significant senior-level experience in external affairs, communications, marketing, events, or partnership development – ideally in a think tank, charity, public sector, or related mission-driven organisation.
• Proven track record of successfully planning and delivering high-profile events and marketing campaigns that achieve measurable impact.
• Strong experience in building and managing strategic partnerships and sponsorship relationships, with a demonstrable ability to secure funding or support and to develop and maintain good supporter relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders, including police leaders, civil servants, policymakers, and media.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to develop and execute integrated external affairs plans and develop innovative new events and partnership opportunities.
• Highly organised, with strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment and a busy events schedule.
• Commitment to the values of independent research, the virtues of democratic policing, and the mission to improve policing for the benefit of the public. The Police Foundation is a registered charity and is non-partisan.

Desirable criteria

• Recent experience of curating impactful events and developing compelling marketing materials.
• Experience working in or with the policing, criminal justice, or public policy sectors in the UK.
• Knowledge of the UK political and media landscape, particularly as it relates to crime and policing.
• Experience of line management and team development.
• Digital marketing expertise, including social media strategy, content creation, and analytics.
• Existing networks in relevant sectors (policing, justice, government, philanthropy, or media).

We welcome applications from mid-career professionals with over 10 years’ experience, and those with transferable experience from related sectors such as charities, think tanks, public affairs agencies, police staff associations, government communications, or corporate partners.

This role offers genuine autonomy, intellectual stimulation, and the chance to make a real difference. Join us in shaping the future of policing.

How to apply

Please submit your CV and a covering letter (maximum 2 sides) by email explaining how you meet the essential criteria and why you are excited about this opportunity at the Police Foundation. Please include ROLE APPLICATION in the subject line.

Closing date: 6pm BST 30 September. Interviews are expected to take place in October. We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the advertised deadline if a sufficient number of applications are received. 

Applications from agencies will not be accepted.

The Police Foundation is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Only those with the right to work in the UK are invited to apply.

Join one of the South West's most ambitious and community-focused theatres.

At The Roses Theatre, we believe that great theatre can transform lives, strengthen communities and create opportunities for people of all backgrounds to connect, participate and thrive. As a charity, accessibility, creativity, inclusion and community impact are at the heart of everything we do.

We're looking for a Development Manager (or Fundraising Manager)to help grow fundraising income, strengthen supporter relationships and secure investment in our artistic, participation and community programmes.

Working closely with the CEO, trustees, Marketing Manager and colleagues across the organisation, you'll lead our individual giving and donor development activity while helping to grow support from trusts, foundations, corporate partners and major supporters. This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious fundraising professional looking to take the next step in their development career.

Whether you're currently working as a Development Officer, Fundraising Officer or Development Executive, or you've built experience in individual giving, corporate fundraising or trusts and foundations fundraising, this role offers the opportunity to broaden your skills and make a significant impact within a supportive and ambitious organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the growth of individual giving, patron schemes and donor development initiatives.
• Build, steward and maintain strong relationships with supporters, donors and corporate partners.
• Research, develop and manage applications to trusts and foundations.
• Identify and develop new fundraising opportunities and income streams.
• Work with colleagues and trustees to deliver successful fundraising campaigns and events.
• Monitor, evaluate and report on fundraising activity and supporter engagement.

We're looking for someone who is an excellent relationship-builder, organised, proactive and passionate about connecting people to meaningful causes. Experience in fundraising, development, donor stewardship, philanthropy, corporate partnerships or trusts and foundations work would be valuable, but we're equally interested in people with transferable skills and the drive to learn and grow. We definitely don't expect you will have experience in all areas of fundraising - though it's a bonus if you do!

If you're motivated by helping a charity deliver creative, community-focused work and want to play a key role in shaping the future of a thriving regional theatre, we'd love to hear from you.

Salary: £27,000-£30,000 FTE
Hours: 0.8-1.0 FTE (4-5 days per week)
Location: The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, with flexible and hybrid working available
Contract: Permanent (subject to funding)
Job Share: Applications for job share arrangements are welcome
Start Date: ASAP / Autumn 2026

The Roses Theatre is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Keywords: #DevelopmentManager #FundraisingManager #DevelopmentOfficer #FundraisingOfficer #Fundraising #CharityJobs #IndividualGiving #DonorDevelopment #Philanthropy #TrustsAndFoundations #CorporatePartnerships #ArtsFundraising #ThirdSectorJobs #FundraisingJobs #CharityFundraising

Battersea is entering an exciting phase of innovation and transformation during this second year of our new five-year strategy. With increased investment in income generation, we are strengthening our team to drive the growth to achieve our organisational goals.
This role sits within the Philanthropy, Partnerships & Commercial (PPC) team, made up of Philanthropy & Trusts, Corporate Partnerships & Commercial, Special Events & Stewardship, and Fundraising Operations.

Main purpose of the role:
The focus of the Philanthropy & Trusts team is to build a solid base of support through excellent stewardship of existing trusts and major donors alongside cultivation of new prospects, reached through prospect research and the networks of senior volunteers.
The key purpose of this Philanthropy Manager is to meet both financial and strategic KPIs, by managing a portfolio of key individual relationships and cultivating lapsed and colder prospects to support the long-term health of the Philanthropy portfolio. This role, together with Battersea’s other Philanthropy Managers, will also work closely with senior leadership, senior volunteers and other individuals to open up their networks and introduce new major donors to Battersea.

What we can offer you:
In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 28 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays) per year.
• Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes.
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources.
• Generous pension contributions - up to 10% employer contribution.
• Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year.
• Annual interest-free season ticket loans.
• We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.

Our hybrid working model:
We operate a 50% onsite hybrid working model, with our office-based staff splitting their time between site based and home working. This enables our office-based staff to balance the benefits of home working with onsite collaboration and maintaining a connection to our cause.

Diversity and inclusion:
We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.
We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.
As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best. If you would like to talk more about this, please contact us. Greyscale copies of the recruitment pack are also available on request.

More about us:
At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.

Acceptable use of AI:
At Battersea, we value expertise. We recognise each candidate that applies to us will have a range of expertise they can offer us, so we want to hear about this in your own words. We understand the support that generative artificial intelligence (AI) software can offer but it can also lead to numerous applications presenting as generic and impersonal. This makes it difficult to gain understanding of your unique experience.
To best showcase yourself, we encourage you to write your responses without the assistance of AI. If you require the use of AI software to aid in completing your application, we ask you use the generative responses as a prompt for writing your answers and avoid copying and pasting. You must also ensure the information presented in your application accurately reflects your experience.

Closing date: 27th September 2026
All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.

Interview date(s):
First round (online, via MS teams): 5th/6th/7th October 2026
Second round (in person, with task): 13th/14th October 2026

For more information about the role, please download our Recruitment pack.

To apply for the role, please click the "Apply" button.

Ready to shape the future of high value fundraising for two much loved hospices?

Teesside Hospice and Butterwick Hospice are looking for an ambitious, relationship driven Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships to lead and grow high value fundraising across both organisations at a defining moment in their future.

Salary: £49,984
Location: Across both sites at Teesside and Stockton with c1day from home
Reporting to: Director of Fundraising and Communications
Contract: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, with 0.8 FTE considered and flexible working arrangements
Benefits: A generous benefits package including up to 36 days' annual leave (including bank holidays), flexible and hybrid working, pension options, free onsite parking, comprehensive wellbeing support, professional development and a range of lifestyle, retail and staff discounts

About the Hospices:

Following the decision to merge, this is a unique opportunity to bring together the strengths, relationships and reach of two established hospices, building an ambitious philanthropy and partnerships programme that will help more people across Tees Valley and County Durham access the very best end of life care.

Together, Teesside Hospice and Butterwick Hospice support more than 6,700 people every year, but they know there are many more patients and families who need their care.

The Role:

You'll lead the development of a joined up high value giving strategy across major donors, trusts and foundations, and corporate partnerships, building on the strengths of both hospices while respecting their individual identities and deep connections within their communities.

This is a strategic leadership role, but it's also very much about relationships. You'll be visible, connected and confident opening doors, personally cultivating significant supporters, developing new networks and creating opportunities for transformational, six figure and multi-year support.

What you'll be doing

• Lead an ambitious high value fundraising strategy across both hospices, driving sustainable income growth.
• Develop major giving, building a strong pipeline of high-net-worth supporters and personally cultivating key relationships.
• Provide strategic leadership across trusts and foundations, securing significant and multi-year funding.
• Grow corporate partnerships across the combined geography, including flagship and high value relationships.
• Lead, coach and develop the Trusts & Grants Manager and Partnerships Managers, creating a confident, high performing team.
• Work closely with senior leaders, trustees and volunteers to unlock networks and open doors to new opportunities.
• Build exceptional supporter journeys that deepen relationships and grow long term value.
• Bring teams and opportunities together across both hospices, sharing expertise and creating greater collective impact.

What we're looking for?

An experienced high value fundraiser with a strong track record in major giving, trusts and foundations and/or corporate partnerships.

• A brilliant relationship builder who can engage confidently with high-net-worth individuals, senior business leaders, funders, trustees and other influential stakeholders.
• Someone with the ambition and confidence to develop significant gifts, including six figure and multi-year opportunities.
• A strategic thinker who understands pipelines, forecasting and income growth, but never loses sight of the relationships behind the numbers.
• An inspiring and supportive leader who can develop people, build confidence and create a culture of accountability and ambition.
• A collaborative, thoughtful approach and the ability to bring people with you through a period of exciting organisational change.

You'll have the opportunity to build the strategy, develop the team and create the philanthropic and corporate relationships that will help ensure hospice care is there for more people and families, today, tomorrow and for generations to come.

Interested? We'd absolutely love to hear from you.

To apply: Send your CV or profile to Ellen Drummond at Charity People to start the conversation. If your experience aligns, Ellen will be in touch with next steps and details of how to make your application.

Closing date: 9am, 7th October 2026

Interviews: 22nd and 23rd October 2026

Only because this role is time sensitive, we'll be reviewing CVs on a rolling basis - so please do get in touch as soon as possible if you're interested. But, if you're away on holiday or your personal circumstances make this time of year difficult, please just reach out to Ellen and we'll ensure that you don't miss out.

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

Do you want to be part of a dynamic and innovative fundraising team? Do you want to raise money for some of society’s most pressing challenges and play a key role in an ambitious fundraising and volunteering campaign?

We are looking to recruit a Philanthropy Officer to join us at this very exciting time. The Philanthropy Officer will be responsible for the relationship management of a portfolio of around 100 prospective donors in order to raise funds for a range of key projects. They will be responsible for the entire prospect relationship management process including researching, cultivating, asking and stewarding. 

This role will play an integral part in supporting donations to improve student experience and across key areas of research.

As part of an award-winning team and led by some of the most respected names in higher education fundraising, you’ll get the chance to work across the team and wider university to encourage new donors to make long-term, sustainable and significant £10k plus gifts. You will also have the opportunity to work with our senior team on proposals to top donors enabling you to get experience of working with some of the most successful and experienced major gift fundraisers in the UK Higher Education sector. 

You will be provided with a robust induction and an ongoing training program that will include support from the University as well as expert external providers.

As a Philanthropy Officer you will have responsibility for managing a portfolio of current and prospective donors. You will have the confidence to ask for donations, be a strong communicator, and be passionate about making a difference to some of the biggest challenges the world faces.

The Philanthropy Officer will take ownership of the end-to-end relationship management process of a prospect, from initial research to stewardship activity:

1. Personally manage a portfolio of circa 100 of the University’s (4- and 5-figure) donors and prospective donors, maintaining close relationships with each prospect and integrating them with the University whenever possible to bring the prospective donors to the point where you can ask for philanthropic support.

2. Secure over £100,000 of donation pledges in the first year and develop a sustainable pipeline of prospects and philanthropic income.

3. Demonstrate an understanding that successful fundraising is based on building effective relationships, which match a prospective donor’s philanthropic interest with an area of strength and/or opportunity at the University. Be responsible for the end-to-end relationship management process of your contacts including:

· Identifying new prospective donors from your networks.

· Making the approach and managing a cultivation process, tailored to your prospect.

· Understanding the University’s campaign priorities and bringing them to life for individual supporters. through various communication channels.

· Asking confidently, passionately and effectively for key priorities.

· Building long-term relationships that are centred on the donor, including maximising volunteering opportunities where appropriate.

· Stewarding the donor once a gift is made, ensuring the individual remains connected to the University, the project, and the impact which they have made.

4. Responsible for adhering to relevant fundraising regulation and GDPR whilst ensuring fundraising processes are ethical and that due diligence is undertaken as necessary.

5. Deliver against set targets including money raised, asks made, meetings secured and gift close rate.

6. Communicate effectively with prospects, donors, volunteers, alumni, academics, researchers and businesses using a wide range of communication skills.

7. Communicate effectively with prospects and donors by phone, email, LinkedIn, letter and face-to-face.

8. Work internally with academics to showcase projects to potential donors and work with colleagues across the university to bring gifts to fruition.

9. Work closely with the Volunteering, Events, Campaign Management, Donor Experience, Regular Giving and Legacy Teams to maximise opportunities for collaboration with prospective donors.

10. Working in partnership with other fundraisers and members of DARO including sharing best practice and ensuring prospect development by playing in senior stakeholders at the right time.

11. Use Blackbaud CRM to record meetings and proposals effectively to allow accurate performance monitoring and reporting.

12. Take ownership of all processes and communications in relation to your prospects to include writing proposals, first approach communication, thank you letters and gift paperwork as appropriate.

13. Work with the Philanthropic Finance Team to ensure pledges are fulfilled and donations are correctly managed.

14. Being familiar with methods of tax efficient giving in the UK.

15. Seeking out opportunities for professional development.

16.  Fosters a fair and equitable workplace for all staff.

17.  Supports the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.

18.  Any other duties commensurate with the grade.

Contract Type: Maternity Cover 12 months

Location: Any of our King's Trust offices (Hybrid working - minimum of 2 days in the office)

Interviews: 8th and 12th of October

Our Fundraising and Marketing team are looking for an exceptional colleague to join us on a maternity cover contract and drive high-value fundraising performance during a pivotal period for The King's Trust.

As we work towards our ambition of ending youth unemployment, we are transforming how we support young people in response to significant needs and evolving funding markets. This role will play a critical part in enabling that transformation by ensuring we have the funding propositions and ways of working that help turn this vision into reality.

You will work with colleagues and leaders across Fundraising, Programme Development and Delivery to identify and develop our highest-value and most transformational funding propositions, whilst optimising our bid, proposal and stewardship ways of working and business processes.

Leading a high-performing team of specialists in propositions, proposals and stewardship, you will guide your team to partner with fundraising colleagues across the UK to deliver efficient, effective and high-quality fundraising.

You could have experience in high value fundraising, proposition development, bidding, sales or delivery operations, but what is most important is that you are motivated by solving complex problems collaboratively, succeeding in competitive markets, and are passionate about helping young people achieve their potential.

If you enjoy working in a dynamic, ambitious environment that blends strategic thinking with operational excellence, this could be the role for you. 

What happens next?  

Please submit a CV, and Cover Letter that includes your experience, transferrable skills and motivation to work for The King's Trust! The Team will be in touch about the next steps shortly after the closing date. 

Why do we need Senior Head of Propositions & Stewardships? 

Last year, we helped more than 40,000 Young People, with three in four young people on our programmes moving into a positive outcome in work, education or training.The young people we help face a range of challenges, such as unemployment, mental health issues or some who have been in trouble with the law. We believe all young people should have the chance to succeed, and that young people are the key to a positive and prosperous future for all of us. We want to continue having a positive impact on young people’s lives and we couldn’t do this without the important work of Senior Head of Propositions & Stewardships! 

Perks for working at The Trust! 

• Great holiday package! 30 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays. Office closure on the days between Christmas and New Year 
• Flexible working! Where operationally possible, our roles require a combination of office days and working from home (please speak to the hiring manager about this particular role)
• You can volunteer for and/or attend events – The King's Trust Awards, Pride, active events etc. 
• In-house learning platform! Develop your skills for your career and your role 
• Benefits platform! Everything from health and financial well-being support to discounts on your favourite restaurants, shops and cinemas. 
• Personal development opportunities through our Networks – KT CAN (Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network), and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network). 
• Fantastic Family leave! Receive 13 weeks of full pay and 13 weeks of half pay for maternity and adoption leave. Receive 8 weeks of full pay for paternity leave. 
• Interest-free season ticket loans 
• The Trust will contribute 5% of your salary to the Trust Pension Scheme 
• Generous life assurance cover (4 x annual salary) 

This is a different kind of opportunity for a fundraiser. Rather than looking for someone to run an established programme, we are looking for someone who wants to help build one. 

You might already be an experienced development professional who wants to work more entrepreneurially, to create and implement a new strategy, or you might be earlier in your fundraising career, with an entrepreneurial approach and a track record of securing major gifts, ready to step up into a senior leadership role for the first time. This is why we are looking at two different job titles: what matters most to us is your appetite to build something new, your comfort with ambiguity, and your ability to translate complex, technical work into a story that moves funders to invest at a transformational level.

For fifty years, TRAFFIC’s research, data and analysis have shaped how governments, businesses, law enforcement and international conventions respond to one of the most complex challenges facing the planet: how to stop illegal and unsustainable trade in wildlife, timber, fish and plants, while sustaining the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of households that depend on legal trade.

We are now embarking on a significant transformation: moving from a project-by-project model towards a bolder proposition, built around a Global Intelligence Hub and Systems Influence, using AI, data and next-generation analytics. It is a pivotal moment to join TRAFFIC, and this role will be central to how we fund our ambition.

Reporting to the Executive Director, you will grow and diversify TRAFFIC's income, with a particular focus on major gifts. You will lead our global fundraising strategy, building and personally managing a portfolio of major and principal gift relationships with high-net-worth individuals, trusts, foundations and corporate partners.

This is a chance to join a well-established and highly regarded organisation at a genuinely exciting moment. For an ambitious fundraiser, there are few propositions like this.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

TRAFFIC is committed to promoting equality, valuing diversity and working inclusively across our entire organisation. We seek to uphold these principles in our behaviour and practices, as an employer and as a global thought leader.

GLAN’s mission is to use the law to challenge powerful actors and secure justice for people and communities affected by human rights abuses and environmental harm. Through strategic litigation, advocacy and collaboration with partners, we work to hold those responsible to account and contribute to lasting change.

The Head of Income Generation is a significant leadership position at GLAN, responsible for leading our small, high-performing fundraising team and driving the organisation’s income generation strategy at an exciting point in its development. The fundraising team comprises three people, including this role.

The successful candidate will join GLAN in the final year of our current three-year fundraising strategy, with an exciting opportunity to help shape and lead the development of our next strategy for 2027–30. With a growing portfolio of new projects and opportunities, this is a particularly important moment for GLAN’s development.

We have a strong and established pipeline of committed, long-term supporters across trusts, foundations and philanthropy, providing a solid foundation on which to build. At the same time, GLAN is investing in diversifying its income. Our individual giving programme has recently launched, and 2027 is our first year of participation in challenge events, creating new opportunities to grow our supporter base and develop new sources of income.

The Head of Income Generation will lead a multi-income-stream fundraising function, balancing the stewardship and growth of established funding relationships with the development of new opportunities. The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on income generation and relationship management, working closely with programme teams and the Senior Leadership Team to ensure that GLAN’s ambitious work is financially sustainable.

This is an opportunity for an experienced fundraising leader to play a central role in shaping GLAN’s next phase of growth, strengthening our financial resilience and helping to ensure that our work can continue to deliver meaningful change.

About the team

The Philanthropy Team raises income for Impetus and for Impetus partner charities. The team consists of 15 staff. Impetus has an annual income of c.£11 million which we are looking to grow significantly within the next few years. The team is led by two Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships. 

The Philanthropy Team works with major donors, corporates and grant making trusts, as well as collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to ensure we make a compelling case to generate new financial commitments and wider support for our work. The team also deliver a high-quality engagement programme of volunteering and pro bono for Impetus’s corporate supporters.   

Impetus is driven by a shared belief in tackling the barriers that hold back young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in education and employment. Alongside investing extensive financial and non-financial support in our charity partners through our Investment Team we also seek to influence decision makers to design and implement evidence led policy and direct new resources to get young people the support they need through our Public Affairs team. We are resolutely focused on outcomes, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, ambitious, determined and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our charity partners and the young people we serve. 

About this role

The Head of Engagement is a strategically significant and high-impact role within the Philanthropy team, responsible for leading and developing Impetus’ engagement programme across both volunteering and pro bono support.

At Impetus, volunteering refers to opportunities for employees of our donor firms to engage directly with the young people supported by our portfolio partners, helping to inspire, motivate and broaden horizons through meaningful interactions.

Pro bono support is a core element of our capacity-building approach and a key way in which we strengthen the organisations we back. It involves skilled volunteers and partners contributing professional expertise to address strategic challenges and opportunities within our charity portfolio, helping to build capability, resilience and long-term impact.

The Head of Engagement will shape the strategic direction and lead the delivery of a high-quality programme of volunteering and skilled pro bono support, creating meaningful outcomes for portfolio partners while delivering engaging and rewarding experiences for supporters. The postholder will ensure that engagement opportunities align with Impetus’ investment priorities and organisational objectives, respond to donor interests, and maximise impact for the young people and charities we serve.

The role combines strategic leadership, relationship management, programme innovation and operational oversight. Working closely with colleagues across Philanthropy and Investment, and engaging regularly with Public Affairs and senior leaders, the Head of Engagement will build, steward and deepen relationships with a wide network of corporate partners, major donors, and highly skilled volunteers.

The postholder will also lead and develop the Engagement team, comprising the Engagement Manager and Engagement Officer, fostering a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing culture that enables exceptional delivery, continuous improvement and professional growth.

As a key member of the Philanthropy leadership team, the Head of Engagement will play a central role in expanding and strengthening Impetus' supporter network, developing innovative opportunities for supporters to contribute their time and expertise, and ensuring our volunteering and pro bono programmes continue to evolve in response to the changing needs of young people, charities and partners.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape and grow a critical area of Impetus’ work, harnessing the expertise, networks and commitment of supporters to help more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds succeed in school, work and life.

Key responsibilities

Strategy and Leadership 

• Develop and deliver the engagement strategy and operational plan for the pro bono and volunteering functions
• Set and monitor KPIs, targets and budgets for engagement activity in line with organisational frameworks, securing approval from senior leadership where appropriate
• Lead the continued growth and development of volunteering and pro bono activity in alignment with organisational strategy and portfolio partner needs
• Work collaboratively with senior colleagues across Philanthropy and Investment to align engagement opportunities with organisational priorities
• Lead prospecting for the pro bono function, understanding the needs of our Investment Team and portfolio partners, identifying gaps in supporter skills and expertise and onboarding new organisations and specialisms 
• As the organisational lead for volunteering and pro bono engagement, advise senior leadership on engagement trends, sharing insights, learning and volunteering best practice internally and externally
• Lead, develop and coach the Engagement Team, creating a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing culture and ensuring clear objectives, development opportunities and succession planning 
• Provide guidance, support and oversight of delivery to the Engagement Team, line managing the Engagement Manager and supporting the development of the Engagement Officer

Volunteering programme 

• Lead the strategic development and continuous improvement of a high-quality volunteering programme, ensuring it delivers value for portfolio partners, corporate and donor partners and young people.
• Oversee programme quality and effectiveness across all volunteering activities.
• Build capability and strong relationships with portfolio organisations to support the design and delivery of high-quality volunteering opportunities
• Monitor participation, impact and quality across the volunteering programme, using data and feedback to drive improvements.
• Work closely with account managers in the Philanthropy and Partnerships team to drive and steward donor engagement.
• Develop new models of volunteering in collaboration with the Engagement Team, including governance and trustee pathways, skills-based workshops and intensive challenge clinics.

Pro Bono programme 

• Lead the development of the organisation’s pro bono programme and oversee the delivery of activities, ensuring high-quality support for portfolio partners.
• Set annual pro bono targets (including project value, number of projects, and supporter engagement) and lead the team to deliver on these
• Oversee the maintenance of a strong pipeline of projects from portfolio partners and supporters that meet the needs of portfolio partners.
• Source and cultivate new pro bono supporters, including companies and highly skilled individual professionals.
• Oversee and contribute to business development activity including prospect research, outreach, relationship building and partnership development.
• Steward existing strategic supporter relationships and create compelling supporter journeys that communicate impact and strengthen long-term engagement.
• Work closely with the Investment Team to identify, scope and prioritise pro bono projects, and work with the team to improve quality and impact in project delivery. 
• Ensure an effective team approach to project identification, prioritisation and matching across the programme.
• For select high-priority projects, directly match portfolio partner needs with appropriate supporters, ensuring an effective and high-quality project experience, with support from the Engagement Manager.
• Support select high-priority project kick-off meetings and maintain oversight of project delivery, stakeholder management and follow-up processes.
• Ensure appropriate evaluation processes are in place to capture project impact, supporter feedback and learning.
• Own quality assurance, review programme outcomes and impact data to drive continuous improvement
• Collaborate with the Events team to design and run relevant supporter engagement events.

Relationship Management and Donor Engagement 

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with both new and existing corporate partners, major donors, volunteers, pro bono supporters and charity / sector stakeholders.
• Lead strategic account management of donors and supporters.
• Act as a key Account Manager for strategic engagement partnerships, notably the most high-value Pro Bono relationships.
• Work closely with account managers and senior stakeholders to maximise supporter engagement and long-term partnership opportunities.
• Contribute to the creation of compelling communications and marketing materials that demonstrate the value and impact of engagement activity.
• Represent Impetus externally at meetings, events and networking opportunities building effective and inclusive partnerships.

Operations, Systems and Reporting 

• Oversee the effective administration and operational delivery of the engagement function.
• Ensure accurate data management and reporting through Salesforce and related systems by the Engagement team.
• Maintain oversight of engagement pipelines, financial tracking and programme reporting.
• Lead quarterly reviews and reporting processes through the analysis and presentation of engagement data.
• Develop and improve systems, processes and operational efficiency across the engagement function.
• Ensure all activities comply with organisational policies, procedures and best practice.

Cross-Organisational Working

• Form part of the Philanthropy and Partnerships Leads group to lead and drive performance against fundraising targets and strategy.
• Collaborate closely with the Investment Team to identify opportunities for volunteering and pro bono support, especially driving innovation for both programmes.
• Build strong internal relationships to ensure engagement activity is coordinated and effectively communicated across teams.
• Attend and support Impetus events where required.
• Represent the Philanthropy team on internal projects, working groups and committees.
• Support wider team priorities and contribute to a collaborative and inclusive working culture.

Person specification

Essential

• Excellent relationship management skills with experience across a range of sectors, and track record working productively with senior stakeholders in corporate and charity organisations, including internally.
• Strong business development skills, with experience identifying and developing new relationships, partnerships, and engagement opportunities.
• Experience translating strategic priorities into operational plans, objectives and delivery.
• Strong project and programme management skills, including managing multiple priorities, budgets, timelines and stakeholders.
• Experience and understanding of how to design and implement inclusive, accessible and engaging experiences for a range of audiences, including young people and corporate supporters.
• Experience managing line reports or leading teams including coaching, supporting and enabling others to deliver high-quality outcomes.
• Strong analytical and organisational skills.
• Ability to identify opportunities, solve complex problems and contribute innovative and creative ideas.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to influence and build credibility with senior audiences internally and externally through clear, confident and evidence led communication.
• A collaborative and flexible working style with the ability to work cross-functionally.
• Commitment to the mission and values of Impetus.
• A strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Experience working in, or closely with, the charity, youth, education or employment sectors.

Desirable

• In depth understanding of the corporate donor and philanthropy landscape.
• Experience in corporate fundraising or donor engagement, in particular with the financial services and investment sectors.
• Significant experience overseeing either a large corporate volunteering programme or a pro bono programme (e.g. 50+ projects).
• Experience working with Salesforce.
• Expertise in evaluation or impact measurement.
• In-depth understanding of the education and/or youth employment sectors in the UK.

About Impetus

At Impetus, our focus is on helping young people achieve positive education and employment outcomes to increase their chance of leading fulfilling and successful lives, irrespective of their background.

We tackle the three most difficult challenges that affect a young person’s ability to succeed in life in Britain today:

• Lost learning through absence, suspensions, exclusions from school
• Stagnation in education attainment outcomes, which means many are missing out on key qualifications like GCSE English and maths
• The large numbers of young people out of education, training and employment

We use our deep expertise and high calibre networks to give the best non-profits working in these sectors the essential ingredients to have a real and lasting impact on the young people they serve.

Through a powerful combination of long-term funding, direct capacity building support from our experienced team and our pro bono partners, alongside research and policy influencing to drive lasting systems change, we work towards a society where all young people can thrive in school, pass their exams and unlock the doors to sustained employment, for a fulfilling life.

We are resolutely focused on outcomes and impact, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our portfolio partners and the young people we serve.

Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is 1152262.

Our Values

In 2022 the Impetus staff agreed the following set of Values to act as our guiding principles as an organisation and help us to remain focused on achieving our mission to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We are brave and curious

We are bold and brave in our pursuit of better outcomes for young people. We lead with curiosity and stay open to new perspectives. We support one another to take considered risks and learn together.

We bring high trust, high challenge

We build strong, long-term relationships through honesty, kindness, integrity, and respect. We create the space for open, constructive challenge, where colleagues, partners and supporters feel safe to speak up, hold each other to account, and bring their best in pursuit of our mission.

We are evidence led and results driven for young people

We pursue excellence for the young people we work with, are wholly committed to better outcomes, unapologetically results driven, and accountable for our actions.

We thrive through diversity

We seek to embed diversity of thought, background and experience in every aspect of our work. We are open, thoughtful and proactive in better understanding and challenging our assumptions to better deliver the change we seek.

We always seek collaboration

We will not succeed alone. We seek meaningful, productive partnerships with others to achieve our mission and drive systems change for young people.

Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more open, creative and gets better results.

We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.

We recognise the importance of a good work/life balance. We do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, working part-time job shares and other arrangements.

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.

Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Our employee benefits

Impetus appreciates the invaluable contribution made by all employees and wishes to encourage and reward loyalty, motivation and experience. We therefore offer a range of benefits and policies which aim to assist employees during various stages of their lives and careers. For more information on these, please download the job information pack from our website.

How to apply

Please click on the "Apply for this job" button.

You will need to:

• Complete the online form (including the equal opportunities monitoring form).
• Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement.

The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification.

You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 20th September 2026, 11:59pm.

Interviews:

1st Interviews will take place on w/c 28th September 2026.

2nd Interviews will take place on w/c 5th October 2026.

You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.

Personal Data

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.

Love meeting donors, building relationships and securing meaningful funding for a compelling cause? 

At Target Ovarian Cancer, we're looking for a talented relationship fundraiser who thrives on connecting passionate supporters with causes that change lives. 

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced major donor fundraiser who enjoys being out meeting people, uncovering opportunities, securing significant gifts and developing long-term partnerships that make a real difference. 

You'll inherit and grow a portfolio of high-value supporters, develop new donor relationships, and work with philanthropists and trusts and foundations who want to help stop ovarian cancer devastating lives. 

If you're energised by donor meetings, comfortable leading funding conversations, and motivated by turning warm relationships into transformational gifts, we'd love to hear from you.

About the role 

As our Senior Philanthropy & Partnerships Manager, you'll play a pivotal role in growing income from major donors, trusts and foundations, and strategic funding partners. 

Working closely with the Head of Philanthropy & Partnerships, Director of Fundraising & Engagement, Chief Executive and Trustees, you'll identify and cultivate new opportunities, develop compelling funding propositions and deliver outstanding stewardship that inspires long-term support. 

A significant proportion of this role is externally focused. You'll spend time meeting donors and prospects, building relationships, understanding motivations, presenting opportunities and making asks. 

To be successful, you'll be supported by a dedicated Philanthropy & Partnerships Programme Manager who leads on donor events, reporting, stewardship support and CRM optimisation, allowing you to focus on building relationships and generating income. 

Why join us? 

For the right candidate, this could be a career defining role at an organisation that has the credibility, leadership and propositions to deliver transformational funding growth. Working in a supportive but driven department, with two experienced high value fundraisers within the senior leadership team and a supportive board, this is a real opportunity to make your mark.

Harris Hill are delighted to be working with a charity to recruit for the Head of Philanthropy on a maternity cover basis.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced philanthropy fundraiser to lead and develop a high performing programme encompassing Major Donors, Trusts & Foundations and Mid Value Donors, helping to grow income and strengthen long term supporter relationships.

Philanthropy is a significant contributor to the charity's overall income, encompassing Trusts & Foundations, Major Donors and Mid Value Donors.

As Head of Philanthropy, you will provide strategic leadership across the programme, building on existing successes while identifying new opportunities for growth.

A key focus will be on re engaging lapsed donors, developing a strong pipeline of new prospects and further strengthening the Mid Value programme to cultivate future Major Donors.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead, motivate and develop the Philanthropy team, creating a supportive, ambitious and high performing culture.
• Lead the development of strong, long term relationships with Major Donors and Trusts & Foundations
• Manage and develop a portfolio of high value donors and prospects.
• Identify opportunities to re engage lapsed donors and develop new donor relationships.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Experienced and successful in Major Donor fundraising, ideally with Trust fundraising experience.
• An effective and inspiring people manager.
• Experienced in developing donor pipelines and growing income.
• A confident and compelling communicator, both verbally and in writing.
• Highly organised, able to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Comfortable managing budgets, KPIs and financial reporting.
• Collaborative and able to build strong relationships across an organisation.
• Proactive, creative and confident in identifying and pursuing new opportunities.
• Calm under pressure, adaptable and able to manage competing demands.
• Committed to delivering an excellent supporter experience.

Salary & Benefits

• Salary: £50,000- £55,000 per annum
• Contract type: 12 months FTC, full time, 37.5 hrs a week
• Location: North London, hybrid working
• Deadline: On rolling basis

Recruitment process: Cv

If this sounds like you, then please do get in touch ASAP!

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

Prospectus is delighted to be supporting a national countryside conservation charity in the search for a new Head of Philanthropy at this crucial time during their centenary year, ahead of the launch of a new 10-year strategy in December. The charity is a campaigning organisation that believes in having accessible countryside and green spaces for all. They supports the protection and regeneration of countryside spaces rich in nature and believe this plays a crucial role in responding to the climate emergency. With a local office in every county in England, they are passionate about working with communities and creating better places for everyone to enjoy.

This role is offered on a permanent full-time contract basis paying a salary of circa £61,000 per annum to work in a hybrid and flexible working model from their London Office.

The post holder will proactively lead and implement strategies for maximising funding through significant support from trusts & foundations, statutory & institutional funders, high net worth individuals and corporate partners. They will develop and steward key relationships and identify new funding and partnership opportunities that support the charity's campaigning priorities. The post holder will provide strategic direction and hands-on support to a team of two officers, fostering a collaborative, ambitious and effective approach to income generation.

They are looking for a candidate with demonstrable experience of identifying, securing and developing relationships with potential for significant funding particularly through partnerships, along with trusts, foundations and high net worth individuals. They are looking for someone with demonstrable experience of securing 5 and 6 figure philanthropic and trust & foundation funding and meeting targets. The ideal candidate will have demonstrable experience of creating sponsorship, engagement and cultivation opportunities to secure long-term funding.

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy/maternity. If you have any disability and require reasonable adjustment/s to any part of the process, then please contact Firas El Dib at Prospectus. 

If you feel you meet some of the criteria but not all, we really hope you'll enquire and learn more. Prospectus can advise and support on each part of the role and hopefully your application, so we look forward to hearing from you. 

In order to apply please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will arrange for a meeting to brief you on the role. You'll then have all the information you need to formally apply. We are looking forward to connecting with you soon. 

Role 

Bowel Research UK are looking for a manager with experience across either philanthropy, corporate partnerships or both to join their Fundraising team in a new role.

This role will lead and manage the corporate and philanthropy income streams, building on existing successes, spotting opportunities to engage new partners and donors, and nurture green shoots. 

This role, with support from the Head of Fundraising and Communications, will develop, embed and lead the corporate and philanthropy strategy. As such, Bowel Research UK needs an experienced corporate and/or philanthropy fundraiser with well-developed relationship management skills. Someone who is excited by the opportunity of shaping, developing and elevating these important supporters for the charity.

This role will manage two direct reports across community fundraising, challenge events, supporter care and data. Experience managing staff or volunteers would be helpful, but Bowel Research UK are open to applications from candidates for whom this would be a development area.

Equally, Bowel Research UK are open to applications from those looking to develop their expertise and will be fully supported, should they not have equal experience in corporate partnerships and philanthropy. The ideal candidate should be able to demonstrate experience across areas such as prospecting, pitching and account management. 

Application notes 

Please download the Candidate Info Pack provided for further information about the role, timelines and next steps.

To progress your application, please contact THINK Recruitment at organise an informal screening call. Please note, we cannot shortlist candidates who have not had a screening call so please allow enough time to have a call before the deadline for expressions of interest.

If you need assistance with downloading the pack or any reasonable adjustments to ensure you can engage with the selection process, please contact THINK Recruitment and our team will support you.

Deadline for expressions of interest: EOD Friday 2nd October 

Closing date for full applications: Midnight Monday 5th October 

Interviews are expected to be two stages, with Stage 1 being virtual via Teams and Stage 2 in person in London.

About the team

The Philanthropy Team raises income for Impetus and for Impetus partner charities. The team consists of 15 staff. Impetus has an annual income of c.£11 million which we are looking to grow significantly within the next few years. The team is led by two Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships. 

The Philanthropy Team works with major donors, corporates and grant making trusts, as well as collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to ensure we make a compelling case to generate new financial commitments and wider support for our work. The team also deliver a high-quality engagement programme of volunteering and pro bono for Impetus’s corporate supporters.   

Impetus is driven by a shared belief in tackling the barriers that hold back young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in education and employment. Alongside investing extensive financial and non-financial support in our charity partners through our Investment Team we also seek to influence decision makers to design and implement evidence led policy and direct new resources to get young people the support they need through our Public Affairs team. We are resolutely focused on outcomes, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, ambitious, determined and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our charity partners and the young people we serve. 

About this role

The Development Director (Philanthropy) provides strategic leadership across Impetus’ philanthropy and stewardship portfolio, with responsibility for relationship management, renewal, growth and selected new business activity. The postholder will work with high-value funders, including corporate partners, trusts and foundations, and high-net-worth individuals.

In 25/26, the Philanthropy and Partnerships team generated £11m in philanthropic income, alongside £2.8m in pro bono contributions. The Development Director will play a key role in delivering Impetus’ growth ambitions, supporting the increase in philanthropic income to £14m by 2029. 

Working closely with the Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships, the role will translate the fundraising strategy into clear stewardship, renewal, relationship-growth and selected new business plans, ensuring strong donor retention, high-quality engagement and sustainable growth in high-value income.

Working closely with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships, the postholder will oversee the donor lifecycle across the philanthropy portfolio, with particular focus on strategic stewardship, renewal, relationship growth and the effective transition of selected prospects into long-term donor relationships. They will personally lead and support significant six and seven-figure donor relationships and selected funding opportunities, while working with colleagues to ensure the philanthropy pipeline, stewardship plans and account management disciplines are strong.

Working collaboratively across the Philanthropy and Partnerships team and with colleagues across the organisation, the Development Director will ensure a joined-up approach to donor stewardship, renewal, relationship growth and selected donor acquisition, maximising income, partnership value and long-term impact within the agreed fundraising strategy.

Key responsibilities

Strategic Relationship Management & Growth

• Own and oversee strategically significant donor and partner relationships at six and seven-figure levels, ensuring high levels of retention, satisfaction, trust, income growth and long-term value.
• Set and embed best practice stewardship standards, ensuring donors receive timely, consistent, high-quality and relevant engagement and communications throughout their relationship with Impetus.
• Work closely with the wider team to ensure a smooth transition between new business, and long-term stewardship.
• Ensure account plans for priority donors and partners include clear renewal and growth pathways; engagement and risk-management plans.
• Act as senior relationship owner where required, modelling strong stewardship and coaching the Head of Philanthropy and other colleagues to navigate complex or sensitive relationships.

New Business: Pipeline & Conversion 

• Personally lead on select six and seven-figure level priority prospects and strategic funding opportunities, managing the full fundraising cycle from qualification to close.
• Work with trustees, senior volunteers and networks to support warm introductions, relationship development and follow-up, in line with agreed new business and stewardship priorities.
• Work with colleagues to translate Impetus’ impact, evidence base and venture philanthropy model into compelling propositions for donors, prospects and priority audiences.

Performance and KPI Reporting

• Accountable for ensuring effective implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement of fundraising performance frameworks, KPIs and reporting disciplines.
• Use performance data and insight to improve team effectiveness, inform portfolio planning and resource recommendations, and identify opportunities for retention, renewal and growth.
• Oversee philanthropy portfolio data quality, reporting and forecasting, ensuring robust systems and processes.
• Ensure robust systems, processes and performance disciplines are in place to support delivery of agreed philanthropy portfolio objectives and wider fundraising goals.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and evidence-led decision-making across the philanthropy portfolio and direct team.

Donor Communications

• Provide strategic oversight of donor communications for the philanthropy portfolio, ensuring messaging is clear, compelling, timely and aligned to Impetus’ voice, values and evidence base.
• Work with Communications and Philanthropy colleagues to design and continuously improve philanthropic communications, including cases for support, proposals, pitches, stewardship materials and donor updates.

Leadership and Team Performance

• Line manage and develop the Head of Philanthropy, providing direction, coaching and performance oversight within agreed strategy and priorities.
• Develop the Head of Philanthropy as the operational lead for stewardship, ensuring capability, succession and high performance across their team.
• Set clear objectives and success measures for stewardship, renewal, relationship growth and portfolio delivery, aligned to Impetus’ wider income strategy.
• Build and sustain an inclusive, evidence-led and high-performing culture across the philanthropy portfolio, balancing pace and ambition with quality, learning and collaboration.
• Build fundraising and stewardship capability across the team through coaching and consistent, fair and high-quality performance management, including objective-setting, feedback and development planning.

Pro Bono, Events, Volunteering & Partnership Value

• Ensure engagement opportunities, including volunteering, pro bono and events, strengthen donor relationships, partnership value and long-term income growth through strong collaboration with colleagues.

Operational Excellence, Governance & Risk

• Ensure philanthropy and selected new business activity complies with due diligence, gift acceptance and risk management requirements.
• Oversee accurate philanthropy pipeline reporting, forecasting and performance tracking, using Salesforce and other systems to ensure insight informs portfolio planning and decision-making.
• Work with Finance and Operations to ensure income is contracted, invoiced, and reported accurately and on time in line with financial controls.
• Identify and escalate strategic, financial or reputational risks associated with donors, prospects and partnerships.

Cross-Organisational Leadership & Representation

• Act as a senior ambassador for Impetus, representing the organisation credibly with new donors, partners, and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to organisational strategy, income planning, and senior leadership discussions.
• Lead philanthropic work on Impetus funds including identifying funding opportunities and risks; shaping prospect pipelines; contributing to cases for support and donor presentations; and develop fund stewardship.
• Champion collaboration across the Philanthropy team, ensuring opportunities are shared, relationships are well managed and expertise is used to maximise income and impact.
• Model Impetus’ values, evidence-led approach and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion across the philanthropy portfolio.

Strategic Leadership

• Work in partnership with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships to contribute to the fundraising strategy.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear operational plans, objectives and delivery, ensuring stewardship, renewal and relationship growth contribute to organisational priorities, income targets and long-term growth ambitions.
• Provide strategic oversight of philanthropy portfolio forecasting, budgeting input, pipeline performance and resource recommendations, ensuring risks and opportunities are identified and escalated proactively.
• Maximise the contribution of trustees, committees, senior volunteers and wider networks to support donor stewardship, relationship growth and selected new business development.
• Act as a trusted senior adviser to the Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships, providing insight, challenge and solutions to strengthen philanthropy portfolio performance and wider fundraising capability.
• Deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships where appropriate, within agreed delegations and priorities.
• Build a positive, collaborative and high-performing culture across the philanthropy portfolio, modelling Impetus’ values and supporting continuous improvement.

Person specification

Essential:

Fundraising & new business leadership

• Significant experience in major donor and/or corporate fundraising at six and seven-figure gift level, with a strong track record of securing new income and managing complex partnerships.
• Ability to lead and personally deliver the full fundraising cycle, from prospecting and cultivation through to solicitation, negotiation, and close.
• Proven experience of building, managing, and converting a new business pipeline, balancing ambition with delivery.
• Strong ability to leverage internal and external networks, including trustees, senior volunteers, and professional contacts.

Senior stakeholder engagement

• Experience of operating at a senior level and leading high value or complex stakeholder relationships (trustees, board members, senior external partners).
• Ability to influence and build credibility with senior audiences through clear, confident and evidence led communication.
• Excellent negotiation skills, with the ability to secure mutually beneficial outcomes while protecting organisational values and reputation.

Leadership & people management

• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams, including developing senior colleagues and building leadership capability.
• A strong track record as a collaborative senior team member, contributing beyond own area of responsibility and supporting wider organisational success
• Ability to build a high-trust, high-challenge culture that supports excellence, inclusion, and learning.
• Strong performance management capability and ability to handle complex people issues, giving strategic feedback, and addressing underperformance constructively.
• Ability to deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships when appropriate.

Strategic & intellectual capability

• Strong strategic thinker with the ability to translate agreed strategy and insight into clear plans and execute them effectively.
• Ability to grasp, interpret apply and communicate complex information and ideas, including Impetus’ venture philanthropy and impact-led funding models.
• Evidence of an innovative and creative approach, with the ability to adapt in changing contexts.

Financial, operational & delivery capability

• Solid financial management, with experience contributing to budget-setting, managing agreed budgets, supporting forecasting and identifying efficiencies.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to delivery, with the ability to manage multiple priorities to a high standard
• Able to use insight and data (including CRM systems such as Salesforce) to inform decisions and strengthen performance.
• Sound judgement in identifying, managing, and escalating risk, particularly in relation to donor relationships and reputation.

Communication, values & ways of working

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate clearly, persuasively, and with impact.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish, maintain, and leverage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• A strong commitment to Impetus’ mission and to improving outcomes for young people.
• A clear commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, demonstrated through inclusive leadership and professional practice.

Desirable 

• Experience working within venture philanthropy, impact investing, or systems-change funding models.
• Familiarity with private equity, professional services.
• Experience contributing to income growth, donor strategy or portfolio development within an agreed organisational fundraising strategy.
• Knowledge of the UK charity or social impact sector, particularly education, employment, or youth-focused work.
• Experience using CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce) to manage pipelines, performance, and forecasting.

About Impetus

At Impetus, our focus is on helping young people achieve positive education and employment outcomes to increase their chance of leading fulfilling and successful lives, irrespective of their background.

We tackle the three most difficult challenges that affect a young person’s ability to succeed in life in Britain today:

• Lost learning through absence, suspensions, exclusions from school
• Stagnation in education attainment outcomes, which means many are missing out on key qualifications like GCSE English and maths
• The large numbers of young people out of education, training and employment

We use our deep expertise and high calibre networks to give the best non-profits working in these sectors the essential ingredients to have a real and lasting impact on the young people they serve.

Through a powerful combination of long-term funding, direct capacity building support from our experienced team and our pro bono partners, alongside research and policy influencing to drive lasting systems change, we work towards a society where all young people can thrive in school, pass their exams and unlock the doors to sustained employment, for a fulfilling life.

We are resolutely focused on outcomes and impact, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our portfolio partners and the young people we serve.

Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is 1152262.

Our Values

In 2022 the Impetus staff agreed the following set of Values to act as our guiding principles as an organisation and help us to remain focused on achieving our mission to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We are brave and curious

We are bold and brave in our pursuit of better outcomes for young people. We lead with curiosity and stay open to new perspectives. We support one another to take considered risks and learn together.

We bring high trust, high challenge

We build strong, long-term relationships through honesty, kindness, integrity, and respect. We create the space for open, constructive challenge, where colleagues, partners and supporters feel safe to speak up, hold each other to account, and bring their best in pursuit of our mission.

We are evidence led and results driven for young people

We pursue excellence for the young people we work with, are wholly committed to better outcomes, unapologetically results driven, and accountable for our actions.

We thrive through diversity

We seek to embed diversity of thought, background and experience in every aspect of our work. We are open, thoughtful and proactive in better understanding and challenging our assumptions to better deliver the change we seek.

We always seek collaboration

We will not succeed alone. We seek meaningful, productive partnerships with others to achieve our mission and drive systems change for young people.

Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more open, creative and gets better results.

We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.

We recognise the importance of a good work/life balance. We do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, working part-time job shares and other arrangements.

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.

Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Our employee benefits

Impetus appreciates the invaluable contribution made by all employees and wishes to encourage and reward loyalty, motivation and experience. We therefore offer a range of benefits and policies which aim to assist employees during various stages of their lives and careers. For more information on these, please download the job information pack from our website.

How to apply

Please click on the "Apply for this job" button.

You will need to:

• Complete the online form (including the equal opportunities monitoring form).
• Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement.

The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification.

You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 20th September 2026, 11:59pm.

Interviews:

1st Interviews will take place on w/c 5th October 2026.

2nd Interviews will take place on w/c 12th October 2026.

You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.

Personal Data

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.